Alt Attribute & Seo

SEO Optimization images has become increasingly more important in SEO (Seo optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is often overlooked. This can be a lost chance of 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 easy, really; search engines have a similar problem as blind users. They can't see the images.

Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse using this attribute, attempting to stuff it with keywords, looking 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, trigger spam filters, which might create a penalty for your site's ranking. Even without this type of penalty, your site's rankings will not take advantage of this plan.
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's shown on the screen. In browsing the web, the alt attributes of images are read aloud too.

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

An ALT attribute shouldn't be used like a description or a label for an image, though many people utilize it in that fashion. Though it might seem natural to assume that alternate text is a label or perhaps a description, it is not!

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

The thing would be to supply the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" in the event that the look is not available. Think about this: If you were to replace the look 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 your search button is a magnifying glass or binoculars its alt text ought to be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.

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

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

If it's meant to convey using 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 merely a decorative role within the page, make use of an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or perhaps a CSS background image to ensure that reading browsers do not bother users by uttering such things as "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 range from the word "button" within the alt text. They should emphasize the action performed through the button.

Alt text ought to be based on context. The same image inside a different context may require drastically different alt text.

Try to flow alt text with the rest from 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 remember that utilizing an alt attribute for each image is needed to meet the minimum WAI requirements, which are used as the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and the remainder of Europe. Also, they are 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 stuff that serve no purpose apart from to create a site visually appealing/attractive and (in many cases) fulfill the marketing departments. There is no content value (though there may be value to some sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there's something there that will enhance the usability of the site for someone utilizing a non-visual user agent. Use 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 aren't direct content and could not be considered essential, but they are essential in that they help frame what's going on.

Attempt to alt-ify the second group as is sensible and it is relevant. There might be times when doing this may be annoying or detrimental to 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 those users.

Usually this will depend on context. Exactly the same image inside a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content should always be fully available. How you use 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 in order.
The reason many authors can't understand why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the images exist. You need to determined precisely what function an image serves. Think about what it's about the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.

Every graphic has a reason behind standing on that page: since it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what are the page is trying to describe. Knowing what the look is perfect for makes alt text easier to write. And practice 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 available for images.
First, in level of descriptiveness title is within between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and can add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered by the user agent. Remember they're invisible and never shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (So much for device independence). So make use of the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points to the URL of a full description of the image. When the information contained in an image is important to the concept of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost if the image was removed), a longer description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It can offer rich, expressive documentation of a 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 the image...The aim is by using any length of description essential to impart the details from the graphic.

It wouldn't be remiss to hope that the long description conjures an image - the look - within the mind's eye, an analogy that is true even for the 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.

Oftentimes, you're better off just going with your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary to incorporate it, and when you don't possess 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 on the function of your image and it is context about the page.

The same image may require alt text (or title or longdesc) in one spot, although not in another. If an image provides absolutely no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images might be appropriate to use. However, if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt would be required and perhaps even a long description would be so as. In many cases this kind of thing is really a judgement call.

Image Search Engine Optimization Tips

Listed below are key stages in optimizing images:

Choose a logical file name that reinforces the keywords. You should 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 instance, 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;

Ensure that the written text at the image that is relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose an excellent opportunity to help your website together with your images searching engines. Begin using these steps to rank better on all the engines and drive increased traffic for your site TODAY.