SEO Optimization images has become increasingly more essential in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is really a critical step that is often overlooked. This is often a lost opportunity for better rankings.
In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise using alternative text for the images on your site:
Images:. Use the alt attribute to provide descriptive text. Additionally, we recommend using a human-readable caption and descriptive text around the image.
Why would they ask us to achieve that? The answer is simple, really; search engines have a similar problem as blind users. They can't see the images.
Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse the use of this attribute, trying to stuff it with keywords, hoping to achieve a particular keyword density, which is not as relevant for rankings now since it once was.
On the contrary, high keyword density can, on some search engines like google, trigger spam filters, which may result in a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without this type of penalty, your site's rankings will not benefit from this tactic.
This process also puts persons who use screen readers at a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that really read aloud the contents of what is displayed on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt attributes of images are read aloud as well.
Imagine listening to a paragraph of text that is followed by repetitions of numerous keywords. The page will be far from accessible, and, to put it mildly, would be found quite annoying.
What exactly is an Alt attribute?
An ALT attribute should not be used like a description or a label for an image, though many people utilize it for the reason that fashion. Although it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is really a label or a description, it is not!
The words used within an image's alt attribute ought to be its text equivalent and convey exactly the same information or serve the same purpose the image would.
The thing is to provide the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" in the event that the image itself is unavailable. Think about this: Should you replace the look using the text, would most users receive the same basic information, and wouldn't it generate the same response?
Some examples:
Some SEO Optimization Tips
If your search button is a magnifier or binoculars its alt text should be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.
If an image is meant to convey the literal contents of the look, a description is appropriate.
If it's meant to convey data, then that data is what is appropriate.
If it's designed to convey the use of a function, then your function is what should be used.
Some Alt Attribute Guidelines:
Always add alt attributes to images. Alt is mandatory for accessibility as well as for valid XHTML.
For images that play only a decorative role within the page, make use of an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or a CSS background image to ensure that reading browsers don't bother users by uttering such things as "spacer image".
Remember that it's the function from the image we're trying to convey. For example; any button images shouldn't include the word "button" in the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed through the button.
Alt text should be based on context. The same image in a different context may require drastically different alt text.
Try to flow alt text with the rest of the text because that's the way it is going to be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone hearing your page should hardly remember that a graphic image can there be.
Please remember that using an alt attribute for each image is needed to meet the minimum WAI requirements, which are used since the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and also the rest of Europe. They are also required to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in america.
It is useful to categorize non-text content into three levels:
Eye-Candy
Mood-Setting
Content and Function
I. Eye-Candy
Eye-Candy are stuff that serve no purpose other than to create a site visually appealing/attractive and (oftentimes) satisfy the marketing departments. There is no content value (though there might be value to some sighted user).
Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there's something there which will boost the usability of the site for somebody utilizing a non-visual user agent. Use a null alt attribute or background images in CSS for eye-candy.
II. Mood-Setting
This is the middle layer of graphics which may actually set the mood or set the stage as it were. These graphics are not direct content and could 't be considered essential, but they are essential in that they help frame what is going on.
Try to alt-ify the second group as is sensible and is relevant. There might be instances when doing this might be annoying or detrimental with other users. Then try to avoid it.
For instance; Alt text that is just like adjacent text is unnecessary, as well as an irritant to screen reader users. I recommend alt="" or background CSS images in such cases. But sometimes, it's vital that you get this content in there for all users.
Most times this will depend on context. The same image in a different context may require drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. The way you go in this example is a judgment call.
III. Content and Function
This is when the image may be the actual content. Always alt-ify content and functional images. Title and long description attributes may also be in order.
The main reason many authors can't figure out why their alt text isn't working is that they don't know why the pictures are there. You have to figured out exactly what function a picture serves. Consider what it is about the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.
Every graphic includes a reason for being on that page: because it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what are the page is trying to explain. Understanding what the image is perfect for makes alt text easier to write. And exercise writing them definitely helps.
A method to check the usefulness of alternative text would be to imagine reading the page on the phone to someone. An amount you say when encountering a specific image to create the page understandable to the listener?
Besides the alt attribute you've got a couple more tools available for images.
First, in level of descriptiveness title is in between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and may add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered by the user agent. Remember they are invisible and never shown as a "tooltip" when focus is received through the keyboard. (So much for device independence). So make use of the title attribute only for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points to the URL of a full description of the image. When the information contained in a picture is important to the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost if the image was removed), an extended description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display should be used. It may provide for rich, expressive documentation of a visual image.
It should be used when alt and title are insufficient to embody the visual qualities of the image. As Clark [1] states, "A longdesc is a long description of an image...The goal is to use any period of description necessary to impart the facts of the graphic.
It wouldn't be remiss to hope that the long description conjures an image - the image - within the mind's eye, an analogy that holds true even for that totally blind."
Although the alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility as well as for valid (X)HTML, not all images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.
Oftentimes, you are best just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not essential to incorporate it, and when you don't have a strong urge to do it, don't add that longdesc.
However, if it's necessary for the whole page to work, then you have to add the alt text (or title or longdesc).
What's necessary and what's not depends a lot on the function of your image and its context about the page.
Exactly the same image may require alt text (or title or longdesc) in a single spot, but not in another. If an image provides absolutely no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images might be appropriate to make use of. However, if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt would be required and maybe even a long description will be so as. Oftentimes this type of thing is really a judgement call.
Image Seo optimization Tips
Listed below are key steps in optimizing images:
Choose a logical file name that reinforces the keywords. You should use hyphens in the file name to isolate the keyword, but avoid to exceeding two hyphens. Stay away from underscores as a word separator, such as "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";
Label the file extension. For example, when the image internet search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's likely to assume the file is really a photo, and if it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's likely to assume that it is a graphic;
Ensure that the written text at the image that's relevant to that image.
Again, do not lose a great chance to help your site together with your images searching engines. Begin using these steps to position better on all the engines and drive more traffic for your site TODAY.
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