In today’s digital world, image optimization is as important as ever. With the rise of social media and the constant stream of viral content, businesses need to make sure their images are optimized for search engines. One tool that can help in that quest is alt text.
Alt text is a part of a web page’s metadata that describes an image. When an image isn’t available, alt text is used as a placeholder so people have an idea of what the image is supposed to look like. Additionally, when search engines crawl web pages, they look at the alt text to determine what the image is about. In this article, we’ll explore the role alt text plays in image optimization and what best practices to consider when using it.
What is Alt Text, and Why is it Important?
Alt text is short for “alternative text.” It is meant to be used in place of an image if that image is not available for some reason. Alt text is also used for visually impaired users who rely on screen readers to access the associated content. Since these users cannot see images, the alt text ensures that the content is accessible to all users.
Besides being important for usability, alt text is also useful for improving SEO. Search engines use alt text to help determine what an image is about. Because the search engines can’t “see” the image, having alt text in place is the best way to communicate the content of the image to the search engines. This can help massively in keyword ranking and making sure that the right images are being returned from search engine queries.
Best Practices for Using Alt Text
There are a few best practices to keep in mind when using alt text. The first is to make the alt text as descriptive as possible. Alt text should accurately describe the content of the image in as much detail as possible. It should also contain relevant keywords and provide additional context for the image.
Besides being descriptive, the alt text should also be concise. The typical recommendation for alt text is 120 characters. Since the purpose of alt text is to describe the image quickly so that the user knows what it is about, the alt text should be brief.
Also, make sure to avoid keyword stuffing. The alt text should include relevant keywords, but don’t overdo it. It’s recommended to use the primary keyword one to three times in the alt text. The alt text should flow naturally, and if keywords are forced in, it can negatively impact the user’s experience.
Finally, be sure to use alt text for all images on the page. If an image includes an important piece of content, it’s important to make sure that the alt text is included so that the content can be accessed by all users. And since search engines use alt text to help determine what the page is about, not having alt text on the images can also negatively impact SEO.
Using Alt Text to Make Images More Accessible
Alt text is an incredibly useful tool for improving accessibility for all users. Since alt text is used if an image is not available, users with visual impairments can still access the same content that is on the page. Alt text is also useful for screen readers, as it can help the user to understand the content and provide a better experience.
Additionally, alt text can help improve the user’s experience. If an image takes a long time to load, having alt text in place can help communicate to users what the image is about while it loads. This can help to keep the user engaged even if the image hasn’t fully loaded.
Conclusion
Alt text is an incredibly useful tool for improving image optimization. Alt text provides search engines with the information they need to help improve keyword ranking, and it can also help to improve the user experience by making images more accessible. Be sure to take the time to craft descriptive, concise, and keyword-optimized alt text for all the images on your website.