Feb 26 2008
Alt Text and Image Search
When you upload an image into a WordPress blog, you are given the option of assigning a title for the image. Do you use it?
Why Alt (Alternative) Text is Important
Alt text is important because not everyone can “see” images. Some people use text only browsers (or disable images), and certainly search engines can’t tell what an image is, unless you specifically give it a description (or title). So assigning this title can:
a. help people find your image by an image search
b. help you rank better in search engine results for certain keywords
It’s important to make sure that your image description is not stuffed with keywords – just a few words describing the image is appropriate. Similarly naming the image something more descriptive than just “image256.jpg” might help.
Interesting experiment
I thought I’d do an image search for “Aussie Bloggers Forum”. I got some interesting results.
I think you’ll agree there’s a hands down winner.
Not Convinced? Here’s some extension material
The “Alt” Attribute – Sueblimely
Does Image Search Traffic Convert? – Search Engine Journal
What Matt Cutts has to say about Alt Text (Video embedded below – 3 minutes)
3 Responses to “Alt Text and Image Search”
Hey Meg,
You nailed it – I stress the fact of importance of the alt description to my own customers and your post is great reason to WHY. Always love when stats presented.
I think you can only add that alt description for links shouldn’t be overlooked as well. I know I get at least a few hundred visitors to my blog from images alone. I do have to admit I never tested how well I manage to retain them which should be next challenge for me
Thanks for sharing
Alex’s last blog post..WordPress Guide – Customizing WordPress Theme Part 1
The thought occured to me to use the image as the anchor for a link to the site from which I got the image, then using the title attribute of the link tag to describe the picture.
I grasp that what you are talking about is much more common.
Douglas’s last blog post..Glory to thee, my God, this night by Thomas Ken
You know Meg, it’s interesting timing for this post. In the last week, I’ve noticed the number of my referrals from Google image search more than triple… not sure what’s happening, I mean, I haven’t changed much. Not complaining though
Burgo’s last blog post..Julian Velard – Jimmy Dean and Steve McQueen & A Dream