SEO Optimization images has become more and more essential 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 using alternative text for that images on your web 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 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 isn't as relevant for rankings now since it was previously.
On the other hand, high keyword density can, on some search engines like google, trigger spam filters, which may result in a penalty for your site's ranking. Even without this type of 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 shown on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt attributes of images are read aloud as well.
Imagine listening to a paragraph of text that is followed by 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 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 really a label or a description, it's not!
The words used within an image's alt attribute ought to be its text equivalent and convey exactly the same information or serve exactly the same purpose 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 itself is not available. Think about this: If you were to replace the image using the text, would most users get the same basic information, and wouldn't it create the same response?
A few examples:
Some SEO Optimization Tips
If a search button is really a magnifying glass or binoculars its alt text ought to be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.
If an image is supposed to convey the literal items in the image, a description is appropriate.
If it's meant to convey data, then that information is what's appropriate.
If it's designed to convey the use of 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 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 is the function of the image we're trying to convey. For example; any button images should not range from the word "button" in the alt text. They should emphasize the action performed by the button.
Alt text should be determined by context. Exactly the same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text.
Attempt to flow alt text with the rest from 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 utilizing an alt attribute for each image is needed to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, which are used as the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and also the remainder of Europe. They are also necessary to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in the US.
It is important 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 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 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 the middle layer of graphics which may actually set the atmosphere or set happens so to speak. These graphics aren't direct content and could 't be considered essential, but they're important in they help frame what is going on.
Try to alt-ify the second group as is sensible and is relevant. There may be instances when doing this may be annoying or detrimental to other users. Then avoid it.
For instance; Alt text that's just like adjacent text is unnecessary, and 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 in there for all users.
Most times it depends on context. The same image in a different context may require drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. The way you use this case is really 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 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 images exist. You have to figured out precisely what function an image serves. Consider what it is about the image that's important to the page's intended audience.
Every graphic includes a reason behind standing on that page: because it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what the page is trying to describe. Understanding what the image is perfect for makes alt text easier to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A method to check the usefulness of alternative text is to imagine reading the page on the phone to someone. What would you say when encountering a specific image to create the page understandable to the listener?
Aside from the alt attribute you've got 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 by the user agent. Remember they are invisible and never shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received through the keyboard. (So much for device independence). So use the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points to the URL of a full description of an image. If the information contained in a picture is essential to the concept of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost if the image was removed), an extended description compared to "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It can offer rich, expressive documentation of a 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 a long description of an image...The aim is to use any period of description essential to impart the details of the graphic.
It wouldn't be remiss to hope that the long description conjures an image - the image - 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 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 necessary to include it, and when you don't have a strong urge to do it, don't add that longdesc.
However, if it's necessary for the whole page to operate, then you've to add the alt text (or title or longdesc).
What's necessary and what's not depends a great deal on the function of the image and its context about the page.
Exactly the same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in one spot, but not in another. If an image provides absolutely no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images might be appropriate to make use of. However, if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt would be required and maybe even a long description will be so as. In many cases this kind of thing is really a judgement call.
Image Seo optimization Tips
Listed here are key stages 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 example, when the image internet search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's likely to assume the file is a photo, and when it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's going to assume that it is graphic;
Make sure that the written text nearby the image that's relevant to that image.
Again, do not lose an excellent opportunity to help your website together with your images in search engines. Use these steps to rank better on all of the engines and drive more traffic to your site TODAY.
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