August 25, 2025 by Sam Pizzo

When designing your website or brand assets, your primary and secondary colors aren’t just about style—they play a major role in accessibility and search engine optimization. Google Lighthouse and SEO tools often flag the warning: “Background and foreground colors do not have a sufficient contrast ratio.” But what does that mean for your brand?

Why Color Contrast Matters

Color contrast refers to the difference in brightness between text and its background. Google (and WCAG accessibility standards) require a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. If your brand’s colors don’t meet these guidelines, it could hurt:

  • Accessibility: Visitors with visual impairments may struggle to read your content.

  • User Experience: Poor readability increases bounce rates.

  • SEO Performance: Accessibility compliance indirectly supports stronger rankings.

How to Check Your Brand Colors

Not sure if your color choices comply? Contact us to test combinations of your primary and secondary brand colors. Focus on:

  • Text over backgrounds (buttons, banners, hero sections).

  • Links and call-to-action colors.

  • Secondary accent colors in graphics or overlays.

What To Do If Your Colors Fail

If your colors don’t meet Google’s guidelines, don’t panic. Small adjustments in shade or brightness can drastically improve compliance without changing your brand identity. Partnering with a web accessibility expert ensures your brand stays both visually appealing and SEO-friendly.

Bottom line: Strong contrast isn’t just a rule—it’s an opportunity to make your brand more inclusive and discoverable.