This is how you make the content of your newsletter more accessible to everyone.

A well-readable newsletter is not obvious for everyone. Some readers have difficulty with long sentences, complicated words, or unclear links. If you want your message to reach people with disabilities or lower language skills, it helps to carefully structure and formulate your text.

With this checklist, you not only make the content of your newsletter friendlier and clearer, but also accessible to a much broader group of readers. And to be honest: your communication always improves from this.

Note: starting from June 28, 2025, the European Accessibility Directive will apply, which places increasing demands on organizations to communicate digitally in an accessible manner. If you send newsletters as part of your service or sales process, they must also meet accessibility requirements. 

Checklist for an accessible newsletter

The content of your newsletter must be understandable and usable for everyone, including people who use a screen reader or have difficulty reading. This checklist helps you get started.

1. Clear, logical structure

• Place important information at the top (inverted pyramid)

• Use short paragraphs, headings, and sufficient white space

2. Accessible links

• Link texts are descriptive (no “click here” or “more info”)

• Links are visually distinguishable from the text:  in a different color than the text, with underlining and/or another visual feature, with a contrast ratio between the link color and background color of at least 3:1.

• If the link opens a PDF, indicate that

Note: all links in your newsletter open in a new window. To enhance accessibility, you can mention this with your links or include an introduction in your newsletter. 

3. Images

• Each image has alt text that is brief and descriptive

• Decorative images have an empty alt (alt="")

• Information in images is also repeated in text (not just visually)

4. Text and readability

• Use simple and direct language (B1 level where possible)

• Avoid jargon, abbreviations, and professional terms without explanation

• Use lists and bullet points to make information digestible

• Split long sentences into shorter ones

• Text contrast is sufficient (at least 4.5:1 for small text)

5. Mobile readability

• The newsletter is well-readable on mobile (large buttons, text size min. 14px)

• Content scales with screen size (responsive design)

6. Navigation and focus order

• The navigation (such as anchors or buttons) is logically and sequentially organized

• Interactive elements (such as buttons) are focusable with a keyboard