SEO Optimization images has become increasingly more important in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is really a critical step that is often overlooked. This is often a lost chance of better rankings.
In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise the use of alternative text for that images in 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 see the images.
Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse the use of this attribute, attempting to stuff it with keywords, hoping to achieve a certain keyword density, which is not as relevant for rankings now as it was previously.
On the other hand, high keyword density can, on some search engines like google, trigger spam filters, which may create a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without such a penalty, your site's rankings won't 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 actually read aloud the contents of what is displayed 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 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 should not be used like a description or 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 really a label or perhaps a description, it is not!
What used inside 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 goal would be to provide the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" when the look is unavailable. Ask yourself this: Should you replace the image using the text, would most users receive the same basic information, and would 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 the image is supposed to convey the literal items in the image, then a description is suitable.
If it is designed to convey data, then that data is what is appropriate.
If it's meant to convey the use of a function, then your function 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 only a decorative role in the page, use 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".
Remember that it is the function from the image we are trying to convey. For instance; any button images shouldn't range from the word "button" within the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed by the button.
Alt text should be based on context. Exactly the same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text.
Attempt to flow alt text with the rest of the text because that is the way 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 utilizing an alt attribute for each image is required to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, which are used since the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and also the rest of Europe. Also, they are necessary 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 things 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 using 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 might serve to 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 important in that they help frame what is going on.
Try to alt-ify the second group as makes sense and it is relevant. There may be instances when doing this might be annoying or detrimental to other users. Then avoid it.
For instance; Alt text that is identical to adjacent text is unnecessary, as well as an irritant to screen reader users. I recommend alt="" or background CSS images in such cases. But sometimes, it's vital that you get this content in there for all users.
Most times it depends on context. Exactly the same image inside a different context may require drastically different alt text. Obviously, content should always be fully available. How you go in 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 may also be so as.
The reason many authors can't figure out why their alt text isn't working is that they don't know why the images exist. You need to determined precisely what function an image serves. Think about 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: because it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is advisable to what the page is attempting to explain. Knowing 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 is to imagine reading the page over the telephone to someone. What would you say when encountering a particular image to create the page understandable to the listener?
Besides the alt attribute you have a couple more tools available for images.
First, in degree 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 are 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 towards the URL of a complete description of an image. If the information found in an image is important towards the concept of the page (i.e. some important content will be lost when the image was removed), a longer description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It may 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 an image. As Clark [1] states, "A longdesc is a long description of an image...The aim is to use any period of description necessary to impart the facts from the graphic.
It wouldn't be remiss to hope that a long description conjures an image - the image - within the mind's eye, an analogy that holds true even for that totally blind."
Although the alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility and 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 essential to include it, and if you don't possess a strong urge to do it, don't include that longdesc.
However, if it's essential for the whole 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 on the function of your image and its context on the page.
Exactly the same image may require alt text (or title or longdesc) in a single spot, but not in another. If the image provides simply 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 would be required and maybe a long description would be in order. In many cases this type 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 should 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 example, if the image internet search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's likely to assume that the file is a photo, and when it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's likely to assume that it is a graphic;
Make sure that the written text at the image that's relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose an excellent chance to help your site with your images in search engines. Begin using these steps to position better on all of the engines and drive increased traffic for your site TODAY.
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