As a business owner, you’ve probably heard the tip of including alt text for SEO in your photos. Alternative text, better known as alt text, helps describe the appearance of an image on a web page. With so many websites practising SEO strategies, we know you’re probably wondering whether alt text still matters for Google.
In this article, we break down what alt text is, how important it is, and how it works. We’re also sharing a bit of information on what Google really thinks of alt text and whether it’s good to keep using it in your SEO strategy. We’re also sharing some AI tools you can use to automate the process of including alt texts in your photos. Let’s dive in.
What is Alt Text?
Image Credit: Moz
Alt text, short for “alternative text,” is an HTML attribute used to describe images on a webpage. It serves a few purposes on a website:
- SEO: Alt text helps search engines understand the content of your images, improving your visibility in image search results.
- Accessibility: Alt text ensures that visually impaired users can understand what the images represent through screen readers.
- Description: If an image file does not load on a page, alt text is displayed in lieu of the image.
For example, the HTML code might look like this:
html
Copy code
<img src=”hotel-beach.jpg” alt=”Luxury beachside hotel in Sentosa, Singapore“>
This description tells search engines and users exactly what the image conveys.
Is Alt Text Important for Humans?
Image Credit: semrush
While alt text helps search engines have context clues to an image file, its primary purpose, however, is to ensure website visitors with visual impairments can understand what the image is about. Alt attributes make sure that these people are being served by a website:
- People with visual impairments
- Low vision
- Different learning abilities
- People who cannot view an image online
The importance of alt text for accessibility was shared by Miracle Inameti-Archibong in a MozCon presentation:
- 12 million Internet users have a visual impairment or low vision
- People with a visual impairment or low vision consistently report having advanced internet proficiency.
- Working-age people with disabilities cumulatively possess $490 billion in after-tax disposable income.
- 83% of people with accessibility needs shop on sites with high accessibility standards, even if prices are higher.
- 97.4% of homepages have accessibility errors.
- Missing alt text accounts for 61% of all homepage accessibility errors.
- In 2021, there were 10 lawsuits per day in the US related to accessibility issues.
In addition to these statistics, W3C published its Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 in 1999 to explain the importance of making content accessible to users with disabilities. Among these guidelines specified that websites should “provide equivalent alternatives to auditory and visual content.” An image without description is not helpful and produces a poor user experience.
With these, we get to understand why including alt text in an image description is important. By implementing the need for including alt texts, business owners can ensure that their websites do not exclude visitors from accessing it. This also helps protect their brand from potential lawsuits.
Is Alt Text Important for Search Engines?
Image Credit: Mangools
Apart from serving humans, alt text helps provide context for search engines, like Google. This allows search engines to have a better understanding of the photo and rank it on an image search. The latter helps individuals who are looking for something specific without knowing how to further refine their search.
By making sure your images contain alt text, you get to include Google Images or Image Search in your digital marketing strategy, which helps drive traffic to your site.
What Does Google Say About Using Alt Text for SEO?
Image Credit: Moz
For years, people have been adding alt text to their image descriptions as a way of improving their searchability. But with almost 19% of search results pages showing images, is it still worth including alt text descriptions to your website images? More importantly, are alt texts still relevant for SEO despite the prevalence of AI tools and image recognition advancement?
Google’s John Mueller responded to the Reddit thread with this:
“For image search, there’s the context that comes from the page + image combination that matters. A photo of a beach might be a relaxing poster, it might be the beach from a hotel, it could be the site of a chemical spill. Just knowing that the image is of a beach doesn’t really give sufficient background information to be able to show it in image search appropriately.
A lot of it does come from the page, and the alt-text is unique in that it’s what directly connects the image to the page with context.
Unless your site is a photo agency, traffic for “photo of a beach” isn’t going to be that useful – but for a hotel, having “hotel with beach in X” can be relevant. Again, a lot of that can come from the rest of the page, but the alt attribute value is a unique opportunity to give context.
(And with that … if you use AI to create alt texts based on the image file, and get “photo of a beach” as the alt text for that image, you’re not getting the most out of the alt text, both for users & search engines.)”
With Mueller’s answer, it’s safe to say that AI tools for generating alt text descriptions still have shortcomings in labelling images within the context of the content. While you may use AI tools to generate alt text descriptions, you need to add the context of the text context to do it properly.
Best Practices for Writing Alt Text for SEO
Image Credit: commonlook
As a digital marketing agency, understanding the intricacies of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial, especially when it comes to optimising images on your website. One key element that often gets overlooked is alt text (alternative text). Alt text not only enhances accessibility but also plays a significant role in SEO by helping search engines understand the content of images.
Here are some best practices for writing effective alt text that can improve your site’s visibility and user experience.
1. Be Descriptive and Specific
The primary function of alt text is to describe the content and function of an image accurately. When crafting alt text, aim for specificity that paints a clear mental picture.
For instance, instead of using generic descriptions like “dog,” opt for something more detailed such as “Golden Retriever playing fetch in a park.” This specificity helps both users and search engines understand the context of the image better.
2. Incorporate Relevant Keywords
Including relevant keywords in your alt text can enhance your SEO efforts. However, it’s essential to do this naturally; avoid keyword stuffing as it can lead to penalties from search engines.
A good practice is to use your focus keyword or related phrases where they fit seamlessly within the description. For example, if your focus keyword is “healthy dog food,” an effective alt text could be “Golden Retriever enjoying a bowl of healthy dog food” rather than just “dog food”.
3. Keep It Concise
While it’s important to be descriptive, you should also keep your alt text concise—ideally under 125 characters. This length ensures that screen readers can convey the information without cutting off important details, thus maintaining a good user experience.
Avoid unnecessary words such as “image of” or “picture of,” as these do not add value and can clutter your description.
