Alt Attribute & Seo

SEO Optimization images is becoming more and more important in SEO (Seo optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is really a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This is often a lost opportunity for better rankings.

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

Images:. Make use of the alt attribute to provide descriptive text. In addition, we recommend utilizing a human-readable caption and descriptive text round 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 the use of this attribute, trying 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 other hand, high keyword density can, on some search engines like google, trigger spam filters, which may result in a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without such a penalty, your site's rankings will not benefit from 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 items in what is displayed on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt attributes of images are read aloud too.

Imagine listening to a paragraph of text which is followed by repetitions of many keywords. The page will be far from accessible, and, to put it mildly, would be found quite annoying.
What is an Alt attribute?

An ALT attribute shouldn't be used as a description or perhaps a label to have an image, though many people utilize it in that fashion. Though it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is really a label or perhaps a description, it is not!

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

The goal would be to provide the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" when the look is unavailable. Ask yourself this question: Should you replace the look with the text, would most users get the same basic information, and would it generate the same response?
Some examples:

 

Some SEO Optimization Tips

If your search button is really a magnifying glass or binoculars its alt text ought to be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.

If an image is supposed to convey the literal contents of the image, then a description is appropriate.

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

If it is meant to convey using a function, then the function is what should 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, use an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or a CSS background image so that reading browsers do not bother users by uttering things like "spacer image".

Keep in mind that it is the function of the image we're trying to convey. For example; any button images shouldn't include the word "button" within the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed through 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's the way it will be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone hearing your page should hardly be aware that a graphic image can there be.
Please keep in mind that utilizing an alt attribute for every image is needed to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, that are used as the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and the rest of Europe. Also, they are 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 make a site visually appealing/attractive and (oftentimes) 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 is something there that will enhance the usability from the site for somebody using a non-visual user agent. Use a null alt attribute or background images in CSS for eye-candy.

II. Mood-Setting

This is actually the middle layer of graphics which may actually set the mood or set happens as it were. These graphics are not direct content and may 't be considered essential, but they're important in that they help frame what's going on.

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

For instance; Alt text that's identical to adjacent text is unnecessary, and an irritant to screen reader users. I suggest alt="" or background CSS images in such instances. But sometimes, it's important to get this content in there for all users.

Most times this will depend on context. The same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. The way you use this case is really a judgment call.

III. Content and Function

This is where 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 reason many authors can't understand why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the pictures are there. You need to figured out exactly what function an image serves. Consider what it is about the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.

Every graphic has a reason for standing on that page: since it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what the page is attempting to explain. Knowing what the look is perfect for makes alt text simpler to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A method 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 create the page understandable to the listener?

Besides the alt attribute you've got 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 can add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered by the user agent. Remember they are invisible and never shown as a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (So much for device independence). So use 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 found in an image is essential to the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost when the image was removed), a longer description compared to "alt" attribute can reasonably display should 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 a long description of the image...The goal is to use any length of description necessary to impart the details of the graphic.

It would not be remiss to hope that the long description conjures a picture - the look - in the mind's eye, an analogy that holds true even for the totally blind."

Even though 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 are best just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary to include it, and if you don't possess a strong urge to get it done, don't add that longdesc.

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

What's necessary and what's not depends a great deal on the function of your image and it is context about the page.

The same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in a single spot, although not in another. If the image provides absolutely no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images might 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 will be in order. Oftentimes this type of thing is a judgement call.

Image Seo optimization Tips

Listed below are key stages in optimizing images:

Select a logical file name that reinforces the keywords. You can use hyphens in the file name to isolate the keyword, but avoid to exceeding two hyphens. Avoid using underscores as a word separator, like for example "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";

Label the file extension. For example, if the image internet search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's going to assume the file is really a photo, and if it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's likely to assume that it is graphic;

Make sure that the text at 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 the engines and drive increased traffic for your site TODAY.