SEO Optimization images has become increasingly more essential in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is often overlooked. This is often a lost chance of better rankings.
In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise using alternative text for that images on your site:
Images:. Make use of 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 do that? The answer is simple, really; search engines like google have a similar problem as blind users. They can't 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 as it once was.
On the contrary, high keyword density can, on some search engines, trigger spam filters, which may create a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without this type of penalty, your site's rankings will not benefit from 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's displayed on the screen. In browsing the web, the alt attributes of images are read aloud too.
Imagine listening to a paragraph of text which is followed by repetitions of numerous keywords. The page would be far from accessible, and, to put it mildly, would be found quite annoying.
What is an Alt attribute?
An ALT attribute should not be used as a description or perhaps a label for an image, though lots of people utilize it in that fashion. Although it might seem natural to assume that alternate text is a label or perhaps a description, it's not!
The words used within an image's alt attribute ought to be its text equivalent and convey the same information or serve the same purpose the image would.
The thing is to supply the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" when the image itself is unavailable. Think about this question: If you were to replace the image with the text, would most users receive the same basic information, and would it generate the same response?
Some examples:
Some SEO Optimization Tips
If a 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 suitable.
If it's designed to convey data, then that information is what's appropriate.
If it is meant to convey the use of a function, then the 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 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 things like "spacer image".
Keep in mind that it's the function from the image we're attempting to convey. For instance; any button images shouldn't include the word "button" in the alt text. They should emphasize the action performed through the button.
Alt text ought to be based on context. The same image inside a different context may need drastically different alt text.
Try to flow alt text with the rest from the text because that is how it is going to be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone listening to your page should hardly be aware that a graphic image is there.
Please remember that using an alt attribute for each image is needed to meet the minimum WAI requirements, that 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 apart from to create a site visually appealing/attractive and (oftentimes) satisfy the marketing departments. There is no content value (though there may be value to some sighted user).
Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there is something there which will boost the usability from the site for somebody using 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 might serve to set the atmosphere or set happens as it were. 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 second group as makes sense and it is relevant. There might be instances when doing this may be annoying or detrimental with other users. Then avoid it.
For example; Alt text that is identical to adjacent text is unnecessary, and an irritant to screen reader users. I suggest alt="" or background CSS images in such cases. But sometimes, it's vital that you understand this content inside for all users.
Usually this will depend on context. The same image inside a different context may need 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 where the look is the actual content. Always alt-ify content and functional images. Title and long description attributes may also be so as.
The reason many authors can't figure out why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the images are there. You need to figured out exactly what function a picture serves. Consider what it is about the image that's important to the page's intended audience.
Every graphic includes a reason behind being on that page: because it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is advisable to what are the page is trying to explain. Knowing what the image is perfect for makes alt text easier to write. And exercise writing them definitely helps.
A way to check the usefulness of alternative text would be to imagine reading the page on the phone to someone. What would you say when encountering a specific image to create the page understandable to the listener?
Aside from the alt attribute you have a couple more tools available 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're invisible and not shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (So much for device independence). So use the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points to the Link to a full description of the image. When the information found in an image is important towards the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost if the image was removed), a longer description compared to "alt" attribute can reasonably display should be used. It can 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 really a long description of an image...The goal is by using any period of description essential to impart the details from the graphic.
It wouldn't be remiss to hope that a long description conjures a picture - the look - 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.
In many cases, you're better off just going with your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary to incorporate it, and if you don't have a strong urge to get it done, 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 lot about the function of your image and it is context about the page.
Exactly the same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in one spot, although not in another. If an image provides absolutely no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images may be appropriate to make use of. But if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt will be required and maybe even a long description would be in order. In many cases this kind 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 can use hyphens in the file name to isolate the keyword, but avoid to exceeding two hyphens. Stay away from underscores like a word separator, such as "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";
Label the file extension. For example, if the image internet search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's likely 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;
Ensure that the text nearby the image that is relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose an excellent chance to help your website together with your images searching engines. Use these steps to rank better on all of the engines and drive more traffic for your site TODAY.
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