About Me 0012: Alt Attribute & SEO Optimization

SEO Optimization images is becoming increasingly more essential in SEO (Seo optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is really a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This is often a lost chance of better rankings.

In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise using alternative text for the images in your web site:

Images:. Use 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 simple, really; search engines like google have the same problem as blind users. They can't see the images.

Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse using this attribute, trying 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 create a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without such a penalty, your site's rankings will not benefit from this tactic.
This method also puts persons who use screen readers in a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that really read aloud the items in what is shown on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt features of images are read aloud too.

Imagine listening to a paragraph of text that is then repetitions of numerous keywords. The page would be far from 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 perhaps a label for an image, though lots of people utilize it for the reason that fashion. Though it might seem natural to assume that alternate text is really a label or perhaps a description, it is not!

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

The goal would be to provide 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 itself is unavailable. Ask yourself this question: If you were to replace the look using the text, would most users get the same basic information, and wouldn't it create 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 look, then a description is suitable.

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

If it's designed to convey using 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 within 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 such things as "spacer image".

Remember that it is the function from the image we're trying to convey. For example; 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 ought to be determined by context. Exactly the same image inside a different context may require drastically different alt text.

Attempt to flow alt text with the remainder of the text because that's 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 can there be.
Please remember that utilizing an alt attribute for every image is required to meet the minimum WAI requirements, which are used as the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and also the rest of Europe. They are also necessary to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in america.

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 other than to make a site visually appealing/attractive and (oftentimes) satisfy the marketing departments. There isn't any content value (though there might be value to a 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 may serve to set the atmosphere or set the stage as it were. These graphics are not direct content and could 't be considered essential, but they're important in that they help frame what is going on.

Try to alt-ify the 2nd group as makes sense and it is relevant. There may be times when doing so may be annoying or detrimental with other users. Then avoid it.

For instance; Alt text that's just like 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 in there for all users.

Most times it depends on context. The same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. The way you go in this case is 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 reason many authors can't figure out why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the pictures exist. You need to figured out exactly 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 for standing on that page: because it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what the page is attempting to describe. Understanding what the look is for makes alt text easier to write. And exercise writing them definitely helps.
A method to check the usefulness of alternative text is to imagine reading the page on the phone to someone. An amount you say when encountering a particular image to create the page understandable to the listener?

Aside from the alt attribute you've got a couple more tools at your disposal 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 are 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 Link to a full description of an image. When the information found in a picture is important to the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost when the image was removed), an extended description compared to "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It can offer rich, expressive documentation of the 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 really a long description of an image...The goal is by using any period of description essential to impart the facts from the graphic.

It wouldn't be remiss to hope that the long description conjures an image - the image - in 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 all images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.

Oftentimes, you're best 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 add that longdesc.

However, if it's necessary for the entire page to work, 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 about the page.

The same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in a single spot, but 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 perhaps even a long description will be in order. Oftentimes this type of thing is a judgement call.