Alt Attribute & SEO Optimization

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

In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise the use of alternative text for that images in your web 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 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, looking to achieve a particular keyword density, which isn't as relevant for rankings now since it was previously.

On the other hand, high keyword density can, on some search engines, 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 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 contents of what is shown on the screen. In browsing the web, the alt features of images are read aloud as well.

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

An ALT attribute should not be used as a description or a label to have an image, though many people use it for the reason that fashion. Although 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 the same purpose that the image would.

The thing is to provide the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" when the look is unavailable. Think about this question: If you were to replace the image with the text, would most users get the same basic information, and wouldn't it create the same response?
A few examples:

 

Some SEO Optimization Tips

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

If an image is meant to convey the literal contents of the image, then a description is suitable.

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

If it's meant to convey using a function, then the function itself is what should 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 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 is the function of the image we are attempting to convey. For instance; any button images should not include the word "button" in the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed through the button.

Alt text should 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 from the text because that's the way it is going to be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone hearing your page should hardly remember that a graphic image is there.
Please keep in mind that using an alt attribute for every image is required to meet the minimum WAI requirements, which are used since the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and the remainder of Europe. They are also required to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in the US.

It is important 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 is no content value (though there might be value to a sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there is something there that will boost the usability of the site for somebody using a non-visual user agent. Use a null alt attribute or background images in CSS for eye-candy.

II. Mood-Setting

This is actually the middle layer of graphics which might actually set the atmosphere or set happens as it were. These graphics are not direct content and could not be considered essential, but they're important in that they help frame what's going on.

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

For instance; Alt text that's identical to adjacent text is unnecessary, and an irritant to screen reader users. I suggest alt="" or background CSS images in such cases. But sometimes, it's vital that you get this content in there for those users.

Most times it depends on context. The same image inside a different context may require drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. How 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 may also be so as.
The reason many authors can't figure out why their alt text isn't working is that they don't know why the pictures are there. You need to determined precisely what function an image serves. Think about what it's concerning the image that's important to the page's intended audience.

Every graphic has a reason for being on that page: since it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what are the page is trying to explain. Understanding what the look is for makes alt text easier to write. And exercise writing them definitely helps.
A method to look into 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 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 through the user agent. Remember they are invisible and never shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (A lot for device independence). So use the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points to the Link to a full description of the image. If the information found in an image is important to the concept of the page (i.e. some important content will be lost when the image was removed), a longer description compared to "alt" attribute can reasonably display should be used. It can provide for 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 a long description of the image...The goal is to use 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 - in the mind's eye, an analogy that holds true even for that totally blind."

Even though alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility as well as for valid (X)HTML, not every 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 if you don't possess a strong urge to get it done, don't include 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 about the page.

The same image may require 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 may be appropriate to make use of. However, if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt would be required and maybe a long description will be so as. In many cases this type of thing is really a judgement call.

Image Seo optimization Tips

Listed below 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. Avoid using underscores like a word separator, such as "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";

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

Ensure that the text at the image that is relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose a great chance to help your site together with your images in search engines. Use these steps to rank better on all of the engines and drive increased traffic to your site TODAY.