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 is often a lost opportunity for better rankings.
In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise the use of alternative text for that images in your web site:
Images:. Use the alt attribute to supply descriptive text. In addition, 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 like google have a similar problem as blind users. They can't 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 is not as relevant for rankings now since it was previously.
On the other hand, high keyword density can, on some search engines like google, trigger spam filters, which might result in a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without this type of penalty, your site's rankings won't benefit from this plan.
This process also puts persons who use screen readers at a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that really read aloud the items in what's shown on the screen. In browsing the web, the alt features of images are read aloud too.
Imagine listening to a paragraph of text which is then repetitions of many keywords. The page would be far from accessible, and, to put it bluntly, will be found quite annoying.
What exactly is an Alt attribute?
An ALT attribute should not be used as a description or perhaps a label for an image, though lots of people utilize it for the reason that fashion. Although it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is really a label or a description, it is not!
The words used inside an image's alt attribute should be its text equivalent and convey exactly the same information or serve exactly the same purpose the image would.
The thing would be to supply the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" when the look is not available. Think about this question: Should you replace the look with the text, would most users get the same basic information, and wouldn't it create the same response?
Some examples:
Some SEO Optimization Tips
If your search button is a magnifier 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 contents of the image, then a description is appropriate.
If it's designed 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 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 to ensure that reading browsers don't bother users by uttering things like "spacer image".
Keep in mind that it's the function of the image we are trying to convey. For instance; any button images shouldn't include the word "button" in the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed through the button.
Alt text should be determined by context. Exactly the same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text.
Try to flow alt text with the rest from the text because that is the way it is going to 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 utilizing 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 remainder of Europe. Also, they are necessary 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 stuff that serve no purpose apart from to make 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 is something there which will enhance the usability of the site for someone using 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 may serve to set the atmosphere or set the stage as it were. These graphics are not direct content and may 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 is relevant. There might be times when doing so might be annoying or detrimental to other users. Then avoid it.
For example; 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 cases. But sometimes, it's important to understand this content in there for all users.
Most times this will depend on context. Exactly the same image inside a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. How you use this case is 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 can also be so as.
The 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 determined exactly what function a picture serves. Consider what it is concerning the image that's important to the page's intended audience.
Every graphic includes a reason behind being on that page: since it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is advisable to what are the page is attempting to explain. Understanding what the look is perfect for makes alt text easier to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A way to check the usefulness of alternative text would be to imagine reading the page on the phone to someone. What would you say when encountering a specific image to make the page understandable towards the listener?
Aside from the alt attribute you have a couple more tools at your disposal for images.
First, in degree of descriptiveness title is within between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and may add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered by the user agent. Remember they're 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 to the Link to a complete description of an image. If the information contained in a picture 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 ought to be used. It can provide for 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 an image...The aim is to use 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 holds true even for that totally blind."
Although the 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 going with your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary to include it, and if you don't have a strong urge to get it done, don't include that longdesc.
However, if it's necessary for the whole page to work, then you've to add the alt text (or title or longdesc).
What's necessary and what's not depends a lot 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 an image provides simply 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 so as. Oftentimes this type of thing is a judgement call.
Image Search Engine 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. Stay away from underscores like a word separator, like for example "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";
Label the file extension. For example, when 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;
Ensure that the written text nearby the image that's relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose a great opportunity to help your website with your images searching engines. Begin using these steps to position better on all of the engines and drive increased traffic to your site TODAY.
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