2 January 2007

Companies offering low levels of online accessibility could be shutting out a number of potential customers, a search engine specialist is warning.

Online marketing expert BigMouthMedia claims that some 380,000 people are currently registered blind in the UK, while a further two million suffer other sight problems.

These users may not be able to view many objects on a web page - such as advertisements - the company states.

However, it asserts that by adhering to accessibility standards, companies can ensure that many more users will be able to view content.

"By following the W3C [World Wide Web Consortium] guidelines, it is possible to develop a website that is accessible to all users," the organisation comments.

A recent report by the Mature Market.com found that accessibility could also play a pivotal role in the provision of online services and information to elderly individuals, claiming that the average website is twice as difficult for older users to navigate.

© Adfero Ltd

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