Considerations for Dental Web Site Accessibility

Having a website that is accessible has become a hot topic in the dental community and in other industries. An important recommendation is that you not allow yourself to be an easy target by having an outdated website. Having a current website that uses modern technology is important not only for accessibility to patients and potential patients with specials needs but also for people who are now accessing sites more frequently with mobile devices compared to traditional desktop and laptop computers.

Please note that ADA is an acronym used for both American Dental Association and Americans with Disabilities Act but for the purposes of this article, we will use ADA to refer to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

A website developer alone cannot make your practice compliant. You can think of ADA compliance in a similar manner to how you manage OSHA or HIPAA compliance. You are only compliant as long as you are managing the day-to-day policies that keep your practice compliant. There are responsibilities for the practice that extend beyond the physical website. You and your office staff should seek guidance on how to interact with special needs patients in a variety of areas, such as handling questions over the phone or in person for patients who may have difficulty understanding or interpreting information that is presented online. Guidelines for working with patients with service animals, and a number of other areas, should all be factored into the office policies and training for accommodating patients with special needs.

It is important to also consider that there may be elements such as links or embedded information from outside sites, such as review or social media sites, or additional online services, such as online forms or rewards systems, that may be used by a practice and included in a website that falls outside the purview of the web development company. You should speak to each company to determine whether their design is a fit for your office.

Before selecting a new web developer, take a test drive. There is more at stake in terms of your marketing dollars than simply being compliant or having a site that is accessible at a certain level of standards. You want an informed design that takes into account the user experience for all types of users, especially with the growth in mobile web browsing. If you are reviewing photographers for an upcoming wedding, you are likely to view a number of photographers’ portfolios prior to making a decision on which one to select for your special event. When selecting a new web company, we recommend that you review some of the web designs on a mobile device and a laptop/desktop computer to see how they work on each device.

Further, for a more in-depth understanding, try turning on some of the accessibility features on your mobile device for assessing the usability of the site for different visitors. For iOS version 10 devices, go to SETTINGS -> GENERAL -> ACCESSIBILITY, then scroll to the bottom and set the ACCESSIBILITY SHORTCUT option to VoiceOver. Once this option is turned on you, can triple click the home button on your iOS device to turn the VoiceOver feature on and off. If you use a different type of mobile device, a web search should allow you to find instructions for enabling these features. Instructions for enabling accessibility options can vary depending on the device as well as on the operating software version installed on the device. This article will not attempt to cover all possible scenarios.

Now try navigating the sample sites using the audio features only. You can try it blindfolded or by closing your eyes. While this can be challenging, you will quickly find that some sites are much easier to navigate than others when using the accessibility features, even though these sites may all be considered as designed to be accessible. It is a worthwhile exercise that will help you make a more informed decision when selecting a web company to build your new site.

The WCAG 2.0 Level AA Guidelines are the closest thing to an accepted standard for determining website accessibility. We recommend that you seek guidance from your local attorney or one specializing in accessibility to get specific guidance for your particular practice as there can be disagreement between jurisdictions as to whether websites fall under the purview of the AWDA. These guidelines are just that, guidelines, but are not necessarily a formal legal standard. The WCAG 2.0 Level AA guidelines focus on the four following key areas.

The first principle is PERCEIVABLE. Is the information for visually-impaired users accessible to receive via sound or touch? For hearing impaired users, is information available via sight? Low vision users may need information presented with alternative formatting or zoomed to a larger text. Color deficient users may need information presented without the use of color. These areas can particularly come into play when using video and photography on a site. There are methods such as closed captioning and title tags for photography that can be incorporated into the site design to assist with information being perceivable to people with differing needs.

The second principle is OPERABLE. Functions that are triggered by a mouse or trackpad should also be accessible via the keyboard. The user should be given sufficient time to read and use the content. The content should not induce seizures. Users should be provided with mechanisms to skip repetitive content, and landmarks should be provided that help provide meaningful headings and link text. Multiple paths should be provided to navigate the site structure.

Third is UNDERSTANDABLE. The site should be free of unannounced pop-up windows. Separate submit buttons should be provided to initiate form submissions. Navigation and labels should be consistent throughout the site. Forms should clearly indicate for the visually–impaired user what information belongs in each section. Instructions for how to deal with errors when entering information should be clear and easy to understand.

The fourth principle is ROBUST. This simply means that the site should be created with the use of assistive technologies in mind.

This is just a brief summary of the key points covered by the WCAG Level 2 Guidelines. The full set of guidelines is technical and best handled by a web development team with a focus on accessibility as part of their design process.

Technology is evolving at a rapid pace. By selecting a web provider that uses modern development platforms as opposed to systems that may be based on older and more antiquated technology, you are more likely to have a long–term solution that can be adapted and upgraded over time without having to start over with another company. Look for a company that does more than simply target a set of standards, but that instead provides a unique and value driven design that will have the maximum impact for your practice for all users, with a focus on mobile platforms as mobile is quickly overtaking the desktop as the primary method for online search.

Disclaimer: This article is presented for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal advice. Always seek the counsel of an attorney.

Scott Hawley is the CEO of Dentalfone. Dentalfone specializes in dental and orthodontic website design, SEO, and marketing services for dentists and dental specialists. Visit dentalfone.com for more information.

• Engaging Website Design

  First and foremost, the best dental websites feature an engaging website design that looks great and is intuitive to use. A new patient is not going to waste a lot of time trying to find out more about your dental staff members or how to book an appointment. Your dental website should make it easy to find this information and look aesthetically pleasing.

• Compelling Copy

  Many dentists offer similar services. This is why it’s important to use the written copy on your practice’s website to engage new patients and to show off what’s different about your practice. Any written copy should be customized to reflect your practice, its staff, and your level of professionalism. If your practice is warm and welcoming, the copy should reflect that.

