3 Simple Accessibility Tips to Make Your LinkedIn Content Inclusive

Hi there, you confident-disability inclusive soul.

What's up with your LinkedIn posts?

Do you want them to be accessible and inclusive for blind and partially sighted people?

Sure you do.

Because it's no fun pretending you are an inclusive business cooking up an accessible LinkedIn post only to have it look like a dead plate, right?

Here are 3 simple tips to help you get started.

Ready?

1. Accessible Hashtags.

Make the first letter of the words you use a capital letter or the second word a capital.

When you do this the screen reader a blind person uses will be able to detect them and read them properly.

It's also called the Camel Case hashtag and it looks like this.

#accessibleHashtags or like this #AccessibleHashatgs

Reminder: Avoid placing your hashtag in the middle of your sentences because screen readers read out punctuation marks so you can imagine what that sounds like when they're mid-post.

Warning: LinkedIn autocorrect has a habit of changing them back that's quite frustrating. Grrr...

2. Alt Text

Do you want people with visual disabilities to glimpse inside your post?

Then promise them a generous vision with alt text.

Alt text is the text you see describing an image or a graphic (like the one I have for the image above). It’s also called "alt attributes" or “alt descriptions".

It's helpful when a blind or partially sighted person uses a screen reader to view your post because they’ll know what your photo is about.

Sure, you could leave it blank and let LinkedIn do its magic but you risk pooping on your keywords and losing precious ranking points.

Reminder: Deafblind?people don't use a screen reader.

Instead, they use a braille display or speech recognition software.

So, if you want the best possible result, add alt text in the alt text box, in your post, and in the comment section.

Why in the comment section?

Because your image description might be too long.

In that case, you will not be able to add it to your post along with all the other insightful information you're sharing.

3. Emojis

We all love the little bitesize emotion giving a feeling face to our post.

But does accessibility love them, too?

Emojis have a Unicode string that represents each emoji when your cursor falls on it.

This is the code the screen reader reads to a blind or partially sighted person.

The screen reader translates an image’s meaning via its alt text, and emojis are also ‘read’ through this type of alt text, the Unicode string.

For example, no one wants to listen to "pile of poo" ten times in a row, right? (my son's idea, and yes, I'm secretly giggling).

What can you do?

Use emojis occasionally. Avoid long emoji strings. And, avoid using them as a replacement for text.

Ready to inject accessibility into your LinkedIn posts?

Use these 3 little things and your sparkling LinkedIn social media posts will be brimming with accessibility.

And, my fingers will thank you because they'll stop invading your mailbox with gentle reminders.

Finally, I know I've promised an accessible resort but I had to postpone my interview for juicy details.

You see, my son was diagnosed with epilepsy last week and it's been an emotional rollercoaster for my family.

But don't worry, it's coming.

In fact, 3 more exciting things are coming in the next two weeks.

1. My brand new accessible website from yours truly, Clive Loseby , and his sophisticated team at Access by Design .

Because I got tired I've struggling to meet accessibility guidelines.

Got big web accessibility goals?

Reach out and these authoritative souls will have your website feeling accessible in no time.

Trust me.

2. My new e-book, ?"No Accessible LinkedIn Content? Your number 1 guidebook to creating truly accessible LinkedIn content."

This e-book will answer all your questions on creating accessible social media content on LinkedIn.

Including, the body of your posts, color contrast, and captions.

Why an e-book?

Because, if you’re anything like me, then you only eat up information when it's clear, crisp, and actionable.

Do you have ideas you feel belong in this e-book?

Reach out.

I'd love to hear from you.

3. Empowering and sweet, Debra Ruh has invited me on her podcast, Human Potential at Work in June.

We'll grab a cup of coffee and talk about digital accessibility in education, orientation, and mobility programs and guide dog schools for blind and visually impaired people.

Get your own cup of coffee and join us.

Finally, if you know anything or anyone that can tell me more about childhood epilepsy, please get in touch.

Happy weekend from cloudy Basel.

Lia ??

PS Did you know I write sparkling disability-inclusive content?

If you're looking for content to boost your disability-inclusive business, send me a message? Lia Stoll ??

#Accessibility

#LinkedInMarketing

#ContentWriter