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Final Draft

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Access Octomono Masonry Settings

Why Website Accessibility Matters

6/6/2025

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Ape Forge Website Accessibility Tool

APE FORGE’S COMMITMENT TO AN INCLUSIVE WEB

At Ape Forge, we believe in building the web for everyone. In a digital world where businesses, resources, and communication increasingly rely on online experiences, the importance of accessibility is no longer optional... it’s essential. That’s why we’re proud to announce the public release of our Accessibility Tool by Ape Forge, a free and open solution that empowers website owners to improve usability, meet ADA compliance standards, and create a better web for all.

What Is Web Accessibility?

Web accessibility ensures that websites and digital content are usable by people of all abilities, including those with vision, hearing, motor, or cognitive impairments. It involves creating digital spaces where users can:
  • Adjust text size for easier reading
  • Navigate without a mouse
  • View content in high contrast
  • Disable motion and distracting animations
  • Mute auto-playing media
  • And much more.

For many, these features are not “nice to have” — they are critical to engaging with digital content independently.

The Problem We Saw

While building websites for clients across multiple industries, we noticed a recurring gap: most websites are not accessible.

Not because business owners don’t care, but because:
  • Accessibility often feels intimidating or technical
  • Many “compliance” tools are expensive or bloated
  • Most plugins don’t play well with all browsers or devices
  • And frankly, there’s little clear guidance on where to start

So we asked ourselves: What if we fixed this? What if we built a tool that just works simply, beautifully, and freely?

Introducing:
The Accessibility Tool by Ape Forge

Our in-house team built a lightweight, powerful accessibility widget that:
  • Works seamlessly across modern browsers (including Safari and mobile)
  • Empowers users to control how they experience your content
  • Is easy to install and customize
  • Doesn’t compromise design or performance
  • Is completely free to use and share

From adjustable font sizes, line heights, and letter spacing to media muting, readable fonts, and screen reader support, this tool covers the essentials without overcomplicating the experience. Best of all, it respects your site’s design integrity, and doesn’t interfere with your layout or branding.
Get The Accessibility Tool

Why We’re Making It Free

We didn’t build this tool as a sales feature. We built it because we believe in equal access. Accessibility is a human right, not a premium add-on.

And we know that:
  • Small businesses shouldn’t have to pay thousands to make their websites usable
  • Nonprofits shouldn’t have to sacrifice accessibility for budget
  • Designers and developers shouldn’t need to reinvent the wheel

So we’ve open-sourced the Accessibility Tool you see on our website to remove those barriers. Use it, improve it, build on it. No cost. No strings attached.

ADA Compliance For All

Yes, accessibility helps protect your business from legal risk. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance is becoming a serious concern for anyone with a digital presence. But beyond regulations and lawsuits, this is about respecting and welcoming every user who visits your site.

It’s about a grandmother trying to read the church bulletin, a student navigating college resources, or a veteran with low vision reading about home repairs.

By offering this tool publicly at no cost, we’re making it easier for everyone to say “yes” to inclusion without needing to be a developer, designer, or accessibility expert.

Just generate the custom code, copy and paste it into your website, and let it do its thing!

Full Compliance Requires More

While the Accessibility Tool by Ape Forge provides a powerful front-end solution for users (allowing them to adjust text size, contrast, spacing, motion, and more) it’s important to understand that true ADA compliance requires more than just an accessibility widget.

This tool solves a significant part of the accessibility equation, but it’s not a complete solution on its own. Website builders, developers, and business owners still need to ensure that the foundational elements of their site are built with accessibility in mind. That includes:
  • Proper alt text for all images so screen readers can convey meaning
  • Keyboard navigability, ensuring users can move through the site without a mouse
  • Descriptive link text (e.g., “Learn more about our services” instead of just “Click here”)
  • Correct use of semantic HTML, such as heading structures (<h1>, <h2>, etc.) for screen reader interpretation
  • Clear focus states for forms and buttons
  • ARIA labels and roles where appropriate
  • Ensuring forms are labeled and accessible
  • Making sure media has captions or transcripts
  • And verifying that color contrast meets WCAG guidelines, not just user-adjustable but structurally sound from the start

Think of the Accessibility Tool as a powerful enhancer. It empowers users and solves many usability concerns, but the foundation still matters. Without proper markup and accessible content strategies in place, you’re only halfway there.

