The European Accessibility Act (EAA) introduces new requirements for digital accessibility, particularly impacting emails and newsletters. Are your email campaigns compliant with this European regulation? Ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience is now a legal obligation.
Summary- Why email accessibility is essential
- Rules to follow for an accessible email
- Best practices for an inclusive newsletter
- Mistakes to avoid
- Summary table of best practices
- In short: Do your emails and newsletters comply with the European Accessibility Act?
Why email accessibility is essential
With the adoption of the European Accessibility Act, web accessibility is no longer optional but mandatory. An accessible email ensures that everyone, including people with disabilities, can read and interact with your messages. It also enhances your user experience (UX), broadens your audience, boosts engagement, and, if you communicate about it, strengthens your brand image.
Which email solution should a media company use to comply with European legislation?
Rules to follow for an accessible email
To comply with newsletter accessibility standards, your emails must follow certain guidelines:
- Adhere to WCAG and RGAA standards
- Ensure good color contrast
- Use readable fonts with an appropriate size
- Include alt descriptions for images
- Make links and buttons easily clickable
- Optimize HTML structure for smooth reading
Best practices for an inclusive newsletter
Adopting an inclusive marketing approach involves concrete actions:
- Write clear and concise subject lines and content
- Favor a simple and airy layout
- Test emails with screen readers
- Use responsive email templates
Mistakes to avoid
To ensure email compliance, avoid:
- Text embedded in images without alternative descriptions
- Low-contrast colors
- Buttons that are too small or too close together
- Poorly structured HTML code
Summary table of best practices
| Criterion | Best Practice |
|---|---|
| Color contrast | Maintain a minimum ratio of 4.5:1 |
| Alternative text | Add descriptions to images |
| Font size | Minimum 16px for readability |
| Navigation | Ensure smooth keyboard navigation |
| Screen reader compatibility | Test with adapted tools |
No time to read? Here’s a recap
In short: Do your emails and newsletters comply with the European Accessibility Act?
- The European Accessibility Act sets standards to ensure the digital accessibility of emails and newsletters.
- An accessible email improves user experience and ensures compliance with European regulations.
- Key criteria include adhering to WCAG and RGAA guidelines, ensuring good color contrast, using readable fonts, and adding alt descriptions to images.
- Inclusive marketing relies on clear subject lines, clean layouts, and screen reader compatibility.
- Avoid common mistakes: text embedded in images without alt text, small buttons, and unstructured HTML.
- Adopt responsive, readable, and compliant emails to reach a broader audience and ensure legal compliance.