Colour, contrast, and readability (starter basics for owners)
Short answer: If people struggle to read your site in sunlight or on cheap phones, they leave—contrast and type size are conversion issues, not just “design taste”.
WCAG contrast ratios are a helpful baseline even if you are not targeting formal certification.
Quick checks without tools
- Grey text on white backgrounds—often fails in practice.
- Thin fonts at small sizes on mobile.
- Colour-only status indicators (bad for colour-vision deficiency).
Brand colours vs usability
Keep brand accents for headers and buttons; keep body copy high-contrast. You can be on-brand without low-contrast paragraphs.
Dark mode considerations
If you ship dark themes, re-verify contrast—inverse palettes are not automatic mirrors.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need an accessibility audit?
Helpful for larger sites; start with automated scans plus keyboard tests either way.
What about marketing hero images with text?
Ensure text is readable without relying on busy backgrounds—or move text to solid overlays.