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Time Business News
24-06-2025
- General
- Time Business News
How to Make Your Website Feel Human: The Art of Digital Empathy
People crave connection, even online. When users land on your site, they want more than information. They want to feel understood, valued, and heard. They want a seamless, welcoming experience that feels tailored just for them. But here's the problem: too many websites feel cold, robotic, and forgettable. They talk at users, not with them. The solution? Inject empathy into your web design and content strategy. Empathy bridges the gap between technology and humanity. It transforms websites from faceless tools into engaging experiences. It makes users feel seen, heard and understood. Let's explore how to create that connection through digital empathy. Ever bounced off a website within seconds? You're not alone. According to a study by the Nielsen Norman Group, users typically leave a webpage within 10 to 20 seconds if they don't feel engaged. That's brutal for any business or brand investing in a digital presence. So, what's driving this behaviour? Lack of emotional connection: Users don't feel like the site was designed for them, so they don't stick around. Users don't feel like the site was designed for them, so they don't stick around. Confusing layouts: They struggle to find what they're looking for, which leads to frustration. They struggle to find what they're looking for, which leads to frustration. Generic language: Everything sounds like it was written by a machine or someone who doesn't care. If you want visitors to stay, convert, and return, your website needs to feel human. Think about your own online habits. When was the last time you felt genuinely welcomed by a website? What made you stay? Understanding these moments can help you design a site that connects emotionally rather than just mechanically. Your design choices speak before your content does. They set the tone and shape user expectations. What story is your design telling? Empathy starts with inclusion. Can everyone use your site? Accessibility is often overlooked, but crucial. Websites that exclude people with disabilities risk alienating a large part of their audience and missing out on business opportunities. Here's what to consider: Use proper colour contrasts for visually impaired users. Text and background need to have enough difference to be readable, Ensure text is resizable without breaking layouts. Some users increase font size for comfort, Make navigation keyboard-friendly. Many users cannot use a mouse or prefer keyboards, Add descriptive alt text for images, so screen readers can convey meaning. Consider this: a 2023 WebAIM survey found that over 96% of homepages still have WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) failures. This means most websites are excluding people without even realising it. Do you know how accessible your site really is? Investing in accessibility is not just ethical, but smart business. Crowded designs overwhelm users. Too much information packed tightly leads to cognitive overload. White space, the empty space between elements, gives content room to breathe. It reduces cognitive load and increases readability. In fact, studies show that strategic use of white space between paragraphs and around margins can increase comprehension by up to 20%. Could your design benefit from breathing room? Less really can be more when it comes to layout. Humans are wired to respond to other humans. Eye-tracking studies show that users naturally focus on human faces before reading text. If your site currently shows only abstract graphics or stock images of random objects, ask yourself: Are you missing an opportunity to build a connection? Consider using authentic images of real people, team members, clients, or users, to create trust and familiarity. Now, let's talk words. Your copy isn't just delivering facts. It's having a conversation. Drop the corporate jargon. Speak naturally. Say this: 'We're here to help you build the website your business deserves.' Not this: 'Our solutions leverage cutting-edge methodologies for optimal online presence.' Tone matters. A conversational style lowers psychological distance between brand and user. Is your brand voice sounding like a person or like a corporate memo? What's keeping your audience up at night? Are they worried their site looks outdated, frustrated with low conversion rates or confused about SEO? A well-placed question in your copy can instantly signal that you understand their struggle. Example: 'Tired of visitors leaving your site without taking action? Let's fix that.' When users feel seen, they stay. People remember stories more than facts. Don't just list services. Tell stories. For example: 'Emma, a freelance photographer, was struggling to book clients. After her website redesign, her enquiries tripled within two months.' Real narratives beat feature lists every time. What client stories could you highlight? Sharing genuine success stories builds empathy and trust. Think about this: how many clicks does it take for a visitor to find what they need? If it's more than three, it's too many. Simplify your menu structure, keep navigation labels clear and descriptive, avoid cute names that confuse first-time visitors, and organise pages logically: Home, About, Services, Portfolio, Contact. Use breadcrumbs on larger sites to help users track where they are and easily move backwards. Remember, users expect fast, intuitive navigation. Don't make them guess or hunt. Guide users with clear next steps. Instead of generic buttons like 'Click Here,' use action-driven CTAs such as'Start Your Free Trial,''See Our Work,' 'Book a Free Consultation.' When users know exactly what to do next, conversion rates improve. Consider testing different CTA texts to find what resonates best with your audience. Design isn't just visual. It's emotional. Different colours evoke different feelings:Blue = Trust and calm,Red = Urgency and passion,Green = Growth and balance, Yellow = Optimism and energy. But context matters. For example, while red may create urgency on an e-commerce site, it might signal danger on a financial planning site. Are your colours reinforcing your brand mood? Think carefully about what emotions you want to evoke. Small animations, button hovers and loading spinners, these micro-moments show users that the site is responsive and alive. Examples include a heart icon that fills when liked and a progress bar during form submission. These subtle cues reduce friction and increase user satisfaction. They show attention to detail. Nobody likes errors. But you can turn frustration into delight with thoughtful error messaging. Instead of: '404 Error. Page not found.' Try: 'Oops! Looks like that page has wandered off. Let's help you get back.' Airbnb and Slack are great examples of brands using friendly, human error messages. Well-crafted error messages keep users calm and encourage them to stay. Empathy is emotional, but it's also about credibility. Include real customer testimonials with photos, case studies detailing results, Google or Trustpilot reviews and security badges (SSL, payment safety icons). According to BrightLocal, 77% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. What are your customers saying about you? Social proof is a powerful trust-builder. When publishing content, make it clear who's behind it. Include author bios, credentials and links to other expert articles. This aligns with Google's E-E-A-T framework and builds reader trust. Outdated blogs and broken links signal neglect. Keep your site fresh by updating old blog posts, refreshing stats and data and regularly publishing new insights. Does your content calendar need some love? Consistent updates show you care and maintain authority. Not all users want the same thing. Some are browsing, others are ready to buy. Use tools like Google Analytics or HubSpot to segment users based on location, behaviour, and source channel (organic search, social, paid ads). Then deliver tailored messages. Example: 'Welcome back! Ready to continue where you left off?' If you run an e-commerce site, suggest products based on browsing history. For service businesses, highlight relevant case studies. Personalisation reduces bounce rates and increases engagement. Empathy means respecting users' time and context. A Google study found that as page load time increases from 1 to 5 seconds, the probability of bounce increases by 90%. Run speed tests with Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, and Pingdom Tools. Optimise images, leverage browser caching, and minimise CSS and JavaScript. Over 60% of web traffic now comes from mobile devices. Make sure fonts are readable on small screens, buttons are finger-friendly, and load times remain under 3 seconds. When was the last time you checked your site on mobile? A poor mobile experience drives users away fast. Your blog isn't for you. It's for your audience. Ask yourself what questions your customers ask before buying, what their biggest frustrations are and what industry trends they are curious about. High-performing content types include how-to guides, checklists, FAQs, and comparison posts (e.g., 'WordPress vs Wix: Which One's Better for Small Businesses?'). Focus on content that earns backlinks, ranks well, and builds authority. Your call to action (CTA) is your website's emotional handshake. Make it warm and persuasive. Examples:'Let's build something great together.''Show me how to grow my business online.' 'I'm ready for better results.' According to Unbounce, emotionally charged CTAs can increase conversions by over 20% compared to generic buttons. Empathy isn't a one-time task. It's ongoing. Tools like Hotjar, Crazy Egg, and FullStory help you see how users behave: where they are clicking, where they are getting stuck, and if they are scrolling enough to see your CTA. Direct feedback works wonders. Simple on-site surveys like 'What brought you here today?' or 'Was this page helpful?' give you priceless user insights. Run A/B tests on headlines, button colours, CTA text and image choices. Never assume. Test and learn. Let's end with a challenge. Visit your homepage as if you're a first-time visitor. Ask yourself: Does this site feel welcoming? Is the language clear and friendly? Can I find what I need quickly? Does the site answer my biggest questions? Would I trust this brand with my money or time? If the answer's no or even 'I'm not sure,' it's time for a change. Your website should feel like a helpful friend, not a sales robot. At the end of the day, empathy wins online. If you're ready to build a website that connects, engages, and converts with heart, talk to the team at Design Vibe. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Globe and Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Digital Silk Announces U.S. Companies Prioritize Custom Web Development to Meet Accessibility and SEO Demands
Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - May 28, 2025) - Digital Silk, an award-winning web development company focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites and digital marketing campaigns, is announcing a surge in client demand for custom web development projects that prioritize both accessibility compliance and search engine performance. The intersection of accessibility compliance and SEO in custom web development for U.S. businesses. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: With the tightening of ADA and WCAG regulations in the U.S., alongside Google's continued emphasis on Core Web Vitals, 2025 has seen businesses across sectors turning to custom solutions to ensure their websites meet these rising standards. According to a report from WebAIM, over 96% of homepages tested in 2024 had detectable WCAG 2 failures - a gap that brands are increasingly eager to close to reduce legal risks and improve user inclusivity. At the same time, Google's Core Web Vitals updates are driving heightened scrutiny of web performance, particularly around loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability. A 2024 survey by Search Engine Journal reported that 68% of U.S. marketers cite Core Web Vitals as a top SEO priority. The overlap between accessibility improvements (such as clear navigation and keyboard-friendly design) and SEO practices (like optimized structure and mobile responsiveness) have positioned custom web development as a critical solution for modern digital teams. Integrating Accessibility, SEO, and Performance Digital Silk has responded by offering integrated services that address: ADA/WCAG compliance audits and remediation Core Web Vitals optimization across design and development SEO-focused site architecture and content enhancements Custom CMS solutions enabling ongoing compliance and performance tracking These combined efforts are helping companies with processing digital assets against regulatory and search engine shifts. "Accessibility and SEO are no longer separate conversations," says Gabriel Shaoolian, CEO of Digital Silk. "In 2025, businesses recognize that a compliant, high-performing website can potentially boost organic visibility, improve user engagement and reduce bounce rates." Market Growth Highlights Core Web Vitals have become a defining metric for over 85% of SEO agencies and in-house teams according to industry research (source). Websites failing accessibility standards face rising litigation, with 4,605 ADA lawsuits filed in federal court in 2023 alone (source). Why Custom Development is Leading the Way Companies are increasingly turning to agencies like Digital Silk to deliver the combined demands of accessibility, Core Web Vitals, and SEO as well as fully customized builds that align with technical, legal, and marketing goals. About Digital Silk Digital Silk is an award-winning Miami web development company focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, Digital Silk delivers industry-leading digital experiences through strategic branding and cutting-edge web design with the aim to drive more conversions and digital marketing services to boost awareness and engagement.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Digital Silk Integrates Accessibility Compliance into All Website Builds as WCAG Standards Tighten in the U.S.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - May 21, 2025) - Digital Silk, an award-winning agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites and digital marketing campaigns, has announced a major accessibility initiative for 2025: all websites launched by the agency will now meet or exceed WCAG 2.2 AA compliance standards by default. This move follows key findings from WebAIM's 2024 report that show 96.3 percent of homepages in the U.S. still fail basic accessibility checks. With growing legal scrutiny from the Department of Justice and increasing litigation around ADA non-compliance, Digital Silk's latest mandate positions accessibility as non-negotiable for U.S. brands aiming to mitigate legal risk and uphold digital inclusion. Built-In Accessibility Sets the New Baseline for New York Web Design in 2025 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Accessibility Compliance Becomes the New Baseline for New York Web Design in 2025 According to the CDC, 61 million U.S. adults live with a disability—roughly one in four Americans—making accessible web design not only a legal obligation but a business necessity. Inclusive design also improves site performance by potentially boosting SEO, lowering bounce rates and enhancing user satisfaction. How Digital Silk Integrates Accessibility From the Ground Up Digital Silk's revised workflow includes a hybrid approach that blends automated scanning tools with manual reviews conducted via keyboard navigation and screen readers. Designers adhere to strict color-contrast tokens, semantic HTML structures and ARIA-label checklists to meet and exceed WCAG 2.2 standards. For organizations undergoing a redesign, Digital Silk recommends the following: Audit Existing Pages: Identify and resolve WCAG 2.2 violations before starting any rebuild. Adopt Design Tokens: Standardize accessible color and typography system-wide. Ensure Keyboard Navigation: All interactive elements must work without a mouse. Maintain Ongoing Monitoring: Quarterly audits help detect and fix regressions over time. Accessibility as a Growth Lever for U.S. Brands Digital accessibility is now being seen as a competitive advantage across sectors, especially as U.S. web design trends lean heavily toward inclusive, human-first digital experiences. This shift marks a critical change in the approach to user interface design in markets like New York, where accessibility is rapidly becoming a benchmark for quality. About Digital Silk Digital Silk is a full-service New York Web Design Agency focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, Digital Silk delivers industry-leading digital experiences through strategic branding and cutting-edge web design to drive more conversions and digital marketing services to boost awareness and engagement. Media Contact Jessica ErasmusMarketing Director & PR ManagerTel: (800) 206-9413Email: jessica@ To view the source version of this press release, please visit Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Travel websites ‘almost always inaccessible' leaving disabled users frustrated and unable to book
Travel businesses are missing out on millions in revenue because their websites are nearly impossible for disabled people to use. Accessibility in online environments has been assessed by two key players - WebAIM, a nonprofit focused on enhancing the web experience for users with disabilities, and AudioEye, a company specialising in digital accessibility. Both reports cite travel websites as some of the worst offenders when it comes to accessibility. WebAIM's 'Million' report assessed accessibility across the top 1,000,000 websites and found that, overall, travel websites had almost 60 errors on their homepage, a 17 per cent increase from last year. AudioEye's Digital Accessibility Index identified issues too, with poor colour contrast, vague links and inaccessible forms cited as the most common errors. The World Health Organisation says one in six of the global population lives with some form of disability. At least 2.2 billion people have a visual impairment, with almost 400 million estimated to have a severe challenge with vision. An estimated 43 million people are registered as blind. 'With around 20 per cent of the population reporting a disability, ignoring accessibility barriers can have a negative impact on a large population of potential customers and site visitors,' Jared Smith, executive director of WebAIM, explains to Euronews Travel. Much research has been done on the value of catering to disabled travelers. In the UK, the spending power of those with disabilities, known as the 'purple pound,' is estimated to exceed £50 billion (€58) in 2025. 'Web accessibility is not only the right thing to do, it is also required by law,' Smith notes. 'Because most travel websites have significant accessibility barriers, users with disabilities will spend their time and money at sites that have addressed accessibility issues.' is the most visited travel website in the world, with over 500 million monthly visits. Yet it ranked 712,074th out of the million websites assessed, by far the lowest ranking out of all the major travel companies. did not respond to a request for comment. Airbnb and came in around halfway down the ranking, while Agoda ranked 377,532nd. The travel companies doing the best included Uber, ranking just over 8,000th, and Skyscanner, coming in at 1,113th. For most of the errors detected, the most common problem was low contrast text, detected on 79.1 per cent of the homepages checked. Not providing 'alternative text' on images - a sentence describing what the image contains - was a problem for more than half the websites. Other common issues included missing labels for form inputs, empty links and empty buttons, all of which can make it hard for a visually impaired person to understand the content. Research from AudioEye found that 41 per cent of travel and hospitality websites made it hard for keyboard-only users to navigate, find information and make bookings. The report also found that colour contrast issues were highest in travel and hospitality across all business segments. Related This US airline has made its flights more accessible with braille signage inside cabins Amsterdam, London and Paris ranked among the best cities in the world for accessible travel Lucy Edwards lost sight in her right eye at age 11 due to a genetic condition. She lost the remainder of her sight at 17. Today, she's an award-winning presenter, author and disability activist, committed to inclusivity across all industries. 'Travel websites are almost always inaccessible,' Lucy tells Euronews Travel. 'Images are not described via text, so I rely on my friends, family, and Husband to describe the beautiful scenes to me.' But it's not just the beautiful travel images that people like Lucy miss out on. Problems arise when it comes to booking the trip when websites aren't formatted for accessible reading. 'It's so infrequent that I can book a holiday independently,' Lucy says. 'I'm always afraid I will book something wrong because there are so many pop-ups that disable my screen reader.' Screen readers are pieces of software that convert the text displayed on a computer screen into speech or, in some cases, even Braille. It's a crucial piece of technology in enabling users with visual impairments or learning disabilities to access and interact with digital content. 'Websites as a whole do not cater for screen reader users,' Lucy explains. 'As a blind person, I feel frustrated every single day browsing the web.' Related Travelling with disabilities: Tips and advice for a smooth trip when you have accessibility needs How do the EU's new disability cards facilitate cross-border travel? The European Accessibility Act (EEA) will come into force on 28 June this year. It sets out standards across EU member states, aiming to remove barriers and ensure that people with disabilities can participate fully in society. While the EEA applies to more than just websites, a key component is making all websites trading in the EU accessible to everyone. Any company either based in the EU or that does business within the EU with at least 10 employees and a €2 million plus turnover will be expected to comply. Specifically, the law requires all websites to be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust for every user. It uses standards set out by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, commonly called WCAG, as a minimum requirement. In its most basic form of implementation, WCAG requires readable fonts with high contrast colour schemes, clear navigation with descriptive links, alternative text to be included for all images and video captions, and ensuring all interactive elements are keyboard accessible. Noncompliant companies could face fines and legal action, exclusion from procurement activities and negative publicity. 'Overall the [web] experience has left me in tears,' Lucy confides to Euronews Travel. 'I'm so lucky that I have sighted help, but it shouldn't have to be this way.' Clearly, the EU agrees with this and is poised to make it uncomfortable for nonconforming businesses. With the EEA just weeks away, it's time for travel firms to step up their game and make planning, booking and experiencing travel something everyone can enjoy.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Travel websites ‘almost always inaccessible' leaving disabled users frustrated and unable to book
