SEO Optimization images has become increasingly more essential in SEO (Seo optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This can be a lost opportunity for better rankings.
In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise using alternative text for the images on your web site:
Images:. Use the alt attribute to provide descriptive text. Additionally, we recommend utilizing a human-readable caption and descriptive text round the image.
Why would they ask us to achieve that? The answer is simple, 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 particular keyword density, which is not as relevant for rankings now as it once was.
On the contrary, high keyword density can, on some search engines, trigger spam filters, which might create a penalty for your site's ranking. Even without this type of penalty, your site's rankings will not 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 really read aloud the contents of what is shown on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt features of images are read aloud too.
Imagine listening to a paragraph of text which is followed by repetitions of numerous keywords. The page will 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 for the reason that fashion. Though it might seem 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 that the image would.
The thing would be to supply the same functional information that a visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" in the event that the image is not available. Think about this question: If you were to replace the look using the text, would most users receive the same basic information, and wouldn't it create the same response?
A few examples:
Some SEO Optimization Tips
If your search button is 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 items in the look, then a description is suitable.
If it's meant to convey data, then that information is what's appropriate.
If it is meant to convey the use of a function, then the function 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 such things as "spacer image".
Keep in mind that it's the function from the image we are attempting to convey. For example; any button images should not include 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 require 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 remember that a graphic image is there.
Please keep in mind that utilizing 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 the remainder of Europe. They are also required 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 make a site visually appealing/attractive and (oftentimes) fulfill the marketing departments. There is no content value (though there might be value to a sighted user).
Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there is something there that will boost the usability from the site for someone utilizing 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 actually set the atmosphere or set happens as it were. These graphics are not direct content and could not be considered essential, but they are important in they help frame what is going on.
Try to alt-ify the second group as is sensible and is relevant. There might be instances when doing this may be annoying or detrimental to other users. Then avoid it.
For example; Alt text that's 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 vital that you get this content inside for all users.
Usually it depends on context. Exactly the same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content should always be fully available. How you use this case is really a judgment call.
III. Content and Function
This is when the look may be the actual content. Always alt-ify content and functional images. Title and long description attributes can also be in order.
The main reason many authors can't understand why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the images exist. You have to figured out precisely what function an image serves. Think about what it is about the image that's important to the page's intended audience.
Every graphic has a reason behind being on that page: since it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what are the page is attempting to describe. Understanding what the look is perfect for makes alt text easier to write. And exercise writing them definitely helps.
A method to look into the usefulness of alternative text would be to imagine reading the page on the phone to someone. What would you say when encountering a particular image to make the page understandable to the listener?
Besides the alt attribute you have 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 through the user agent. Remember they're invisible and never shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (So much for device independence). So make use of the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points to the Link to a full description of an image. When the information contained in an image is important towards the meaning 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 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 an image. As Clark [1] states, "A longdesc is really a long description of the image...The aim is by using any length of description essential to impart the details from 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 is true even for the totally blind."
Although the alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility and for valid (X)HTML, not every images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.
In many cases, you're better off just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary 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 whole page to work, then you've to include the alt text (or title or longdesc).
What's necessary and what's not depends a great deal about the function of your image and its context on the page.
The same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in one spot, but not in another. If the image provides absolutely no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images may be appropriate to use. However, if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt will be required and maybe even a long description will be in order. Oftentimes this type of thing is a judgement call.
Image Seo optimization Tips
Listed below 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. Stay away from underscores like a word separator, like for example "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";
Label the file extension. For example, when the image internet search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's going to assume that 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 at the image that is relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose an excellent opportunity to help your website with your images in search engines. Use these steps to rank better on all the engines and drive increased traffic for your site TODAY.
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