SEO Optimization images is becoming more and more important in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is 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 the images on your site:
Images:. Make use of the alt attribute to provide descriptive text. In addition, we recommend utilizing a human-readable caption and descriptive text around the image.
Why would they ask us to achieve that? The answer is easy, really; search engines like google 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, attempting to stuff it with keywords, hoping to achieve a certain 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 like google, trigger spam filters, which might result in a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without this type of penalty, your site's rankings won't benefit from this plan.
This process also puts persons who use screen readers at a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that actually read aloud the items in what's shown on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt features of images are read aloud too.
Imagine listening to a paragraph of text that is then repetitions of many keywords. The page will be not even close to accessible, and, to put it mildly, would be found quite annoying.
What exactly is an Alt attribute?
An ALT attribute should not be used like a description or a label for an image, though many people use it in that fashion. Although it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is a label or perhaps a description, it's not!
The words used inside an image's alt attribute should be its text equivalent and convey exactly the same information or serve the same purpose that the image would.
The goal is to provide the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" in the event that the image is not available. Ask yourself this question: If you were to replace the image with 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 a search button is a magnifying glass 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, a description is appropriate.
If it's meant to convey data, then that data is what is appropriate.
If it's designed to convey using 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 and for valid XHTML.
For images that play merely a decorative role in the page, make use of an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or perhaps 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 from the image we are trying to convey. For example; any button images shouldn't range from the word "button" in the alt text. They should emphasize the action performed through the button.
Alt text ought to be based on context. The same image inside a different context may need drastically different alt text.
Attempt to flow alt text with the remainder of the text because that's the way it will be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone hearing your page should hardly be aware that a graphic image is there.
Please keep in mind that using an alt attribute for every image is needed to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, that are used since 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 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 apart from 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 some sighted user).
Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there is something there that 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 might actually set the atmosphere or set happens as it were. These graphics are not direct content and may not be considered essential, but they are essential in that they help frame what's going on.
Attempt to alt-ify the second group as is sensible and it is relevant. There might be times when doing this might be annoying or detrimental with other users. Then try to avoid it.
For instance; Alt text that is just like 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 important to understand this content inside for all users.
Usually this will depend on context. Exactly the same image in a different context may require drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. The way you go in this case is a judgment call.
III. Content and Function
This is when the image is the actual content. Always alt-ify content and functional images. Title and long description attributes may also be in order.
The main reason many authors can't understand why their alt text isn't working is that they don't know why the pictures are there. You need to determined exactly what function a picture serves. Consider what it's concerning the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.
Every graphic includes a reason for 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 for makes alt text easier to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A way to check 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 to the listener?
Besides the alt attribute you've got 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 can add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered by the user agent. Remember they're invisible and never shown as a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (A lot for device independence). So make use of the title attribute only for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points to the URL of a full description of an image. When the information found in a picture is essential to the concept of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost when the image was removed), an extended description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display should be used. It may offer 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 really a long description of the image...The goal is by using any period of description necessary to impart the details of the graphic.
It would not be remiss to hope that a long description conjures a picture - the look - in the mind's eye, an analogy that is true even for that 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.
Oftentimes, you're best just going with your gut instinct -- if it's not essential to include it, and when you don't possess a strong urge to get it done, don't add that longdesc.
However, if it's essential for the entire page to work, then you've to include the alt text (or title or longdesc).
What's necessary and what's not depends a lot on the function of the image and it is context about the page.
Exactly the same image may require alt text (or title or longdesc) in one spot, although not in another. If an image provides simply no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images may be appropriate to make use of. However, if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt would be required and perhaps even a long description would be in order. Oftentimes this type of thing is 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 can use hyphens within the file name to isolate the keyword, but avoid to exceeding two hyphens. Avoid using underscores like a word separator, like for example "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";
Label the file extension. For example, if the image search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's likely 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 graphic;
Ensure that the written text nearby the image that's highly relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose a great chance to help your site with your images in search engines. Use these steps to position better on all of the engines and drive more traffic to your site TODAY.
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