SEO Optimization images is becoming more and more important in SEO (Seo optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is really a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This can be a lost chance of better rankings.
In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise the use of alternative text for that images in your web site:
Images:. Use the alt attribute to supply descriptive text. In addition, we recommend utilizing a human-readable caption and descriptive text round 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 can't see the images.
Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse using this attribute, attempting 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, 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 benefit from this tactic.
This process also puts persons who use screen readers at a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that actually read aloud the contents of 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 that is followed by repetitions of numerous keywords. The page would be far from accessible, and, to put it bluntly, 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 many people use it in that fashion. Though it might seem natural to assume that alternate text is really a label or a description, it is not!
The words used within an image's alt attribute ought to be its text equivalent and convey the same information or serve exactly the same purpose that the image would.
The goal is to supply 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 unavailable. Ask yourself this: If you were to replace the look using the text, would most users receive the same basic information, and would it create the same response?
Some examples:
Some SEO Optimization Tips
If your search button is really a magnifier or binoculars its alt text ought to 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 data is what's appropriate.
If it is meant to convey the use of a function, then the function itself 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 only a decorative role in the page, make use of an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or a CSS background image to ensure that reading browsers don't bother users by uttering such things as "spacer image".
Keep in mind that it is the function from the image we are attempting to convey. For example; any button images should not include the word "button" in the alt text. They should emphasize the action performed through the button.
Alt text ought to be based on context. The same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text.
Try to flow alt text with the rest from the text because that is the way it will be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone hearing your page should hardly remember that a graphic image is there.
Please keep in mind that using an alt attribute for every image is required to meet 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 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 create a site visually appealing/attractive and (in many cases) satisfy the marketing departments. There is no content value (though there may 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. Use 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 the stage as it were. These graphics aren't direct content and could 't be considered essential, but they're essential in they help frame what's going on.
Try to alt-ify the 2nd group as is sensible and is relevant. There might be times when doing this may be annoying or detrimental to other users. Then try to avoid it.
For instance; 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 cases. But sometimes, it's important to understand this content inside for all users.
Most times it depends on context. The same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. How you use this case is 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 can also be so as.
The reason many authors can't understand why their alt text isn't working is that they don't know why the images are there. You have to determined exactly what function an image serves. Consider what it's about the image that's important to the page's intended audience.
Every graphic includes a reason for standing on that page: because it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what the page is attempting to describe. Understanding what the image is perfect for makes alt text simpler to write. And exercise writing them definitely helps.
A way 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 specific image to make the page understandable to the listener?
Besides the alt attribute you've got a couple more tools at your disposal for images.
First, in level of descriptiveness title is within between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and can add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered through the user agent. Remember they are invisible and not shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (A lot for device independence). So use the title attribute only for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points towards the Link to a complete description of the image. If the information found in a picture is important to 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 ought to be used. It may offer rich, expressive documentation of a visual image.
It should 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 necessary to impart the facts from the graphic.
It would not be remiss to hope that the long description conjures an image - the look - in the mind's eye, an analogy that holds true even for that totally blind."
Although the alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility and for valid (X)HTML, not all images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.
In many cases, you're better off just going with your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary to include it, and if you don't possess a strong urge to do it, don't add that longdesc.
However, if it's necessary for the whole page to work, 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 your image and it is context about the page.
Exactly the same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in one spot, although not in another. If an 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 will be required and perhaps even a long description would be so as. In many cases this kind of thing is really a judgement call.
Image Search Engine Optimization Tips
Listed here 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, like for example "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";
Label the file extension. For instance, if the image search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's likely to assume that the file is a photo, and when it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's going to assume that it is graphic;
Ensure that the written text at the image that is highly relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose an excellent opportunity to help your site together with your images searching engines. Begin using these steps to position better on all of the engines and drive more traffic for your site TODAY.
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