Alt Attribute & Seo

SEO Optimization images is becoming increasingly more essential in SEO (Search Engine 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 using alternative text for the images on your web site:

Images:. Use the alt attribute to supply descriptive text. In addition, we recommend using a human-readable caption and descriptive text round the image.

Why would they ask us to do 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 the use of this attribute, trying to stuff it with keywords, hoping to achieve a particular keyword density, which isn't as relevant for rankings now as it was previously.

On the other hand, high keyword density can, on some search engines like google, trigger spam filters, which might result in a penalty for your 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 contents of what's shown on the screen. In browsing the web, the alt attributes of images are read aloud too.

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

An ALT attribute shouldn't be used like a description or perhaps a label to have an image, though lots of people utilize it in that fashion. Though it might seem natural to assume that alternate text is a label or perhaps a description, it is not!

The words used within an image's alt attribute should be its text equivalent and convey exactly the same information or serve the same purpose the image would.

The goal is to provide the same functional information that a visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" in the event that the image is not available. Ask yourself this question: If you were to replace the image using the text, would most users receive 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 should be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.

If the image is supposed to convey the literal items in the look, then a description is suitable.

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

If it is meant to convey using a function, then the function 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 a CSS background image to ensure that reading browsers do not bother users by uttering things like "spacer image".

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

Alt text should be determined by context. The same image inside a different context may need drastically different alt text.

Try to flow alt text with the rest from the text because that is the way it will be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone hearing your page should hardly remember that a graphic image can there be.
Please remember that using an alt attribute for every image is required to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, that are used since the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and the rest of Europe. Also, they are required 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 (oftentimes) 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 enhance the usability of the site for somebody using 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 may actually set the atmosphere or set the stage so to speak. These graphics are not direct content and could not be considered essential, but they're important in that they help frame what is going on.

Attempt to alt-ify the 2nd group as is sensible and is relevant. There may be times when doing this might be annoying or detrimental to other users. Then avoid it.

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

Usually 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. How 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 can also be in order.
The reason many authors can't figure out why their alt text isn't working is that they don't know why the images are there. You need to figured out exactly what function an image serves. Consider what it's about the image that's important to the page's intended audience.

Every graphic includes a reason for being on that page: because it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what are the page is trying to explain. Knowing what the image is perfect for makes alt text easier to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A method to look into the usefulness of alternative text would be to imagine reading the page on the phone to someone. An amount 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 available for images.
First, in level of descriptiveness title is in between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and can add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered through the user agent. Remember they are invisible and not shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received through the keyboard. (A lot for device independence). So make use of the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points to the Link to a full description of an image. When the information found in an image is essential towards the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost when the image was removed), an extended description compared to "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It can provide for rich, expressive documentation of a visual image.

It ought to be used when alt and title are insufficient to embody the visual qualities of the image. As Clark [1] states, "A longdesc is really a long description of an image...The goal is by using any length of description essential to impart the details from the graphic.

It would not be remiss to hope that a long description conjures a picture - the image - in the mind's eye, an analogy that is 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 include it, and if you don't possess 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 add the alt text (or title or longdesc).

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

Exactly the same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in a single spot, although not in another. If the 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 will be required and perhaps even a long description will be so as. Oftentimes this kind of thing is a judgement call.

Image Seo optimization Tips

Listed here are key stages in optimizing images:

Select a logical file name that reinforces the keywords. You should use hyphens within the file name to isolate the keyword, but avoid to exceeding two hyphens. Stay away from underscores like a word separator, like for example "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";

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

Ensure that the written text nearby the image that's relevant to that image.
Again, do not lose a great opportunity to help your website together with your images searching engines. Use these steps to rank better on all the engines and drive increased traffic for your site TODAY.