SEO Optimization images is becoming increasingly 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 opportunity for better rankings.
In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise the use of alternative text for the images in your site:
Images:. Use the alt attribute to supply descriptive text. Additionally, we recommend utilizing a human-readable caption and descriptive text around the image.
Why would they ask us to do that? The answer is easy, really; search engines have a similar problem as blind users. They cannot see the images.
Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse the use of this attribute, attempting to stuff it with keywords, looking to achieve a certain keyword density, which is not as relevant for rankings now as it was previously.
On the contrary, high keyword density can, on some search engines, trigger spam filters, which might result in a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without this type of penalty, your site's rankings will not benefit from this plan.
This method also puts persons who use screen readers at a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that actually read aloud the items in what is shown on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt attributes of images are read aloud too.
Imagine hearing a paragraph of text which is followed by repetitions of many keywords. The page will be not even close to accessible, and, to put it bluntly, will be found quite annoying.
What is an Alt attribute?
An ALT attribute shouldn't be used like a description or perhaps 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 perhaps a description, it's not!
The words used within an image's alt attribute ought to be its text equivalent and convey exactly the same information or serve exactly the same purpose the image would.
The thing 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 is not available. Ask yourself this question: Should you replace the look using the text, would most users get 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 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 look, then a description is suitable.
If it is designed to convey data, then that information is what is appropriate.
If it's meant to convey using a function, then the 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 only a decorative role within the page, make use of an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or a CSS background image to ensure that reading browsers do not bother users by uttering such things as "spacer image".
Keep in mind that it's the function of the image we're attempting to convey. For example; any button images shouldn't include the word "button" in the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed through the button.
Alt text ought to be determined by context. The same image inside 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 remember that using an alt attribute for every image is required to meet the minimum WAI requirements, that are used since the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and 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 (oftentimes) fulfill the marketing departments. There is no content value (though there may be value to some sighted user).
Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there is something there that will enhance the usability of the site for someone 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 actually set the mood or set happens 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 may be instances when doing this might be annoying or detrimental with other users. Then avoid it.
For example; Alt text that is just like adjacent text is unnecessary, as well as an irritant to screen reader users. I recommend alt="" or background CSS images in such cases. But sometimes, it's vital that you get this content inside for all users.
Usually it depends on context. Exactly the same image inside a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content should always be fully available. How you go in this case is a judgment call.
III. Content and Function
This is when the image is 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 understand why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the pictures exist. You need to figured out precisely what function a picture serves. Think about what it is about the image that's important to the page's intended audience.
Every graphic has a reason behind being on that page: since it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is advisable to what the page is attempting to describe. Knowing what the look is for makes alt text simpler to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A way to check the usefulness of alternative text is to imagine reading the page on the phone to someone. What would you say when encountering a specific 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 level of descriptiveness title is within between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and may add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered by 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 to the Link to a complete description of the image. If the information found in a picture is essential to the concept of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost if the image was removed), an extended description compared to "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It can offer rich, expressive documentation of a 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 goal is by using any period of description necessary to impart the details from the graphic.
It would not be remiss to hope that the long description conjures an image - the image - in the mind's eye, an analogy that holds true even for the totally blind."
Even though alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility and for valid (X)HTML, not all images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.
Oftentimes, you are best just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not essential to incorporate it, and when you don't possess a strong urge to do it, don't add that longdesc.
However, if it's essential for the whole 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 about the function of the image and it is context on the page.
Exactly the same image may require alt text (or title or longdesc) in one spot, although not in another. If an image provides absolutely no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images may be appropriate to make use of. However, if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt would be required and maybe even a long description will be so as. Oftentimes this kind of thing is 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 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 example, when the image search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's likely to assume that the file is really a photo, and if it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's going to assume that it is a graphic;
Ensure that the written text nearby the image that's highly relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose an excellent chance to help your website with your images searching engines. Begin using these steps to rank better on all of the engines and drive increased traffic to your site TODAY.
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