Common Email Accessibility Issues

Common Email Accessibility Issues

Common email accessibility issues include missing alt text on images, insufficient color contrast, image-only emails without text alternatives, unclear link text, and missing plain text versions. Fix these issues to make emails accessible to all recipients.

Quick Answer

Common email accessibility issues include missing alt text on images, insufficient color contrast, image-only emails without text alternatives, unclear link text, and missing plain text versions. Fix these issues to make emails accessible to all recipients.

Most Common Issues and How to Fix Them

1. Missing Alt Text on Images

The problem: Images without alt text are invisible to screen readers, making content inaccessible to blind users.

How to identify:

• Use email testing tools like MailMoxie to automatically identify missing alt text
• Check if all <img> tags have alt attributes
• Test with screen reader—images will be skipped or read as "image"

How to fix:

• Add descriptive alt text for informative images
• Use empty alt (alt="") for decorative images
• Keep alt text concise and meaningful

Example:

❌ Poor: <img src="product.jpg">
✅ Good: <img src="product.jpg" alt="Wireless headphones in black">
✅ Decorative: <img src="divider.jpg" alt="">

2. Insufficient Color Contrast

The problem: Text that doesn't contrast enough with backgrounds is hard to read for people with low vision or color blindness.

How to identify:

• Use email testing tools like MailMoxie to identify insufficient color contrast with clear recommendations
• Use contrast checker tools (WebAIM, Colour Contrast Analyser)
• Check if contrast ratio is at least 4.5:1 for text

How to fix:

• Increase contrast between text and background
• Use darker text on light backgrounds (or vice versa)
• Test with contrast checker before sending

Example:

• ❌ Poor: Light gray (#CCCCCC) on white (1.6:1)
• ✅ Good: Dark gray (#333333) on white (12.6:1)

3. Image-Only Emails

The problem: Emails that are just images without text alternatives can't be read by screen readers or when images are blocked.

How to identify:

• Check if email has meaningful text content
• Test with images disabled
• Review email in plain text version

How to fix:

• Include text content in email body
• Add alt text to all images
• Ensure plain text version has all information
• Don't rely on images for critical information

4. Unclear Link Text

The problem: Links that say "click here" or "read more" don't tell users where they're going without context.

How to identify:

• Use email testing tools like MailMoxie to identify unclear link text
• Review all links in email
• Check if links make sense when read alone
• Test with screen reader (links are often read out of context)

How to fix:

• Write descriptive link text
• Include destination in link text
• Avoid generic phrases like "click here"

Example:

• ❌ Poor: "Click here to read more"
• ✅ Good: "Read our email accessibility guide"
• ❌ Poor: "Download"
• ✅ Good: "Download the accessibility checklist PDF"

5. Missing Plain Text Versions

The problem: HTML-only emails may not work well with all assistive technologies or email clients.

How to identify:

• Check if email service provider sends plain text
• Review plain text version (if available)
• Test with text-only email clients

How to fix:

• Ensure email service provider sends both HTML and plain text
• Verify plain text contains all important information
• Match structure and content between versions

6. Poor Heading Structure

The problem: Missing or improper headings make it hard for screen reader users to navigate email content.

How to identify:

• Check if email uses heading tags (h1, h2, h3)
• Verify heading hierarchy is logical
• Test navigation with screen reader

How to fix:

• Use <h1> for main title
• Use <h2> for major sections
• Use <h3> for subsections
• Don't skip heading levels

7. Small Clickable Areas

The problem: Small buttons or links are hard to click for people with motor disabilities or on mobile devices.

How to identify:

• Measure button and link sizes
• Test on mobile devices
• Check spacing between clickable elements

How to fix:

• Make buttons at least 44x44 pixels
• Add sufficient padding around links
• Ensure adequate spacing between elements

8. Relying on Color Alone

The problem: Using only color to convey information excludes people with color blindness.

How to identify:

• Check if important information is only conveyed by color
• Review error messages, status indicators, required fields

How to fix:

• Add text labels (e.g., "Error:" not just red text)
• Use icons or symbols in addition to color
• Ensure information is clear without color

Example:

• ❌ Poor: Red text for errors (no label)
• ✅ Good: "Error:" label with red text
• ❌ Poor: Green checkmark only
• ✅ Good: "Success" text with green checkmark

Quick Fix Checklist

✅ Alt text: All images have descriptive alt text
✅ Color contrast: At least 4.5:1 for text
✅ Text content: Email has meaningful text, not just images
✅ Link text: Descriptive, not "click here"
✅ Plain text: Included with HTML version
✅ Headings: Proper structure (h1 → h2 → h3)
✅ Button size: At least 44x44 pixels
✅ Color use: Information not conveyed by color alone

Common Questions

Q: Which issue should I fix first?

A: Start with alt text and color contrast—these affect the most users and are easy to fix. Then address link text and plain text versions.

Q: How do I know if my email has these issues?

A: Use email testing tools like MailMoxie to identify accessibility issues with clear recommendations on what to fix and how to fix it. You can also use automated tools (WAVE, axe DevTools), test with screen readers, check color contrast, and review email with images disabled.

Q: Can I fix these issues in existing emails?

A: Yes, you can improve existing emails by adding alt text, improving contrast, fixing links, and adding plain text. Start with high-priority emails.

Q: What if my email service provider doesn't support plain text?

A: Most modern providers support both HTML and plain text automatically. If yours doesn't, consider switching providers or manually creating plain text versions.

Q: Do I need to fix all issues immediately?

A: Prioritize critical issues (alt text, contrast, link text) first. Gradually address other issues. Focus on new emails and templates.

Q: How do I test for these issues?

A: Use email testing tools like MailMoxie to identify accessibility issues with clear recommendations on what to fix and how to fix it. You can also use automated tools, test with screen readers (NVDA, VoiceOver), check color contrast, disable images, and review plain text versions.

Q: What if fixing these issues changes my email design?

A: Good accessible design is good design. Most fixes improve usability without changing appearance. Accessibility enhances, not detracts from, design.

Q: Are there tools to automatically fix these issues?

A: Some tools can identify issues, but most fixes require manual work. Automated tools help find problems, but you need to fix them yourself.

Key Takeaways

• Missing alt text makes images invisible to screen readers—add descriptive alt text to all images
• Insufficient color contrast makes text hard to read—ensure at least 4.5:1 contrast ratio
• Image-only emails can't be read by screen readers—include text content and alt text
• Unclear link text doesn't tell users where they're going—write descriptive link text
• Missing plain text versions limit compatibility—always include plain text with HTML
• Poor heading structure makes navigation difficult—use proper heading hierarchy
• Small clickable areas are hard to use—make buttons at least 44x44 pixels
• Relying on color alone excludes color blind users—add text labels and icons
• Fix critical issues first (alt text, contrast, links), then address others gradually
• Use email testing tools like MailMoxie to identify accessibility issues with clear recommendations on what to fix and how to fix it
• Test with screen readers and automated tools to identify and fix issues