The concept of inclusivity and accessibility in the workplace is not new, nor should its importance be diminished by anyone striving to make the working world a better place in general.
At least in its concurrent form, what is new is the global shift in focus to a digital-centric work environment, one that many businesses have wholeheartedly embraced over the last few years.
This proposes some unique challenges of its very own, not least of all the issue of digital accessibility.
Why is this so important to the modern business? If you felt like you could be doing more to make your own company more accessible, here are some important points to note.
Increased Audience Engagement
No matter how strong your digital presence is, if you are unable to cater for people living with hearing disabilities on your website, or through any kind of content for that matter, you might be preventing a huge number of your audience from engaging with your brand.
In the United States alone, one in eight people over twelve years old has hearing loss in both of their ears. Accounting for these people in your business efforts is not only a case of extending your brand’s reach, but it’s also the moral and logical move to make.
There are some great ways to ensure your video content is more accessible online; you could check out Verbit’s closed captioning services for a prime example of how to implement an integration that supports everyone.
Growing Your Trustworthy Reputation
Corporate responsibility, or rather, a lack thereof, has been plaguing the reputations of companies for years.
Many modern consumers have a hard time trusting business professionals in the first place, and a lack of trust rarely results in a loyal customer base or a well-received brand.
Failing to develop a digitally accessible business may damage your reputation in the eyes of the public, and you may not even know it yet.
Customers need to be taken seriously; after all, they are so often the reason for a company’s success in the first place.
Avoiding Lawsuits
Accessibility laws may vary depending on where you are in the world, but ultimately, breaching them can cost your wallet, your reputation, and your customers’ trust.
Many of these accessibility laws directly pertain to websites too. Digital discrimination should have no place in a time that relies so heavily on the online world to do business.
Setting a Standard
If you embrace the importance of digital accessibility, you can set a standard for your business, a standard that others should adhere to and find inspiration from.
Meeting industry standards is, in many ways, about delivering customer expectations and then going the extra mile.
This is customer service in a nutshell, and as any accomplished salesperson will be able to tell you, great customer service is a critical component of success in business.
Accessibility for Everyone
Making your digital presence more accessible is supporting your entirecustomer base, not just those with disabilities.