SEO Optimization images has become increasingly more important in SEO (Seo optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This is often a lost opportunity for better rankings.
In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise using alternative text for that images in your web site:
Images:. Make use of the alt attribute to provide descriptive text. In addition, 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 have the same 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 was previously.
On the contrary, high keyword density can, on some search engines like google, trigger spam filters, which might result in a penalty for your site's ranking. Even without such a penalty, your site's rankings won't take advantage of this plan.
This process also puts persons who use screen readers at a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that really read aloud the items in what's displayed on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt attributes of images are read aloud too.
Imagine listening to a paragraph of text which is followed by repetitions of many keywords. The page would be far from accessible, and, to put it bluntly, would be found quite annoying.
What exactly is an Alt attribute?
An ALT attribute shouldn't be used as a description or a label to have an image, though many people use it for the reason that fashion. Although it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is really a label or a description, it is not!
The words used inside an image's alt attribute should be its text equivalent and convey exactly the same information or serve exactly the same purpose the image would.
The goal would be to supply the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" in the event that the look itself is unavailable. Ask yourself this: Should you replace the look 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 should be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.
If an image is meant to convey the literal contents of the look, a description is suitable.
If it's meant to convey data, then that data is what's appropriate.
If it's designed to convey using a function, then your 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 within the page, make use of an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or a CSS background image to ensure that reading browsers do not bother users by uttering such things as "spacer image".
Keep in mind that it is the function from the image we're attempting to convey. For example; any button images should not include the word "button" in the alt text. They should emphasize the action performed through the button.
Alt text ought to be determined by context. Exactly the same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text.
Try to flow alt text with the remainder from the text because that's how 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 utilizing an alt attribute for each image is needed to meet the minimum WAI requirements, that are used as the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and the remainder of Europe. They are also necessary 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 create a site visually appealing/attractive and (oftentimes) fulfill the marketing departments. There isn't any content value (though there might be value to a sighted user).
Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there's something there that will enhance the usability of the site for someone 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 the middle layer of graphics which may actually set the atmosphere or set the stage so to speak. These graphics are not direct content and could not be considered essential, but they're essential in that they help frame what is going on.
Try to alt-ify the 2nd group as makes sense and is relevant. There may be times when doing this might be annoying or detrimental to other users. Then avoid it.
For example; 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 instances. But sometimes, it's vital that you get this content inside for those users.
Usually this will depend on context. The same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. How you use this case is really 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 reason many authors can't understand why their alt text isn't working is that they don't know why the images exist. You have to determined precisely what function a picture serves. Think about what it is about the image that's important to the page's intended audience.
Every graphic includes a reason for standing on that page: since it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what are the page is attempting to explain. Understanding what the image is perfect for makes alt text simpler to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A method to look into the usefulness of alternative text would be to imagine reading the page over the telephone to someone. An amount you say when encountering a particular image to make the page understandable towards the listener?
Aside from the alt attribute you have a couple more tools available for images.
First, in degree of descriptiveness title is in between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and can add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered through 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 to the URL of a full description of the image. When the information contained in a picture is essential to the concept of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost when the image was removed), a longer description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It may offer rich, expressive documentation of the 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 goal is by using any length of description essential to impart the details of the graphic.
It would not be remiss to hope that the long description conjures an image - 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 as well as for valid (X)HTML, not every images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.
In many cases, 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 add that longdesc.
However, if it's essential for the whole page to operate, then you've to include the alt text (or title or longdesc).
What's necessary and what's not depends a great deal on the function of your image and it is context about the page.
The same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in a single spot, but not in another. If an image provides simply 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 would be required and maybe a long description will be in order. In many cases this type of thing is really a judgement call.
Image Search Engine Optimization Tips
Listed below are key stages 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 like a word separator, like for example "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";
Label the file extension. For instance, if the image internet search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's likely to assume that the file is really 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 is relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose a great chance to help your site with your images searching engines. Use these steps to rank better on all of the engines and drive increased traffic for your site TODAY.
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