Alt Attribute & SEO Optimization

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 can be a lost chance of better rankings.

In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise the use of alternative text for that 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 round 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 see the images.

Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse using this attribute, attempting to stuff it with keywords, hoping to achieve a particular keyword density, which is not as relevant for rankings now as it once was.

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 this type of penalty, your site's rankings won't 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 web, the alt features of images are read aloud too.

Imagine listening to a paragraph of text which is then repetitions of numerous keywords. The page would be far from accessible, and, to put it bluntly, would be found quite annoying.
What exactly is an Alt attribute?

An ALT attribute shouldn't be used as a description or a label to have an image, though many people utilize it in that fashion. Though it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is a label or perhaps a description, it's not!

What used inside 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 goal would be to provide the same functional information that a visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" in the event that the look is unavailable. Think about this question: Should you replace the look with the text, would most users get 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, then a description is suitable.

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

If it is designed to convey the use of a function, then your function is what should 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 in the page, use an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or perhaps a CSS background image to ensure that reading browsers don't bother users by uttering things like "spacer image".

Keep in mind that it's the function from the image we are trying to convey. For instance; any button images should not range from the word "button" within the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed by the button.

Alt text ought to be based on context. Exactly the same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text.

Try to flow alt text with the rest of the text because that is how it will 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 utilizing 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 rest of Europe. They are also 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 stuff that serve no purpose other than to create a site visually appealing/attractive and (in many cases) fulfill the marketing departments. There is no content value (though there might be value to some sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there's something there that will enhance the usability from 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 the middle layer of graphics which might actually set the mood or set happens so to speak. These graphics are not direct content and could 't be considered essential, but they're essential in they help frame what is going on.

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

For instance; Alt text that is identical to adjacent text is unnecessary, and an irritant to screen reader users. I recommend alt="" or background CSS images in such cases. But sometimes, it's important to understand this content inside for all users.

Usually this will depend on context. The same image inside a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content should always be fully available. The way you go in this example is really a judgment call.

III. Content and Function

This is when the look 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 are there. You have to determined exactly what function a picture serves. Think about what it's concerning the image that's important to the page's intended audience.

Every graphic has a reason for standing on that page: since it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what are the page is attempting to describe. Understanding what the look is perfect for makes alt text simpler to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A method to check the usefulness of alternative text would be to imagine reading the page over the telephone to someone. An amount you say when encountering a specific image to make the page understandable towards the listener?

Aside from the alt attribute you've got a couple more tools available for images.
First, in degree of descriptiveness title is in between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and may add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered through the user agent. Remember they are invisible and not shown as a "tooltip" when focus is received through the keyboard. (A lot for device independence). So make use of the title attribute only for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points towards the URL of a complete description of an image. When the information found in an image is essential towards the concept 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 should be used. It may offer 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 essential to impart the facts of the graphic.

It wouldn't be remiss to hope that the long description conjures a picture - the look - within the mind's eye, an analogy that is 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're better off just going with your gut instinct -- if it's not essential to include it, and if you don't have a strong urge to do it, don't include that longdesc.

However, if it's necessary for the entire page to work, then you've to include the alt text (or title or longdesc).

What's necessary and what's not depends a lot about the function of your image and it is context about the page.

The same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in a single spot, but not in another. If an image provides absolutely no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images may be appropriate to use. However, 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:

Choose a logical file name that reinforces the keywords. You can use hyphens within the file name to isolate the keyword, but avoid to exceeding two hyphens. Avoid using underscores like a word separator, like for example "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";

Label the file extension. For example, when the image internet search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's going to assume the file is a photo, and if 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 is highly relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose a great opportunity to help your site with your images searching engines. Use these steps to rank better on all the engines and drive more traffic for your site TODAY.