Blog post accessibility checklist: headings, alt text, links and emoji for small business blogs

A blog post or "News" update is the page small businesses publish most often, usually by whoever has time that week, not the web designer. Each new post can add new barriers: a picture of a flyer with no text, bold lines instead of headings, "click here" links. This checklist covers what the writer controls, in any blog editor.

1. Use real headings, in order

Break the post up with the editor's Heading 2 and Heading 3 styles, not just bold or bigger text. Screen reader users jump between headings to skim, just like sighted readers scan (WCAG 1.3.1, 2.4.6). The post title is usually the page's Heading 1, so start your sections at Heading 2 and don't skip levels for looks. See heading structure for SEO and accessibility.

2. Alt text for every meaningful image

Describe what the image tells the reader in a sentence ("Our new patio with six tables and heaters"), not "image1.jpg". Leave alt text empty only for purely decorative images, if your editor allows it (WCAG 1.1.1). If the image is a flyer or graphic with words on it, put those words in the post as text too. See alt text examples and flyers and images of text. If your tool writes alt text with AI, read it before publishing: reviewing AI alt text.

3. Links that say where they go

Write "see our holiday hours" instead of "click here" or a bare web address (WCAG 2.4.4). If a link opens a PDF, say so: "December menu (PDF)". See link text and buttons and accessible PDFs and menus.

4. Lists, short paragraphs and plain words

Use the editor's bullet or numbered list button for steps and lists rather than typing dashes, so they're announced as lists (WCAG 1.3.1). Keep paragraphs short, explain jargon, and put the key fact (date, price, address) near the top. Plain writing helps people with dyslexia, ADHD and people reading in a second language. See cognitive accessibility and readability.

5. Emoji, hashtags and special text

Screen readers read each emoji's name aloud ("party popper party popper party popper"), so use one where it adds meaning, not a row of them. Write hashtags in capitalised words (#ShopLocalTulsa, not #shoplocaltulsa) so they're read correctly. Avoid "fancy" Unicode letters from text generators; they're often read as symbols or skipped.

6. Videos, audio and embeds

A video in a post needs captions (WCAG 1.2.2); check auto-captions for names and numbers. A podcast or audio clip should have a transcript. Social posts and maps embedded in a post should also be summarised in text. See video captions and social media embeds.

7. Colour and formatting

Don't use coloured text alone to mark something important ("items in red are sold out"); add a word (WCAG 1.4.1). If you change text or highlight colours, check them with the free colour contrast checker (4.5:1 for normal text, WCAG 1.4.3). Avoid long passages in all capitals, italics or centred text.

Common mistakes

• Bold lines used as headings, so the post is one long block to a screen reader.
• An event flyer image as the whole post, with no text.
• "Click here" and "Read more" links.
• A row of emoji or fancy Unicode letters in the title.
• A video with no captions, or auto-captions with wrong names.

A 5-minute check before you hit Publish

1. Look at the outline or headings view in your editor if it has one: do the headings make sense on their own?
2. Check that every image has alt text, or is marked decorative.
3. Read only the link text: does each one say where it goes?
4. Is every date, price and address in the text, not only in an image?
5. Preview the post on your phone at 200% zoom.

What a scan can and can't check here

Automated scans find only part of the barriers on the pages they visit. Our scan can flag images with no alt text, skipped heading levels, empty links and many contrast problems. It can't tell whether your alt text is accurate, whether your link text makes sense, whether captions are correct, or whether your site meets any law. Our Fix-Pack checks up to 10 pages, which can include your blog index and recent posts, and gives copy-paste fixes for your platform. Since you'll keep publishing, see the maintenance plan too.

Writing or managing blogs for clients? The agency 5-pack gives you five white-label reports ($499, use within 12 months).

This is general technical guidance, not legal advice, and it doesn't certify compliance with the ADA or any law, or protect against claims.

Want the fixes written for you?

Start with a free homepage snapshot. The $149 Fix-Pack scans up to 10 pages and gives copy-paste fixes for your platform within 48 hours, with a 14-day refund promise. See a sample report first.

This is general technical guidance, not legal advice, and it does not certify compliance with the ADA or any law.

Posting a podcast, sermons or other audio? See audio, podcast and sermon accessibility.

Putting together a holiday gift guide? See holiday gift guide pages, gift boxes and bundles.

Related guides

• Meet the team page accessibility: staff photos, bios and pop-ups for small business websites
• File and photo upload accessibility: quote requests, job applications and claim forms
• Online waiver, intake form and e-signature accessibility for small businesses
• Locations page, store locator and service area map accessibility for small businesses

All guides

This guide is general technical information, not legal advice. Following it does not certify ADA or any legal compliance. Automated checks find only part of accessibility barriers.

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14-day refund promise. See a sample report first. A technical report, not legal advice; automated checks find only part of accessibility barriers.