SEO Optimization images is becoming more and more essential in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This can be a lost chance of better rankings.
In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise using alternative text for that images on your site:
Images:. Use the alt attribute to supply descriptive text. Additionally, we recommend using a human-readable caption and descriptive text round the image.
Why would they ask us to achieve that? The answer is simple, really; search engines like google have the same problem as blind users. They can't begin to see the images.
Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse the use of this attribute, attempting to stuff it with keywords, hoping to achieve a certain keyword density, which is not as relevant for rankings now since it was previously.
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 won't take advantage of this tactic.
This method also puts persons who use screen readers at a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that actually read aloud the contents of what is displayed on the screen. In browsing the web, the alt features of images are read aloud too.
Imagine listening to a paragraph of text that is followed by repetitions of numerous keywords. The page would be far from accessible, and, to put it mildly, will be found quite annoying.
What exactly is an Alt attribute?
An ALT attribute shouldn't be used as a description or perhaps a label for an image, though lots of people utilize it in that fashion. Though it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is really a label or a description, it's not!
What used within an image's alt attribute ought to be its text equivalent and convey exactly the same information or serve the same purpose that the image would.
The thing would be to supply the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" in the event that the image itself is unavailable. Ask yourself this question: If you were to replace the look with the text, would most users get the same basic information, and would it generate the same response?
A few 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 the image is supposed to convey the literal items in the look, a description is appropriate.
If it's meant to convey data, then that information is what is appropriate.
If it is designed to convey the use of 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 as well as for valid XHTML.
For images that play only a decorative role in 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 are attempting to convey. For example; any button images should not include the word "button" in the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed by the button.
Alt text ought to be based on context. The same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text.
Try to flow alt text with the rest of the text because that is how it will be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone hearing your page should hardly remember that a graphic image is there.
Please keep in mind that utilizing an alt attribute for every image is required to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, that are used as the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and the remainder of Europe. They are also necessary to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in america.
It is important to categorize non-text content into three levels:
Eye-Candy
Mood-Setting
Content and Function
I. Eye-Candy
Eye-Candy are things that serve no purpose apart from to create a site visually appealing/attractive and (oftentimes) fulfill the marketing departments. There isn't any content value (though there may be value to some sighted user).
Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there's something there that will boost the usability of 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 may actually set the mood or set the stage so to speak. These graphics are not direct content and could not be considered essential, but they're important in they help frame what's going on.
Attempt to alt-ify the 2nd group as is sensible and is relevant. There might be instances when doing so might be annoying or detrimental to other users. Then avoid it.
For instance; Alt text that's identical to 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 important to understand this content in there for all users.
Usually this will depend on context. The same image inside a different context may require drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. The way you use this case is really 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 can also be in order.
The main reason many authors can't figure out why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the pictures exist. You need to figured out exactly what function a picture serves. Consider what it's about the image that's important to the page's intended audience.
Every graphic has a reason behind standing on that page: because it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what the page is trying to describe. Understanding what the look is for makes alt text simpler to write. And exercise writing them definitely helps.
A way to check the usefulness of alternative text is 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?
Aside from the alt attribute you have a couple more tools at your disposal for images.
First, in level of descriptiveness title is within between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and can add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered by the user agent. Remember they are invisible and not shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received through the keyboard. (A lot for device independence). So use the title attribute only for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points to the Link to a complete description of an image. When the information contained in an image is important to the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content will be lost if the image was removed), an extended description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display should be used. It may offer rich, expressive documentation of a visual image.
It ought to be used when alt and title are insufficient to embody the visual qualities of an image. As Clark [1] states, "A longdesc is really a long description of an image...The goal is to use any period of description essential to impart the details from the graphic.
It wouldn't be remiss to hope that the long description conjures an image - the look - in the mind's eye, an analogy that holds true even for that totally blind."
Even though alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility and for valid (X)HTML, not all images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.
In many cases, you are better off just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not essential to incorporate it, and when you don't possess a strong urge to do it, don't include that longdesc.
However, if it's essential for the entire page to work, then you've to include the alt text (or title or longdesc).
What's necessary and what's not depends a great deal on the function of your image and it is context on the page.
The same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in one spot, but not in another. If the image provides simply no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images may be appropriate to use. However, if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt will be required and maybe even a long description would be in order. Oftentimes this type of thing is 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 within the file name to isolate the keyword, but avoid to exceeding two hyphens. Avoid using underscores as a word separator, like for example "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";
Label the file extension. For instance, when the image search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's going to assume the file is really a photo, and when it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's likely to assume that it is a graphic;
Make sure that the text nearby the image that's highly relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose an excellent chance to help your site together with your images in search engines. Begin using these steps to rank better on all of the engines and drive increased traffic to your site TODAY.
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