Key insights
Alt Text: What Is It?
The only written description of the image in the HTML code is called alternative text, sometimes known as alt text. It is referred to as the alt attribute or the alt tag (which is incorrect because it is not a tag).
<img src="/my-image.jpg" alt="This is the alt text for my image">
What Applications Does Alt Text Have?
Alt text’s first purpose was to describe an image that could not be loaded. When the internet was significantly slower years ago, the alt text could tell you what was inside a picture that was too big for your browser to load.
Images rarely fail to load these days, but when they do, you will see alt text instead of a picture. Additionally, alt text aids search engine algorithms in comprehending the context and content of images. Above all, alt text is essential for screen reader users and accessibility.
The Significance of Alt Text
The importance of alt text images SEO
An essential component of on-page SEO optimization is alt text.
Your website has a better chance of ranking in Google image searches if the alt text for images SEO is properly optimized. Indeed, alt text affects Google image search rankings.
The whole success of your website may be greatly impacted by Google image search traffic, depending on the theme and uniqueness of your website.
For instance, rather than inputting the product name into the usual Google search, customers frequently begin their product search on e-commerce websites by using a Google picture search.
The importance of Alt Text for Accessibility
While visibility in Google image search is crucial, accessibility should also be considered.
Luckily, accessibility has received increased attention in recent years. It has made the web accessible to everyone, including those who use screen readers or have disabilities.
Let us say your picture alt text does more than just jam keywords into it; instead, it truly conveys the content of the image. If so, you are improving the understanding of this image and the content of the entire webpage for those who are blind or visually impaired.
Tips for good image alt text Writing
- Avoid overstuffing the alt text with keywords. Your website page will not rank higher for these keywords if you do this.
- Give an in-depth, yet concise, description of the image. Refrain from stuffing the alt text with several sentences.
- Incorporate your goal keywords naturally into the description of the image. Do not use your target term if it does not belong in the description of the image.
- Avoid using writing on pictures. Every wording needs to be added as HTML code.
- Avoid writing, “This is a picture of.” Users and Google are aware that this is a picture. Just sum up its contents.
- Verify that the alt text for the image accurately conveys the content of the image. The best exercise to ensure the quality of your alt text is the one.
Even though alt text does not seem important, it is
Every resource you use to learn about your content is valuable. Alt text aids in contextualizing the photos on your website for bots or visitors with vision impairments.
Everything you do to make your website more understandable to search engines may contribute to more accurate results, even though it is simply a ranking criterion for image search. Another essential element of contemporary digital marketing is displaying a dedication to accessibility.
Keep Your Website Ahead of the Noise!
Now is the time to start improving the technical SEO of your website. For consultation and assistance in maximizing the potential of alt image text and other crucial SEO components to improve your online exposure, get in touch with SEO Power Solutions. And don’t forget to check out our article on “Top 10 SEO Tips for Optimizing Your Images” for more insights.