A landing page can look flawless on desktop while creating barriers exactly where visitors are asked to act. Marketing reviews often check headlines, offers and conversion rates but forget whether users can read, navigate and complete the form in different ways.
The following check does not replace a specialist accessibility audit. It is a brief preliminary review that can become part of creative and content approval.
1. Test the main journey using only a keyboard
Move from the top of the page to its main action without a mouse. You should reach links, choices and forms in a predictable order, see the focus location and activate the choice. If you lose your place or an element fails to respond, record the exact steps needed to reproduce it.
2. Check whether the message works without the image
The headline should explain the offer rather than rely entirely on a slogan embedded in an image. Add alternative text for informative images; for purely decorative images, avoid unnecessary descriptions. Also check whether a video explaining the service has appropriate captions or an alternative description.
3. Read the page as a structure
Use a page heading and subheadings that reveal the information hierarchy. Form labels should stay visible and explain what is requested rather than disappear when visitors start typing. Do not use colour alone to indicate a required field or error.
4. Check readability and interaction
Test the page on a small screen and with enlarged text. Confirm text remains readable, buttons do not overlap and the main action is not hidden beneath a fixed banner. Text-to-background contrast needs to remain clear in every state, including hover, focus and disabled.
5. Make deliberate form mistakes
Submit an empty field, invalid address or incompatible choice. The message should explain the problem, how to fix it and where the field is. After success, confirm what happened and the next step. Silent failure costs conversions and trust.
6. Turn checks into ownership
For each finding, keep a screenshot, device, steps and correction owner. Retest the same journey after the change. Add the checklist to the campaign brief and final page approval. Checking accessibility before publication lets the team improve the experience while it is still taking shape.
This preliminary checklist is an original tool developed by the DigitalNow editorial team.