MBD103: Accessibility Should be a Given

03 August 2025 | Issue #103

In this issue:

Accessibility Should be a Given
How to Get Quoted in the Press
Negativity is Good
Consistency is More Important than Creativity
I was on the Business of Marketing podcast
I was also on Business Book Pub Hub
Design Quote of the Week

Accessibility Should be a Given

Even though I started building websites in the early 2000s, I really got into it during in the mid- to late-2000s when I was working for a small agency. Suddenly screens were getting wider than 800px, and the brand-new iPhone was making it harder to read those sites on this little device.

We understood that the way to differentiate from other digital agencies was to offer responsive websites.

In order for the websites to do their jobs, we had to build them so they could be consumed the right way across different use cases.

What was once a unique differentiator became the norm.

You'd never design or build a website that doesn't work on mobile at this point.

And yet, people still aren't thinking about accessibility the same way.

Why?!?

You're missing out on an active audience if you're skipping accessibility. Not only will you lose out on potential income, you might have to pay a fine.

Accessibility should be a given. Just like responsive is a given.

If you want to learn more (and you should), Evolving Web is hosting an Accessibility Webinar on August 15th with special guest Janell Sims, Manager of Digital Accessibility Services at Harvard University and Suzanne Dergacheva, Co-Founder of Evolving Web.

I had the opportunity to talk to both of these ladies at EvolveDrupal a couple of months ago, and they know what they're talking about.

NEWS AT THE INTERSECTION OF MARKETING, DESIGN, & AI

📰 Care to Comment? Why, Yes, I Do: How to Get Quoted in the Press

Amanda Natividad on SparkToro breaks down why getting quoted by journalists is becoming more valuable than publishing your own content — especially as AI models increasingly surface and cite media sources over brand-owned material.

Third-Party Mentions Drive AI & Human Reach: Journalistic coverage gets picked up by AI tools, earns backlinks, spreads on social, and carries more trust than self-published content.
Low-Lift PR Playbook: Build media lists, monitor relevant reporters, join expert source platforms, pitch concise insights, and reuse press mentions for long-tail value.
My Take: For those who don't focus on PR, this is a good way to get recognition.

Keep reading

🤬 Negativity is Good

Jay Schwedelson, host of the Do This, Not That podcast, shared an interesting take on the types of messaging you should share.

Negativity is a Click Magnet
63% More Clickthroughs with Negative Headlines
My Take: As Dan Dulac always says, money follows pain. Show the pain (negative) and people will pay to remove that pain.

Watch the video now

THE VISUAL MARKETER

Consistency Beats Creativity

One of the most powerful lessons in visual marketing is that consistency beats creativity. Creativity grabs attention, but only consistent visual branding builds recognition, trust, and long-term value.

Research shows that brands with consistent messaging are worth 20% more than those that constantly reinvent their look. While marketers often get bored seeing their own designs, your audience isn’t exposed to them nearly as often, so repetition works in your favor.

Just think about Nike’s logo: unchanged for decades, yet instantly recognizable worldwide. The takeaway? Find a visual style that works for your brand, and stick with it

This info was taken from my book, The Visual Marketer.

RECENT AND UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS

I was recently on A. Lee Judge's podcast, The Business of Marketing. We talked about a variety of topics.

Dropping the same day was my appearance on episode 464 of the BizBookPubHub Podcast. I reveal my innovative approach to engaging with readers and collecting reviews. Tune in now at www.BizBookPubHub.com!

I'm looking forward to seeing Lee and many others at the Content Entrepreneur Expo in Cleveland next month. This will be my 4th CEX, and I can't wait to catch up with the folks who inspired me to write The Visual Marketer. Plus, I'll be part of the Author Alley, where I'll do a book signing session!

The other day was CEXDay, so you can use code CEXDAY to get $200 off admission.

If you're looking for podcast guests, or want to collaborate on something, shoot me a DM.

DESIGN QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Design is not for philosophy, it’s for life.” – Issey Miyake

My AI disclaimer: I write the main story and additional sections. For the news section, AI writes the summary, and then I contribute My Thoughts. If AI generates the images, I include the prompt so you can see how I got to that image.