Understanding the Limits of Flyers, Images with Text, and QR Codes in Web Content

This article addresses the following topics:

Overview: Why Flyers and QR Codes Don’t Belong on the Web Platform
Key Reasons to Avoid Flyers, Text-Heavy Images, and QR Codes on Your Site
Better Alternatives to Flyers, Text Images, and QR Codes
Conclusion
Accessibility Resources
Additional Resources

Overview: Why Flyers and QR Codes Don’t Belong on the Web Platform

Web content should be easy to read, accessible, and user-friendly across all devices and for all users. Flyers, images with text, and QR codes don’t meet these requirements. Federal law, as well as UCLA’s accessibility policies, require all documents and images to be accessible. Failure to comply may result in legal liability for each individual violation. We will explore why these types of media don’t belong on your site and suggest more effective alternatives.

Key Reasons to Avoid Flyers, Text-Heavy Images, and QR Codes on Your Site

Accessibility Challenges: Text within images or on flyers is not accessible to screen readers, which are essential for users with accessibility needs. When content is added as an image rather than as text, it becomes invisible to these assistive tools. To comply with accessibility standards and laws, all content needs to be provided in a format that screen readers can interpret and this is impossible with images containing text.
Lack of Searchability: Information contained within flyers or images with text cannot be indexed by search engines or internal site search functions. This means that users cannot find this content through normal searches, significantly limiting its discoverability and rendering important information hidden from those who might be searching for it.
Poor Mobile Responsiveness: Images with embedded text or QR codes do not adjust well on mobile devices. Text becomes hard to read, and QR codes may be difficult or impossible for mobile users to scan accurately. This is especially problematic as mobile usage continues to grow and accounts for a significant portion of web traffic.
Limited Content Management Options: When key information is stored in images or flyers, any updates require re-uploading a new image file rather than simply editing text on a web page. This adds unnecessary steps for editors and can result in outdated content remaining on the site for extended periods.
User Frustration with QR Codes: While QR codes are useful in some print contexts, they are not effective on a web page. Users who are already on your website don’t have an easy way to use a QR code to access additional information. Instead, direct links are more user-friendly and enable seamless navigation.

Better Alternatives to Flyers, Text Images, and QR Codes

Instead of uploading flyers or QR codes, consider these approaches for a more accessible, user-friendly experience:

Use a Page, Event, or Article Instead of Image Text: Whenever possible, add information directly as text on an event, article, or page. This ensures accessibility, allows for better search indexing, and makes updates easier.
Create Web-Native Event Pages: For events, add them as events on your site. This allows users to find event details more easily and ensures content is readable and searchable. By using the event content types, your events can be easily highlighted on multiple sites.
Provide Direct Links Instead of QR Codes: Replace QR codes with direct hyperlinks to the relevant pages. This offers a more convenient user experience and allows users to access information without extra steps.

Conclusion

Adding flyers, images with text, and QR codes to the Web Platform limits accessibility, reduces searchability, and hinders mobile responsiveness. By using web-native text and links instead, you can create a more accessible, user-friendly website that meets the needs of all visitors. This approach not only improves the user experience but also ensures your site remains compliant with digital accessibility standards.

By implementing these strategies, you ensure your content is discoverable, updatable, and accessible to everyone, helping you maintain a professional, user-friendly web presence.

Accessibility Resources

If you have questions about accessibility, please visit UCLA’s Disabilities & Computing Program website.
To learn more about accessibility requirements and laws for websites, please visit the Web Accessibility Initiative site.