Most people concentrate on keywords, backlinks, or content structure when it comes to search engine optimization (SEO). However, alt text is a commonly overlooked element that makes a big difference.
A description that is affixed to images on a website is called alt text. Search engines and screen readers use it to determine the purpose of the image, even though users may not be aware of it. A simple yet effective technique, alt text optimization can raise your website’s search engine rankings, increase accessibility, and draw in more visitors.
Everything you need to know about alt text will be covered in this blog, including what it is, why it matters, how to optimize it, and typical blunders to avoid. You’ll have a well-defined plan by the end for utilizing alt text to raise your search engine rankings.
The Alt Text: What Is It?
The written description of an image in HTML is called alt text, which is short for “alternative text.” It accomplishes three primary goals:
- Accessibility: To help visually impaired users understand images, screen readers employ alt text.
- SEO: Although search engines cannot “see” images, they can decipher their meaning by looking at alt text.
- Fallback Content: Alt text is used in the event that an image does not load.
For instance:
<img src="yoga-pose.jpg" alt="A woman relaxing at home while performing yoga pose">In this instance, both users and search engines benefit from the helpful description of the image that the alt text provides.
Alt Text’s Significance for SEO
You may be wondering if alt text actually affects rankings. Yes, is the response.
The following are some ways that improving alt text improves SEO performance:
- Increases Image Search Rankings: Google Images receives a lot of traffic. Your chances of appearing in image search results are increased by optimized alt text.
- Enhances Page Relevance: Search engines take alt text into account when determining the general relevancy of your content, increasing the likelihood that your page will rank higher.
- Encourages Accessibility (UX): SEO is improved by user-friendly websites. Google’s emphasis on usability aligns with the use of alt text to increase inclusivity.
- Enhances Keyword Signals: Well-written alt text offers an extra chance to organically incorporate target keywords.
- Boosts Visibility, Clicks, and Conversions: Showing up in image and web searches increases traffic and user engagement.
The Best Methods for Writing Alt Text That Is SEO-Friendly
You must strategically optimize alt text if you want to reap its full benefits. Here are some helpful suggestions:
1. Be exact and thorough.
The image should be clearly described in the alt text. Steer clear of ambiguous terms like “image” or “photo.”
For instance:
Negative: alt=”dog”
Positive: alt=”A golden retriever puppy in a park, playing with a tennis ball”
This method improves the content’s comprehension by search engines.
2. Keep it short
Since many screen readers stop reading after 125 characters, alt text should be concise and easy to understand.
For instance: alt=”Homemade chocolate cake with strawberries on top”
3. Naturally Use Keywords
Make sure your keywords are relevant and avoid using them excessively. Keep in mind that alt text ought to read organically.
alt=”SEO consultant on a laptop explaining a digital marketing strategy”
alt=”SEO consultant SEO ranking tips strategy”
The first example preserves readability while enhancing SEO.
4. Align the Image’s Objective with the Situation
To connect the image to the surrounding content, use alt text. Make sure the description of an image corresponds with the blog post about “Email Marketing.”
For example: alt=”Email marketer using Mailchimp to create a newsletter campaign”
5. Don’t use the same words repeatedly.
Avoid using terms like “picture of” or “image of.” It is already recognized as an image by screen readers.
For instance:
alt=”Photo of a coffee cup on a table”
alt=”Coffee cup on a wooden table with a laptop next to it”
6. Adjust for Useful Pictures
Alt text for buttons and icons should explain their purpose rather than how they look.
For instance:
- Search button: alt=”Search”
- Shopping cart icon: alt=”View shopping cart”
This enhances the user experience and guarantees accessibility.
7. For infographics, use alt text.
Infographics are used to convey important information. Provide a more thorough explanation in the surrounding content or restate the main ideas in the alt text.
For instance: alt=”Infographic illustrating five SEO strategies: link building, mobile SEO, content optimization, keyword research, and site speed.”
8. Avoid Using Too Many Keywords
Keyword stuffing is penalized by Google. Pay attention to value and clarity. The alt text only needs one primary keyword.
9. Verify that each image has alt text.
Alt text should be included in all images, but it is especially necessary for product photos, blog illustrations, and infographics. However, decorative images can avoid clogging screen readers by using empty alt attributes (alt=”).
10. Place Alt Text Next to File Names
Together, alt text and optimized file names enhance image SEO.
For instance:
- File name: homemade-vegan-pizza.jpg
- Alt text: alt=”Cheese and fresh vegetables are used to make a homemade vegan pizza.”
Resources for Alt Text Optimization
Writing and testing alt text is made simpler by a number of tools:
- A WordPress plugin called Yoast SEO looks for alt text in your photos.
- The Frog Screaming SEO Spider looks for any alt attributes that are missing from your website.
- Google Lighthouse: Examines accessibility and alt text.
- To track organic image rankings and see how alt text optimization is working, use Ahrefs and SEMrush.
Common Errors to Steer Clear of
Many website owners make errors that can hurt SEO when it comes to alt text optimization. Recognize these dangers:
- Keyword stuffing is the practice of creating incomprehensible alt text for search engines.
- “Photo1” and “product image” are examples of alt text that are too generic.
- Chances of ranking in image search are lost when Alt Text is left empty.
- When an alt description appears in more than one image, it is called duplicate alt text.
- The term “overly long descriptions” refers to the practice of writing paragraphs rather than succinct descriptions.
Example from the Real World: Alt Text Optimization
Let’s say you own an online store selling exercise gear.
A red yoga mat serves as the product image.
- Alt Text Not Optimized: alt=”yoga mat”
- Optimized Alt Text: alt=”Red non-slip yoga mat for pilates and at-home exercises”
The optimized version is therefore more likely to show up in search results since it is descriptive and contains pertinent keywords like “non-slip,” “home workouts,” and “pilates.”
Advanced Image SEO Techniques
Improve your alt text optimization after you’ve grasped the fundamentals:
- Use Schema Markup: To increase the visibility of product images in rich results, include alt text and structured data.
- Write alt text voice in conversational, natural language to make it search engine friendly.
- Track Image Performance: To see how well your images are performing, use the “Image” filter in Google Search Console.
- Cut Down on Image Size Without Sacrificing Quality: Images that load quickly and have well-optimized alt text are ranked higher.
- Use Descriptive Captions (Where Applicable): Images typically have captions that provide additional context for keywords.
A Comprehensive Guide for Novices
This is a short plan of action to improve your website’s alt text:
- Check your website for any missing or badly written alt text.
- Rewriting alt text should adhere to best practices, which include being clear, natural, succinct, and keyword-rich.
- Make sure the alt description matches the file names and surrounding content.
- Use tools such as Lighthouse to verify accessibility.
- To track image search impressions and clicks, use Google Search Console.
Final Thoughts
Optimizing your alt text is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to improve your SEO rankings. Although it might not seem like much, accessibility, image search visibility, and page relevance are all significantly impacted.
The golden rule is to write alt text for people, not search engines. When using keywords organically, be brief, accurate, and relevant. When combined with other SEO strategies like link building and content optimization, alt text can raise your website’s search engine ranking and increase traffic.
The next time you upload an image, make sure to use the alt text field instead of leaving it empty to improve your online visibility.
