How do I make my Mailchimp emails accessible?

You can use Mailchimp to create accessible marketing emails.

Note: If you’re currently using Constant Contact, we urge you to transition to Mailchimp. At this time, Constant Contact has a number of accessibility issues that editors can't fix. 

Important: Avoid survey blocks. At this time, questions with radio buttons and checkboxes are not accessible. We recommend using a Google Form instead.

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Add headings. 

Learn more about headings. 

Headings provide structure to your email and improve navigation. Be sure to choose text as 'paragraph text' or as a 'heading level' H1-H4.

Add text to your images and graphics. 

Learn more about images and alt text. 

Add alt text to all images or graphics in your email. However, you can’t add alt text directly to an image in your 'library'. Because of this, you will need to add alt text each time you insert an image from your library into an email.

Mailchimp may add AI-generated alt text to your images. This alt text is frequently incorrect, so plan to review and update this alt text. 

Structure your lists. 

Learn more about building accessible lists. 

Adding lists with the 'List' tags will add structure to your email. This allows assistive technologies to correctly navigate your content.

Check your color and color contrast. 

Learn more about color and color contrast.

You can adjust the color of most elements in Mailchimp. Because of this, you will need to check that all color combinations meet contrast requirements.

Make sure your links are underlined and descriptive. 

Learn more about accessible links.

Descriptive link text 

Make sure your link text is underlined and descriptive. 

Links open in a new tab 

We recommend unselecting the 'Open link in a new tab' checkbox option in the 'Link to' panel. It is generally easier for folks using assistive tech to navigate when new links are opened in the same tab they are currently using. 

If you do have links open in a new tab, we recommend adding the text '(opens in a new tab)' to your link text. 

Link editing interface showing checkbox to open in a new tab 

Check your focus indicator.  

In Mailchimp, focus indicators have a thin black outline and can’t be edited. Because of this, they disappear on black buttons. They are also difficult to see on other black interactive elements, like images and video screenshots.

There are two ways to workaround this: 

  1. Avoid black and darkly colored button, or
  2. Add a pale-colored border to dark buttons so the outline is visible when present.

Before:

Black linked button with a black focus indicator that users can't see.

After:

Black focus indicator is visible on a black button with a pale green outline.

Update your video block, if you have added one. 

When you insert a video block and add a YouTube or Vimeo link, Mailchimp will generate an image with a video still. This still will link to the video on YouTube or Vimeo. 

You will need to add alt text to this image still. Your alt text must describe the link destination, not the screenshot content. For example, your alt text might say: “YouTube video about color contrast” or “Learn about color contrast (YouTube video).”

Additional resources

Mailchimp: Email Accessibility Tips to Help You Reach More People