• Mobile Friendly

  People search for your practice’s website from their mobile devices, whether they’re trying to find your phone number to reschedule an appointment during a few minutes of down time or looking for a new dentist. You want your website to be accessible across all of these devices. People are beginning to expect responsive designs that work on various platforms.

• Optimized for Search

  More and more patients are using search engines, like Google, to find a dentist. It’s critical that your website shows up in local search results. Make sure that your website follows these SEO best practices:

  • Incorporate relevant keywords into your title tags
  • Create separate pages for each of your services/procedures
  • Add your business Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) to the footer of every page

  In addition, be sure to create a verified Google My Business profile that links to your website, and optimize your Google profile with relevant categories. Finally, encourage your customers to get reviews. Ideally your website makes it easy for you to request reviews. With a Dentalfone website, this review-request functionality is built into your dental website. And our dentist SEO services ensure that all of these SEO best practices are taken care of for you.

• Modern Logo

  Your logo says a lot about your dental practice. An outdated logo tells new patients that your practice likely isn’t cutting edge or using the most innovative tools and technologies. A modern dental logo looks great and can help further your brand’s message. The best dental websites currently feature flat designs that convey a modern, professional image.

• Professional Photos

  In addition, it’s important to feature professional quality photos of team members, practice locations, and interiors pictures of dental offices. Pictures can go a long way toward establishing credibility and making new patients feel comfortable scheduling an appointment at your practice.

• People love watching videos

  They’re engaging and have the ability to reveal a lot of information quickly. We recommend utilizing videos on your website to introduce your practice, your staff, and your office. This helps new patients connect with your practice long before their first appointment.

These are just some of the things that best dental websites have in common. At Dentalfone, we create beautiful custom dental websites complete with all of these traits.

If you’re looking to upgrade your website, we invite  you to learn more about our dental website design services here or call us today at (855) 385-3663.

Is your dental practice showing up on the first page of the search results? If not, then prospective patients won’t even know that your practice exists. They’ll make an appointment with a competitor instead.

How can you get your practice showing up on the first page of Google’s search results?

In the article, we’ll walk you through the 7 keys of Local SEO. These are the same steps we use to get our dental SEO clients ranking on the first page of Google.

The next step is to promote your dental website, so you continue to generate new citations and links to your websites.

One promotion method in particular that we recommend for dentists is online press releases. By publishing press releases, you can build even more citations for your practice. Done correctly, a single press release can generate up to 200 citations for your practice!  

We recommend getting into a regular schedule with press releases so that you are consistently announcing and promoting news about your practice. For example, you can promote new services, seasonal specials, new hires, new office locations, rebranding, and new websites, as well as other announcements.

At Dentalfone, we specialize in search engine optimization for dentists. If you need help, you can learn more about our dental SEO services, or call us at (855) 385-3663.

We are sometimes asked why we develop cloud based applications for the dental industry, versus building apps for native phone operating systems. Here are some of the reasons why we feel cloud based apps are the best solution for our clients.

• Application Store Limitations

  Some companies do not allow “web based” applications in their application store. Doing so would crowd the store with custom applications that don’t generally apply to the public at large. It’s not necessary to have them in the application store as they can be easily loaded through the use of the URL or QR Code.

• Cross Platform

  The application would have to be developed specifically for each platform. Therefore the cost would be very high as much of the work would have to be done separately for each platform, iOS®, Android®, Windows®, Blackberry®, etc. Having a web based app allows us to run across a variety of phones, tablets, and computers, allowing you to reach a much broader audience.

• Updates

  As updates are made to the operating system of the phone it can and often does “break” apps, causing a need for significant development time to accommodate the changes. This could be extremely costly to keep up-to-date, especially when dealing with multiple OS platforms.

• Approval Process

  There is no guarantee that an app would be accepted into the app store by Apple® or other phone OS companies. They can block an app at any time for any reason. Rules for an application store can be updated and changed at any time by the companies that control them.

• Storage Space

  Traditional apps take up space on the device. A lot of users select devices with the lowest amount of memory space. It is less likely they would keep a dental app on their system if it is using precious storage space. A web based app only puts an icon on the home screen, it is not taking up additional space on the users device and more likely to be kept on their device if trying to save storage space.

• Ease of Use

  End users often forget the passwords to their application stores making it hard to assist them with loading the app when they are in your office. Being web based allows easier adding of the app without having to go into the app store.

• Updates

  A web based application is much easier to update with changes than one that must go through an app store. Also, see item 4, a revision could be blocked for an arbitrary reason, even if it is had been allowed before. Many users do not keep their apps up-to-date, being web based means users are always accessing the most current information.

These are some of the reasons Dentalfone® decided to use a cloud based app as opposed to an app designed for and limited to a particular device. To learn more about our services please contact us for more information. Our excellent sales team can share more great reasons why Dentalfone is the solution you’ve been looking for.

No matter the location of your dental practice, patients in your area likely have a lot of choices for their dental care. Standing out among other local practices is imperative to grow your business. You can't do this without a visually appealing and search engine-friendly website.

Your website is a crucial element to the success of the entire marketing strategy for your dental practice. The growth of your practice can hinge on the website designer you hire. Here are some practical tips on choosing the best agency to design your dental practice website.

• The new billboard of today’s world is the 3 X 5 inch screen on your patient’s mobile phone.
• Smartphones vs. Desktops: 57% of all internet search is now done from mobile phones.
• Facebook stock recently soared 9% due to a surge in ad revenue (82% was from mobile).
• Google changed their “7-Pack” local search results to “3-Pack” to fit mobile screen sizes.