Sitemorse | Blog

Six tips for improving accessibility on Facebook

12 Aug 2020, 9 a.m.

Accessibility is critical across all your digital channels, not just your website, or your apps, but also on your social media channels. Social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn are now an important place for organisations to interact with customers and disseminate information. In this article we take a look at Facebook, perhaps the most popular social media platform of them all.

Q3 2020 INDEX – UK Local Government ‘s progress with Accessibility

11 Aug 2020, 9 a.m.

At Sitemorse we published our 2020 Q3 UK Local Government INDEX this week to see what progress UK local authorities are making in ensuring their websites are accessible to people with disabilities.

Developer Corner - Resolving file/html/unknowntag issues

10 Aug 2020, 9 a.m.

This week, Support Lead, Helen outlines a few indicators for resolving file/html/unknowntag Code Quality issues.

Improving website accessibility: you need to get your reporting right

7 Aug 2020, 9 a.m.

Measurement and reporting are critically important in being able to successfully improve accessibility, moving towards compliance with the WCAG 2.1 guidelines

Accessibility Bulletin Week 31 – accessibility news around the globe

6 Aug 2020, 3 p.m.

We take a look at this week's discussions on the topic of accessibility.

The extra benefits that flow from an accessibility improvement project

5 Aug 2020, 9 a.m.

An accessibility improvement project can also result in some unexpected, positive outcomes that are not necessarily related to accessibility.

Q3 2020 INDEX – UK & IE Universities’ progress with Accessibility

4 Aug 2020, 9 a.m.

With all public sector websites needing to be compliant with European standard EN 301 549 V1.1.2 (2015-04) by 22 September 2020; we look at the progress Universities are making in ensuring their websites are accessible to people with disabilities.

Developer Corner - Accessibility G142 - Don't prevent users zooming a page

3 Aug 2020, 9 a.m.

This week, Support Lead, Helen Grimbly introduces the newly-implemented Accessibility rule G142 for WCAG 2.1.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 30 – accessibility news around the globe

30 Jul 2020, 3 p.m.

This week we take a look at discussions on the topic of accessibility. With so many sites still failing to meet accessibility requirements we show where you can find a service guaranteed to improve accessibility and which includes litigation protection.

KPI Benchmarking - 3 points to address

28 Jul 2020, 9 a.m.

As KPI reporting becomes ever more important, so does the need to understand the actions around it. We outline 3 points to address

Developer Corner - Global exclusion for 429 Errors

27 Jul 2020, 9 a.m.

This week, Helen outlines the global exclusion for 429 errors "Too Many Requests"

Accessibility Bulletin Week 29 – accessibility news around the globe

23 Jul 2020, 3 p.m.

This week we take a look at discussions on the topic of accessibility. With so many sites still failing to meet accessibility requirements maybe you need a service guaranteed to improve accessibility and which includes litigation protection.

Developer Corner - Daily Update email

20 Jul 2020, 9 a.m.

In this week's Developer Corner, Helen outlines the purpose and contents of the Daily Update email.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 28 – accessibility news around the globe

16 Jul 2020, 3 p.m.

This week we take a look at discussions on the topic of accessibility. With so many sites still failing to meet accessibility requirements we show where you can find a service guaranteed to improve accessibility and which includes litigation protection.

Six tips for improving accessibility on Twitter

15 Jul 2020, 9 a.m.

Social media is one of the hardest channels to manage in terms of trying to maintain regulatory compliance, reduce reputational risk and improve accessibility. In particular, this latter aspect is not always considered even by digital teams who are active in improving the accessibility of their websites

Developer Corner - Difference between Manager, Content Editor, and Developer Priorities

13 Jul 2020, 9 a.m.

In this weeks'd Developer Corner, Support Lead, Helen Grimbly outlines the main differences in the Report Priorities for the three roles: Manager, Content Editor, and Developer.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 27 – accessibility news around the globe

9 Jul 2020, 3 p.m.

This week we take a look at discussions on the topic of accessibility. With so many sites still failing to meet accessibility requirements we show where you can obtain a free audit.

Why you should start improving digital accessibility this summer

8 Jul 2020, 9 a.m.

The summer months are often when digital marketing teams are able to take stock and catch up on those projects or those items on the “to do list” that they just have not had time to complete. The day to day business of running a website can be very demanding and it can leave little time to work on longer-term priorities and projects. Improving website accessibility is one of those issues that teams intend to do something about but never quite get round to it.

Developer Corner - Public view of INDEX Results

6 Jul 2020, 9 a.m.

In this week's Developer Corner, Helen introduces the newly formatted public INDEX pages

Accessibility Bulletin Week 26 – accessibility news around the globe

2 Jul 2020, 3 p.m.

This week we take a look at what has been discussed in the world press on the topic of accessibility.

Progress with Website Accessibility by London-listed PLCs

2 Jul 2020, 11 a.m.

At Sitemorse we’ve been publishing our London Listed PLCs INDEX for over 10 years. Ahead of the Q3 2020 results, thought we’d look back at the results from Q2.

Why my INDEX score has gone down: avoiding website decline

1 Jul 2020, 9:01 a.m.

A question we often get asked is: ‘Why has my quarterly INDEX score gone down this quarter and why have I fallen down the benchmarking table for my sector?’ In this post we’re going to explore why, and why actively managing the quality of your website on a consistent, ongoing basis is important.

Developer Corner - Website Assessment Summary

29 Jun 2020, 9 a.m.

This week Helen introduces the new Website Assessment Summary page.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 25 – accessibility news around the globe

25 Jun 2020, 3 p.m.

This week we take a look at what has been discussed in the world press on the topic of accessibility.

Make sure you cover accessibility in your Voice of the Customer programme

24 Jun 2020, 9 a.m.

All too often VoC programmes do not consider or do not place enough emphasis on accessibility as an angle to either seek customer feedback or to gather data on. There can be reasons for this; types of disability are diverse, but there can also be an ignorance about digital accessibility that means it does not get the attention that it should do.

Public Sector Websites Accessibility progress - Local Gov marching ahead

22 Jun 2020, 1:30 p.m.

Local Government is clearly leading the way in making their websites accessible, accounting for 9 of the top 10 scoring public sector websites over the last 12 months.