At Ape Forge, we encourage anyone who installs this tool to also evaluate their site’s structure and content. If you’re not sure where to start, reach out to us, we offer accessibility audits and consulting to help bring your entire site up to standard.

ADA compliance isn’t just about checking boxes, it’s about creating a digital space where everyone feels welcome.

Join Us in Making the Web Better

We’re proud of what we’ve created — but we’re even more excited about what you’ll do with it.

Whether you’re a solo creative, a business owner, or a developer, or just someone with a website, we invite you to:
  • Add the Accessibility Tool to your site
  • Share it with others who need a simple, powerful accessibility solution
  • Talk to your web team about inclusive design
  • Reach out if you’d like help making your entire site accessible

At Ape Forge, this is more than a little bit of code. It’s a stance. A signal that the web should work for everyone and it starts with us. Every website Ape Forge builds will include this tool to help make website more accessible for everyone.

Want help installing it or customizing it for your site?
Set up a meeting! We’re here to help.
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Introducing Journey: The Smarter Way to Get Ongoing Creative Support

3/15/2025

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Lets Start A Journey Together
Running a business means juggling a million moving parts, from marketing and branding to keeping your website fresh and ensuring your business looks professional at all times. But finding reliable, high-quality creative support exactly when you need it? That’s another challenge altogether.

Hiring freelancers for one-off projects can be time-consuming and inconsistent, while keeping an in-house designer isn’t always practical or cost-effective. That’s why we created Journey! A flexible, on-demand creative retainer that keeps your business looking sharp without the hassle of one-off hiring or unpredictable costs.

What Is A Journey?

What is A Journey?

Journey is a retainer-based creative service that gives you priority access to Ape Forge’s design and marketing expertise whenever you need it. Instead of starting from scratch every time you need creative work done, Journey ensures you always have a dedicated creative partner ready to execute your vision.
Learn More

Here’s how it works:

✅ One-time deposit
Start with a minimum deposit of $500 to secure creative support when you need it.

✅ Tracked time, fair pricing 
Work is billed at $65 per hour, deducted from your deposit.
✅ Total flexibility
Use your time as needed. No contracts, no unnecessary commitments.

✅ Recharge when ready
Add more to your retainer when you need more work done.
​You stay in control of your budget, your creative assets, and your marketing momentum without the usual delays and headaches.

Why Business Owners Love Journey

💡 No More Last-Minute Scrambles
No need to waste time searching for designers, explaining your brand from scratch, or getting stuck in long project queues
💰 Predictable Pricing, No Surprises
Know exactly where your budget is going with transparent tracking and flexible spending. Pay only for the work you need, when you need it.
🚀 Priority Access, Faster Turnarounds
As a Journey client, your requests move to the front of the line, so you get the creative work you need, when you need it.
🎯 Consistent Branding
With an ongoing creative partner, you get cohesive, high-quality design work that strengthens your brand and helps your business stand out.

What Can A Journey Be Used For?

Journey isn’t just about design, it’s about having a creative team in your corner, ready to execute whenever inspiration strikes.
  • Graphic Design – Marketing materials, social media graphics, brochures, and more.
  • Website Updates – Need a tweak, refresh, or new landing page? We’ve got it covered.
  • Marketing Support – Ad designs, email campaigns, lead generation materials.
  • Brand Enhancements – Evolving your visuals, messaging, and creative assets over time.
  • Strategic Collaboration – Regular creative input to keep your brand growing and adapting.

If you need design, strategy, or creative support on an ongoing basis, Journey ensures you have a dedicated team, on demand.

Your Business
​Deserves a Creative Partner
​Not Just a One-Time Designer

With Journey, you get more than just creative services. You get a trusted partner who understands your brand, goals, and vision. Whether you need a steady flow of marketing materials or just want the peace of mind that expert creative support is always available, Journey gives you the flexibility, priority, and quality your business deserves.
Learn MORe
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Website Hosting & Maintenance: Simplified Pricing, Enhanced Value

1/21/2025

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At Ape Forge, our mission has always been clear: to provide exceptional service while keeping costs affordable for our clients. Over the past five years, we’ve stayed true to that promise, maintaining low recurring fees without sacrificing quality, performance, or the level of support you deserve.

