User Experience Comes First
In today’s competitive landscape, credit unions need websites that go beyond just being informative. They need to prioritize user experience (UX) to stand out truly. This means creating a website that’s clear, simple to navigate, and ensures information is easy to find for everyone. With the rise of mobile banking, a responsive design that flawlessly adapts to all devices, from desktops to smartphones, is crucial. Let’s discuss how to craft a compelling credit union website.
But user experience goes beyond just aesthetics. An important aspect is accessibility for users with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities from discrimination, and this extends to the digital world. Websites that are not accessible can create significant barriers for users with visual, auditory, or mobility impairments.
There are no one-size-fits-all regulations, but following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is a strong step toward ADA compliance. WCAG outlines specific criteria for making web content accessible, such as providing alternative text descriptions for images so screen readers can convey the information, and ensuring sufficient color contrast for text. Hence, it’s easily readable and allows keyboard navigation for users who cannot use a mouse.
Creating an ADA-compliant website is more than just meeting legal requirements; it’s about inclusivity. By opening your doors to a wider audience, you demonstrate your commitment to serving everyone in the community. Here are some additional tips for building an inclusive online experience:
- Use clear and concise language: Avoid financial jargon and complex sentence structures to make your website easy for everyone to understand.
- Offer audio/video content transcripts: This caters to users with hearing impairments who cannot access the information otherwise.
- Employ keyboard accessibility tools: Allow users to navigate the site and access features solely through keyboard commands, ensuring those who cannot use a mouse can still interact with your website.
Remember, an accessible website benefits everyone, not just users with disabilities. It improves SEO (Search Engine Optimization) by making your content crawlable by search engines, and it enhances the user experience for all visitors, regardless of their abilities. By prioritizing user experience, clear communication, and ADA compliance, your credit union’s website can become a powerful tool for member engagement and growth.
