Web Accessibility & SEO: 15 Checks

Why Accessibility Helps SEO

Accessibility and SEO share a common goal: making content understandable. Many accessibility fixes directly improve SEO.

1. **All images have alt text** — Screen readers and Google both use alt text

2. **Decorative images use alt=""** — Empty alt, not missing alt

3. **Images have width and height** — Prevents CLS, improves accessibility

4. **One H1 per page** — Clear page topic for users and search engines

5. **Logical heading hierarchy** — H1 → H2 → H3, no skipping levels

6. **Headings contain keywords** — Natural keyword placement

7. **All inputs have labels** — `<label for="email">Email</label>`

8. **Required fields are marked** — Use `aria-required="true"` or `required`

9. **Error messages are descriptive** — Not just "error" but "Email is required"

10. **Skip navigation link** — First focusable element: "Skip to main content"

11. **ARIA landmarks** — `role="main"`, `role="navigation"`, `role="banner"`

12. **Keyboard navigable** — All interactive elements reachable via Tab

13. **Language attribute** — `<html lang="en">` for screen readers

14. **Sufficient color contrast** — 4.5:1 ratio for normal text

15. **Readable font size** — Minimum 16px for body text

Check all 15 points with [SEO Snapshot](/) — we audit accessibility alongside SEO and show specific fixes for each issue.

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