SEO Optimization images is becoming more and more essential in SEO (Seo optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This is often a lost chance of better rankings.
In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise using alternative text for that images on your site:
Images:. Make use of the alt attribute to supply 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 the same problem as blind users. They cannot 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 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 your site's ranking. Even without such a penalty, your site's rankings will not benefit from this tactic.
This process also puts persons who use screen readers in a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that really read aloud the items in what's shown on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt attributes of images are read aloud too.
Imagine hearing a paragraph of text which is followed by repetitions of many keywords. The page would be not even close to accessible, and, to put it mildly, will be found quite annoying.
What exactly is an Alt attribute?
An ALT attribute shouldn't be used as a description or perhaps a label for an image, though lots of people utilize it for the reason that fashion. Although it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is a label or a description, it's not!
The words used within an image's alt attribute should 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 the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" when the look itself is unavailable. 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?
Some examples:
Some SEO Optimization Tips
If a search button is a magnifying glass 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 image, then a description is appropriate.
If it's meant to convey data, then that information is what is appropriate.
If it's designed 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 and for valid XHTML.
For images that play merely a decorative role within the page, use an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or perhaps a CSS background image so that reading browsers do not bother users by uttering things like "spacer image".
Remember that it's the function from the image we're trying to convey. For instance; any button images shouldn't range from the word "button" within the alt text. They should emphasize the action performed by the button.
Alt text ought to be determined by context. The same image inside a different context may require drastically different alt text.
Try to flow alt text with the remainder from the text because that is the way it will be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone hearing your page should hardly be aware that a graphic image can there be.
Please keep in mind that using an alt attribute for each image is required to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, that are used as the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and also the remainder of Europe. They are also required 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 stuff that serve no purpose apart from 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 which will boost the usability of the site for somebody using 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 the stage as it were. These graphics are not direct content and may 't be considered essential, but they're important in that they help frame what's going on.
Try to alt-ify the second group as is sensible and is relevant. There might be instances when doing so may be annoying or detrimental with other users. Then avoid it.
For instance; Alt text that's just like 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 understand this content in there for all users.
Most times this will depend 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 use this example is a judgment call.
III. Content and Function
This is where 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 exactly what function a picture serves. Consider what it is about the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.
Every graphic includes a reason for standing on that page: since it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what are the page is trying to describe. Understanding what the image is for makes alt text simpler to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A way to look into the usefulness of alternative text would be to imagine reading the page on the phone to someone. An amount you say when encountering a specific image to make the page understandable towards the listener?
Besides the alt attribute you've got a couple more tools available for images.
First, in level of descriptiveness title is in between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and may add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered through the user agent. Remember they are invisible and not shown as a "tooltip" when focus is received through the keyboard. (A lot for device independence). So use the title attribute only for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points towards the URL of a complete description of the image. When the information contained in a picture is important to the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost when the image was removed), an extended description compared to "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It can provide for rich, expressive documentation of the visual image.
It ought to 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 an image...The aim is by using any period of description essential to impart the details from the graphic.
It wouldn't be remiss to hope that a long description conjures an image - the image - in the mind's eye, an analogy that holds 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.
Oftentimes, you are best just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary to incorporate it, and when you don't have a strong urge to do it, don't include that longdesc.
However, if it's essential for the entire page to work, then you have 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 about the page.
The same image may require alt text (or title or longdesc) in a single spot, although 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 perhaps even a long description would be so as. 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 in the file name to isolate the keyword, but avoid to exceeding two hyphens. Stay away from underscores like a word separator, such as "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";
Label the file extension. For instance, when the image internet search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's likely 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 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 rank better on all the engines and drive more traffic to your site TODAY.
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