SEO Optimization images is becoming more and more essential in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This is often a lost opportunity for better rankings.
In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise the use of alternative text for the images in your web site:
Images:. Make use of the alt attribute to supply 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 simple, 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 using this attribute, attempting to stuff it with keywords, looking to achieve a certain keyword density, which is not as relevant for rankings now since it was previously.
On the other hand, high keyword density can, on some search engines, trigger spam filters, which may create a penalty for your site's ranking. Even without this type of penalty, your site's rankings will not benefit from this tactic.
This process also puts persons who use screen readers at a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that really read aloud the contents of what is displayed on the screen. In browsing the web, the alt attributes of images are read aloud too.
Imagine listening to a paragraph of text that is then repetitions of numerous keywords. The page will 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 as a description or a label to have an image, though many people use 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 should be its text equivalent and convey the same information or serve exactly the same purpose that the image would.
The goal is to supply the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" in the event that the image itself is unavailable. Think about this question: If you were to replace the image with the text, would most users receive the same basic information, and would it generate the same response?
A few examples:
Some SEO Optimization Tips
If a 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 meant to convey the literal items in the image, then a description is suitable.
If it is meant to convey data, then that data 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 within the page, use an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or a CSS background image so that reading browsers don't bother users by uttering things like "spacer image".
Remember that it's the function from the image we're attempting to convey. For example; any button images should not include the word "button" within the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed by the button.
Alt text ought to be based on context. The same image in a different context may require drastically different alt text.
Try to flow alt text with the remainder from the text because that is how it is going to 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 using an alt attribute for each image is required to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, which are used since the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and also the rest of Europe. Also, they are necessary to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in the US.
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 apart from to create a site visually appealing/attractive and (in many cases) satisfy the marketing departments. There is no content value (though there might be value to a sighted user).
Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there's something there which will boost the usability of the site for someone utilizing 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 actually the middle layer of graphics which might serve to set the atmosphere or set happens so to speak. These graphics aren't direct content and could 't be considered essential, but they're important in that they help frame what is going on.
Attempt to alt-ify the 2nd group as makes sense and is relevant. There might be instances when doing so might be annoying or detrimental to other users. Then try to avoid it.
For example; Alt text that is identical to adjacent text is unnecessary, as well as an irritant to screen reader users. I suggest alt="" or background CSS images in such cases. But sometimes, it's important to understand this content inside for all users.
Usually it depends on context. Exactly the same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. How you go in this example is really a judgment call.
III. Content and Function
This is when the image is 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 figure out why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the pictures exist. You have to determined precisely what function an image serves. Consider what it's about the image that's important to the page's intended audience.
Every graphic has a reason behind standing on that page: since it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what the page is trying to describe. Knowing what the look is for makes alt text simpler to write. And exercise writing them definitely helps.
A way to look into the usefulness of alternative text is to imagine reading the page on the phone to someone. An amount 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 level of descriptiveness title is in between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and can add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered through 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 just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points to the Link to a complete description of the image. If the information found in a picture is important to the concept of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost when 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 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 the image...The aim is by using any period of description necessary to impart the facts of the graphic.
It wouldn't be remiss to hope that a long description conjures an image - the image - within 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 better off just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary 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 operate, then you have to add 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 the image provides simply no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images may be appropriate to use. But if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt would be required and maybe a long description would be in order. In many cases this type of thing is really a judgement call.
Image Search Engine Optimization Tips
Listed below 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. Avoid using underscores as a word separator, like for example "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";
Label the file extension. For example, if the image search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's likely to assume that 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 written text nearby the image that is relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose an excellent opportunity to help your site with your images in search engines. Use these steps to rank better on all the engines and drive more traffic to your site TODAY.
No comments:
Post a Comment