Accessible emails allow everyone, regardless of ability or disability, to effectively understand the content of the emails we send. Some users employ screen readers and other assistive technologies to navigate and interpret email content.
Assistive technologies like screen readers cannot "see" text in images the way the human eye can. If you must include text in images, provide text content that offers the same information.
Be sure to add descriptive alternative text ("alt" text) to any images you include in your content. Screen readers will use this text to tell the user what the content of the image is.
Use of proper header tags (<h1>, <h2>, <h3>, etc.) to organize your content, nesting subtopics into larger content categories. This allows users to effectively navigate from section to section to access the content topics they are seeking.
Descriptive link text helps users understand what kind of content they will be accessing when they click a link. Without good context clues, generic text like "click here" can pose a challenge for individuals navigating email will assistive technologies.
Make sure that links to different webpages use unique link text. Instead of "read more" for all your links, try "see the schedule" for content about an event or "learn more about certification" for a webpage about a new academic program, for example.
Use colors with strong contrast between text and background. With around 13 million Americans affected by color blindness, color distinctions can be meaningless or confusing for a significant portion of your audience.
Avoid using color alone to convey meaning. For example "Items in red are urgent" would not be accessible instructions. Pair color with text labels, patterns, or icons. This helps colorblind users and anyone printing in grayscale.
Many email platforms provide built-in accessibility checkers. If you are using an email marketing platform with a WYSIWYG editor or drag-and-drop builder to send messages to large lists, you may want to conduct an extra check to ensure everything is accessible.
If your email contains a file attachment, the file must also be accessible. Here are a list of guides on accessible documents: