--- title: How Inclusive Design Elevates E-Commerce Usability for All description: Learn how inclusive design enhances e-commerce usability for everyone, focusing on key accessibility features that benefit all users. image: https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Accessible%20Web%20Design.jpg --- - [skip to menu](https://blog.usablenet.com/how-inclusive-design-elevates-e-commerce-usability-for-all#nav) - [skip to content](https://blog.usablenet.com/how-inclusive-design-elevates-e-commerce-usability-for-all#main-content) - [skip to footer](https://blog.usablenet.com/how-inclusive-design-elevates-e-commerce-usability-for-all#footer) Test the accessibility of your website for free! Try UsableNet AQA. 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[Get Help with EN 301 549 Compliance](https://info.usablenet.com/eaa-en-301-549-compliance) - [Who We Serve](https://usablenet.com/strategic-relationships) ## Industry [E-commerce and Consumer Goods](https://info.usablenet.com/e-commerce-accessibility-solutions) [Food Service and Hospitality](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-food-service-hospitality) [Banking and Financial Services](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-financial-services) [Healthcare](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-healthcare) [Technology and Business Services](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-technology-and-business-services) [Public Sector and Education](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-public-sector-and-education) ## Compliance [Canadian Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-canada) [European Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/eaa-en-301-549-compliance) [Other International Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-international) [United States Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-united-states) 2026 Midyear report on digital accessibility lawsuits in the US [Download Now](https://info.usablenet.com/2026-midyear-report) - [Pricing](https://usablenet.com/pricing) - [Blog](https://blog.usablenet.com/) - [About Us](https://usablenet.com/about-us) [Get a Demo](https://info.usablenet.com/contact) Close Open Menu - Solutions ## Solutions [UsableNet Assistive](https://usablenet.com/technology/assistive-technology-services) A managed service combining experts, technology and legal support to make your website accessible [UsableNet AQA](https://usablenet.com/technology/aqa) Accessibility management and testing software for designers, developers, and testers [Accessibility Audits & Support Services](https://usablenet.com/services) Expert guidance and training to empower your team to create accessible digital experiences Which accessibility remediation approach is right for me? [Take our Quiz](https://info.usablenet.com/website-accessibility-remediation-quiz) - Resources ## Resources [E-books & Guides](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=E-books%20and%20Guides) [Case Studies](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Case%20Studies) [Reports](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Reports) [Webinars](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Webinars) [Tools](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Tools) [All Resources](https://usablenet.com/resources) ## Essential Resources [ADA accessibility lawsuit tracker](https://info.usablenet.com/ada-website-compliance-lawsuit-tracker?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [Checklist: how to achieve and maintain digital accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/digital-website-accessibility-checklist?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [Which remediation approach is right for me?](https://info.usablenet.com/website-accessibility-remediation-quiz?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [A Primer on ADA and Digital Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/a-primer-on-ada-and-digital-accessibility?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) The EAA is in Effect — Is Your Website Compliant? [Get Help with EN 301 549 Compliance](https://info.usablenet.com/eaa-en-301-549-compliance?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) - Who We Serve ## Industry [E-commerce and Consumer Goods](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-e-commerce-consumer-goods) [Food Service and Hospitality](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-food-service-hospitality) [Banking and Financial Services](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-financial-services) [Healthcare](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-healthcare) [Technology and Business Services](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-technology-and-business-services) [Public Sector and Education](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-public-sector-and-education) ## Compliance [Canadian Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-canada) [European Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-europe) [Other International Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-international) [United States Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-united-states) 2026 Midyear report on digital accessibility lawsuits in the US [Download Now](https://info.usablenet.com/2026-midyear-report) - [Pricing](https://usablenet.com/pricing) - [Blog](https://blog.usablenet.com/) - [About Us](https://usablenet.com/about-us) [Get a Demo](https://info.usablenet.com/contact) # How Inclusive Design Elevates E-Commerce Usability for All **By** [Michael Taylor](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/michael-taylor) on Nov 12, 2024 **Topics:** [Web Accessibility](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/web-accessibility), [User Experience](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/user-experience) 0 Comments - - - ![Person working on a website design on a tablet](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Accessible%20Web%20Design.jpg) Every November, we celebrate World Usability Day, a time to reflect on how you can create digital experiences that are accessible and easy to use for as many people as possible, regardless of ability level. As a blind internet user, I frequently interact with digital products of all kinds, and far too many fall short in usability. However, since World Usability Day is about progress, innovation, and improvement, I want to focus on a positive example. This blog highlights an accessible e-commerce website that combines WCAG-compliant accessibility features with thoughtful, inclusive design, offering a fluid, efficient, and frustration-free experience. For context, this example comes from an online shopping destination I use often. Below, I'll showcase three design characteristics that significantly contribute to its usability, focusing on the experience for screen reader users. ### Skip Navigation Links When a screen reader user launches a website, the focus cursor typically defaults to the top of the page. The same applies when navigating internal sub-pages. Modern websites often feature persistent headers with elements like company logos, shopping cart icons, account menus, and search fields. While these are useful, navigating them repeatedly to access the main content is time-consuming and tedious. This website solves the issue with a skip navigation link at the top of every page. Activating this link lets me bypass the persistent header and jump directly to the main content. The screen reader focus automatically lands on this link when the page loads. I can press Enter immediately and start exploring the page within seconds. This seemingly simple feature greatly enhances navigation speed and efficiency. While skip navigation links are becoming more common, they should be a standard feature on all websites to improve usability for everyone, particularly screen reader users. ### Quick Links on Product Details Pages As this is an online shopping site, I often spend time on product details pages. These pages can be complex and display various information, such as product descriptions, specifications, customer reviews, and promotional content. Navigating such content can become slow and clunky, especially for screen reader users. Thankfully, this site includes quick links at the top of each product page. These links allow me to jump directly to specific sections like "Product Details," "Highlights and Specifications," "Customer Reviews," or "Related Products." This feature eliminates the need for manual navigation. It helps me find the information I'm seeking much faster, making the product search process more efficient and enjoyable. ### Repeated Call-to-Actions This design choice is simple yet highly effective. On product details pages, the primary call-to-action buttons—"Add to Cart," "Buy It Now," and "Add to Default Shopping List"—are duplicated at the bottom of the page. This redundancy is beneficial when I'm further down the page. Rather than navigating back to the top to take action, I can locate the buttons at the bottom or use a screen reader command to jump to the footer. Without this redundancy, I'd have to go through a more cumbersome process to interact with these buttons. Having the action buttons duplicated at the bottom makes navigation smoother and adds to the website's overall usability. ### Takeaways: Small Design Choices and big Accessibility Wins **1. Skip Navigation Links Save Time** These links allow users to bypass repetitive header content and jump straight to the main page material. **2. Quick Links Improve Efficiency** Embedding quick links at the top of complex pages helps users jump directly to the sections they need, making navigation faster and more intuitive. **3. Repeated Buttons Enhance Usability** Call-to-action buttons at the top and bottom of a page ensure users can act quickly without excessive scrolling. **4. Accessible Design Benefits Everyone** Features like these demonstrate how usability enhancements designed for accessibility often improve the experience for all users. ### Learn How to Combine Usability and Accessibility World Usability Day reminds us of the importance of creating inclusive digital experiences. The accessibility features highlighted here are straightforward yet powerful examples of how thoughtful design can make websites more usable, efficient, and satisfying. #### Curious how you can make your e-commerce site more accessible? 👉 [Watch the On-Demand Webinar, 'Accessible Design for E-Commerce.'](https://info.usablenet.com/webinar-registration-accessible-design-for-e-commerce) Discover actionable tips to create inclusive online shopping experiences that work for everyone! Editor's Note: Our frequent contributor, Michael Taylor, wrote this post. This post reflects his opinions and experiences. [Read more about Michael and some other posts on his experience online here.](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/michael-taylor) ![Michael Taylor](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Michael%20Taylor-4.jpg) ### [Michael Taylor](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/michael-taylor) I am a regular contributor to the UsableNet blog on digital accessibility. I develop, write, and edit content for the company blog related to my experiences with digital accessibility. I explore various areas of the digital world and combine my unique perspective as a screen reader user with my fun and creative writing style to deliver an informative and engaging final product. My goal is to advance the company's marketing initiatives while also raising awareness about digital accessibility and how it affects the lives of real-world assistive technology users. My work covers everything from common accessibility challenges to robust and accessible design to tutorial-like content for specific web elements. - - - - ### Related posts ![Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-check-in-and-in-stay-barriers-for-blind-guests) Jul 15, 2026 ![Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-browsing-room-options) Jul 14, 2026 ![Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ![Real Estate Website Accessibility: Property Listing Pages and Screen Readers](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Real%20Estate%20Website%20Accessibility%20-%20Property%20Listing%20Pages%20and%20Screen%20Readers%201200%20x%20630.png) [Real Estate Website Accessibility: Property Listing Pages and Screen Readers](https://blog.usablenet.com/real-estate-website-accessibility-property-listing-pages-and-screen-readers) Jul 7, 2026 ### Sign Up for the UsableNet Blog ### Recent Posts ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-check-in-and-in-stay-barriers-for-blind-guests) Jul 15, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-browsing-room-options) Jul 14, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ### Posts by Topic - [Web Accessibility (311)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/web-accessibility) - [User Experience (113)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/user-experience) - [ADA Lawsuits (45)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-lawsuits) - [ADA Website Compliance (38)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-website-compliance) - [European Accessibility Act (34)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/european-accessibility-act) - [Mobile Web (30)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-web) - [Mobile Apps (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-apps) - [Retail (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/retail) ![](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Consultation%20Icon.svg) Need to improve digital usability, accessibility or performance? 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Stay up-to-date on our insights, the latest tech news and digital trends. ![International Association of Accessibility Professionals logo](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/IAAP-logo.png?width=150&height=81&name=IAAP-logo.png) © 2026 UsableNet Inc. ![International Association of Accessibility Professionals logo](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/IAAP-logo.png?width=150&height=81&name=IAAP-logo.png) © 2026 UsableNet Inc. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Michael Taylor", "url" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/author/michael-taylor" }, "dateModified" : "2025-10-10T19:57:20.164Z", "datePublished" : "2024-11-12T11:37:21.000Z", "headline" : "How Inclusive Design Elevates E-Commerce Usability for All", "image" : [ "https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Accessible%20Web%20Design.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/how-inclusive-design-elevates-e-commerce-usability-for-all", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/UsableNet%20Logo_Black.png" }, "name" : "UsableNet Inc." } } ```