How can you create social media ads that are accessible for people with disabilities?

1 Use clear and concise language

One of the most important aspects of creating accessible social media ads is to use clear and concise language that is easy to understand and follow. Avoid jargon, slang, abbreviations, and complex sentences that might confuse or alienate your audience. Use simple words and phrases that convey your message and value proposition effectively. You can also use tools like Hemingway Editor or Grammarly to check your readability and grammar.

2 Provide alternative text and captions

Another key element of creating accessible social media ads is to provide alternative text and captions for your images, videos, and audio content. Alternative text is a short description of what the image shows or what the video or audio is about. It helps people who use screen readers or have low vision to access your content. Captions are text versions of the spoken words and sounds in your videos and audio. They help people who are deaf or hard of hearing to follow your content. You can use tools like Facebook's Automatic Alt Text or YouTube's Automatic Captioning to generate alternative text and captions, but make sure to review and edit them for accuracy and clarity.

3 Choose accessible colors and fonts

Another way to create accessible social media ads is to choose colors and fonts that are easy to see and read. Avoid using colors that are too bright, too dark, or too similar to the background. Use colors that contrast well and create a clear hierarchy of information. You can use tools like WebAIM's Color Contrast Checker or Coolors to test your color combinations and find accessible ones. Similarly, avoid using fonts that are too small, too fancy, or too similar to each other. Use fonts that are large enough, simple enough, and distinct enough to be readable. You can use tools like Font Squirrel or Google Fonts to find accessible fonts and customize them.

4 Test your ads for accessibility

Finally, the best way to create accessible social media ads is to test them for accessibility before you publish them. You can use tools like WAVE or AChecker to check your ads for common accessibility issues and errors. You can also ask for feedback from people with disabilities or from accessibility experts and consultants. By testing your ads for accessibility, you can ensure that they meet the standards and guidelines of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

By following these tips, you can create social media ads that are accessible for people with disabilities and that reach a wider and more diverse audience. You can also improve your brand reputation, customer loyalty, and social impact. Creating accessible social media ads is not only a good practice, but also a smart strategy.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?