Alt Attribute & SEO Optimization

SEO Optimization images is becoming more and more essential in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is often overlooked. This is often a lost chance of better rankings.

In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise the use of alternative text for the images on your site:

Images:. Make use of the alt attribute to provide descriptive text. Additionally, we recommend using a human-readable caption and descriptive text around the image.

Why would they ask us to achieve that? The answer is simple, really; search engines have a similar problem as blind users. They can't 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 isn't as relevant for rankings now since it once was.

On the other hand, high keyword density can, on some search engines like google, trigger spam filters, which might result in a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without such a penalty, your site's rankings won't take advantage of this plan.
This method also puts persons who use screen readers in a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that actually read aloud the items in what's shown on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt features of images are read aloud as well.

Imagine hearing a paragraph of text which is then repetitions of many keywords. The page would be not even close to accessible, and, to put it mildly, will be found quite annoying.
What is an Alt attribute?

An ALT attribute shouldn't be used as a description or a label for an image, though many people use it for the reason that fashion. Though it might seem natural to assume that alternate text is a label or perhaps a description, it is not!

The words used inside 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 thing is to provide the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" in the event that the image is unavailable. Think about this: Should you replace the image using the text, would most users receive the same basic information, and would it create the same response?
A few examples:

 

Some SEO Optimization Tips

If a search button is a magnifier or binoculars its alt text ought to be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.

If the image is supposed to convey the literal contents of the look, a description is appropriate.

If it's meant to convey data, then that data is what is appropriate.

If it's designed to convey using 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 merely 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".

Remember that it is the function from the image we are attempting to convey. For instance; any button images shouldn't include the word "button" in the alt text. They should emphasize the action performed by the button.

Alt text should be based on context. Exactly the same image inside a different context may require drastically different alt text.

Try to flow alt text with the remainder from the text because that is how it is going to be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone hearing your page should hardly be aware that a graphic image can there be.
Please keep in mind that using an alt attribute for every image is needed to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, that 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 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 other than to make a site visually appealing/attractive and (oftentimes) fulfill the marketing departments. There isn't any content value (though there may be value to some sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there is something there which will boost the usability from the site for somebody utilizing 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 may 't be considered essential, but they are essential in that they help frame what is going on.

Attempt to alt-ify the second group as is sensible and is relevant. There might be instances when doing this might be annoying or detrimental to other users. Then try to 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 important to get this content in there for all users.

Most times it depends on context. Exactly the same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. The way you go in this case is 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 in order.
The main 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 need to figured out precisely what function a picture serves. Consider what it is about the image that's important to the page's intended audience.

Every graphic includes a reason behind being on that page: since it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what are the page is trying to describe. Understanding 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 would be to imagine reading the page over the telephone to someone. What would you say when encountering a specific image to make the page understandable towards the listener?

Besides the alt attribute you have a couple more tools available 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 by the user agent. Remember they are invisible and not 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 to the URL of a complete description of an image. When the information contained in an image is essential towards the concept of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost if the image was removed), a longer description compared to "alt" attribute can reasonably display should 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 an image. As Clark [1] states, "A longdesc is really a long description of the image...The goal is by using any period of description necessary to impart the details of the graphic.

It wouldn't be remiss to hope that a long description conjures a picture - the image - within 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.

In many cases, you are better off just going with 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 add that longdesc.

However, if it's essential for the entire page to operate, then you have to add the alt text (or title or longdesc).

What's necessary and what's not depends a lot 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 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 would be required and perhaps a long description will be so as. In many cases 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 should use hyphens within the file name to isolate the keyword, but avoid to exceeding two hyphens. Avoid using underscores as a word separator, like for example "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";

Label the file extension. For example, if the image internet search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's likely to assume the file is a photo, and when it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's likely to assume that it is graphic;

Ensure that the written text nearby the image that's relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose an excellent opportunity to help your site together with your images in search engines. Begin using these steps to rank better on all of the engines and drive more traffic for your site TODAY.