Developer Corner - Sitemorse Support Page

22 Jun 2020, 9 a.m.

This week, Support Lead, Helen Grimbly introduces the new Sitemorse Support page.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 24 – accessibility news around the globe

18 Jun 2020, 3 p.m.

This week we take a look at what has been discussed in the world press on the topic of accessibility.

10 tactics to raise awareness of digital accessibility

17 Jun 2020, 9 a.m.

Despite the argument for improving accessibility being overwhelming, many organisations are still slow to act. Sometimes to pave the way for a successful and more formal business case process, you need to a tactical approach to drawing attention to the importance of the issue. Increasing awareness is key. In this article we are going to cover ten tactics to help drive more awareness of digital accessibility.

Global Life Sciences - progress in making their websites accessible

16 Jun 2020, 9 a.m.

The Sitemorse 2020 Q2 Global Life Sciences INDEX has been published ranking the websites of nearly 200 companies in the sector based on User Experience, Search Engine Optimisation and Governance, Risk and Compliance.

Developer Corner - Dashboard lists different Reports to Digital Properties

15 Jun 2020, 9 a.m.

This week, Support Lead, Helen Grimbly explains why the list of Reports for a site on the Dashboard can be different to the list of Reports for the same site on Digital Properties.

Download our free guide to accessibility and the Equality Act

12 Jun 2020, 9 a.m.

To help busy digital teams get up to speed we have created a free guide to accessibility and the Equality Act, featuring a detailed review and commentary. You can download this now, without having to complete any form or contact details.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 23 – accessibility news around the globe

11 Jun 2020, 3 p.m.

This week we take a look at what has been discussed in the world press on the topic of accessibility.

Six reasons digital marketing teams need to understand accessibility and the Equality Act

9 Jun 2020, 10 a.m.

Digital marketing teams are busy and often get focused on the task in hand such as executing a campaign and improving site analytics. However, at the same time it is critical that they know about the ‘bigger picture’ issues that impact their site, their digital channels and their content.

UK Retail Websites - progress in making their websites accessible

9 Jun 2020, 9 a.m.

At Sitemorse we published our 2020 Q2 UK Retail 500 INDEX this week. The INDEX has been published quarterly since 2010 and ranks the websites of over 350 UK Retailers, based on User Experience, Search Engine Optimisation and Governance, Risk and Compliance.

Developer Corner: How to run an assessment from Digital Properties

8 Jun 2020, 9 a.m.

Support Lead, Helen Grimbly discusses how to run an assessment from Digital Properties

How measurement motivates teams to improve digital accessibility

5 Jun 2020, 9 a.m.

It can take weeks or months to fix accessibility issues with a website however, using measurement and reporting can keep teams motivated and prioritise their activities.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 22 – accessibility news around the globe

4 Jun 2020, 3 p.m.

We take a look at the stories about accessibility that have appeared in the media this week

Q2 2020 London Listed Companies INDEX Published

4 Jun 2020, 1:30 p.m.

At Sitemorse we published our 2020 Q2 London Listed PLCs INDEX this week to see what progress London Listed plcs are making in ensuring their websites are accessible to people with disabilities

Developer Corner - Inconsistent alt text

1 Jun 2020, 9 a.m.

This week Helen Grimbly discusses how to resolve Inconsistent alt text

Ensuring the digital first agenda doesn't discriminate - the law

1 Jun 2020, 8:15 a.m.

Website non-compliance has become a reality as organisations struggle to meet their legal obligations under the UK Equality Act and European Union Directive 2016/2102/EU. We’ve produced a summary of the regulations, which you can download: [LINK - Accessibility and Equality Act – a review and commentary.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 21 – accessibility news around the globe

28 May 2020, 12:35 p.m.

We take a look at what has been discussed this week in the world press on the topic of accessibility

15 useful resources to help you improve web accessibility

22 May 2020, 9 a.m.

When teams tackle accessibility for the first time, they often lack confidence and knowledge in the topic. Thankfully, there are a huge number of useful resources that can really help you get started. Here are 15 useful resources, including a number of useful articles from this blog, that can help you consider your approaches and get you up and running.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 20 – Global Accessibility Awareness Day

21 May 2020, 3 p.m.

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day! We thought it deserves to feature prominently in this week’s bulletin, so we thought we’d do our version of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Q2 2020 AIM Listed Companies INDEX Published

19 May 2020, 10 a.m.

At Sitemorse we published our 2020 Q2 AIM Listed INDEX this week to see what progress AIM listed companies are making in ensuring their websites are accessible to people with disabilities

Q2 2020 UK Local Government INDEX Published

19 May 2020, 9 a.m.

At Sitemorse we published our 2020 Q2 UK Local Government INDEX this week to see what progress UK local authorities are making in ensuring their websites are accessible to people with disabilities

Developer Corner - INDEX score different to Scheduled / On-demand

18 May 2020, 9 a.m.

This week, Support Lead, Helen Grimbly outlines some reasons why INDEX scores can differ from Scheduled / On-demand site scores.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 19 – accessibility news around the globe.

14 May 2020, 3 p.m.

This week we take a look at what has been discussed in the world press on the topic of accessibility.

The qualities digital rockstars show during a crisis

13 May 2020, 9 a.m.

We thought it would be interesting to revisit the characteristics of digital rockstars that we established last year to see if they were relevant during the current crisis, and if there are any other characteristics that teams need.

Q2 2020 UK Government and Public Bodies INDEX Published

12 May 2020, 9 a.m.

At Sitemorse we published our 2020 Q2 UK Government and Public Bodies INDEX this week to see what progress UK Government and Public Bodies are making in ensuring their websites are accessible to people with disabilities

Developer Corner - What to do if you receive slow monitor alerts

11 May 2020, 9 a.m.

This week, Support Lead, Helen Grimbly outlines some checks to perform if you are receiving slow monitor alerts via SMS or email

Accessibility Bulletin Week 18 – accessibility news around the globe.

7 May 2020, 3 p.m.

This week we take a look at what has been discussed in the world press on the topic of accessibility.

