Alt text is crucial for SEO, with Google acknowledging it as a ranking factor. As visual search becomes more prevalent, accurately describing images for web crawlers has grown significantly in importance. But how do you enhance alt text beyond a simple description? Like all SEO components, alt text benefits from a strategic approach. This strategy should enhance its effectiveness while streamlining the creation process to save time for more complex tasks.
Having a unified keyword strategy across content, backlinks, and technical elements like alt text strengthens your site’s ranking potential. Keywords can be manually added or integrated into AI-generated alt text.
What Is Alt Text?
At its core, alt text is HTML code that describes an image’s contents, assisting screen readers for the visually impaired and helping search engines understand page content for indexing. Missing alt text is detrimental, and relevant alt text is better, but SEO-optimized alt text is ideal. How do you achieve this efficiently?
1) Methodically Prioritize, Update & Add Alt Text To Key Images
For those with numerous images lacking alt text, it’s often seen as a daunting task. Begin by prioritizing. Start by adding alt text to your most-visited pages, working through them as time allows.
Add Alt Text To Your Most-Visited Pages: Manually add alt text to images on your most frequented pages.
Use AI To Bulk-Update Alt Text: Consider AI tools to automate the addition of alt text, significantly reducing the time compared to manual entry. These tools can update entire image libraries quickly.
Best Results: Use A Hybrid AI & Manual Alt Text Approach: Employ a hybrid method by first using AI to bulk update alt text, then manually refine it in your most popular posts where more precision is necessary.
2) Make Adding Alt Text A Routine
Incorporate alt text into your regular workflow when uploading new images by:
- Implementing an alt text checklist before publishing.
- Using plugins or apps that auto-generate alt text.
Most content management systems (CMS) offer fields for alt text; however, the user experience varies, so familiarize yourself with your CMS’s process.
3) Use Alt Text To Provide Context & Keywords For Your Images
It’s not sufficient to simply describe your image. Instead, provide context that clarifies your offering to Google. For example, instead of using "hot air balloon," opt for something like "hot air balloon over Napa Valley." Include keywords judiciously to optimize your alt text.
4) Avoid Keyword Stuffing Your Alt Text
Use keywords thoughtfully. Overloading with keywords can seem spammy and create a poor user experience. Alt text should form coherent and grammatically correct phrases. It’s often more effective to focus on one or two relevant keywords within natural, flowing sentences.
5) Avoid Using Basic Alt Text Formulas
Steer clear of using generic templates like "Product Brand" + "Product Name." Amplify alt text by combining key details with basic product data. If items have distinctive features, highlight these to stand out in searches.
6) Don’t Let Perfect Be The Enemy Of Good
While optimizing alt text is ideal, don’t overlook the importance of simply having alt text. John Mueller from Google’s "Search Off the Record" podcast advises that any alt text is better than none. This improves accessibility for users relying on screen readers and can prevent dinging your site’s SEO standing.
By adopting these strategies, you can enhance the functionality and efficiency of your alt text as part of a broader SEO plan, ensuring your images contribute positively to your site’s visibility and accessibility.
