Do you need to create an Alt Text SEO Strategy for images for SEO purposes?
Google Images receives more than 1 billion queries per day. 20.45% of all searches on search engines in 2019 were for images. Writing SEO-friendly in Digital marketing picture alt text is one step in optimizing your photos, which is why it’s so important.
So, in this piece, we’ll go over 3 simple guidelines for creating SEO-friendly alt text for photos. We’ll also go over picture SEO and how to use WordPress to add alt text to photos.
What is alt text? and why is it important?
‘Alt text’ is an abbreviation of ‘alternative text. It is a brief textual explanation of a picture that clarifies the image when it cannot be seen for any reason.
Search engine optimization (SEO) and accessibility of your website depend on well-written alt text.
Accessibility
- People who are blind or have visual impairments can view your picture material because it is read out by screen readers in place of the visuals.
- People with certain sensory processing issues and/or learning difficulties may find it helpful.
- If the image file hasn’t been loaded or the user has decided not to see images, it is displayed in lieu of the picture in browsers.
SEO
Search engines need good alt text to deliver search results because it gives an image semantic meaning and serves as a description of the picture. Methodically prioritize, update & add alt text To Key Images. Another way to look at it is that effective alt text provides search engines with more and better information to rate your website with, resulting in a higher ranking.
The easier it is for search engine robots to grasp all of your material, the more deliberately and usefully you should describe it to people. Use alt text to provide context & keywords for your image.
Tips for Writing Alt Text
One of the simplest methods to increase accessibility on your website is to include helpful alt text to photos and guest posting. But mastering it isn’t always simple, and if done incorrectly, it may potentially make accessibility worse. Bad (i.e., obtrusive or meaningless) alt text is always preferable to no alt text.
Here are some pointers to help you do it correctly:
1. Be clear and concise.
Describe the image’s content without adding any commentary. Say what you observe rather than assuming anything about a subject’s intentions, gender, race, or what’s going on out of frame.
However, be as detailed as you can about what you can see. Including details about your skin tone, hair color and style, and other features will allow someone who cannot see the image to create a mental image.
Consider how you’d succinctly convey the image over the phone; it’s one of the greatest pieces of advice I’ve ever heard.
Most of the time, a few words will be enough, but there are situations when a complete statement is required. Keep in mind that screen readers can stop reading alt text beyond 125 characters, so it’s better to stay within that range. (Usually; read the context caution first)
2. Avoid beginning with “Image of…” or “Picture of…”
A human or a computer will be able to tell when anything they are viewing is alt text.
Imagine how annoying it would be to use a screen reader on a page with plenty of images and have it say things like, “Image of the theater” or “Image of the front of house area.” “Image of exterior signage,” “Image of the ticketing staff,” “Image of the theater,” and “Image of the stage”.
In order to aid with context understanding, it might be helpful to describe the sort of picture, such as a headshot, drawing, chart, or screengrab.
3. Use only a few important words.
If you can intelligently include one or two top keywords in your description of an image, that’s wonderful. Your SEO will benefit from this. However, only when done sparingly and honestly.
Although contextually ‘poor’ (i.e., useless) alt text cannot be detected by search engines, keyword stuffing may result in a ranking penalty. Google can detect it! As a result, your main priority must be to briefly and clearly explain any photos that need alt text.
4. Add text that is integrated into the image
If there is text present in a picture, make sure to provide a transcription of it in your description. Unless it involves speaking again.
5. Make Adding Alt Text A Routine
Adding alt text to images should become a habitual practice to ensure web accessibility for all users. It enhances inclusivity and improves the overall user experience.
6. Avoid Keyword Stuffing Your Alt Text
If alt text would only duplicate what is already on the page, it is not necessary. a neighboring caption, as an illustration. There’s no need to include the title of your show as alt text if the event’s “image” is a fully designed title treatment and you’re currently on the event page. Why? since the page headline contains it already.
7. Avoid giving ‘decorative’ photos alt text
Avoid using basic alt text formulas. Images that are “illustrative” include pictures of your venue or press stills from a performance. They assist in contextually conveying information. Things like page dividers or trademark designs fall under the category of “decorative” photos.
They improve the appearance of objects or visually divide material on a website. Even if they were given alt text, they wouldn’t improve people’s understanding of the website since they have no contextual value or meaning.
Any ornamental pictures should ideally be included into your code rather than being uploaded as ‘content’. However, if they must be posted as photos, leaving off the alt text is OK since screen readers would ignore it in this case, which is what we want.
Emotional expression in alt text:
Images may express emotion in addition to providing practical, precise information. In the arts, this is especially true. A person who cannot access the image may not understand it entirely if the stage set, the clothes, the postures, and the facial expressions of the characters are described.
Is it a joyful, contented smile? Or is it obviously disguising a profound and desperate melancholy? Can the feelings you have when seeing the image be (sensibly) converted into alt text?
Knowing the context will enable you to occasionally produce more imaginative alt text. Even if the fundamental “best practice” rules don’t always apply, suggestion #1—”Be specific and succinct”—still holds true the majority of the time.
Conclusion
An Alt Text SEO strategy is vital for website accessibility and SEO. Alt text provides image descriptions for visually impaired users and helps search engines understand content. To create effective alt text, be concise, avoid keyword stuffing, and integrate image text.
Making an alt text routine enhances inclusivity and user experience. Avoid adding alt text to decorative images. Balancing clarity and creativity allows for engaging descriptions. Implementing these guidelines improves SEO and user engagement. Optimize SEO & Accessibility: Master Alt Text SEO strategy! Learn to write SEO-friendly image descriptions for improved rankings & user experience.
