Accessible marketing part 3: social media

Who isn’t on social media nowadays? It helps us stay connected and brings us together ‒ but when you forget about accessibility, a large number of people are left out.

Here are the best practices to follow so everyone feels included and has an easy scrolling experience:

Add Alt Text to Images
As with web design, you should provide Alt text for social media so that screen readers can describe the images to those who are visually impaired, so try and include it in every post where possible. When writing Alt Text for social media, keep it short but also be mindful of context ‒ add more detail if necessary to allow everyone to envision your content.

Go easy on the emojis
Emojis add personality to your posts, but an overload can become a nuisance for screen reader users ‒ so stick to using them sparingly.

Use CamelCase for hashtags
CamelCase: Think of it as a bumpy but helpful way to write hashtags. By capitalising the first letter of each word, hashtags become #SuperEasyToRead for everyone.

Provide open captions for your videos
Open captions are a video’s best friend ‒ they create a smoother watching experience by accompanying a video with constant on screen dialogue. Not only do they boost accessibility, but they also benefit anyone who likes to scroll in silence.

Avoid text overlays on images
To keep your content easy on the eye, it’s best to opt for a solid-colour background paired with high contrast text ‒ it’ll make your words pop and provide an easy reading experience for all.

Steer clear of rapid or flashing content
This could trigger discomfort for people, or even cause seizures. If you really need to include it, add a friendly heads up at the start of the video so viewers know exactly what to expect.

Looking to maximise your social media reach? Get in touch today and let’s chat!