Brief Overview:Alt text, also known as alternative text or alt tags, is a crucial element of on-page SEO. It is the descriptive text that appears when an image fails to load or when a user hovers over an image. Writing effective alt text can improve your website’s accessibility and visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs). Here are five supporting facts about writing alt text for images:
1. Alt Text Improves Accessibility: Alt text provides a textual description of an image, making it accessible to visually impaired users who rely on screen readers.
2. Alt Text Boosts SEO: Search engines cannot interpret images like humans do, so they rely on alt text to understand the content and context of an image. Including relevant keywords in your alt text can help search engines index and rank your webpages better.
3. Keep It Descriptive but Concise: While it’s essential to describe the image accurately, avoid lengthy descriptions that may overwhelm users or appear spammy to search engines.
4. Be Specific and Relevant: Ensure your alt text precisely reflects the content and purpose of the image while incorporating relevant keywords naturally.
5. Don’t Overdo Keyword Stuffing: While including keywords in your alt text is important for SEO purposes, avoid keyword stuffing at all costs as it can harm your website’s rankings.
FAQs about Writing Alt Text for Images:
Q1: How long should my alt texts be?
A1: Aim for concise yet descriptive alt texts between 125-150 characters (including spaces).
Q2: Should I include my target keyword in every alt tag?
A2: Yes, including relevant keywords helps with SEO but ensure they fit naturally within the context of each specific image.
Q3: Can I leave out alt texts if my webpage has captions describing the images?
A3: No, you should always include appropriate alt texts even if there are captions present as not all users will have access to captions.
Q4: Can I copy and paste the same alt text for similar images?
A4: It’s best to provide unique alt texts for each image, accurately describing their individual content or purpose.
Q5: Are there any tools to check if my alt texts are optimized?
A5: Yes, several online SEO tools can help you analyze your website’s alt text optimization and suggest improvements.
Q6: Does Google consider alt text when ranking webpages?
A6: Yes, Google considers alt texts as an important ranking factor for both accessibility and SEO purposes.
Q7: Should I include punctuation marks in my alt texts?
A7: While it’s not necessary, including appropriate punctuation marks can improve readability and user experience.
BOTTOM LINE:
Writing effective alt text for images is crucial for both accessibility and search engine optimization. By providing concise yet descriptive descriptions that incorporate relevant keywords naturally, you can enhance your website’s visibility in SERPs while ensuring a better user experience. Need expert guidance on optimizing your website? Reach out to us when you’re ready to talk marketing in your area.