Website Compliance in 2025: Mastering Accessibility and Privacy for Your Small Business

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Published January 20, 2025 by Catapult Web Solutions


Introduction: The New Era of Website Compliance


In 2025, website compliance is more critical than ever. From ensuring web accessibility to protecting online privacy, small businesses face increasing demands to meet legal and ethical standards. Compliance isn’t just about avoiding penalties—it’s about creating a trustworthy, user-friendly digital presence that caters to all visitors, including those with disabilities.

For small business owners, navigating regulations like CCPA compliance and ensuring website cookie compliance can feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. At Catapult Web Solutions, we make compliance simple, helping you create a website that meets modern standards for internet accessibility and privacy while remaining easy to manage.


Why Website Compliance Matters


Legal and Financial Risks

 

Ignoring compliance requirements for web accessibility or CCPA compliance can result in steep fines and lawsuits. For instance, GDPR violations can lead to penalties of up to €20 million or 4% of global annual revenue.

 

Building Trust with Customers

 

In today’s privacy-conscious world, websites that demonstrate online privacy protections and website cookie compliance foster trust and loyalty among visitors.

 

Boosting SEO Performance

 

Search engines prioritize websites with strong web accessibility and secure user data practices, leading to better rankings and visibility.
 

1. Web Accessibility: Creating an Inclusive Online Space
 

What Is Web Accessibility?

 

Web accessibility ensures that people with disabilities can navigate and interact with your website. For example, visually impaired users may rely on screen readers, while others depend on keyboard navigation.

 

Common Web Page Accessibility Issues

 
  • Poor Text Contrast: Hard-to-read text due to low contrast between background and font colors.
  • Missing Alt Text: Images without descriptive tags that screen readers can interpret.
  • Inaccessible Forms: Forms that can’t be navigated via keyboard.
  • Lack of Captions for Videos: Videos without subtitles exclude hearing-impaired users.


Tips to Improve Web Accessibility
 

  • Add Alt Text to Images: Describe the purpose of each image in the alt text.
  • Ensure Keyboard Navigation: Make sure all site features are accessible without a mouse.
  • Enhance Text Readability: Use high-contrast color schemes and scalable fonts.
  • Include Video Captions: Add subtitles or transcripts for multimedia content.
  • Test for Accessibility: Use tools like Wave or Axe to identify and fix issues with web page accessibility.

 

Pro Tip from Catapult Web Solutions: Our design and hosting services include built-in web accessibility features to keep your site compliant.

Did You Know?
Accessibility Isn’t Just a “Nice-to-Have”

woman using screen reader to visit a website and access the content
Accessibility is essential for creating an inclusive experience for all users, including those with disabilities. Ignoring accessibility can alienate a significant portion of your audience and even result in legal challenges.

Free platforms often lack features like keyboard navigation, proper alt text handling, and screen reader compatibility. These are critical for compliance with standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Use tools like WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool) to check your website’s accessibility. If you’re working with professionals like Catapult Web Solutions, accessibility is integrated into the design process, ensuring your website is inclusive and compliant from day one.

2. Online Privacy: Protecting Your Visitors’ Data

 

Privacy Laws to Know in 2025


Privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA compliance set the bar for how businesses collect, store, and use personal data. Even if your business operates locally, your website may attract visitors from areas with stringent privacy laws.
 

Key Online Privacy Practices
 

  • Website Cookie Compliance: Inform users about cookies and obtain consent before collecting data.
  • Transparent Data Collection: Clearly communicate what data you collect and why.
  • Secure Data Handling: Protect user data with SSL encryption and regular security audits.

 

Tips to Enhance Online Privacy
 

  • Implement a Cookie Consent Banner: Use tools like Cookiebot to create banners that meet GDPR and CCPA compliance standards.
  • Minimize Data Collection: Only collect the data you need, such as email addresses for newsletters.
  • Craft a Clear Privacy Policy: Outline your data collection practices in simple terms.
  • Encrypt Your Website: Secure your site with HTTPS to protect user data during transmission.
  • Offer Opt-Out Options: Allow users to opt out of cookies and data tracking.

Pro Tip from Catapult Web Solutions: We simplify website cookie compliance by integrating consent tools directly into your site.
 

3. Keeping Up with Compliance Trends in 2025

 

AI Accessibility Features


As AI becomes more common, ensuring AI-powered tools meet web accessibility standards will be crucial. For instance, chatbots should be navigable by keyboard and compatible with screen readers.
 

Global Privacy Laws


With more regions adopting GDPR-like laws, businesses should aim for universal online privacy standards to stay ahead of the curve.
 

Sustainability and Internet Accessibility


Sustainability is emerging as a compliance concern. By optimizing your site’s performance, you can reduce its carbon footprint while enhancing internet accessibility.

