Alt Attribute & Seo

SEO Optimization images has become increasingly more important in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is really a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This is often a lost chance of better rankings.

In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise using alternative text for the images on your web site:

Images:. Make use of 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 do that? The answer is simple, really; search engines like google have a similar problem as blind users. They cannot see the images.

Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse using this attribute, trying to stuff it with keywords, looking to achieve a certain keyword density, which isn't as relevant for rankings now since it once was.

On the other hand, high keyword density can, on some search engines, trigger spam filters, which might result in a penalty for your site's ranking. Even without such a penalty, your site's rankings will not benefit from this tactic.
This method also puts persons who use screen readers at a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that really read aloud the contents of what is shown on the screen. In browsing the web, the alt features of images are read aloud too.

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

An ALT attribute shouldn't be used as a description or a label to have an image, though lots of people use it for the reason that fashion. Although it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is really a label or a description, it is not!

What used within an image's alt attribute ought to be its text equivalent and convey exactly the same information or serve 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 itself is not available. Ask yourself this question: If you were to replace the look using 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 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 items in the look, then a description is appropriate.

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

If it's designed to convey the use of a function, then the function itself is what ought to 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 within the page, use 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 from the image we are attempting to convey. For instance; any button images should not range from the word "button" in the alt text. They should emphasize the action performed by 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 remainder of 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 utilizing an alt attribute for every image is needed to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, which are used as 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 useful 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 apart from to create a site visually appealing/attractive and (in many cases) fulfill the marketing departments. There isn't any content value (though there may be value to a sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there's something there that will enhance the usability of the site for somebody 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 serve to set the atmosphere or set happens so to speak. These graphics aren't direct content and may 't be considered essential, but they are essential in that they help frame what's going on.

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

For example; Alt text that is just like adjacent text is unnecessary, as well as an irritant to screen reader users. I recommend alt="" or background CSS images in such instances. But sometimes, it's important to understand this content in there for all users.

Usually this will depend on context. The same image in a different context may require drastically different alt text. Obviously, content should always be fully available. The way you use this case is 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 figure out why their alt text isn't working is that they don't know why the images are there. You have to figured out exactly what function an image serves. Think about 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 describe. Understanding what the image is for makes alt text easier to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A method to check the usefulness of alternative text is to imagine reading the page over the telephone to someone. What would you say when encountering a specific image to make the page understandable towards the listener?

Besides the alt attribute you have a couple more tools available for images.
First, in level of descriptiveness title is within 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. (So much for device independence). So make use of the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points towards the URL of a full description of the image. If the information contained in an image is essential towards the concept of the page (i.e. some important content will be lost if the image was removed), a longer description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It can offer rich, expressive documentation of a 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 really a long description of an image...The goal is to use any length of description necessary to impart the details from the graphic.

It wouldn't be remiss to hope that the long description conjures an image - the image - in the mind's eye, an analogy that is true even for that totally blind."

Although the alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility as well as for valid (X)HTML, not every images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.

In many cases, you're best just going with your gut instinct -- if it's not essential to include it, and if you don't have a strong urge to get it done, don't add that longdesc.

However, if it's essential for the whole page to operate, then you have to include the alt text (or title or longdesc).

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

Exactly the same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in one spot, but not in another. If the image provides absolutely 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 would be so as. In many cases this kind of thing is a judgement call.

Image Seo optimization Tips

Listed below are key steps 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, 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 likely to assume the file is really a photo, and when it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's likely to assume that it is a graphic;

Make sure that the text nearby the image that is relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose a great chance to help your site with your images in search engines. Use these steps to position better on all of the engines and drive more traffic for your site TODAY.