The results are in - Q2 INDEX publication dates announced

7 May 2020, 2 p.m.

We produce 13 public INDEXes publishing the results each quarter - the dates for publication of the Q2 results can be announced

Making the business case for accessibility

6 May 2020, 9 a.m.

The need to improve digital accessibility continues to be deprioritised within many organisations or is not fully understood. In some cases, it may be necessary to make a business case for the relatively modest investment in the tools you need to improve accessibility. On paper, it should not be a difficult business case to make; moreover, the cost of investing in a tool like Sitemorse with an automated approach to testing content for accessibility is relatively modest.

Q2-2020 INDEX – UK & IE Universities making progress with accessibility

5 May 2020, 9 a.m.

What progress are UK & IE Universities making in ensuring their websites are accessible to people with disabilities?

Developer Corner - HTTP content on an HTTPS page

4 May 2020, 9 a.m.

This week, Support Lead, Helen Grimbly discusses why it is best not to have HTTP content in a secure HTTPS site.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 17 – accessibility news around the globe

30 Apr 2020, 3 p.m.

This week we take a look at what has been discussed in the world press on the topic of accessibility. Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is on 21st May so it’s time for the Sitemorse ONE MILLION Page Giveaway.

Celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2020

30 Apr 2020, 2:10 p.m.

Our annual ONE MILLION Page Giveaway and our Pragmatic Accessibility webinars are back - this year with a twist! We want to say a huge “Thank you” to those organisations who are helping us and therefore, equally we want to help you!

Global Accessibility Awareness Day: Commit to improving website accessibility

29 Apr 2020, 10 a.m.

One of the most important days in the accessibility calendar is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). Each year, on the third Thursday in May, GAAD helps to spread awareness of the importance of accessibility across the global digital, technology and usability community. This year’s GAAD is being held on the 21st May.

Developer Corner - Download a Sitemorse Report as a spreadsheet

27 Apr 2020, 9 a.m.

This week, Helen discusses how users can download Sitemorse Reports as an Excel spreadsheet

Six takeaways from the SAHARA Las Vegas digital team

24 Apr 2020, 9 a.m.

We caught up with Kat Carrera, the Director of Digital Marketing at the SAHARA Las Vegas to document how the team are moving forward with rebuilding the hotel’s digital presence. Here are seven interesting things we learnt.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 16 –accessibility news around the globe

23 Apr 2020, 3 p.m.

This week we take a look at what has been discussed in the news on the topic of accessibility.

Developer Corner - How does Global Heartbeat monitoring work

20 Apr 2020, 9 a.m.

This week, Developer Corner looks at how Sitemorse Global Heartbeat monitoring works.

Four tips to improve accessibility of online meetings during the coronavirus crisis

17 Apr 2020, 10 a.m.

With the coronavirus crisis forcing many of us to work from home and rely on digital channels, the need for good levels of accessibility for employees has never been more important. We’re going to focus on how you can specifically drive better accessibility for online meetings, usually which involve both audio and video.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 15 –accessibility news from the UK and US

16 Apr 2020, 3 p.m.

The latest instalment our weekly accessibility bulletin looks at what’s been happening in the UK and the US

UK Website Accessibility Scores Compared Across Sectors

16 Apr 2020, 2:45 p.m.

Looking at how website accessibility scores across public and private sectors in the UK.

Developer Corner - Sitemorse assessment and Global Heartbeat monitor IP addresses

14 Apr 2020, 9 a.m.

In Developer Corner this week, Support Lead, Helen Grimbly outlines the current Sitemorse IP addresses used for Sitemorse assessments and Global Heartbeat monitors.

Why spelling is important – adding your dictionary to Sitemorse

8 Apr 2020, 10:30 a.m.

When we publish content on our websites, we want it to be simple to read and understand; after all nobody sets out to confuse the reader. How to add your dictionary to Sitemorse.

Eight tips to improve digital accessibility for employees during the coronavirus crisis

8 Apr 2020, 9 a.m.

The Coronavirus crisis has hugely impacted the way we work, with large proportions of office-based employees suddenly forced to work full time from home. For some people this has presented challenges, while others have found that there are unexpected benefits such as an increase in productivity. Here are eight tips to improve digital accessibility for employees during the coronavirus crisis.

Developer Corner - SEO and Metadata category updates

6 Apr 2020, 9 a.m.

In Developer Corner this week, Support Lead, Helen Grimbly introduces the SEO and Metadata category changes.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 13 –accessibility news from the EU, UK and US

2 Apr 2020, 3 p.m.

This week we take a look at accessibility news from the EU, UK and the US.

Six tips for writing a good accessibility statement

1 Apr 2020, 9 a.m.

If you’re committed to accessibility on your website, then having an accessibility statement is important. This is a page on your website that sets out various details about the accessibility standards applied to your website, how you improve accessibility and other salient points.

UK Consumer Finance - progress in making their websites accessible

31 Mar 2020, 9 a.m.

At Sitemorse we published our 2020 Q1 UK Consumer Finance PLCs INDEX. The INDEX has been published quarterly since 2009 and ranks the websites of over 230 UK Public Limited Companies, based on User Experience, Search Engine Optimisation and Governance, Risk and Compliance.

Developer Corner - How to view your assessment schedule

30 Mar 2020, 9 a.m.

In Developer Corner this week, Support Lead, Helen Grimbly outlines how to view your Sitemorse assessment schedule.

Please remember to make your crisis communications accessible

27 Mar 2020, 9 a.m.

A little plea from us is to make sure that all communications are fully accessible.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 12 –accessibility news from the EU, UK and US

26 Mar 2020, 3 p.m.

We take a look at what’s been happening in the news this week with website accessibility in the EU, UK and the US

American Airlines - progress in making their websites accessible

24 Mar 2020, noon

The 2020 Q1 American Airlines INDEX is out, ranking the websites of 25 airlines, based on User Experience, SEO and Governance, Risk & Compliance.

Global Top 250 Retailers Websites - progress in making their websites accessible

24 Mar 2020, 9 a.m.

The progress the Global Top 250 Retailers are making with the accessibility of their websites

How to configure a Content-Security-Policy to allow SMARTVIEW

23 Mar 2020, 9 a.m.

This week, Helen outlinies how to configure a Content-Security-Policy to allow SMARTVIEW bookmark to run an assessment.

