Accessible emails...this isn't usually talked about anywhere.
Why? Well...making content accessible only became "trendy" once it became a search engine guideline, i.e. people made their sites accessible because they wanted to rank in search.
Emails don't show up in search, because they're not usually public. ๐
I switched from EmailOctopus to ConvertKit because I wanted more robust features, but what I miss most is that ConvertKit (CK) is not as accessible as it could be.
I can't add ALT text to images, for instance.
Lots of people love CK, and I do like it, but it's quite telling when a company creates an inaccessible article on accessibility about making your site more accessible while not having an accessible site or service themselves.
This email is my little protest. ๐ And also an example of why I "can't just ask" for such "accommodations" or features.
You don't know how many disabled people are in your audience. And you also don't know how many disabled people are holding back from asking you to make your content more accessible.
Hint: It's always wayyyy more than the people who speak up and DO ask for accommodations. ๐
Anything related to accessibility is perceived by able-bodied people as "accommodations", rather than "features".
When you go into accessibility asking, "What can I have available as the default? As a standard for myself/my context?"
You are performing the emotional labor FOR disabled people, lifting that burden of asking for accommodations off of them, and giving them higher standards. This is a GOOD thing.
This kind of thing gets noticed.
Here's how you can implement this in email:
- Use sans-serif fonts.
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Use dark grey text on white backgrounds, or a bold accent color for headers and/or links. My text is #222 or #333 + Arial for my emails. Headers are Geneva.
- You may be temped to use other dark colors for body text to "add color". Please fight this temptation and don't. โจ
- Use longer links -- not only "here" or "click here", but like "a few descriptive words".
- Bold your links + make them an obvious, different color (again, a bold accent color!). Mine are what appears to me a muted hot pink.
- Add ALT text to your images if your software allows it (and if not, ask them to add the feature! THIS is how you be an ally ๐). Until yours does allow it, you can add descriptions in the captions. ๐
Not perfect, and definitely NOT a substitute AT ALL, but rather a workaround. โจ
- Instead of using italics to emphasis, use bold or underline the text at the same time.
โ