Now, we’re making it even simpler to understand our hosting and maintenance pricing, ensuring you get the most value while keeping things budget-friendly.

Website Hosting & Maintenance - $25 per month

Here’s what’s included in this unbeatable rate:
  • Access to a drag-and-drop web editor: Make easy, on-the-go edits to your website anytime.
  • Unlimited storage and SSL security: Peace of mind knowing your site is secure and scalable.
  • Optional free domain hosting: Simplify your web presence without added costs.
  • Advanced site statistics: Track performance and understand how your visitors interact with your site.
  • Discounted service fee – $65 per hour: For any change requests (details below).
  • 24/7 maintenance support: Performance-related updates and fixes are always included in your monthly fee.
  • Built-in eCommerce solutions: Host up to 25 products with basic options and enjoy a low 3% transaction fee.

About Change Request

We understand that your business evolves, and your website needs to evolve with it. That’s why we offer discounted hourly rates for change requests at $65 per hour (a rate much lower than our standard hourly rate).

Here’s a quick breakdown of what this covers:
  • Adding new pages to your website.
  • Updating text, images, or videos.
  • Please note that all Maintenance & Performance Updates are included in the Standard Hosting fee: (This includes any update or fix required to ensure your website performs optimally are included in your $25 monthly fee - no extra charges.)

This distinction ensures that you’re only paying extra for requests directly tied to expanding or customizing your website, keeping our pricing both transparent and fair.

Available Add-Ons

Looking to unlock even more features? Take your website to the next level with these optional add-ons:
  • Advanced eCommerce: +$50/month – Scale your store with additional tools and features.
  • AI Chatbot: +$25/month – Automate customer interactions and enhance engagement.
  • Blog Creation: $150/blog – Professional, high-quality blog content tailored to your brand.
  • Active SEO Management: +$250/month – Boost your website’s visibility and traffic.
  • ADA Compliance Tool: $450/year – Ensure your website meets accessibility standards.
  • Real-Time Shipping Rates: +$20/month (requires advanced eCommerce).
  • Abandoned Cart Emails: +$15/month (requires advanced eCommerce).
  • Store Gift Cards: +$15/month (requires advanced eCommerce).

Why Choose Ape Forge

From the start, we’ve prioritized affordability, transparency, and delivering real value to our clients. By keeping our hosting fees low and offering a discounted rate for additional customization, we’ve made it easier than ever to keep your website running smoothly while meeting your growing needs.

Have questions or ready to take your website to the next level?
​Contact us today to learn more about our hosting and maintenance plans.
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Thankful For Our Community

11/27/2024

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At Ape Forge, we believe that the heart of every great business is the community it serves and the partnerships it builds. As we reflect on our journey, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible support we’ve received from the businesses and professionals we’ve had the privilege to work alongside.

Your trust in us to bring your ideas to life fuels our passion for innovation and craftsmanship. Whether it’s creating a unique product or collaborating on a visionary concept, your encouragement has pushed us to grow and deliver our very best.

We know that success doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s because of this network of talented and inspiring businesses that Ape Forge continues to thrive and evolve. 

Thank you for believing in us and for being part of our journey. Here’s to building more amazing things together in the future!

Thankful for you.
❤️ Ape Forge
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Labor Day & September Schedule

8/30/2024

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Ape Forge will be closed in observance of Labor and will be closed for the remainder of the week, returning to normal operating hours on September 9th 2024. The team has taken the week off for vacation time with their family and friends.

During this time, we will be periodically checking emails and will do our best to respond as soon as possible. 

Thank you, have a great week!

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Ape Forge
406-317-2168 | [email protected]
111 N Higgins Ave Suite 204.06 F
​Missoula Montana 59802
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  • What we do
    • Branding & Graphic Design
    • Websites & eCommerce
    • Apps Design & Development
    • Photo & Video Capture
    • Digital Marketing
    • Guidance & Consultation
  • Our Work
  • Pricing
    • Journey
    • Expedition
  • Resources
    • App Blueprint
    • Accessibility Tool
    • Code Library
    • Creative Process
    • Final Draft
  • Schedule A Meeting
  • Contact Us