Hello Melissa,

Our gardens are thriving and giving us lots to enjoy this month. Summer is a busy time, and there is always something new to discuss. This month, we are focusing on accessibility and ensuring everyone can enjoy our shared content. Here's what you can find in this month's Rooted in Marketing:

• August Content Inspirations
• The Importance of Accessibility
• Social Media and Accessibility
• Tips & Tricks - Alt Text
• Resources
• Upcoming Training

This is our sixth issue of Rooted, and we would love to hear from you about what you have found helpful and what you would like to see in future issues. We've made a short survey to get your feedback. Please click here to complete the short survey. Your feedback is extremely important to us. We want this newsletter to be as helpful as possible, thank you!

Stay cool! 🥵

Melissa & Barbra

UC Master Gardener Program

Statewide Communications Team

Content Inspiration - August

Keep your content going with our August Inspiration Guide. Remember, these are just inspirational ideas; these are not requirements. Pick and choose what works for you! If you have suggestions on items we should add to these one-sheets, please get in touch with Barbra Braaten | bbraaten@ucanr.edu

The Importance of Accessibility

Web accessibility means making sure everyone, including people with disabilities, can access our content. This is vital for the UC Master Gardener Program because its our mission for all California residents to benefit from our gardening support. Also, California law requires state agencies to make their websites accessible. AB 434, signed by Governor Brown in 2017, mandates that state websites comply with accessibility standards.

When our videos, social media posts, and websites are accessible, we ensure that everyone can learn and enjoy our content regardless of their abilities.

What does web accessibility look like?

• Alt Text on Images: Adding descriptive text to images so that screen readers can describe the image to visually impaired users.
• Image Text in Posts: Include the text from images in the post itself so everyone can access the information.
• Video Captions: Providing captions for videos to assist those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Readable Fonts and Colors: Clear fonts and high-contrast colors make text easier to read.

By making our content accessible, we're not just following the law—we're making sure that everyone can join in the gardening fun and learn from the UC Master Gardener Program. Let's keep our garden growing strong and inclusive for all!

Social Media and Accessibility

Making social media posts accessible ensures that everyone can enjoy your content. Here are some simple but essential tips to make your social posts accessible, especially on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Use Alt Text for Images

Alt text describes an image for people who cannot see it. Both Facebook and Instagram let you add alt text to your images. Always add alt text. (Read our story below on alt text for more details.)

Be Careful with Post Copy

When writing your posts, avoid overusing emojis. They can be confusing if there are too many. Screen readers read out emojis, so 💚💚💚 would be read as Green Heart, Green Heart, Green Heart. Don't write in all capital letters because it's harder to read. Use "camel case" for hashtags, which means capitalizing the first letter of each word, like #UCMasterGardenerTips, instead of #ucmastergardenertips.

Make Graphics Easy to Read

Keep your graphics simple. Don't include too much text, and make sure there is good color contrast. This makes the text easier to read. High contrast between text and background colors ensures everyone can read your content easily, including those with visual impairments. Any text on the image needs to be rewritten in the post copy.

Keep Graphics Link Free

When you create graphics, do not include links or QR codes; these do not work on social media. When a link is on an image or graphic, the reader can't click or copy it. The same goes for QR codes; most social media content is consumed on a phone, and you need your phone to scan the QR code. To make the links accessible to our readers, all links should be typed into the copy of the post on Facebook. On Instagram, links do not work in the copy of the post and should be put in your bio or on a link list like Linktree.

Add Captions to Videos

Captions are crucial for videos. They help people who are deaf or hard of hearing understand what's being said. Both Facebook and YouTube have features that allow captions to be added. You can add captions on YouTube by going to the "Subtitles" section in YouTube Studio. On Facebook, you can upload a caption file with your video.

These guidelines aim to help everyone create accessible content. By making our content accessible, we ensure everyone can join the gardening fun and learn from the UC Master Gardener Program. To learn more, join us on August 19th from 12 pm - 1 pm for a Social Media Accessibility Guidelines Webinar with Doralicia Garay from UCANR Strategic Communications. The Zoom link is below in our Upcoming Training list.

Tips & Tricks: Alt Text

Adding alt text to your images on Instagram and Facebook is a great way to make your content accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. Alt text is the written text that appears when an image fails to load on a website. It helps people who use screen readers understand the content of an image and helps search engines crawl and rank your page. Alt text should make images easier to understand for everyone, including those with vision impairments.

Tips for Writing Good Alt Text

• Be specific and concise: Alt text should clearly describe the image in a way that helps users understand its content. For example, instead of saying "a garden," you could say "a colorful flower garden with sunflowers and roses." It is best to keep your alt text under 100 characters.
• Alt text should explain the image's content so that everyone can follow along, regardless of whether they can see the photograph, illustration, or graphic.
• If there is text on the image, include that text in the alt text.

Adding Alt Text on Instagram

1. Open Instagram: Start by opening the Instagram app on your phone.
2. Create a New Post: Tap the "+" button to create a new post and select the photo you want to upload.
3. Edit Your Photo: Make any edits to your photo as you usually would, and then tap "Next."
4. Advanced Settings: Scroll down to the bottom and tap "Advanced Settings."
5. Write Alt Text: Under "Accessibility," tap "Write Alt Text." Here, you can add a description of your photo that will help people who use screen readers understand what’s in the image.
6. Save: Once you’ve written your alt text, tap "Done" and share your post as usual.

Adding Alt Text on Facebook

1. Open Facebook: Open the Facebook app or go to the Facebook website.
2. Create a New Post: Click "What's on your mind?" to create a new post and upload your photo.
3. Edit Photo: Once the photo is uploaded, click on the photo to edit it.
4. Add Alt Text: On the editing screen, you will see an option that says "Alt Text." Click on it.
5. Write Alt Text: Facebook may auto-generate alt text, but you can click on "Override generated alt text" to write your detailed description.
6. Save: After writing your alt text, click "Save" and post your photo.

Once you have posted your image with alt text you won't actually see the alt text anywhere. You can use a screen reader to check it or trust that you put it in and move forward with your day. If you have questions about alt text please join our weekly Office Hours on Tuesdays from 11 am - 12 pm. We will be focusing on accessibility for the month of July.

Resources - UC Davis Accessibility Guides

There are many different resources for web accessibility, and it can get overwhelming. We highly recommend the new Accessibility Guides put out by UC Davis last fall. The guides provide best practices, definitions, do’s and don’ts, and more for multiple digital media. You will find information on accessibility on social media, the web, and video.

If you have questions or need additional help, please reach out to Barbra Braaten at bbraaten@ucanr.edu.

Upcoming Marketing Training & Events:

Web: mgcoord.ucanr.edu/Events

• UC Master Gardener Newsletter Workshop

Tuesday, July 16, 10 - 11 am

Zoom link:

https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/98738732263?pwd=NWthZm55S3QrRGdoSDlJYndDbVVsQT09

• UC Master Gardener Social Media Accessibility Webinar

Tuesday, August 19th, 12 - 1 pm

Zoom link:

https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/97769738618

• Office Hours: UC Master Gardener Communications

Every Tuesday, 11 am -12 pm

Zoom link:

https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/93698902316?pwd=cVpBVDJIS0JSTld1NytmUXNYRzhKQT09

Subscribe to get the monthly issues of "Rooted in Marketing"

Thanks for reading this month's issue! To submit questions, topic suggestions, or feedback, email Statewide Communications Specialist Barbra Braaten at bbraaten@ucanr.edu.

Our Mission

“To extend research-based knowledge and information on home horticulture, pest management, and sustainable landscape practices to the residents of California.”