If you’re a content creator or a website owner, you know that images play a big role in engaging your audience. But did you know that the way you write alt text for your images can affect how well your content performs in search engines? SEO-friendly alt text is essential for improving accessibility and helping search engines understand your content better. In this guide, we’ll show you how to write alt text that’s descriptive, SEO-friendly, and easy to apply.
What is Alt Text?
Alt text (alternative text) is a brief description of an image that appears when the image can’t be displayed. It also helps screen readers describe images to visually impaired users. Alt text is important for SEO because search engines like Google use it to understand what the image is about. It’s an opportunity to improve the visibility of your content in search results.
How to Write SEO-Friendly Alt Text
Be Descriptive and Clear
Your alt text should clearly describe what the image is. For example, if you have an image of a red apple, instead of writing just “apple,” write “red apple on a wooden table.” Example:
- Not SEO-Friendly: “Apple”
- SEO-Friendly: “Red apple on a wooden table”
Use Relevant Keywords
Think about what keywords people might use when searching for images like yours. Incorporate these keywords naturally into your alt text. Don’t stuff it with keywords, though. Just make it sound natural. Example:
- Not SEO-Friendly: “apple”
- SEO-Friendly: “healthy red apple for a quick snack”
Keep It Short and Sweet
Alt text should be concise. Aim for 125 characters or fewer, as most screen readers cut off after that. Make sure it’s short but still provides enough information. Example:
- Too long: “A red apple placed carefully on a wooden table in a beautifully lit kitchen with a green potted plant in the background.”
- Just right: “Red apple on a wooden table with a plant in the background.”
Avoid Keyword Stuffing
Keyword stuffing (using too many keywords) can actually hurt your SEO ranking. Keep your alt text natural and relevant to the image. Example:
- Not SEO-Friendly: “red apple, apple, healthy apple, apple snack”
- SEO-Friendly: “Red apple perfect for a healthy snack”
Use Hyphens to Separate Words
When you need to separate words in alt text, use hyphens instead of underscores. Google treats hyphens as spaces, while underscores are ignored. Example:
- SEO-Friendly: “red-apple-on-wooden-table”
- Not SEO-Friendly: “red_apple_on_wooden_table”
Visual Examples of SEO-Friendly Alt Text
- Image 1: A picture of a person working on a laptop.
- SEO-Friendly Alt Text: “Person typing on laptop in a modern office”
- Image 2: A photo of a beach at sunset.
- SEO-Friendly Alt Text: “Beach at sunset with waves and orange sky”
By following these tips, you can create alt text that is both SEO-friendly and accessible to everyone.
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