How accessibility puts your brand in a good light

20 Mar 2020, 9 a.m.

Too many digital teams view website accessibility through a lens of compliance; it is something that must be met to reduce the risk of legal or regulatory action. This is perfectly natural and critically important; indeed, we regularly stress the risks involved. However, this does mean that website accessibility can be regarded negatively and seen as an obligation rather than a benefit. Actually, improving website accessibility is a highly positive move

Accessibility Bulletin Week 11 –accessibility news from the EU, UK and US

19 Mar 2020, 3 p.m.

This week we take a look at what’s been happening in the EU, UK and the US.

Global Life Sciences - progress in making their websites accessible

17 Mar 2020, 10:30 a.m.

At Sitemorse we published our 2020 Q1 Global Life Sciences INDEX this week. The INDEX has been published quarterly since 2009 and ranks the websites of nearly 200 companies based on User Experience, Search Engine Optimisation and Governance, Risk and Compliance.

AIM Listed Companies - progress in making their websites accessible

17 Mar 2020, 9 a.m.

At Sitemorse we published our 2020 Q1 AIM INDEX this week. The INDEX has been published quarterly since 2015 and ranks the websites of nearly 800 companies based on User Experience, Search Engine Optimisation and Governance, Risk and Compliance.

Developer Corner - Help Videos

16 Mar 2020, 9 a.m.

This week, Support Lead, Helen Grimbly highlights available help videos.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 10 – accessibility news from the EU, UK and US

12 Mar 2020, 3 p.m.

This week we take a look at what’s been happening with website accessibility in the EU, UK and the US.

Ten key statistics about web accessibility

11 Mar 2020, 9 a.m.

To be blunt, ensuring your website meets the WCAG 2.1 guidelines on website accessibility is now an absolute no-brainer: in many cases not only it is now a legal requirement and a regulatory requirement, but it has solid commercial benefits and it improves usability for everybody. In short, it’s ‘the right thing to do’. Not being compliant could lead to a significant risk of legal action and brand damage. The cost of compliance is very low compared to general spending on digital channels. Why wouldn’t you want to make your website fully accessible?

Global Airlines with US Connection - progress in making their websites accessible

10 Mar 2020, noon

At Sitemorse we published our 2020 Q1 Global Airlines - US connection this week. The INDEX has been published quarterly since 2018 and ranks the websites of over 39 Global Airlines that have a US connection, based on User Experience, Search Engine Optimisation and Governance, Risk and Compliance.

UK Retailer Websites - progress in making their websites accessible

10 Mar 2020, 9 a.m.

At Sitemorse we published our 2020 Q1 UK Retail 500 INDEX this week. The INDEX has been published quarterly since 2010 and ranks the websites of over 360 UK Retailers, based on User Experience, Search Engine Optimisation and Governance, Risk and Compliance.

Developer Corner - How to label a Sitemorse assessment

9 Mar 2020, 9 a.m.

Developer Corner - How to label a Sitemorse assessment. This week, Support Lead, Helen Grimbly will show how to label a Sitemorse scheduled or on-demand site.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 9 - EU, UK and US accessibility news

5 Mar 2020, 3 p.m.

This week we take a look at what’s been happening in the EU, UK and the US.

UK London-listed PLCs - progress in making their websites accessible

4 Mar 2020, 1:30 p.m.

At Sitemorse we published our 2020 Q1 UK London-listed PLCs INDEX this week. The INDEX has been published quarterly since 2010 and ranks the websites of over 450 UK Public Limited Companies, based on User Experience, Search Engine Optimisation and Governance, Risk and Compliance.

Hotels - scoring poorly for website accessibility

4 Mar 2020, 10:30 a.m.

At Sitemorse we published our 2020 Q1 Hotels INDEX this week. The INDEX has been published quarterly since 2015 and ranks the websites of 93 hotels based on User Experience, Search Engine Optimisation and Governance, Risk and Compliance.

Developer Corner - How Sitemorse assesses a site

2 Mar 2020, 9 a.m.

This week, Support Lead, Helen Grimbly will be outlining how Sitemorse assesses a site

Does your website break your Diversity & Inclusion policy?

28 Feb 2020, 9 a.m.

In recent years Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) has been a priority for many organisations, reflected in HR policies and initiatives, and strong leadership commitment. if you want to attract the best people from the widest possible pool of talent then a D&I policy is going to help.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 8 –accessibility news from the UK and US

27 Feb 2020, 3 p.m.

We take a look at the top stories on accessibility from the UK and US

Q1 2020 INDEX - UK Police Force Websites, what's happening with Accessibility?

25 Feb 2020, 9 a.m.

At Sitemorse we published our 2020 Q1 UK Police Forces INDEX this week. The INDEX has been published quarterly since 2006 and ranks the websites of 49 UK police forces, based on User Experience, Search Engine Optimisation and Governance, Risk and Compliance.

Developer Corner: SMARTVIEW diagnostic visibility

24 Feb 2020, 9 a.m.

Support Lead, Helen Grimbly outlines why sometimes an issue is not highlighted in the page view of a SMARTVIEW.

Are you being given the full picture about accessibility?

21 Feb 2020, 9:45 a.m.

Is your software vendor or digital agency giving you the full picture about accessibility? All too often we come across customers who haven’t been given the full picture about accessibility and achieving legal compliance from their established digital agency or CMS provider. This is not because vendors or agencies are deliberately trying to mislead their customers; it’s more often to do with what is not said about accessibility. Some simply do not tell you what you need to do to achieve and then maintain compliance with web accessibility guidelines.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 7 –accessibility news from the UK and US

20 Feb 2020, 4 p.m.

We take a look at what’s been happening in news the UK and the US on website accessibility.

UK Local Government Websites, what's happening with Accessibility?

18 Feb 2020, 9 a.m.

At Sitemorse we published our 2020 Q1 UK Local Government INDEX this week. The INDEX has been published quarterly since 2006 and ranks the websites of over 400 UK local government authorities, based on User Experience, Search Engine Optimisation and Governance, Risk and Compliance

Developer Corner - Brand Module of a Sitemorse Report

17 Feb 2020, 9 a.m.

How the Sitemorse Brand module works

What elements need to be in place to ensure accountability for website accessibility compliance?

