SEO Optimization images has become more and more important in SEO (Seo optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is really a critical step that is often overlooked. This can be 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 round the image.
Why would they ask us to achieve that? The answer is simple, really; search engines have the same problem as blind users. They can't begin to see the images.
Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse the use of this attribute, trying to stuff it with keywords, looking to achieve a certain keyword density, which is not as relevant for rankings now as it was previously.
On the other hand, 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 plan.
This process also puts persons who use screen readers in a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that actually read aloud the items in what is shown on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt attributes of images are read aloud as well.
Imagine hearing a paragraph of text which is then repetitions of many keywords. The page will be far from accessible, and, to put it mildly, will be found quite annoying.
What is an Alt attribute?
An ALT attribute should not be used as a description or perhaps a label to have an image, though lots of people use it in that fashion. Though 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 ought to be its text equivalent and convey the same information or serve exactly the same purpose that the image would.
The thing is to provide the same functional information that a visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" when the look itself is not available. Think about this: Should you replace the look using the text, would most users get 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 ought to be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.
If an image is meant to convey the literal items in the image, a description is suitable.
If it's meant to convey data, then that data is what's appropriate.
If it is designed to convey the use of a function, then your function itself 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 perhaps 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 of the image we are attempting to convey. For example; any button images shouldn't include the word "button" in the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed by the button.
Alt text should be determined by context. Exactly the same image inside a different context may need drastically different alt text.
Attempt to flow alt text with the rest of the text because that is how it is going to be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone hearing your page should hardly remember that a graphic image is there.
Please remember that utilizing an alt attribute for each image is needed to meet 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 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 things 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 may be value to some sighted user).
Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there is something there that will boost the usability from 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 the middle layer of graphics which might actually set the mood or set happens as it were. These graphics are not direct content and could 't be considered essential, but they're important in they help frame what's going on.
Try to alt-ify the second group as makes sense and it is relevant. There may be instances when doing so might be annoying or detrimental with other users. Then try to avoid it.
For instance; Alt text that is identical to adjacent text is unnecessary, as well as an irritant to screen reader users. I recommend alt="" or background CSS images in such cases. But sometimes, it's vital that you get this content in there for those users.
Usually 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. The way you use this case is a judgment call.
III. Content and Function
This is where the look is the actual content. Always alt-ify content and functional images. Title and long description attributes may also be in order.
The reason many authors can't understand why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the images are there. You need to determined exactly what function a picture serves. Think about what it is concerning the image that's important to the page's intended audience.
Every graphic has a reason for being on that page: since it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is advisable to what the page is attempting to explain. Knowing what the look is perfect for makes alt text easier to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A way to look into the usefulness of alternative text would be to imagine reading the page over the telephone to someone. What would you say when encountering a specific image to create the page understandable to the listener?
Aside from the alt attribute you've got a couple more tools available for images.
First, in level of descriptiveness title is within between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and may 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. (A lot for device independence). So make use of the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points towards the URL of a full description of the image. If the information found in an image is essential to the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content will be lost if the image was removed), an extended description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It may 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 the image...The aim is by using any period of description essential to impart the details of the graphic.
It would not be remiss to hope that the long description conjures a picture - the look - in the mind's eye, an analogy that is true even for the totally blind."
Although the alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility and for valid (X)HTML, not every images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.
Oftentimes, you are best just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not essential to incorporate 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 have to include the alt text (or title or longdesc).
What's necessary and what's not depends a lot about the function of your image and it is context on the page.
The same image may require alt text (or title or longdesc) in a single 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 will be required and perhaps even a long description will be so as. Oftentimes this kind of thing is a judgement call.
Image Search Engine Optimization Tips
Listed here are key steps in optimizing images:
Choose 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. Stay away from underscores like a word separator, like for example "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";
Label the file extension. For instance, if the image search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's likely to assume the file is a photo, and when it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's likely to assume that it is a graphic;
Make sure that the written text at the image that is highly relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose an excellent opportunity to help your site with your images searching engines. Begin using these steps to position better on all the engines and drive increased traffic for your site TODAY.
No comments:
Post a Comment