Improving Store Accessibility for All Users

It hit me like a truck. I was so focused on making the site look sleek and cool that I totally overlooked making it usable for everyone. That was the wake-up call I needed.

So yeah, I’ve made mistakes. But I’ve also learned a lot about what actually works when it comes to making an online store more accessible—and trust me, it’s more than just adding alt text and calling it a day.

Start With the Basics: Contrast, Fonts, and Navigation

First thing I did? Pulled up my site and ran a quick check with a contrast checker. My beautiful pastel-on-white color palette? Yeah, completely unreadable for half the population.

Now I follow these non-negotiables:

• Text should have at least a 4.5:1 contrast ratio.

• Fonts should be legible and sized well—no fancy cursive or 10pt nonsense.

• Navigation should be consistent and predictable. No hidden menus or cutesy animations that make it hard to find stuff.

And get this—after fixing contrast and font issues, my average time on page went up by 28%. Just from making it easier to read!

If you’re working on improving your user experience, make sure you’re also optimizing store navigation for better UX. It goes hand in hand with accessibility.

Use Alt Text Properly (No, Not Just Stuffing Keywords)

I used to think alt text was just “extra SEO juice,” so I’d write stuff like:
“Buy eco-friendly bamboo toothbrush biodegradable vegan dental care.”

Gross, right?

Now I actually describe the image for people using screen readers. Like:
“Woman brushing teeth with a bamboo toothbrush in a minimalist bathroom.”

It’s not just more helpful—it’s more human. I also keep it short and don’t repeat the same phrase 50 times.

Make Sure Everything Works Without a Mouse

This one blew my mind.

A friend who uses a keyboard for navigation tried to shop on my site. She couldn’t open the dropdown menu. Couldn’t tab to the “Add to Cart” button. Couldn’t even check out.

That’s when I realized how many parts of my site relied on mouse actions or hover effects. Now I always:

• Make sure all buttons and forms are tabbable.

• Add visible focus states (like a border or highlight) when someone tabs to an element.

• Test navigation with just my keyboard once a month.

I also use WAVE and the Axe Chrome extension to run accessibility audits. These tools are lifesavers.

For store owners looking to customize your Payhip storefront to look professional and sell more, accessibility should be a core part of that process—not an afterthought.

Add ARIA Labels & Descriptive Links

I won’t lie—ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes intimidated the heck outta me at first. But once I figured out how they worked, it was like unlocking a whole new level.

Now, I use ARIA labels to describe dynamic content and help screen readers interpret sections like modals, popups, and sliders. For example:

And I stopped using links like “click here” or “read more.” Instead, I’ll write:

• “View our size guide”

• “Explore the new spring collection”

It’s such a small change, but it helps everyone know exactly where they’re going.

Don’t Forget Mobile Accessibility

Most of my traffic comes from mobile, so I had to think about touch accessibility too.

That meant:

• Making tap targets at least 48×48 pixels.

• Giving buttons enough spacing so folks don’t accidentally tap the wrong one.

• Avoiding pop-ups that take over the whole screen and can’t be closed easily.

After optimizing for mobile accessibility, I noticed bounce rates dropped by 12%. People could actually use the site without frustration.

Looking to improve mobile UX even more? Check out this guide on mobile optimization for your storefront.

Accessibility Helps Everyone. Not Just People With Disabilities

This part gets overlooked a lot.

Making my store accessible didn’t just help blind or low-vision users. It also helped:

• People shopping on crappy Wi-Fi connections (faster load times).

• Older folks with less tech-savvy (clearer buttons, less clutter).

• Parents holding a baby in one hand and browsing with the other (bigger tap targets).

Accessibility isn’t just the “right thing to do” it’s the smart thing. It’s inclusive and good for business.

So yeah, I still have work to do. Accessibility is a journey, not a checklist. But the important thing? I started. And every time I make one of these changes, I think about that first email from someone who just wanted to shop like everyone else.

Make your store easy to use for all your visitors. Not just the ones who navigate the web like you do.