SEO Optimization images has become more and more essential in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is really a critical step that is often overlooked. This can be a lost chance of better rankings.
In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise the use of alternative text for the images on your web site:
Images:. Use the alt attribute to supply descriptive text. In addition, we recommend utilizing a human-readable caption and descriptive text round 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, trying to stuff it with keywords, looking to achieve a particular keyword density, which is not as relevant for rankings now as it once was.
On the other hand, high keyword density can, on some search engines, trigger spam filters, which may result in a penalty for your site's ranking. Even without this type of penalty, your site's rankings won't take advantage of this tactic.
This process also puts persons who use screen readers at a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that really read aloud the items in what is displayed on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt attributes of images are read aloud too.
Imagine listening to a paragraph of text which is then repetitions of numerous keywords. The page will be not even close to accessible, and, to put it mildly, would 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 lots of people utilize it for the reason that fashion. Though it might seem natural to assume that alternate text is really a label or perhaps a description, it's not!
The words used inside 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 goal would be to provide the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" when the image is unavailable. Think about this question: If you were to replace the look 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 magnifier or binoculars its alt text should be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.
If an image is meant to convey the literal contents of the image, a description is suitable.
If it is meant to convey data, then that data is what's appropriate.
If it is meant 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 as well as for valid XHTML.
For images that play merely a decorative role in the page, use 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 instance; any button images shouldn't range from the word "button" in the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed by the button.
Alt text should 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 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 keep in mind that utilizing an alt attribute for every image is needed to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, that are used as the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and the rest of Europe. Also, they are required to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in the US.
It is important 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) satisfy the marketing departments. There is no content value (though there might 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 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 actually the middle layer of graphics which may actually set the mood or set happens as it were. These graphics aren't direct content and may 't be considered essential, but they are important in that they help frame what is going on.
Try to alt-ify the 2nd group as makes sense and it is relevant. There may be instances when doing this may be annoying or detrimental with other users. Then avoid it.
For instance; Alt text that is just like 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 important to get this content inside for those 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 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 can also be so as.
The main reason many authors can't figure out why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the pictures are there. You need to determined precisely what function an image serves. Consider what it's 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 improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is advisable to what the page is trying to explain. Understanding what the look is perfect 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 make the page understandable towards 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 can add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered through the user agent. Remember they're invisible and never shown like 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 the image. When the information contained in a picture is important to the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content will be lost if the image was removed), a longer description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It may offer rich, expressive documentation of the visual image.
It should 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 goal is by using any period of description essential to impart the facts of the graphic.
It would not 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 that 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 going with your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary to incorporate it, and if you don't possess a strong urge to get it done, don't include that longdesc.
However, if it's necessary for the whole page to work, then you have 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 it is context on the page.
The same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in a single spot, although 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 would be required and maybe even a long description will be so as. In many cases this kind of thing is really 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. Stay away from underscores as a word separator, like for example "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";
Label the file extension. For instance, if the image internet 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 going to assume that it is a graphic;
Make sure that the text at the image that is highly relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose an excellent chance to help your website 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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