Alt Attribute & SEO Optimization

SEO Optimization images has become increasingly more important in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is often overlooked. 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 site:

Images:. Make use of the alt attribute to supply descriptive text. In addition, we recommend utilizing 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 cannot begin to 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 might create a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without such a penalty, your site's rankings will not 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 contents of what is displayed on the screen. In browsing the web, the alt attributes of images are read aloud as well.

Imagine hearing a paragraph of text that is followed by repetitions of many keywords. The page will be far from accessible, and, to put it mildly, would be found quite annoying.
What is an Alt attribute?

An ALT attribute shouldn't be used as a description or perhaps a label for an image, though many people utilize it for the reason that fashion. Though it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is a label or perhaps a description, it is 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 the image would.

The thing would be to provide the same functional information that a visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" when the look itself is not available. Think about this: Should you replace the look with the text, would most users receive the same basic information, and would 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 meant to convey the literal items in the image, a description is suitable.

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

If it's designed 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 within the page, use an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or perhaps 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 of the image we are trying to convey. For example; any button images should not range from the word "button" in the alt text. They should emphasize the action performed by the button.

Alt text should be determined by context. Exactly the same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text.

Attempt to flow alt text with the remainder of the text because that is how it will be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone listening to your page should hardly be aware 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, that are used since the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and also the remainder of Europe. They are also required to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in the US.

It is useful 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) fulfill the marketing departments. There isn't any content value (though there might be value to a sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there's something there that will boost the usability of the site for someone 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 actually set the atmosphere or set happens as it were. These graphics aren't direct content and may not be considered essential, but they're essential in that they help frame what is going on.

Attempt to alt-ify the second group as makes sense and is relevant. There may be instances when doing so may be annoying or detrimental to other users. Then avoid it.

For instance; Alt text that's identical to 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 those users.

Most times this will depend on context. Exactly the same image inside a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content should always be fully available. The way you use 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 may 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 have 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 has a reason behind being on that page: because it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what are the page is trying to describe. Understanding what the image is for makes alt text easier to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A way to look into the usefulness of alternative text would be to imagine reading the page on the phone to someone. What would you say when encountering a specific image to create the page understandable to the listener?

Besides the alt attribute you have a couple more tools at your disposal 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're invisible and never shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (So much for device independence). So make use of the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points to the Link to a complete description of an image. If the information contained in a picture is important to the concept of the page (i.e. some important content will be lost when the image was removed), an extended description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display should be used. It can provide for rich, expressive documentation of the 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 a long description of an image...The aim is by using any period of description necessary to impart the details from the graphic.

It wouldn't be remiss to hope that a long description conjures a picture - the image - in the mind's eye, an analogy that holds true even for the 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.

Oftentimes, you are best just going with your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary to incorporate it, and when you don't have a strong urge to get it done, don't include that longdesc.

However, if it's necessary for the whole page to work, then you have 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 on the page.

Exactly the same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in a single spot, but 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 maybe a long description would be so as. Oftentimes this kind of thing is really a judgement call.

Image Seo optimization Tips

Listed here are key stages in optimizing images:

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

Ensure that the written text nearby the image that's relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose a great chance to help your site with your images in search engines. Begin using these steps to position better on all the engines and drive more traffic for your site TODAY.