Images are very common on websites. But you need to do two things: pick the right images and write good text for the ALT tag.
The ALT tag is the text that tells people what the image is about. Some people can’t see the image (like robots, blind people or people with a browser that blocks some images). The ALT tag also helps the image show up in search results.
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| Alt tag of your images |
To write good ALT tags for your images, follow these 6 rules.
1. Make an accurate description of the image
Imagine that you can’t see the image on a website. You want to know what it looks like. That’s why the ALT tag is important. It is the text that describes the image in detail.
Don’t use a single word for the ALT tag. Use more words to make the image clear.
For example, don’t write “cake” for the ALT tag. Write “chocolate cake with custard” instead.
Also read: SEO: the fundamentals of image referencing.
2. Be concise when describing the image
You don’t need to write a long novel for an ALT tag. The Internet user wants a short text that describes the image, and it should be less than 100 characters. That may seem like a small number, but it’s enough to capture an image.
For example, our tag “chocolate cake with custard” is simple and clear, and it only has 39 characters!
Also read: WordPress plugins to compress your images.
3. Include your keyword in the ALT tag
The ALT tag is important for the SEO of your images and the content they are in.
Always use the keyword you want to rank for in this tag. Otherwise, search engines may try to guess what your images are about and rank you for the wrong keywords. It’s better to do things yourself than to leave them to chance…
4. Avoid keyword stuffing in the ALT tag
We just learned that it is important to use a keyword in the ALT tag, but we should not overdo it.
In the past, some people used to cram keywords into the ALT tag. For example, they would write something like this: chocolate cake cake brownie custard fondant pastry”. This kind of practice is not recommended today.
Also read: Visual content strategy.
5. Avoid the classic logo ALT tag mistake
One of the most common types of images on websites is the logo of a business, an organization, etc.
However, many websites use a generic ALT tag like “company logo” for this kind of image.
This does not really help the user to know what the image represents. A better alternative text would be “company logo + company name”, which would inform the user of the identity of the business or organization.
6. Consider the same ALT tag for your CTA buttons
The ALT tag is not something you should neglect, even for a simple image like a CTA button. A CTA button is a graphic element with some text on a solid color that prompts the user to take an action. But if the user cannot see the image, they need to know what the action is. That’s where the alternative text comes in.
For example, for a button that says “get a free quote”, you could use an ALT tag like “get a free quote”. It’s easy, brief and descriptive.
Many webmasters and bloggers don’t use the full potential of the ALT tag in their images. But this tag is not only good for SEO, it’s also good for improving the user experience on your website.
So you should follow the rules we have shared with you for writing ALT tags for your website’s images.
FAQs the Alt tag of your images
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| FAQs |
1- How to write an appropriate “alt” attribute for an image?
Avoid: an image without an “alt” attribute in the code, for example: <img src="kitten. … Not bad, but could be better: an image with a basic attribute, for example <img src="kitten. … Well-optimized image: a descriptive “alt” attribute that explains the image, for example <img src="kitten.
2- What is the purpose of the alt attribute for images?
The ALT attribute, also known as the “ALT text”, is the alternative description of an image or graphic on a web page. It is one of the optional fields to fill in HTML coding and allows you to provide a description of the image or graphic if it does not load on the screen.
3- How to access the alt text of an image?
The alt text of an image is represented by the alt attribute applied to the <img /> element. This attribute is very familiar to anyone who writes web content, for a very simple reason: it helps with SEO. ?
4- Which attribute is required in the image element?
The src attribute is required, and contains the path to the image you want to insert.
5- Which attribute of the HTML IMG element is used to replace an image?
The alt attribute It is important to give, for each image, a substitute text for browsers that do not support images or for web page accessibility reasons (see W3C standards). The substitute text is specified by the alt attribute: <img src=“welcome. png” alt=“Welcome!” >
6- How to write an alt attribute for an image?
Here are 6 rules to follow to have quality alt attributes for your images.
- Describe the image accurately.
- Be brief when describing the image.
- Include your keyword in the alt attribute.
- Avoid keyword stuffing in the alt attribute.
- Avoid the common mistake of using logo as the alt attribute.