14 Feb 2020, 9 a.m.

Website accessibility is now a significant risk issue. If you don’t have a website that complies with WCAG 2.1 guidelines you may be breaking the law, and in an increasingly litigious climate, you are at risk of legal action. Accessibility is also very important from both a moral and commercial standpoint, although it is the risks associated with non-compliance that tends to galvanise organisations into taking action.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 6 –government accessibility news from the UK and US

13 Feb 2020, 3 p.m.

What’s been happening about accessibility in the news this week?

UK Central Government Websites, what's happening with Accessibility?

11 Feb 2020, 12:26 p.m.

At Sitemorse we published our 2020 Q1 UK Central Government INDEX this week. The INDEX has been published quarterly since 2006 and ranks the websites of nearly 200 UK Central Government organisations, based on User Experience, Search Engine Optimisation and Governance, Risk and Compliance.

Developer Corner: Changes that affect Code Quality "unknownentity" and "badentity"

10 Feb 2020, 9 a.m.

Support Lead, Helen Grimbly will be looking at changes to Sitemorse assessments that affect the Code Quality diagnostics "unknownentity" and "badentity".

Accessibility Bulletin Week 5 –government accessibility news from the UK and US

6 Feb 2020, 3 p.m.

What’s been happening about accessibility in the news this week?

Who is accountable for the accessibility of your website?

5 Feb 2020, 10 a.m.

Who is accountable for the accessibility of your website? In your organisation who is actually accountable for the accessibility of your website? If the answer is “not sure” or “it falls between four different people” or “something we’ve still to decide” or “nobody” then it possibly means your organisation hasn’t thought about digital accessibility properly.

UK & IE Universities - what's happening with Accessibility?

4 Feb 2020, 10 a.m.

What progress are Universities making in ensuring their websites are accessible to people with disabilities?

Technical Service Bulletin Week 5 - How to resolve duplicate values of type ID

3 Feb 2020, 9 a.m.

In this week’s technical service bulletin, Helen is helping to bring understanding to the WCAG Accessibility compliance check F77 on resolving duplicate values of type ID.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 4 –government accessibility news from the UK and US

30 Jan 2020, 3 p.m.

This week we take a look at what’s been happening in the UK and the US with website accessibility

Planning for 2020: Making it all happen

29 Jan 2020, 9 a.m.

It's time for our fourth and final instalment in our planning for 2020 series. In this final article, we’re looking at some of the approaches to take to help bring your plans to fruition.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 3 – meeting government accessibility requirements

23 Jan 2020, 4 p.m.

This week we take a look at advice from the UK Government around meeting website accessibility requirements and also some of the latest news from the US.

Planning for 2020: Making the business case

22 Jan 2020, 9 a.m.

It's our third instalment in our planning for 2020 series. In this weeks article, we’re looking at making the business case for your strategy.

Technical Service Bulletin Week 3 - How to resolve Access Denied function actions

20 Jan 2020, 6 p.m.

When Sitemorse carries out an assessment of a site, the URLs linked from pages are checked to see that they work. This week in our technical service bulletin, Helen will be looking at "Access Denied" actions

Accessibility Bulletin Week 2 – how best to improve accessibility

16 Jan 2020, 4 p.m.

This week we take a look at how you can improve the accessibility of your website, why accessibility should be a priority as well as discussing that not all accessibility testing providers are created equal.

But my vendor gives me a great score for accessibility

16 Jan 2020, 1 p.m.

We receive a lot of questions asking why we score sites much lower than some of the other vendors out there. Let's look at why what may be.

Planning for 2020: Measurement and KPIs

15 Jan 2020, 9 a.m.

It’s time for the second in our planning for 2020 series. In this weeks article, we’re looking at one of the big topics, KPIs and how to measure them.

Content Management Systems, moving away from compliance limitations and how integration delivers

14 Jan 2020, 9 a.m.

To achieve legal, regulatory and internal brand compliance that meets defined publishing standards. Organisations may need a variety of tools and approaches, but they shouldn’t rely on just their CMS. Find out how an independent service like Sitemorse can enable your organisation to achieve compliance.

Technical Service Bulletin Week 2 - How to raise a Support Request

13 Jan 2020, 9 a.m.

Support requests are used to help and ask questions about your Sitemorse service. In our technical service bulletin this week, Helen is outlining how to raise a support request.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 1 – US and UK/IE Universities News.

9 Jan 2020, 4 p.m.

The first instalment of our weekly accessibility bulletin in 2020 is out. We look at some of the news stories this year from the US and also at the progress being made by UK and IE Universities in making their websites compliant.

Planning for 2020: Creating a strategy

8 Jan 2020, 9 a.m.

January is often the time when digital marketing teams start to plan for the coming year. Through January on the Sitemorse blog we’re going to be looking at planning for 2020 in more detail. In this first post, we’re looking at the actual process of forming a strategy.

Technical Service Bulletin Week 1 - Steps to improve Accessibility

6 Jan 2020, 1:52 p.m.

Website accessibility is a big topic with today’s digital teams. This week in our technical service bulletin, Helen will be looking at steps to improve accessibility.

Top ten recommended Technical Service Bulletins of the year

30 Dec 2019, 9 a.m.

At Sitemorse, we produce weekly Technical Service Bulletins on our blog. We’re looking back at then top ten we really recommend you read!

Technical Service Bulletin Week 52 - Changing number of pages on the site

23 Dec 2019, 9 a.m.

Sitemorse assessments which are larger can sometimes vary in terms of page numbers. This week Helen is looking into the reasons why this may be.

Takeaways from the Domino’s digital accessibility saga

20 Dec 2019, 9 a.m.

The Domino’s case has been arguably the most high-profile accessibility case from the last year. The Domino’s brand is now tainted as a large corporation who doesn’t care about disabilities; what can other organisations learn from this?

Why universities need digital rockstars

18 Dec 2019, 9 a.m.

Universities are now required to conform to the Level AA of WCAG 2.1 and therefore Digital Managers have had accessibility compliance added onto their responsibilities. So what are the challenges these individuals and teams are facing?

