Alt Attribute & Seo

SEO Optimization images is becoming increasingly more essential in SEO (Seo optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This is often a lost chance of better rankings.

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

Images:. Make use of the alt attribute to provide descriptive text. In addition, we recommend using 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 like google have a similar problem as blind users. They cannot begin to see the images.

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

On the contrary, high keyword density can, on some search engines, 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 take advantage of 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 items in what is displayed on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt attributes of images are read aloud as well.

Imagine hearing a paragraph of text which is then repetitions of numerous keywords. The page will be not even close to accessible, and, to put it mildly, 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 may appear natural to assume that alternate text is a label or a description, it is not!

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

The thing is to supply the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" in the event that the image itself is not available. Think about this: If you were to replace the image with the text, would most users get the same basic information, and would it create the same response?
A few examples:

 

Some SEO Optimization Tips

If a search button is really a magnifier 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 items in the look, a description is suitable.

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

If it is designed to convey using a function, then the function is what ought to 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 only a decorative role in 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 such things as "spacer image".

Remember that it is the function of the image we're attempting to convey. For example; 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 based on context. The same image in a different context may require drastically different alt text.

Attempt to flow alt text with the remainder of the text because that's how it is going to be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone listening to your page should hardly be aware that a graphic image is there.
Please keep in mind that utilizing an alt attribute for each image is required to meet the minimum WAI requirements, that are used as the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and also the remainder of Europe. They are also necessary 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 things that serve no purpose apart from to create a site visually appealing/attractive and (in many cases) satisfy the marketing departments. There isn't any content value (though there may be value to some sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there is something there that will enhance the usability from the site for someone 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 might serve to set the atmosphere or set the stage so to speak. These graphics are not direct content and could 't be considered essential, but they are important in that they help frame what's going on.

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

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

Most times it depends on context. The same image in a different context may require drastically different alt text. Obviously, content should always be fully available. How you go in this example is really a judgment call.

III. Content and Function

This is when the look may be the actual content. Always alt-ify content and functional images. Title and long description attributes can also be so as.
The main reason many authors can't understand why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the images are there. You need to figured out precisely what function an image serves. Consider what it is about the image that's important to the page's intended audience.

Every graphic has a reason for being on that page: because it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is advisable to what the page is attempting to explain. Knowing what the look is for makes alt text simpler to write. And exercise writing them definitely helps.
A way to check the usefulness of alternative text is to imagine reading the page on the phone to someone. What would 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 available for images.
First, in degree of descriptiveness title is in 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 not shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (A lot for device independence). So make use of the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points towards the URL of a complete description of an image. When the information found in an image is important towards the concept of the page (i.e. some important content will be lost if 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 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 really a long description of the image...The goal is to use any period of description essential to impart the details from the graphic.

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

Even though alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility and for valid (X)HTML, not all images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.

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

However, if it's necessary for the whole page to work, then you've to include the alt text (or title or longdesc).

What's necessary and what's not depends a great deal 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 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 use. However, if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt will be required and perhaps a long description would be in order. In many cases this kind of thing is really a judgement call.

Image Seo optimization Tips

Listed here are key stages in optimizing images:

Choose 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 as a word separator, such as "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";

Label the file extension. For example, if 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 text at the image that is highly relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose a great chance to help your website with your images in search engines. Use these steps to rank better on all of the engines and drive more traffic to your site TODAY.