The definition is obvious, but the meaning is often forgotten. Accessibility is the simple ability for internet traffic to access your site. If your site is inaccessible, you will lose a great deal of traffic and exposure.

I like to highlight accessibility as it is imperative for a webmaster. It tells the search engines you have "covered the bases," already and have the ability to welcome computers as well as people. An accessible web site will agree with most browsers, surfing devices (cell phones, etc.), connections and servers. Remember this equation:

Accessibility = Traffic = Promotion

Accessibility is lost when you start incorporating extensive Java, Flash, or massive graphics when it simply isn't needed. Many of the web sites even today contain far too many graphics than are necessary. The last estimate stated that only 20% of Fortune 500 companies actually have accessible web sites. This astronomical figure is most often due to corporate hiring practices.

The web is a world unto itself. It continues to grow and there is no known boundaries. When students are formally trained in web design, they have to cover an unbelievable amount of information to earn a degree. They are taught the latest state-of-the-art technology because everything is essentially "obsolete" tomorrow. This academic triathlon is no easy feat and many students simply aren't given the necessary attention to providing a compliant web site. This is not to blame anyone, it isn't the colleges' fault, nor the professors', it is just a fact. In order to "keep up" it creates a situation where the student is so much farther ahead than the actual consumer. They can build complete movies with Flash, but aren't aware that the majority of the world can't access that movie.

Sadly, there are more Americans with a slow connection than most realize. It isn't limited to extremely rural areas. Even today, in many places with their own Starbucks or Macy's franchises, residents are limited to dial-up. The last estimate for internet connectivity stated that 20% of America remained limited to dial-up connections. Factor that in with America's population and that's over 44 million consumers. That's no small figure!

Another factor is many American webmasters tend to forgot how much international traffic is online. To return to a familiar figure, only around 20% of internet traffic is from America. When you consider international traffic (25% of France is stuck with dial-up, 52% of Russia, etc.), it's easy to see why web site problems are far more common than most believe. There are still countries in the world where telephone service is new and any high speed connectivity will not arrive for a long time.

The Truth About Connections

Also, don't let the term "high speed" fool you. Some computer users on overtaxed broadband lines are plagued with sluggish connection speeds. Some broadband providers place far too many clients on a single cable. The end result is a slow connection even with "broadband." Slow internet connections create problems worldwide.

Do not feel negatively if you are on dial-up. I had to use dial-up for nearly 10 years. I was able to run three domains with that limited ability. There were no extra lines or special equipment, just a standard phone line. Dial-up does not mean you are “limited” or a web presence is out of reach. You simply need flexibility and the knowledge of how to work around relevant problems.

The process of web space ownership is relatively simple and I hope to have you moved in to your ideal online “home,” by the end of this course. I do not want you to feel as if you're alone. I will answer any question you have as quickly as possible. If you have technical questions or problems with your computer during this course, please email me. I don't have all the answers, but I will do my best to point you in the right direction to find answers.