Last updated on Sep 14, 2024

What are the benefits of text zoom for SEO and user engagement?

Text zoom is a feature that allows users to adjust the size of the text on a web page without affecting the layout or design. It is different from page zoom, which scales the entire page, including images and other elements. Text zoom is especially useful for people with low vision, dyslexia, or other reading difficulties, who may need larger or clearer text to access the web content. But text zoom is not only beneficial for accessibility, it can also improve your SEO and user engagement. Here are some of the reasons why.

1 Enhance readability and comprehension

One of the main benefits of text zoom is that it can enhance the readability and comprehension of your web content. Readability refers to how easy it is to read and understand the words, sentences, and paragraphs on your page. Comprehension refers to how well the users can grasp the meaning and purpose of your content. By allowing users to adjust the text size to their preference, you can reduce eye strain, fatigue, and frustration, and increase their interest, attention, and retention. This can lead to more satisfied and loyal users, who are more likely to return to your site, share your content, or take action.

Add your perspective

Genevieve Herres

Helping Agencies Improve Web Accessibility with Done for You Services & Tools | EasyA11yGuide.com
Report contribution
Respecting a website visitor's text size preferences is a great way to keep them on your site. Disrespecting their text preferences leads to visitors leaving. You want to make sure you are sizing text with rems, and not using px to force your text size preferences on someone else. Firefox and Safari both have text only zoom, and you should test your website with at least one of these. I prefer Firefox for testing as more websites have issues with it.

Like

2 Improve accessibility and inclusivity

Another benefit of text zoom is that it can improve the accessibility and inclusivity of your web content. Accessibility means that your content is available and usable for everyone, regardless of their abilities, disabilities, or preferences. Inclusivity means that your content respects and values the diversity and needs of your users. By enabling text zoom, you can make your content more accessible and inclusive for people with low vision, dyslexia, or other reading difficulties, who may otherwise struggle or miss out on your content. This can also help you comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which are a set of standards and best practices for creating accessible web content.

Add your perspective

3 Boost SEO and ranking

A third benefit of text zoom is that it can boost your SEO and ranking. SEO stands for search engine optimization, which is the process of improving the quality and quantity of traffic to your site from search engines. Ranking refers to how high your site appears on the search results page for a given query. By providing text zoom, you can improve your SEO and ranking in several ways. For example, you can increase your site speed, which is a factor that search engines consider when ranking your site. You can also reduce your bounce rate, which is the percentage of users who leave your site after viewing only one page. You can also enhance your user experience, which is the overall impression and satisfaction that users have when interacting with your site.

Add your perspective

4 Optimize for mobile and responsive design

A fourth benefit of text zoom is that it can optimize your web content for mobile and responsive design. Mobile refers to the devices that users use to access the web, such as smartphones and tablets. Responsive design refers to the technique of creating web pages that adapt to the size and orientation of the screen, without compromising the content or functionality. By supporting text zoom, you can optimize your web content for mobile and responsive design in several ways. For instance, you can ensure that your text is legible and readable on different screen sizes and resolutions. You can also avoid horizontal scrolling, which can be annoying and inconvenient for users. You can also make your content more flexible and adaptable to the user's preferences and needs.

Add your perspective

Sepideh Shomali

Visual Designer
Report contribution
Zooming text is a more efficient tool for news websites or many audiences where news users have to follow lines and paragraphs that are a little longer than others.

Like

5 Increase trust and credibility

A fifth benefit of text zoom is that it can increase the trust and credibility of your web content. Trust refers to the confidence and belief that users have in your site, brand, or message. Credibility refers to the quality and reliability of your site, content, or information. By offering text zoom, you can increase your trust and credibility in several ways. For example, you can show that you care about your users and their needs, and that you are willing to accommodate them. You can also demonstrate that you are aware of and follow the web standards and best practices for accessibility and usability. You can also convey that you are professional and reputable, and that you value quality and clarity over quantity and complexity.

Add your perspective

6 Implement text zoom on your site

Now that you know some of the benefits of text zoom for SEO and user engagement, you may wonder how to implement it on your site. There are different ways to do so, depending on your site's structure, platform, and technology. One option is to use CSS, which is a language that controls the style and appearance of web pages. You can use CSS properties and media queries to set the text size and adjust it according to the screen width or the user's preference. Another option is to use JavaScript, which is a language that adds interactivity and functionality to web pages. You can use JavaScript to create buttons or controls that allow users to change the text size dynamically. A third option is to use plugins or tools that provide text zoom functionality for your site. You can find many plugins or tools online, but make sure to test them for compatibility and performance.

Add your perspective

Anisat A., CPACC

Digital Accessibility Specialist | Technical Writer | AWS Community Builder (Frontend Web & Mobile)
Report contribution
One way to implement text zoom on a site is to use relative units such as "em" or "%" instead of pixel values when styling font sizes in CSS.

Like

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

Add your perspective

Karl Bernoth

IT Consultant and Contractor
Report contribution
Text zoom functionality benefits SEO by improving accessibility, compliance with guidelines, reducing bounce rate, and enhancing user experience signals. Additionally, it enhances user engagement by increasing readability, usability, accessibility for mobile users, accommodation of various devices, and fostering trust and credibility.

Like

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

What are the benefits of text zoom for SEO and user engagement?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Enhance readability and comprehension

2 Improve accessibility and inclusivity

3 Boost SEO and ranking

4 Optimize for mobile and responsive design

5 Increase trust and credibility

6 Implement text zoom on your site

7 Here’s what else to consider

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

More articles on Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

More relevant reading