Technical Service Bulletin Week 51 - Tips for reviewing assessment results

16 Dec 2019, 9 a.m.

This week in our technical service bulletin Helen is giving tips on reviewing your scheduled assessments and how to make best use of priorities.

Some of our favourite Sitemorse articles from 2019

13 Dec 2019, 9 a.m.

The Sitemorse blog is always updated with new relevant content and it’s been a great year for our blog. Take a look at some of the best articles from this year.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 50 – News from the UK and US

12 Dec 2019, 3 p.m.

The latest instalment of our weekly accessibility bulletin is out. We look at the progress UK Local Authorities are making are making towards their websites being accessible. We also look at what’s happening with lawsuits in the US and a partnership between Sitemorse and dania software.

UK Local Government – state of the sector report

12 Dec 2019, 2:30 p.m.

Sitemorse, in conjunction with Socitm, have published their 2nd State of the Sector report that assesses the progress that UK Local Government organisations are making to ensure that their websites are accessible.

Four more great examples of digital rockstars

11 Dec 2019, 9 a.m.

We love working with digital rockstars, those who believe in getting things done; you, our clients and our people. We’re privileged to work with those who follow good practices to deliver a great online experience for all, find out about four more examples.

Technical Service Bulletin Week 50 - Accessibility category help features

9 Dec 2019, 9 a.m.

Accessibility is one of the main areas of a Sitemorse assessment and we assess against the WCAG 2.1 guidelines. This week, Helen will be taking us through the accessibility module of a Sitemorse report.

Make sure you spend all of this year’s budget

6 Dec 2019, 9 a.m.

Budget’s are often tight, so it’s a good idea to not waste an opportunity to invest in your website and the team that run it. If your financial year ends on 31st December, don’t let your 2019-2020 left over budget go to waste.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 49 – website accessibility in retail

5 Dec 2019, 3 p.m.

This week we take a look the progress retailers are making towards their websites being accessible. We also have a tip for making accessible videos and we take a look at online education websites.

The role automation plays in managing brand risk and consistency

4 Dec 2019, 9 a.m.

Brand is a topical area within organisations, and needs to managed appropriately to reduce risks. Find out how automation can play a key role in this.

Technical Service Bulletin Week 49 - Updating Spelling in a Report or SMARTVIEW

2 Dec 2019, 9 a.m.

Spelling is an area that Sitemorse assessments covers. We check the lang attribute within a page to determine which language dictionary to compare that page's words against but you can also add your own words to your dictionary, for example, if your organisation uses a term which isn’t in the dictionary.

Sitemorse and dania software announce collaboration on web accessibility

29 Nov 2019, 2:41 p.m.

We are please to announce a new collaboration agreement with dania software, supporting each other in bringing awareness to and improving web accessibility in the public sector.

How do we compare against the competition?

29 Nov 2019, 9 a.m.

Our services are often compared to our competitors in the market, especially Siteimprove. We’ve put together some information on the areas we get commonly asked about relating to the differences between our services.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 48 – website accessibility remains a hot topic.

28 Nov 2019, 3 p.m.

The latest instalment of our weekly accessibility bulletin is out, and website accessibility remains a hot topic, we’re looking at how UK Police Forces are progressing and advise that has been given to the sector.

Digital accessibility can impact your reputation

27 Nov 2019, 9 a.m.

Digital accessibility compliance is crucial for those with accessibility needs and many organisations are being reported on in the media about the extent of their compliance levels, one of the best known examples of this is the high profile Domino’s case in the US.

UK Police Force Websites, what's happening with Accessibility?

26 Nov 2019, 9 a.m.

This week the results of the UK Police Forces INDEX for 2019 Q4 have been released. How are sites doing, are they meeting the WCAG 2.1 guidelines?

Technical Service Bulletin Week 48 - Setting alternative text for images

25 Nov 2019, 9 a.m.

Alt (alternative) text is used on a webpage to describe the appearance and function of an image and is important for accessibility compliance. This week Helen is looking at setting alt text for images.

Five tips for successful annual appraisals for the digital team

22 Nov 2019, 9 a.m.

Digital teams are often small and specialist (and sometimes are just one person) making the appraisal process challenging, especially if the rest of the organisation doesn’t quite understand what the digital team does. Read our tips for successful annual appraisals for the digital team in your organisation.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 47 – website accessibility is a growing issue

21 Nov 2019, 3 p.m.

Our weekly accessibility bulletin is out, this week we’re look at UK Central Government’s progress, what can be done to make sites compliant and how the UK Public sector in general is doing.

UK Central Government Websites, what's happening with Accessibility?

20 Nov 2019, 1:51 p.m.

The 2019 Q4 UK Central Government INDEX has been released this week. How are sites doing, are they meeting the WCAG 2.1 guidelines?

Everything you do should be accessible

19 Nov 2019, 9 a.m.

Accessibility is a hot topic across all sectors spanning all continents. The WCAG 2.1 Guidelines have been in force for over a year now and there are separate regulations covering various sectors across the globe.

Technical Service Bulletin Week 47 - Images diagnostics

18 Nov 2019, 9 a.m.

Images are used on a website for decorative purposes and to convey information, some even say they can improve User Experience. Images should be used correctly on a website, Helen is this week looking at how actions relating to images are shown within a Sitemorse assessment.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 46 – website accessibility is a global issue

14 Nov 2019, 3 p.m.

We’ve released our weekly accessibility bulletin, we’ve seen the release of the UK Local Government INDEX for Q4, big companies in Australia not meeting the regulations and more on litigation is the US.

Four great web management approaches from Sitemorse clients

13 Nov 2019, 9 a.m.

Our clients include some true digital rockstars who follow good practices to deliver a great online experience for all.

Q4 2019 INDEX - UK Local Government, what's happening with Accessibility?

12 Nov 2019, 9 a.m.

The Q4 2019 INDEX results for the UK Local Government sector has been released this week. How are the authorities doing? Are sites meeting accessibility regulations?

Technical Service Bulletin Week 46 - What are INDEX assessments

11 Nov 2019, 9 a.m.

The Sitemorse INDEX has been running for over 15 years now. This week in our Technical Service Bulletin, Helen will be going through what the INDEX is and how to view the results of the INDEX.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 45 – accessibility compliance isn't going away

7 Nov 2019, 3 p.m.

Our weekly accessibility bulletin is out, we’ve seen the release of the UK & IE Universities INDEX for Q4, ADA cases on the increase and the Haro bicycle case.

