SEO Optimization images is becoming increasingly more important in SEO (Seo optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This can be a lost chance of better rankings.
In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise using alternative text for the images on your web site:
Images:. Make use of the alt attribute to supply descriptive text. Additionally, we recommend using a human-readable caption and descriptive text around the image.
Why would they ask us to do 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, trying to stuff it with keywords, hoping to achieve a particular keyword density, which is not as relevant for rankings now since it was previously.
On the contrary, high keyword density can, on some search engines like google, trigger spam filters, which might create a penalty for your site's ranking. Even without this type of penalty, your site's rankings will not benefit from this tactic.
This method also puts persons who use screen readers in a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that really read aloud the contents of what's shown on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt features of images are read aloud too.
Imagine hearing a paragraph of text that is then repetitions of numerous keywords. The page would be not even close to accessible, and, to put it bluntly, would be found quite annoying.
What is an Alt attribute?
An ALT attribute should not be used as a description or perhaps a label to have an image, though lots of people utilize it in that fashion. Although it might seem 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 exactly the same information or serve exactly the same purpose the image would.
The goal would be to provide the same functional information that a visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" in the event that the image itself is not available. Think about this question: Should you replace the image using the text, would most users receive the same basic information, and wouldn't it generate the same response?
A few examples:
Some SEO Optimization Tips
If a search button is really a magnifying glass or binoculars its alt text should be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.
If the image is meant to convey the literal contents of the look, a description is suitable.
If it's meant to convey data, then that information is what's appropriate.
If it is designed to convey using 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 in the page, make use of an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or perhaps a CSS background image so that reading browsers don't bother users by uttering such things as "spacer image".
Remember that it's the function from the image we're trying to convey. For example; any button images should not range from the word "button" within the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed by the button.
Alt text should be determined by context. The same image inside a different context may need drastically different alt text.
Attempt to flow alt text with the rest of the text because that's how it is going to be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone listening to your page should hardly remember that a graphic image is there.
Please remember 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 required 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 things that serve no purpose apart from to create a site visually appealing/attractive and (in many cases) satisfy 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 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 actually the middle layer of graphics which might actually set the atmosphere or set happens so to speak. These graphics aren't direct content and may not be considered essential, but they're important in they help frame what is going on.
Attempt to alt-ify the 2nd group as is sensible and is relevant. There may be times when doing so might be annoying or detrimental to other users. Then avoid it.
For example; Alt text that is identical to 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 important to get this content in there for all users.
Usually it depends on context. Exactly the same image inside a different context may require drastically different alt text. Obviously, content should always be fully available. The way you use this case is really 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 can also be so as.
The main reason many authors can't understand why their alt text isn't working is that they don't know why the pictures are there. You have to determined exactly what function an image serves. Think about what it is concerning the image that's important to the page's intended audience.
Every graphic includes a reason behind being on that page: because it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what the page is trying to explain. Understanding what the image is for makes alt text simpler to write. And exercise writing them definitely helps.
A method to look into the usefulness of alternative text is to imagine reading the page over the telephone to someone. What would you say when encountering a particular image to create the page understandable towards the listener?
Besides the alt attribute you have a couple more tools at your disposal for images.
First, in degree of descriptiveness title is within 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 never shown as a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (A lot for device independence). So make use of the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points towards the Link to a full description of the image. If the information contained in a picture is essential towards the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content will be lost if the image was removed), a longer description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display should be used. It can provide for rich, expressive documentation of the visual image.
It should be used when alt and title are insufficient to embody the visual qualities of an image. As Clark [1] states, "A longdesc is a long description of an image...The aim is to use any period of description necessary to impart the details from the graphic.
It wouldn't be remiss to hope that a long description conjures an image - the look - in the mind's eye, an analogy that holds true even for the totally blind."
Even though alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility as well as for valid (X)HTML, not every images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.
Oftentimes, you're better off just going with your gut instinct -- if it's not essential to include it, and if you don't have a strong urge to do it, don't add that longdesc.
However, if it's necessary for the entire 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 the image and it is context about the page.
Exactly the same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in a single spot, but not in another. If the image provides absolutely no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images might be appropriate to make use of. But if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt will be required and maybe a long description will be in order. Oftentimes this type of thing is really a judgement call.
Image Search Engine Optimization Tips
Listed here are key stages in optimizing images:
Select 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. Avoid using underscores as a word separator, such as "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";
Label the file extension. For example, when the image search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's going to assume 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 text nearby the image that is highly relevant to that image.
Again, do not lose an excellent chance to help your website together with your images searching engines. Use these steps to position better on all the engines and drive more traffic to your site TODAY.
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