4. Contextual Relevance
Ensure that your alt text is contextually relevant to the surrounding content on the page. This means that if an image relates to a specific topic discussed in the content, your alt text should reflect that connection.
For example, if you’re writing about dog training techniques and include an image of a dog obeying commands, an appropriate alt text would be “Dog responding to training commands during obedience class”.
5. Use Proper Grammar and Spelling
Typos and grammatical errors can undermine the credibility of your website and confuse users relying on screen readers. Always proofread your alt text to ensure clarity and professionalism.
6. Avoid Decorative Images in Alt Text
If an image serves purely decorative purposes and does not convey any meaningful information, it is best practice to use CSS for styling rather than HTML for alt text. In cases where decorative images must be included in HTML, leave the alt attribute empty (alt=””) so that screen readers can skip over them.
7. Test Your Alt Text
A useful exercise is to have someone read your alt text aloud while you close your eyes and try to visualise the image based solely on their description. If you can form a clear mental picture, you are likely on the right track with your alt text.
Incorporating these best practices into your digital marketing strategy will not only enhance accessibility for visually impaired users but also improve your website’s SEO performance. By being descriptive, incorporating keywords thoughtfully, maintaining conciseness, ensuring contextual relevance, and avoiding common pitfalls, you can create effective alt text that boosts both user experience and search engine visibility.
Remember, good alt text is about creating meaningful connections between images and content while optimising for search engines—an essential balance for any successful digital marketing campaign.
Using AI Tools to Write Alt Text
In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, ensuring that every aspect of a website is optimised for both search engines and user accessibility is paramount. One often overlooked yet crucial element is the use of alternative text (alt text) for images. Alt text not only aids in SEO but also enhances accessibility for users with visual impairments.
Fortunately, several AI tools have emerged that streamline the process of generating effective alt text, making it easier for marketing agencies to improve their clients’ online presence.
AltText.ai
Image Credit: alttext.ai
This tool automatically generates alt text for images in over 130 languages. It integrates seamlessly with various platforms including WordPress, Shopify, and Magento, allowing agencies to automate their alt text workflows.
Users can upload images via a web interface or through CMS integrations. The AI analyses the image and generates relevant descriptions quickly, which can be further customised with SEO keywords.
AltText.ai not only saves time but also ensures consistency across all images on a website, enhancing both SEO and accessibility.
Ahrefs Image Alt Text Generator
Image Credit: Ahrefs
Ahrefs offers a free tool that generates descriptive alt text effortlessly. This tool focuses on improving both accessibility and SEO without requiring extensive manual input.
The AI uses advanced language models to create human-like descriptions based on the uploaded images. This is particularly useful for agencies looking to enhance their content quickly.
By simplifying the alt text creation process, Ahrefs allows marketers to focus on other critical aspects of their campaigns while ensuring that their images are properly described.
Duda’s AI Assistant
Image Credit: duda.co
Duda has launched an AI assistant specifically designed for marketing agencies to streamline website building processes, including generating alt text.
This tool can create alt text for all site images at once and supports multiple languages, making it easier for agencies to comply with international accessibility standards.
Duda’s solution not only enhances efficiency but also helps agencies meet diverse client needs without compromising on quality.
Best Practices for Using AI-Generated Alt Text
While these tools significantly reduce the workload associated with creating alt text, it’s essential to remember that automated descriptions may not always capture the nuance required for effective communication. Here are some best practices:
- Review and Edit: Always review AI-generated alt text to ensure it accurately reflects the content and context of the image.
- Keep It Concise: Aim for clear and concise descriptions that convey the essential information without unnecessary detail.
- Incorporate Keywords Wisely: Use relevant keywords naturally within the alt text to enhance SEO without resorting to keyword stuffing.
Remember, Google says that while AI tools for writing alt text can help save your time, it’s important to consider the context of the text context. Embracing these technologies not only streamlines workflows but also reinforces a commitment to inclusivity in digital spaces.
What is Your Strategy for Writing Alt Text for SEO?
Alt text may seem like a small detail, but it plays a critical role in boosting your site’s SEO performance and ensuring accessibility. By writing concise, descriptive, and keyword-friendly alt text, you can improve your image rankings, attract more visitors, and offer a better experience to all users.
Investing in proper alt text optimisation is a simple yet effective step toward making your website more competitive in Singapore’s digital landscape. Call us today to learn how we can help make your alt text for SEO strategy help you rank.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is alt text, and why is it important for SEO?
Alt text is a descriptive text for images used by search engines to understand image content. It helps Google index images, improving your search visibility, especially in image results. Well-optimised alt text contributes to better organic rankings and enhances the accessibility of your site.
How does Google use alt text for ranking images?
Google’s search algorithm relies on alt text to understand what an image represents. Without alt text, Google struggles to index the image accurately, potentially missing opportunities for your site to rank in image searches. Alt text helps your images appear in relevant search results, increasing your overall search visibility.
Should all images on my website have alt text?
Not all images need alt text. Purely decorative images should have an empty alt attribute to avoid confusing screen readers. However, images that provide context, such as product photos, infographics, or charts, should include descriptive and concise alt text to improve both SEO and user experience.
Can alt text improve accessibility for visually impaired users?
Yes, alt text is essential for accessibility. It allows screen readers to describe the content of images to visually impaired users, ensuring that all visitors can understand the visual elements of your website. This not only improves the user experience but also aligns with legal standards for web accessibility.
Does adding keywords to alt text help with SEO?
Including relevant keywords in your alt text can boost your SEO by helping Google associate your images with specific search terms. However, it’s essential to use keywords naturally and avoid overloading your alt text with unnecessary keywords, as this can harm both user experience and SEO performance.
