SEO Optimization images has become increasingly more essential in SEO (Seo optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is often overlooked. This is often a lost opportunity for better rankings.
In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise the use of alternative text for the images on your site:
Images:. Use the alt attribute to provide descriptive text. In addition, we recommend using a human-readable caption and descriptive text around the image.
Why would they ask us to do that? The answer is easy, really; search engines have a similar problem as blind users. They cannot begin to see the images.
Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse using this attribute, attempting to stuff it with keywords, hoping to achieve a certain keyword density, which isn't 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 might result in a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without such a penalty, your site's rankings won't benefit from this tactic.
This process also puts persons who use screen readers at a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that actually read aloud the items in what is shown on the screen. In browsing the web, the alt attributes of images are read aloud as well.
Imagine hearing a paragraph of text that is then repetitions of numerous keywords. The page will be far from accessible, and, to put it mildly, will be found quite annoying.
What is an Alt attribute?
An ALT attribute shouldn't be used like a description or perhaps a label to have an image, though many people use it in that fashion. Though 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 should be its text equivalent and convey exactly the same information or serve exactly the same purpose the image would.
The thing would be to provide the same functional information that a visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" when the image is unavailable. Ask yourself this: Should you replace the image using the text, would most users get the same basic information, and wouldn't it create the same response?
Some examples:
Some SEO Optimization Tips
If a search button is a magnifier or binoculars its alt text ought to be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.
If the image is meant to convey the literal contents of the image, a description is appropriate.
If it is meant to convey data, then that information is what's appropriate.
If it is meant to convey using a function, then your function itself is what ought to be used.
Some Alt Attribute Guidelines:
Always add alt attributes to images. Alt is mandatory for accessibility and 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 do not bother users by uttering things like "spacer image".
Keep in mind that it is the function from the image we are attempting to convey. For instance; any button images shouldn't range from the word "button" in the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed through the button.
Alt text should be determined by context. The same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text.
Attempt to flow alt text with the remainder from the text because that's how it will be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone listening to your page should hardly remember that a graphic image can there be.
Please keep in mind that using an alt attribute for each image is needed to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, that are used as the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and also the remainder of Europe. They are also necessary to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in the US.
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 make a site visually appealing/attractive and (oftentimes) fulfill the marketing departments. There is no content value (though there may be value to some sighted user).
Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there's something there that will enhance the usability from the site for somebody using a non-visual user agent. Make use of a null alt attribute or background images in CSS for eye-candy.
II. Mood-Setting
This is the middle layer of graphics which might serve to set the atmosphere or set the stage as it were. These graphics aren't direct content and could 't be considered essential, but they are essential in they help frame what is going on.
Try to alt-ify the second group as is sensible and it is relevant. There might be times when doing so might be annoying or detrimental to other users. Then avoid it.
For instance; Alt text that's just like adjacent text is unnecessary, and an irritant to screen reader users. I recommend alt="" or background CSS images in such instances. But sometimes, it's vital that you understand this content in there for all users.
Most times this will depend on context. The same image inside a different context may require drastically different alt text. Obviously, content should always be fully available. How you use this example is a judgment call.
III. Content and Function
This is when the look is 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 understand why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the pictures are there. You have to figured out exactly what function a picture serves. Consider what it's concerning the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.
Every graphic includes a reason for standing on that page: because it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what are the page is attempting to explain. Knowing what the image is perfect for makes alt text easier to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A way to look into 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 towards the listener?
Besides the alt attribute you have a couple more tools available for images.
First, in degree of descriptiveness title is in between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and can add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered through the user agent. Remember they're invisible and not shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (A lot for device independence). So make use of the title attribute only for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points towards the URL of a complete description of an image. If the information contained in a picture is essential to the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost if the image was removed), an extended description compared to "alt" attribute can reasonably display should be used. It may provide for rich, expressive documentation of a visual image.
It ought to 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 by using any period of description essential to impart the details of the graphic.
It wouldn't be remiss to hope that a long description conjures a picture - the look - in the mind's eye, an analogy that is true even for that totally blind."
Even though alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility as well as for valid (X)HTML, not all images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.
In many cases, you are best just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary to include it, and if you don't possess a strong urge to do it, don't add that longdesc.
However, if it's essential for the entire page to operate, then you've to add the alt text (or title or longdesc).
What's necessary and what's not depends a great deal about 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 simply no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images might be appropriate to use. However, if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt will be required and perhaps a long description will be so as. Oftentimes this type of thing is a judgement call.
Image Seo optimization Tips
Listed below are key stages in optimizing images:
Select a logical file name that reinforces the keywords. You should use hyphens within the file name to isolate the keyword, but avoid to exceeding two hyphens. Avoid using underscores as a word separator, such as "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";
Label the file extension. For example, if the image search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's going to assume that the file is a photo, and when it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's likely to assume that it is graphic;
Make sure that the text nearby the image that's relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose an excellent chance to help your site together with your images searching engines. Begin using these steps to rank better on all the engines and drive more traffic to your site TODAY.
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