Alt Attribute & Seo

SEO Optimization images has become increasingly more essential in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is often overlooked. This is often a lost opportunity for better rankings.

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

Images:. Use the alt attribute to provide descriptive text. Additionally, we recommend using a human-readable caption and descriptive text around the image.

Why would they ask us to achieve that? The answer is easy, really; search engines like google have the same problem as blind users. They cannot begin to see the images.

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

On the contrary, high keyword density can, on some search engines, trigger spam filters, which may create a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without this type of penalty, your site's rankings will not take advantage of this tactic.
This process also puts persons who use screen readers in a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that actually read aloud the contents of what is shown on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt features of images are read aloud too.

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

An ALT attribute should not be used like a description or a label for an image, though many people utilize it for the reason that fashion. Although it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is a label or perhaps a description, it is not!

What used inside an image's alt attribute ought to be its text equivalent and convey exactly the same information or serve the same purpose that the image would.

The thing is to provide the same functional information that a visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" when the look is unavailable. Think about this question: If you were to replace the look using the text, would most users receive the same basic information, and wouldn't it generate the same response?
Some examples:

 

Some SEO Optimization Tips

If a search button is a magnifier or binoculars its alt text should be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.

If an image is meant to convey the literal items in the look, then a description is appropriate.

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

If it is meant to convey the use of a function, then your function 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 only a decorative role in the page, make use of an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or perhaps a CSS background image to ensure that reading browsers don't bother users by uttering such things as "spacer image".

Keep in mind that it's the function of the image we're trying to convey. For example; any button images shouldn't 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. The same image inside a different context may require drastically different alt text.

Attempt to flow alt text with the rest of the text because that is how it will be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone hearing your page should hardly be aware that a graphic image is there.
Please remember that using an alt attribute for each image is needed to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, which are used since the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and also the rest of Europe. They are also 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 things that serve no purpose other than to create a site visually appealing/attractive and (in many cases) fulfill the marketing departments. There isn't any content value (though there might be value to some sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there's something there which will boost the usability of 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 may serve to set the mood or set the stage so to speak. These graphics aren't direct content and may not be considered essential, but they are essential in they help frame what is going on.

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

For example; Alt text that is 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 get this content in there for all users.

Most times it depends on context. Exactly the same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content should always be fully available. The way you go in this case is really 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 so as.
The main reason many authors can't understand why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the pictures exist. You need to figured out exactly what function an image serves. Consider what it is concerning the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.

Every graphic has a reason behind being on that page: because it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is advisable to what are the page is trying to explain. Understanding what the image is for makes alt text easier to write. And exercise writing them definitely helps.
A method to look into the usefulness of alternative text would be 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 at your disposal 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. (So much for device independence). So make use of the title attribute only for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points towards the URL of a full description of the image. When the information contained in a picture is important to the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content will be lost if the image was removed), an extended description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It can offer rich, expressive documentation of the 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 aim is to use any length of description essential to impart the facts of 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 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're better off just going with your gut instinct -- if it's not essential to incorporate it, and when you don't have a strong urge to do it, don't add that longdesc.

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

What's necessary and what's not depends a great deal 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, 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 would be required and perhaps even a long description would be in order. Oftentimes this kind of thing is really a judgement call.

Image Seo optimization Tips

Listed here are key steps in optimizing images:

Select 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. Stay away from underscores like a word separator, such as "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 the file is really a photo, and when 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's highly relevant to that image.
Again, do not lose a great chance to help your site together with your images searching engines. Use these steps to rank better on all of the engines and drive increased traffic for your site TODAY.