7 November 2006

Ensuring that a website complies with accessibility standards can improve a company's performance in the marketplace, an expert at Fry has claimed.

Dayna Bateman, senior information architect at the e-commerce specialist, told the New York Times that accessibility features can help to boost a website's performance in search engine optimisation.

The expert states that as an accessible websites' software coding enables screen readers and other accessibility technologies to navigate, it will have a similar impact on search engines.

"So it’s actually an advantage in the marketplace," she remarked.

"I just don't think a lot of folks are schooled enough in accessibility to know that."

Ms Bateman added that the process of making a website compliant with accessibility guidelines could be less expensive and time-consuming than organisations are expecting.

Wayne Marsh, an expert at Internet management company WSI recently noted in the Jamaica Gleaner that implementing accessibility guidelines would also help organisations to keep afloat in an increasingly consumer-focused marketplace.

© Adfero Ltd

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