Use Descriptive Alt Text for Images

Why Descriptive Alt Text for Images Matters

Descriptive alt text plays a critical role in improving both SEO and accessibility. Google image search accounts for 22.6% of all internet searches, meaning well-optimized alt text can drive significant traffic to your website. Additionally, alt text helps visually impaired users understand the content of images, making your website more inclusive.

Missing Alt Text = Lost SEO Opportunities: 43% of Websites Fail to Use Alt Text Properly

Without descriptive alt text, you risk:

• Lost search traffic: Images without proper alt text won’t be indexed by search engines, meaning you miss out on valuable image search traffic.
• Accessibility issues: Visually impaired users relying on screen readers won’t be able to interpret your images, leading to a poor user experience.
• Lower SEO rankings: Without keyword-optimized alt text, search engines struggle to understand your content, leading to missed opportunities in organic ranking.

Benefits of using alt text:

• Improved SEO: Descriptive, keyword-rich alt text helps search engines better index your images, leading to higher visibility in image search results.
• Enhanced accessibility: Proper alt text ensures users with disabilities can understand the visual content on your site.
• More traffic: Alt text makes your images discoverable, potentially driving more visitors to your site.

Examples: How Alt Text Improved SEO and User Experience

Shopify – Keyword-Rich Alt Text

Shopify optimized the alt text of product images with relevant keywords, leading to a 12% increase in organic traffic from Google Images.

Medium – Improved Accessibility

By implementing clear and descriptive alt text, Medium improved the accessibility of their platform, resulting in a 15% decrease in bounce rates from visually impaired users.

HubSpot – SEO Boost from Alt Text

HubSpot saw a 10% boost in their organic image search traffic by consistently using keyword-optimized alt text across their blog posts.

How to Write Descriptive Alt Text for SEO and Accessibility

Follow these steps to write effective alt text for your images:

1. Describe the image – Write a short, clear description of what the image shows. Be as specific as possible.
2. Include relevant keywords – Add keywords naturally to the description, but avoid stuffing. Ensure they relate to the image and content.
3. Avoid unnecessary details – Keep it simple. Alt text should provide useful information but not be overly verbose.
4. Focus on accessibility – Consider how a visually impaired user would interpret the image using a screen reader. Make the alt text informative but concise.
5. Apply alt text to all images – Ensure every image on your site has relevant alt text for maximum SEO and accessibility benefits.

Do It Yourself

To optimize your alt text for SEO and accessibility:

• Describe each image clearly in a way that helps search engines and screen readers understand the content.
• Include keywords naturally where appropriate, but focus on clarity.
• Audit your website to ensure all images, including icons and logos, have alt text.

Key Takeaways

Descriptive alt text is a simple yet powerful tool to improve both your SEO and your site's accessibility. By providing clear, keyword-rich alt text for every image, you can enhance user experience, improve search engine rankings, and increase traffic to your website. Don't overlook this small but crucial step in optimizing your website for both visibility and inclusivity.