SEO Optimization images is becoming more and more essential in SEO (Seo optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is often overlooked. This can be a lost opportunity for better rankings.
In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise using alternative text for the images in your web site:
Images:. Make use of 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 do that? The answer is easy, 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, trying 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 other hand, high keyword density can, on some search engines like google, trigger spam filters, which might result in a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without such a penalty, your site's rankings won't benefit from 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's shown on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt features of images are read aloud as well.
Imagine hearing a paragraph of text which is followed by repetitions of numerous keywords. The page will be far from accessible, and, to put it mildly, would be found quite annoying.
What exactly is an Alt attribute?
An ALT attribute shouldn't be used like a description or perhaps a label for an image, though many people utilize it for the reason that fashion. Though it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is a label or a description, it's not!
The words used inside an image's alt attribute should be its text equivalent and convey the same information or serve the same purpose the image would.
The thing is to provide the same functional information that a visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" when the look is unavailable. Ask yourself this question: Should you replace the image with the text, would most users get the same basic information, and wouldn't it create the same response?
A few examples:
Some SEO Optimization Tips
If your search button is really a magnifying glass 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 items in the image, then a description is appropriate.
If it is designed to convey data, then that data is what is appropriate.
If it's 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 and for valid XHTML.
For images that play merely a decorative role in the page, use an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or perhaps a CSS background image so that reading browsers do not bother users by uttering such things as "spacer image".
Keep in mind that it is the function of the image we are trying to convey. For instance; any button images should not include the word "button" in the alt text. They should emphasize the action performed by 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 of the text because that is how 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 utilizing an alt attribute for each 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 necessary 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 create a site visually appealing/attractive and (in many cases) fulfill the marketing departments. There is no content value (though there may be value to a sighted user).
Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there is something there which will enhance the usability of the site for someone 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 may actually set the atmosphere or set the stage so to speak. 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 makes sense and it is relevant. There may be instances when doing so may be annoying or detrimental with other users. Then avoid it.
For example; Alt text that's just like adjacent text is unnecessary, as well as an irritant to screen reader users. I suggest alt="" or background CSS images in such instances. But sometimes, it's important to understand this content in there for those users.
Most times it depends 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 use this case is 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 can also be so as.
The main reason many authors can't figure out why their alt text isn't working is that they don't know why the pictures are there. You need to figured out exactly what function a picture serves. Consider what it is concerning the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.
Every graphic has a reason behind standing on that page: since it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what the page is trying to explain. Understanding what the look is perfect for makes alt text simpler to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A way to look into the usefulness of alternative text would be to imagine reading the page over the telephone to someone. What would 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 by the user agent. Remember they're invisible and never 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 towards the Link to a full description of an image. When the information found in a picture is important towards 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 can provide for rich, expressive documentation of a visual image.
It should be used when alt and title are insufficient to embody the visual qualities of the image. As Clark [1] states, "A longdesc is a long description of an image...The aim is by using any length of description essential to impart the facts from the graphic.
It would not be remiss to hope that the long description conjures an image - the image - in the mind's eye, an analogy that is 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.
Oftentimes, you are best just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not essential to incorporate it, and when you don't possess a strong urge to get it done, don't include that longdesc.
However, if it's necessary for the entire page to operate, 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 the image and it is context on the page.
Exactly the same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in a single spot, although not in another. If the 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 a long description would be so as. In many cases this type of thing is really a judgement call.
Image Seo optimization Tips
Listed here are key steps in optimizing images:
Select 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 internet 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 likely to assume that it is graphic;
Make sure that the written text nearby the image that's highly relevant to that image.
Again, do not lose an excellent 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 for your site TODAY.
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