Bloomreach and Sitemorse Partnership, bringing real-time digital experience reporting

7 Nov 2019, 10 a.m.

Bloomreach and Sitemorse have announced their strategic technology partnership that will enable Bloomreach customers to leverage the power of Sitemorse from within the Bloomreach Digital Experience Platform, brX.

Five reasons why improving accessibility is a strategic investment

6 Nov 2019, 9 a.m.

Accessibility is a key topic within digital teams. Although we often hear improving accessibility will only benefit those with disabilities, however, this isn’t true. Improving accessibility improves User Experience for all and is an opportunity to educate your digital team.

Q4 2019 INDEX - UK & IE Universities, what's happening with Accessibility?

5 Nov 2019, 9 a.m.

The Q4 2019 INDEX results for UK & IE Universities has been released this week. How are the Universities doing? Are sites meeting accessibility regulations?

Technical Service Bulletin Week 45 - What are Key Pages

4 Nov 2019, 9 a.m.

Key pages form part of our daily assessments for our DIGITALCONFIDENCE service, they can be set to any page of your site and run every day to assess your most important pages compliance. In this week’s technical service bulletin, Helen is look at what Key Pages are and how to configure them.

Bracknell Forest Council online for all - demonstrating accessibility excellence

1 Nov 2019, 9 a.m.

The Digital Services Team at Bracknell Forest Council have been leading the charge on accessibility be it from the internal education to external excellence online. Find out more about how the authority have improved.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 44 – website accessibility is a global issue.

31 Oct 2019, 3 p.m.

This week’s accessibility bulletin is out, we’ve seen articles that are discussing the need to make websites accessible and shows that this is a topic that applies across multiple sectors and geographies.

Eight characteristics of Digital Rockstars

30 Oct 2019, 9 a.m.

Digital rockstars are people that make things happen and get things done, creating and managing websites that deliver great content and excellent customer experiences that are fully compliant with the law, often on a relatively low budget.

Technical Service Bulletin Week 44 - Social media site assessments

28 Oct 2019, 9 a.m.

As part of our daily assessments Sitemorse can run your social media pages, find out how this service works in our technical service bulletin this week.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 43 – focus on making websites accessible

24 Oct 2019, 3 p.m.

This week’s accessibility bulletin is out, and lots has been talked about this week, but in a different way. There is a focus on making websites accessible rather than just litigation cases.

Eight good practices for a web content audit

23 Oct 2019, 9 a.m.

We recently wrote about websites suffering from digital bloat. This week we’re looking at best practices around content audits.

Accessibility Across UK & IE Universities and Higher Education Establishments

22 Oct 2019, 9 a.m.

Public Sector Bodies are legally responsible for their website meeting accessibility requirements, even if they have outsourced their website to a supplier. Sitemorse have published a State of the Nation report that assesses the progress that the UK Higher Education Sector are making to ensure that their websites are accessible.

Technical Service Bulletin Week 43 - Page titles and metadata

21 Oct 2019, 9 a.m.

Page titles and metadata are used by search engines to rank pages in search results. Find out more about them in our technical service bulletin this week.

State of the Nation Report on Accessibility Across UK Local Authorities

18 Oct 2019, 9 a.m.

In collaboration with Socitm, we have published a State of the Nation report that assesses the progress that UK Local Authorities are making to ensure that their websites are accessible. Public Sector Bodies are legally responsible for their website meeting accessibility requirements, even if they have outsourced their website to a supplier.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 42 – Domino’s Pizza non-ruling, and more.

17 Oct 2019, 3 p.m.

This week’s accessibility bulletin is out, and lots has been talked about this week. More on the Domino’s Pizza case, UK Central Government compliance levels and best practices for accessibility.

Accessibility Across UK Central Government

17 Oct 2019, 9 a.m.

We’re publishing a State of the Nation report that assesses the progress that UK Central Government organisations are making to ensure that their websites are accessible. Public Sector Bodies are legally responsible for their website meeting accessibility requirements, even if they have outsourced their website to a supplier.

Act now to prevent mixed content on your website being blocked by Chrome

16 Oct 2019, 9 a.m.

Google is changing it's security settings in their Chrome browser would automatically block mixed content. Find out how Sitemorse can help identify pages with mixed content.

Technical Service Bulletin Week 42 - Downloading Heartbeat Monitoring History

15 Oct 2019, 9 a.m.

Heartbeat is the uptime and availability monitoring system from Sitemorse. This week in our technical service bulletin, we’re looking at how to download the monitoring history data.

We are having a new CMS... - so what, visitors don't know this - actions now drive improvement.

9 Oct 2019, 9:50 a.m.

There are almost always improvements you can make to your website and its content that are not wholly dependent on your CMS. Use Sitemorse to focus on a programme of continuous improvement. We are having a new CMS...-so what, visitors don't know this-actions now drive improvement.

Clarity, knowledge and engagement: Working with your digital team

9 Oct 2019, 9 a.m.

Digital teams rely on their members to deliver strong digital experiences including content is of high quality and fully compliant with the law. So what can digital teams do to make sure they are able to fulfil their roles?

Technical Service Bulletin Week 41 - Sharing reports with other users

7 Oct 2019, 9 a.m.

Reports from Sitemorse can be shared with different users or organisations. This week’s technical service bulletin goes into the detail of how to share a report.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 40 – how can website accessibility best be addressed?

5 Oct 2019, 8:05 a.m.

This week’s accessibility bulletin is out, and lots has been talked about this week. Are UK Local Government authorities meeting accessibility standards? How website accessibility affects your online business and more.

Accessibility Across UK Local Authorities

4 Oct 2019, 4:48 p.m.

Public Sector Bodies are legally responsible for their website meeting accessibility requirements, even if they have outsourced their website to a supplier. Sitemorse, in collaboration with Socitm, are publishing a State of the Nation report that assesses the progress that UK Local Authorities are making to ensure that their websites are accessible.

