Must Read Beginners Guide to Image Alt Text
Today we can see that Google can throw as many text-based image results as possible. The search engine pulls a variety of clickable images on the main search result page and this is proof how images play an important role when it comes to ranking. Images are the most important component of your website and Image Image ALT Text or Ā ALT Tag Optimization is one of the most important considerations of On-Page SEO. Even if image ALT text is not visible to your visitors or readers but it provides search engine like Google with valuable data about your the content that your website contains, so it can be presented to the right searchers.
As you include photos and other images on your website's pages, it is necessary to represent every image with "ALT" text. Because Image ALT text is something in SEO that canāt be ignored. So this guide will teach you exactly how to use Image ALT text to optimize images and what actionable steps you can take to improve the On-Page SEO for images.
Crawler or Search engines are not humans, right? So they do not view images the way that we do. ALT text is called the alternative text for your images. The objective of the ALT text is to provide Google with some information that is related to your image. It defines your image to users who are using screen readers. Make sure to be very descriptive while writing Image ALT text so that people know what youāre talking about.
Why We Use Image ALT Text?
1.Ā Helps Visually Impaired to Know the Image - Image ALT Text helps visually impaired person or people using screen readers to know what the image is about. Blind users use special browsers to know the image type. Special browsers read images to them. So, optimize images properly, be much more descriptive about your image, use relevant keywords and try not to overdo them.Ā Ā
2.Ā Search Engine Will Understand Your Content - As we know that search engines are really good at crawling text content rather than visual elements. So, optimize the Image ALT text of your images that it will let Google to understand what your website and image is about. This will make your website perform even better on the the search engine.
Create an Image ALT Text that strike a strike a healthy balance between being descriptive and being minimal. Create a brief description thatās to the point, but donāt leave out any details. Remember, it should not exceed 125 characters.
<img src=āfilename.jpgā alt=ādescriptionā>
Letās understand this with the help of an example -
Suppose a girl is sitting on the bed and using her laptop. What would be the ALT text according to you?
alt=āWoman is Sittingā
alt=āWoman is Sitting on the Bedā
alt=āWoman is Sitting on the Bed and Using Her LaptopāĀ
Now you can compare all the above alt text and know how to write the Image ALT text for the images in the best possible way. You alt text should be self descriptive and tell all about your image.
Secrets to Write The Best Image ALT Text?
1)Ā Be Much More Descriptive About Your Image: For better understanding of search engines crawlers, visually impaired users, & screen readers describe your image in the most possible descriptive way. Avoid too short and too long alt texts for your images. Keep it within 125 characters.Ā
2)Ā Use Relevant Keywords: Keywords are the base of SEO. They should be included in ON-Page as well as OFF-Page SEO so that you can rank for that specific keywords. So, donāt forget to include them in your Image ALT text too as it can your image & web page rank on Google and other search engines.
3)Ā Try Not to Overdo Keywords: Using keywords in the description is a must thing that you should do, but donāt overdo it. It can not help you rank high but may effect your ranking badly. As shown in above picture, the keyword phrase is clearly āvanilla ice cream.ā Thatās sufficient and effective. Ā
Thanks you for giving your precious time in reading our guide on how to improve your Image SEO. Hope the information present in this article has given you a good idea of what alternative text is and how it can help improve the SEO of your online business. Don't forget to apply them on your website images. For more information contact us anytime.
