SEO Optimization images has become increasingly more essential in SEO (Seo optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This can be a lost chance of better rankings.
In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise using alternative text for that images on your web site:
Images:. Use the alt attribute to provide descriptive text. Additionally, we recommend utilizing 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 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, looking to achieve a certain keyword density, which isn't as relevant for rankings now since it was previously.
On the contrary, 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 take advantage of this tactic.
This method also puts persons who use screen readers at 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 web, the alt features of images are read aloud too.
Imagine hearing a paragraph of text that is followed by repetitions of numerous keywords. The page would be not even close to accessible, and, to put it bluntly, will be found quite annoying.
What is an Alt attribute?
An ALT attribute shouldn't be used like a description or a label to have an image, though lots of people use it for the reason that fashion. Though it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is a label or a description, it is not!
The words used inside an image's alt attribute ought to be its text equivalent and convey exactly the same information or serve the same purpose the image would.
The goal would be to supply the same functional information that a visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" when the image itself is unavailable. Ask yourself this question: Should you replace the image with the text, would most users receive the same basic information, and wouldn't it generate the same response?
A few examples:
Some SEO Optimization Tips
If your search button is a magnifier or binoculars its alt text should be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.
If an image is supposed to convey the literal contents of the image, a description is appropriate.
If it is meant to convey data, then that information is what's appropriate.
If it's designed 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 and for valid XHTML.
For images that play only a decorative role within the page, make use of an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or a CSS background image to ensure that reading browsers do not bother users by uttering such things as "spacer image".
Remember that it's the function from the image we're trying to convey. For instance; any button images shouldn't range from the word "button" within the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed by the button.
Alt text should be determined by context. The same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text.
Attempt 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 remember that a graphic image can there be.
Please keep in mind that utilizing an alt attribute for every image is required to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, that are used as the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and 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 make a site visually appealing/attractive and (oftentimes) satisfy the marketing departments. There is no content value (though there might be value to some sighted user).
Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there is something there that 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 actually set the mood or set happens so to speak. These graphics aren't direct content and could 't be considered essential, but they are important in they help frame what's going on.
Attempt to alt-ify the 2nd group as makes sense and it is relevant. There might be instances when doing this might be annoying or detrimental to other users. Then try to avoid it.
For example; Alt text that's just like adjacent text is unnecessary, and an irritant to screen reader users. I recommend alt="" or background CSS images in such cases. But sometimes, it's important to get this content inside for those users.
Most times it depends on context. Exactly the same image in a different context may require drastically different alt text. Obviously, content should always be fully available. How you go in this case is really a judgment call.
III. Content and Function
This is when the image may be the actual content. Always alt-ify content and functional images. Title and long description attributes may also be in order.
The main reason many authors can't understand why their alt text isn't working is that they don't know why the pictures are there. You have to figured out precisely what function a picture serves. Think about what it is about the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.
Every graphic has a reason behind standing on that page: because it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is advisable to what the page is trying to describe. Understanding what the look is for makes alt text easier to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A method to check the usefulness of alternative text is to imagine reading the page over the telephone to someone. An amount you say when encountering a particular image to create the page understandable to the listener?
Besides the alt attribute you have a couple more tools available 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're invisible and not shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (So much for device independence). So use the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points to the URL of a full description of the image. If the information contained in an image is important towards 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 ought to be used. It may offer rich, expressive documentation of a visual image.
It should be used when alt and title are insufficient to embody the visual qualities of an image. As Clark [1] states, "A longdesc is a long description of an image...The aim is to use any period of description essential to impart the details of the graphic.
It would not be remiss to hope that the long description conjures an image - the image - within the mind's eye, an analogy that is true even for that 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 choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not essential to incorporate it, and if you don't have a strong urge to do it, don't include that longdesc.
However, if it's necessary for the entire page to work, then you have to include the alt text (or title or longdesc).
What's necessary and what's not depends a lot about the function of the image and its context on the page.
Exactly 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 may be appropriate to make use of. But if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt would be required and maybe even a long description would be in order. Oftentimes this kind of thing is a judgement call.
Image Seo optimization Tips
Listed here are key stages in optimizing images:
Choose a logical file name that reinforces the keywords. You should use hyphens in the file name to isolate the keyword, but avoid to exceeding two hyphens. Stay away from underscores like a word separator, like for example "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 that the file is really a photo, and when it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's likely to assume that it is graphic;
Make sure that the written text at the image that's relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose an excellent opportunity to help your site together with your images searching engines. Use these steps to position better on all of the engines and drive more traffic for your site TODAY.
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