Brief Overview:Yes, alt text does help SEO. Alt text, also known as alternative text or alt tags, is a descriptive text that is added to an image on a webpage. While it primarily serves as a way to provide information about the image for visually impaired users and those who have disabled images in their browsers, alt text also plays an important role in search engine optimization (SEO). Here are five supporting facts:
1. Improved accessibility: Alt text helps visually impaired users understand the content of an image by using screen readers or other assistive technologies. By providing accurate and descriptive alt text, you enhance the accessibility of your website.
2. Enhanced user experience: When images fail to load due to slow internet connections or technical issues, alt text ensures that visitors can still understand what the image represents. This improves user experience and keeps them engaged with your content.
3. Keyword optimization: Including relevant keywords in your alt text can improve your website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs). Search engines consider alt tags when indexing and ranking webpages.
4. Image search optimization: Alt text provides context for search engines when they crawl and index images on your website. Optimized alt tags increase the chances of appearing in image searches related to specific keywords or topics.
5. Increased organic traffic potential: Properly optimized images with descriptive alt texts can attract more organic traffic from both regular web searches and image searches.
FAQs:
Q1: How long should my alt text be?
A1: Ideally, keep it concise but informative – around 125 characters is recommended for most situations.
Q2: Should I include keywords in my alt tags?
A2: Yes, including relevant keywords helps search engines understand what the image is about and improves SEO potential.
Q3: Can I use multiple words separated by commas as my alt tag?
A3: It’s best to avoid keyword stuffing or using excessive amounts of words without proper context. Keep it natural and descriptive.
Q4: Can I leave alt text blank if the image is purely decorative?
A4: For purely decorative images, you can use empty alt attributes (alt=””) to indicate that they don’t convey any important information.
Q5: Is there a limit to the number of characters in alt text?
A5: While there is no strict character limit, it’s generally recommended to keep alt text under 125 characters for optimal visibility and accessibility.
Q6: Should I include my brand name in every alt tag?
A6: It’s not necessary unless your brand name plays a significant role in describing the image or if it’s crucial for branding purposes.
Q7: Can I use identical alt tags for similar images on different pages?
A7: It’s best practice to provide unique and specific alt texts for each image, as this helps search engines understand the relevance of individual images within their respective contexts.
BOTTOM LINE:
Alt text is an essential element of SEO strategy. By providing accurate descriptions with relevant keywords, you improve website accessibility, enhance user experience, optimize image searches, and increase organic traffic potential. Don’t overlook this simple yet impactful aspect of SEO – reach out to us when you’re ready to talk marketing in your area.