SEO Optimization images has become increasingly more essential in SEO (Seo optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is really a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This is often a lost opportunity for better rankings.
In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise the use of alternative text for the images in your web site:
Images:. Use the alt attribute to provide 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 easy, really; search engines have the same problem as blind users. They cannot see the images.
Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse using this attribute, trying to stuff it with keywords, looking to achieve a certain keyword density, which is not 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 the site's ranking. Even without such a penalty, your site's rankings will not benefit from this tactic.
This process also puts persons who use screen readers in a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that really read aloud the items in what is 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 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 should not be used like a description or a label for an image, though lots of people use it for the reason that fashion. Although it might seem natural to assume that alternate text is really a label or a description, it's not!
What 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 provide the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" when the image is unavailable. Ask yourself this question: Should you replace the image with the text, would most users get the same basic information, and wouldn't it create the same response?
Some examples:
Some SEO Optimization Tips
If a search button is a magnifier or binoculars its alt text should be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.
If an image is supposed to convey the literal contents of the image, then a description is appropriate.
If it's designed to convey data, then that data is what's appropriate.
If it is meant to convey the use of 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 as well as for valid XHTML.
For images that play merely a decorative role within the page, make use of an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or a CSS background image so that reading browsers don't bother users by uttering such things as "spacer image".
Remember that it is the function of the image we're trying to convey. For example; any button images shouldn't include the word "button" within the alt text. They should emphasize the action performed by the button.
Alt text ought to be based on context. The same image inside a different context may need drastically different alt text.
Try to flow alt text with the rest of the text because that's how it will be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone listening to your page should hardly remember that a graphic image can there be.
Please keep in mind that using an alt attribute for each image is required to meet the minimum WAI requirements, which are used since the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and the remainder of Europe. Also, they are necessary to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in america.
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 other than 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 some sighted user).
Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there is something there that will boost 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 actually the middle layer of graphics which may serve to set the mood or set happens as it were. These graphics are not direct content and could not be considered essential, but they are important in that they help frame what is going on.
Try to alt-ify the 2nd group as is sensible and is relevant. There might be times when doing this might be annoying or detrimental to other users. Then avoid it.
For example; Alt text that is identical to adjacent text is unnecessary, as well as an irritant to screen reader users. I suggest alt="" or background CSS images in such cases. But sometimes, it's vital that you understand this content inside for all users.
Usually it depends on context. The same image inside a different context may require drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. How you go in this example is a judgment call.
III. Content and Function
This is where the image may be the actual content. Always alt-ify content and functional images. Title and long description attributes can also be in order.
The reason many authors can't figure out why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the images are there. You have to determined precisely what function an image serves. Consider what it's concerning the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.
Every graphic includes a reason for being on that page: because it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what the page is trying to explain. Knowing what the image is for makes alt text simpler to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A way to look into the usefulness of alternative text is to imagine reading the page on the phone to someone. An amount you say when encountering a particular image to create the page understandable towards the listener?
Besides the alt attribute you've got a couple more tools at your disposal 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 through the user agent. Remember they are invisible and not shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (So much for device independence). So use the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points towards the Link to a complete description of the image. If the information contained in an image is essential to the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost when the image was removed), an extended description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It can offer rich, expressive documentation of the 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 really a long description of the image...The goal is to use any period of description essential to impart the details of the graphic.
It would not be remiss to hope that the long description conjures a picture - the look - in the mind's eye, an analogy that is true even for the totally blind."
Although the 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 best just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not essential to include it, and if you don't possess a strong urge to do it, don't include that longdesc.
However, if it's necessary for the whole page to operate, then you have 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 on the page.
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 might 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 in order. Oftentimes this type of thing is really a judgement call.
Image Seo optimization Tips
Listed here are key stages in optimizing images:
Select a logical file name that reinforces the keywords. You can use hyphens in the file name to isolate the keyword, but avoid to exceeding two hyphens. Avoid using underscores like a word separator, such as "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";
Label the file extension. For instance, when 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 text nearby the image that's highly relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose an excellent opportunity to help your site 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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