Accessibility Checklist

Can everyone on your list read your emails?

Good email design isn't just about looking great. It's about making sure everyone can read what you send.

Here's a checklist to ensure you have it right

How it's built

01I use heading styles (H1, H2, etc) to organise my content clearly
02I've added a lang and a dir attribute to my email code (so screen readers know what language my emails are written in and the direction to read the text)
03I build my layout using my email platform's built-in section blocks (not messy tables)
04My email flows in a logical order for keyboard and tab navigation

Visual design

05My text colour contrasts strongly against the background
06My font size is at least 16px
07I use a clean, simple font without decorative serifs
08My email adjusts to different screen sizes
09My email displays correctly in dark mode

Layout

10I use short paragraphs with plenty of white space
11I use bullet points to break up long chunks of text
12I avoid ALL CAPS for headlines or emphasis
13My line spacing is at least 1.5x

Images

14Every image has a short alt text description
15Important content is written as text, not embedded in an image
16Images support the content, they don't replace it

Links & buttons

17My buttons are large enough to tap easily on a phone
18There's enough space between links so they're easy to click
19My link text describes where it goes (not just “click here”)
20Text links are underlined

Copy & language

21My writing is clear and avoids confusing jargon
22My instructions are specific and easy to follow
23I've cut unnecessary filler words

Want the shortcut?

The bulk of this? Done once.

This checklist is a great starting point. But inside Engaging Emails, I show you how to build a template with most of this already built in — so you never have to check it off again.

Take a look →

About the creator

Hi, I'm Yael Keon — email strategist, systems nerd, mum of two, and host of The Easy Email Marketing Podcast. For the past 20 years I've worked across marketing and business systems, helping thousands of business owners turn email from a guilt-inducing "should" into a simple, sustainable sales system. My whole approach is based on making email feel doable, human, and genuinely helpful.