SEO Optimization images is becoming more and more important in SEO (Seo optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. 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 supply descriptive text. Additionally, 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 like google have a similar problem as blind users. They cannot 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 isn't as relevant for rankings now as it once was.
On the contrary, high keyword density can, on some search engines like google, trigger spam filters, which might create a penalty for your site's ranking. Even without this type of penalty, your site's rankings won't take advantage of this plan.
This method also puts persons who use screen readers in 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 net, the alt attributes of images are read aloud too.
Imagine hearing a paragraph of text that is then repetitions of many keywords. The page would be not even close to 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 a label to have an image, though many people utilize it in that fashion. Though it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is a label or perhaps a description, it's not!
What used inside an image's alt attribute ought to be its text equivalent and convey 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 look is not available. Think about this: Should you replace the image using the text, would most users get the same basic information, and would it create the same response?
Some examples:
Some SEO Optimization Tips
If your search button is a magnifying glass or binoculars its alt text should be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.
If an 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's designed to convey using a function, then your function itself is what should 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 merely 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 do not bother users by uttering such things as "spacer image".
Keep in mind that it is the function from the image we're attempting to convey. For example; 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 ought to be determined by context. The same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text.
Try to flow alt text with the remainder from the text because that is the way it is going to be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone hearing your page should hardly be aware that a graphic image is there.
Please remember that utilizing an alt attribute for each image is needed to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, which are used as the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and also the remainder of Europe. Also, they are 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 create a site visually appealing/attractive and (in many cases) satisfy the marketing departments. There isn't any content value (though there might be value to some sighted user).
Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there's something there which will enhance the usability from the site for somebody utilizing 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 mood or set happens as it were. These graphics are not direct content and may 't be considered essential, but they're essential in that they help frame what's going on.
Try to alt-ify the 2nd group as makes sense and is relevant. There might be instances when doing so might be annoying or detrimental with other users. Then avoid it.
For example; 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 instances. But sometimes, it's vital that you understand this content in there for all users.
Usually it depends on context. The same image inside a different context may require drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. How you use this case is really a judgment call.
III. Content and Function
This is where the image may be the actual content. Always alt-ify content and functional images. Title and long description attributes may also be so as.
The main reason many authors can't understand why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the pictures exist. You have to determined precisely what function an image serves. Think about what it's concerning the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.
Every graphic has a reason for standing on that page: because it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what the page is attempting to explain. Understanding what the look is perfect for makes alt text easier to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A method to look into the usefulness of alternative text is to imagine reading the page over the telephone to someone. An amount you say when encountering a particular image to create the page understandable towards the listener?
Aside from the alt attribute you've got 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 may add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered by the user agent. Remember they're invisible and never shown as a "tooltip" when focus is received via 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 complete description of the image. If the information contained in an image is essential towards the concept 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 ought to be used. It can offer rich, expressive documentation of the 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 a long description of an image...The aim is to use any length of description essential to impart the details of the graphic.
It wouldn't be remiss to hope that the long description conjures a picture - the look - within the mind's eye, an analogy that holds true even for the totally blind."
Even though alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility and for valid (X)HTML, not every images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.
Oftentimes, you're better off just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not essential to include it, and when you don't have 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 add the alt text (or title or longdesc).
What's necessary and what's not depends a great deal on the function of the image and it is 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. But if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt would be required and perhaps a long description would be so as. Oftentimes this kind of thing is a judgement call.
Image Seo optimization Tips
Listed here are key stages in optimizing images:
Select a logical file name that reinforces the keywords. You can 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, if the image search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's going 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 graphic;
Make sure that the written text nearby the image that is highly relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose a great chance to help your site together with your images searching engines. Use these steps to position better on all the engines and drive increased traffic to your site TODAY.
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