If your organization has been putting off a full website redesign, you’re not alone. Redesigns are costly, time-consuming, and often require months of planning and execution. But that doesn’t mean your website has to stay stagnant.
There are small, strategic updates you can make today — especially when it comes to web accessibility — that can significantly improve your site’s performance, search engine optimization (SEO), generative engine optimization (GEO), and user experience. Best of all? These improvements are fast, budget-friendly, and inclusive.
Why Accessibility Updates Matter
Accessibility is more than a compliance checkbox. It’s a way to ensure your website serves everyone — including users with disabilities. But here’s the bonus: accessibility best practices also align with how search engines and AI tools (like ChatGPT or Google Gemini) evaluate and rank content.
You don’t have to wait for a redesign to improve your digital presence. Start with these two quick website wins:
1. Add Descriptive Alt-Text to Every Image
Alt-text (alternative text) is used by screen readers to describe images to users who are blind or visually impaired. But it also provides context for search engines indexing your site.
Start by auditing your media library or high-traffic pages. Make sure every image includes descriptive, specific alt-text. Avoid generic labels like “banner image” or “people smiling.” Instead, describe what’s actually happening in the photo and why it matters.
Example:
✅ Good: “Two students walking across the quad with fall leaves in the background.”
❌ Bad: “Students” or “campus image”
This one simple update improves accessibility, enhances SEO, and makes your content more useful when repurposed or read by AI.
2. Use Proper Heading Tags (H1, H2, H3)
Headings aren’t just about font size — they organize your page’s content for both users and search engines. Make sure your headings are tagged correctly in your site’s HTML structure:
- H1 for the main page title (only one per page)
- H2 for primary sections
- H3 for sub-sections under H2s
Why it matters: Screen readers use heading structures to help users navigate content efficiently. And search engines prioritize keywords in headings when ranking results. Proper heading use also improves how your content appears in AI-generated summaries or search snapshots.
Small Fixes, Big Results
These aren’t the only digital marketing updates you can make — but they’re an excellent place to start, especially if you’re not ready for a full website overhaul. A few minutes each week focused on improving your site’s accessibility, SEO, and GEO-readiness can add up to a more inclusive and discoverable online presence.
Whether you manage a college website, a nonprofit platform, or a business homepage, small changes make a difference.
✨ Do one little thing for your website this week. You’ve got this.