SEO Optimization images is becoming more and more essential in SEO (Seo 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 the use of alternative text for the images in your site:
Images:. Use the alt attribute to supply descriptive text. In addition, we recommend utilizing 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 the same problem as blind users. They can't see the images.
Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse using 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 was previously.
On the other hand, high keyword density can, on some search engines like google, trigger spam filters, which may result in a penalty for your site's ranking. Even without such a penalty, your site's rankings will not take advantage of this tactic.
This process also puts persons who use screen readers in a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that actually read aloud the contents of 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 followed by repetitions of many keywords. The page will be not even close to accessible, and, to put it bluntly, will be found quite annoying.
What is an Alt attribute?
An ALT attribute shouldn't be used like a description or perhaps a label for an image, though many people use it for the reason 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 ought to be its text equivalent and convey the same information or serve the same purpose that the image would.
The goal would be to provide the same functional information that a visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" in the event that the look itself is unavailable. Think about this: 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?
A few examples:
Some SEO Optimization Tips
If your search button is really a magnifier or binoculars its alt text ought to be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.
If an image is meant to convey the literal contents of the image, then a description is suitable.
If it's designed to convey data, then that information is what is appropriate.
If it's designed to convey using a function, then the function itself 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 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 don't bother users by uttering things like "spacer image".
Keep in mind that it's the function of the image we are attempting to convey. For example; any button images should not include the word "button" within the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed by the button.
Alt text ought to be based on context. Exactly the same image inside a different context may require drastically different alt text.
Attempt to flow alt text with the remainder of 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 remember that a graphic image can there be.
Please remember that using an alt attribute for every image is required to meet the minimum WAI requirements, that 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 apart from to make a site visually appealing/attractive and (oftentimes) satisfy the marketing departments. There isn't any content value (though there may be value to a sighted user).
Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there's something there which will boost the usability of 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 actually the middle layer of graphics which might serve to set the mood or set happens as it were. These graphics aren't direct content and could not be considered essential, but they're essential in they help frame what's going on.
Try to alt-ify the 2nd group as is sensible and it is relevant. There may be times when doing this may be annoying or detrimental with other users. Then try to avoid it.
For example; Alt text that is 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 get this content in there for those users.
Most times this will depend on context. Exactly the same image in a different context may require drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. How you go in this example is a judgment call.
III. Content and Function
This is where the look 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 understand why their alt text isn't working is that they don't know why the images exist. You have to figured out exactly what function a picture serves. Think about what it is about the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.
Every graphic has a reason behind being on that page: because it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is advisable to what are the page is trying to explain. Understanding what the image is for makes alt text easier 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 to the listener?
Besides the alt attribute you have 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're invisible and not shown as a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (A lot for device independence). So make use of the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points towards the URL of a complete description of an image. If the information found in an image is important to the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost when 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 an image. As Clark [1] states, "A longdesc is a long description of the image...The aim is by using any period of description essential to impart the facts from the graphic.
It would not be remiss to hope that a long description conjures an image - the look - in the mind's eye, an analogy that holds true even for the 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 best just going with your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary to incorporate it, and if 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 operate, then you've to include the alt text (or title or longdesc).
What's necessary and what's not depends a lot about the function of the image and its context about the page.
Exactly the same image may need 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 may be appropriate to make use of. But 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 kind of thing is really a judgement call.
Image Search Engine Optimization Tips
Listed below are key stages 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. Avoid using underscores like a word separator, such as "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";
Label the file extension. For instance, if the image search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's likely to assume the file is a photo, and if it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's going to assume that it is a graphic;
Make sure that the written text at the image that is highly relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose an excellent opportunity to help your website with your images in search engines. Begin using these steps to position better on all the engines and drive more traffic to your site TODAY.
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