Travel businesses are missing out on millions in revenue because their websites are nearly impossible for disabled people to use. Accessibility in online environments has been assessed by two key players - WebAIM, a nonprofit focused on enhancing the web experience for users with disabilities, and AudioEye, a company specialising in digital accessibility. Both reports cite travel websites as some of the worst offenders when it comes to accessibility. WebAIM's 'Million' report assessed accessibility across the top 1,000,000 websites and found that, overall, travel websites had almost 60 errors on their homepage, a 17 per cent increase from last year. AudioEye's Digital Accessibility Index identified issues too, with poor colour contrast, vague links and inaccessible forms cited as the most common errors. The World Health Organisation says one in six of the global population lives with some form of disability. At least 2.2 billion people have a visual impairment, with almost 400 million estimated to have a severe challenge with vision. An estimated 43 million people are registered as blind. 'With around 20 per cent of the population reporting a disability, ignoring accessibility barriers can have a negative impact on a large population of potential customers and site visitors,' Jared Smith, executive director of WebAIM, explains to Euronews Travel. Much research has been done on the value of catering to disabled travelers. In the UK, the spending power of those with disabilities, known as the 'purple pound,' is estimated to exceed £50 billion (€58) in 2025. 'Web accessibility is not only the right thing to do, it is also required by law,' Smith notes. 'Because most travel websites have significant accessibility barriers, users with disabilities will spend their time and money at sites that have addressed accessibility issues.' is the most visited travel website in the world, with over 500 million monthly visits. Yet it ranked 712,074th out of the million websites assessed, by far the lowest ranking out of all the major travel companies. did not respond to a request for comment. Airbnb and came in around halfway down the ranking, while Agoda ranked 377,532nd. The travel companies doing the best included Uber, ranking just over 8,000th, and Skyscanner, coming in at 1,113th. For most of the errors detected, the most common problem was low contrast text, detected on 79.1 per cent of the homepages checked. Not providing 'alternative text' on images - a sentence describing what the image contains - was a problem for more than half the websites. Other common issues included missing labels for form inputs, empty links and empty buttons, all of which can make it hard for a visually impaired person to understand the content. Research from AudioEye found that 41 per cent of travel and hospitality websites made it hard for keyboard-only users to navigate, find information and make bookings. The report also found that colour contrast issues were highest in travel and hospitality across all business segments. Related This US airline has made its flights more accessible with braille signage inside cabins Amsterdam, London and Paris ranked among the best cities in the world for accessible travel Lucy Edwards lost sight in her right eye at age 11 due to a genetic condition. She lost the remainder of her sight at 17. Today, she's an award-winning presenter, author and disability activist, committed to inclusivity across all industries. 'Travel websites are almost always inaccessible,' Lucy tells Euronews Travel. 'Images are not described via text, so I rely on my friends, family, and Husband to describe the beautiful scenes to me.' But it's not just the beautiful travel images that people like Lucy miss out on. Problems arise when it comes to booking the trip when websites aren't formatted for accessible reading. 'It's so infrequent that I can book a holiday independently,' Lucy says. 'I'm always afraid I will book something wrong because there are so many pop-ups that disable my screen reader.' Screen readers are pieces of software that convert the text displayed on a computer screen into speech or, in some cases, even Braille. It's a crucial piece of technology in enabling users with visual impairments or learning disabilities to access and interact with digital content. 'Websites as a whole do not cater for screen reader users,' Lucy explains. 'As a blind person, I feel frustrated every single day browsing the web.' Related Travelling with disabilities: Tips and advice for a smooth trip when you have accessibility needs How do the EU's new disability cards facilitate cross-border travel? The European Accessibility Act (EEA) will come into force on 28 June this year. It sets out standards across EU member states, aiming to remove barriers and ensure that people with disabilities can participate fully in society. While the EEA applies to more than just websites, a key component is making all websites trading in the EU accessible to everyone. Any company either based in the EU or that does business within the EU with at least 10 employees and a €2 million plus turnover will be expected to comply. Specifically, the law requires all websites to be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust for every user. It uses standards set out by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, commonly called WCAG, as a minimum requirement. In its most basic form of implementation, WCAG requires readable fonts with high contrast colour schemes, clear navigation with descriptive links, alternative text to be included for all images and video captions, and ensuring all interactive elements are keyboard accessible. Noncompliant companies could face fines and legal action, exclusion from procurement activities and negative publicity. 'Overall the [web] experience has left me in tears,' Lucy confides to Euronews Travel. 'I'm so lucky that I have sighted help, but it shouldn't have to be this way.' Clearly, the EU agrees with this and is poised to make it uncomfortable for nonconforming businesses. With the EEA just weeks away, it's time for travel firms to step up their game and make planning, booking and experiencing travel something everyone can enjoy.