How to reduce digital bloat on your website

2 Oct 2019, 9 a.m.

Out-of-date pages, ancient PDFs, old news items, microsites from long-expired campaigns and newsletters that nobody reads leads to extreme “digital bloat”, so how do you tackle this?

Technical Service Bulletin Week 40 - Benefits of Sitemorse CMS Integration (SCI)

30 Sep 2019, 9 a.m.

INCMS enables seamless publishing control from within your CMS provider. This week Helen Grimbly, is looking at how INCMS works and the benefits.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 39 – Beyoncé, Accessibility Statements and Priorities

26 Sep 2019, 3 p.m.

This week’s accessibility bulletin is out, and lots has been talked about this week. The deadline has come for UK Public Sector bodies to publish an accessibility statement, Hotels INDEX results have been published and the Beyonce case has been looked into.

Hotels – Is Accessibility the top of their to do list?

25 Sep 2019, 1:22 p.m.

The results of the Q3 2019 Hotels INDEX have been released. Have sites improved, can we sites making progress towards accessibility compliance?

Technical Service Bulletin Week 39 - Assessing pages in an Intranet or behind a firewall

23 Sep 2019, 9 a.m.

Sitemorse isn’t just limited to assessing live content available to the public, we can also assess pages behind a firewall or in an Intranet. Find out more in this weeks technical service bulletin.

Global Top 250 Retailers / UK Retail 500 scoring poorly for accessibility

20 Sep 2019, 9 a.m.

The results of both the 2019 Q3 Global Top 250 Retailers INDEX and UK Retail 500 INDEX have been released this week. We’re summarising the results of both sectors this week to see how the retailers are fairing in terms of accessibility.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 38 – court cases continue in the US and a new service in the UK

19 Sep 2019, 3 p.m.

This week’s accessibility bulletin is out, and with more talk of cases in the US should organisations be taking note and getting themselves compliant? We’re looking at these cases aswell as a new service launching in the UK.

Our new and shiny email category

17 Sep 2019, 9 a.m.

We’ve released the first of our updated assessment category summary pages. The first to be released is Email, find out more about the updates that have taken place and the unique features in the email category.

Technical Service Bulletin Week 38 - Running assessments from the dashboard

16 Sep 2019, 9 a.m.

The Sitemorse dashboard allows managers to have a quick overview of their digital footprint, but it also has other features too. This week in our technical service bulletin, Helen will be at how to run assessments from the dashboard.

UK London-listed PLCs - are they taking accessibility seriously?

13 Sep 2019, 9 a.m.

The results of the Q3 2019 UK London-listed PLCs INDEX were published this week. Are sites improving? Has the site at the top changed since last quarter and are sites meeting the Web Content #Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)?

Accessibility Bulletin Week 37 – What is your level of risk?

12 Sep 2019, 3 p.m.

We’re again looking at the interesting website accessibility references for this week. We’re focusing on risk this week.

Confusion Around Accessibility in the UK Public Sector

11 Sep 2019, 9 a.m.

In a recent interview with Sitemorse CEO Lawrence Shaw, he explained the confusion around digital compliance and gave some pointers on a pragmatic way forward with accessibility in the UK Public Sector.

Technical Service Bulletin Week 37 - How to search a site for a word or phrase

9 Sep 2019, 9 a.m.

Looking for a word or phrase on your site? In this weeks technical service bulletin, Helen looks at how you can do this from the Sitemorse interface.

Establishing Brand Consistency across Websites

6 Sep 2019, 9 a.m.

Content on websites should be clearly written, well-structured, easy to understand and accessible to all. Sitemorse works with clients to review brand, style, and publishing guidelines to ensure content is meeting organisations regulations.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 36 – Risk, Regulations and Truth

5 Sep 2019, 3 p.m.

More of the most interesting website accessibility articles for this week. This week, we’re focusing on Risk, Regulations and Truth.

Understanding digital management efficiencies and cost savings

4 Sep 2019, 9 a.m.

We frequently see digital teams who have the right objectives but sometimes with a focus on the wrong process or approach, this leads to them wasting time and money. Read about four ways we often see digital teams doing just this.

Are UK Police Forces catering well enough for citizens with disabilities?

3 Sep 2019, 9 a.m.

The results of the Q3 2019 UK Police Forces INDEX were published this week. Are sites improving? Are they meeting the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)?

Technical Service Bulletin Week 36 - How to view all site email addresses

2 Sep 2019, 9 a.m.

As part of a Sitemorse assessment we record and test all the email addresses we find. This week in our technical service bulletin, Helen will take you through how to view these.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 35 – Social Media, Education Establishments and Car Dealerships

29 Aug 2019, 3 p.m.

More of the most interesting website accessibility articles for this week. This week, there were none on Dominos but the Education sector has had a lot of light.

Bringing governance to your social media footprint

27 Aug 2019, 9 a.m.

Social media is major component of most organisation’s digital footprint and it shouldn’t be forgotten about when it comes to compliance. Find out how automation can help ensure consistency and compliance across these channels.

Technical Service Bulletin Week 35 - Using Aria to improve Accessibility

26 Aug 2019, 9 a.m.

ARIA should be used on top of HTML features rather than a replacement. This week in our technical service bulletin, Helen is looking at examples of when ARIA should be used.

Accessibility Bulletin Week 34 – Increasing lawsuits, UK Central Government, What can you do...

22 Aug 2019, 3 p.m.

More of the most interesting website accessibility articles for this week. This week we look at the increasing lawsuits, UK Central Government, What can you do to address the issue.

The advantages of aligning internal and external digital channels

21 Aug 2019, 9 a.m.

It’s widely argued that customer and employee experience are inextricably linked. We’re looking at the benefits of investing in both for your organisation and the implications this can have on digital teams.

Central Government seems to be failing users with disabilities

20 Aug 2019, 9 a.m.

The results of the 2019 Q3 UK Central Government #INDEX have been released. How are organisations doing, are they on track to meet the EU directive on accessibility? Are they optimising User Experience with a compliant website?

Technical Service Bulletin Week 34 - Improving accessibility helps everyone

19 Aug 2019, 9 a.m.

Web accessibility is often in the news now with litigation cases and legislation. In this weeks technical service bulletin, Helen is looking at the benefits improving accessibility brings to all.