How Catapult Web Solutions Can Help

At Catapult Web Solutions, we make compliance stress-free for small business owners:
 
  • Accessibility Audits: We’ll identify and resolve web page accessibility issues, ensuring your site meets ADA standards.
  • Cookie Compliance Tools: Our solutions include user-friendly banners for website cookie compliance.
  • Privacy Policy Assistance: We’ll craft a clear, legally compliant privacy policy tailored to your business.
  • Secure Hosting: All our websites include SSL encryption, automatic updates, and 24/7 monitoring to keep user data secure.
 

Conclusion: A Compliant Website Is a Competitive Advantage


In 2025, ensuring your website meets standards for website accessibility, online privacy, CCPA compliance, and website cookie compliance is more than just a legal requirement—it’s a way to build trust, reach more customers, and stand out in the digital marketplace.

With Catapult Web Solutions as your partner, you can create a website that’s compliant, secure, and accessible to everyone.
 

Ready to ensure your website is compliant for 2025?

Contact Catapult Web Solutions today and let us help you navigate the complexities of web accessibility and privacy.

Did You Know?
Online Privacy Starts with Proactive Protection

Person holding credit card while making an online purchase on a secure website
As a website owner, taking steps to protect your visitors’ data shows your commitment to online privacy and builds trust with your audience. Partnering with a provider like Catapult Web Solutions ensures your website is hosted securely, with key privacy safeguards already in place.

Our monthly hosting and support fee includes SSL-secure domains to protect data transmissions, regular platform security updates to safeguard your site against vulnerabilities and automatic website backups to ensure your data is always safe.

For additional compliance, third-party tools like Termly or Cookiebot can be used to manage cookie consent and create privacy policies that meet CCPA compliance and GDPR standards. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is website compliance?

Website compliance means ensuring your website meets legal and ethical standards, such as web accessibility, online privacy, and CCPA compliance. A compliant website is usable by everyone, including individuals with disabilities, and protects user data according to laws like GDPR and the CCPA.
 

Why is website accessibility important?

Website accessibility ensures that everyone, including people with disabilities, can interact with your site. It’s not only a legal requirement under laws like the ADA but also broadens your audience and improves your site’s SEO rankings.
 

What are cookies, and why do I need website cookie compliance?

Cookies are small files stored on users’ devices to track their activity or preferences. Website cookie compliance ensures that you inform users about cookies, obtain their consent, and give them options to manage or decline tracking, in line with regulations like GDPR and CCPA.


What does CCPA compliance mean?

CCPA compliance refers to meeting the requirements of the California Consumer Privacy Act. This law gives California residents the right to know what personal data you collect, why you collect it, and how they can opt-out or request their data be deleted. Even businesses outside California may need to comply if they attract California-based users.
 

How can I improve my site’s web accessibility?

To enhance web accessibility:
  • Add alt text to images to describe them for screen readers.
  • Ensure forms are navigable using a keyboard.
  • Use high-contrast colors for text and backgrounds.
  • Include captions or transcripts for videos to support hearing-impaired users.
  • Test your site using tools like Wave or Axe to identify and fix issues.
 

How can I protect user privacy on my website?

To ensure online privacy, you can:
  • Add a cookie consent banner that aligns with website cookie compliance.
  • Use HTTPS to encrypt data and secure user interactions.
  • Collect only the information you need, such as an email address for newsletters.
  • Provide clear opt-out options for data collection and tracking.
  • Write a transparent privacy policy explaining your practices.
 

Does my small business website need to follow GDPR or CCPA compliance?

Yes, if your website collects personal data from visitors in regions like the EU (GDPR) or California (CCPA), you must comply, regardless of where your business is located.
 

What happens if my website isn’t compliant?

Non-compliance with website accessibility, CCPA compliance, or online privacy laws can lead to fines, lawsuits, and reputational damage. For example, GDPR violations can result in fines of up to €20 million or 4% of annual global revenue.
 

How do I check if my website is compliant?

You can use tools like:
  • WAVE: For web accessibility checks.
  • Termly: For website cookie compliance assessments.
  • SSLChecker.com: To confirm data encryption with HTTPS.

Alternatively, Catapult Web Solutions can audit your site for compliance and make necessary improvements.
 

How can Catapult Web Solutions help with compliance?

We provide small businesses with:
  • Web Accessibility Audits: To identify and fix issues with web page accessibility.
  • Cookie Compliance Tools: To create banners that meet GDPR and CCPA standards.
  • Privacy Policy Assistance: To craft clear, legally compliant policies.
  • Secure Hosting: Including SSL encryption and regular backups to protect user data.
 

Have more questions?

Contact Catapult Web Solutions for personalized assistance with website accessibility, online privacy, CCPA compliance, and more. We’re here to simplify compliance and help your business succeed online.