What is an Image Alt Tag? Impact on SEO.



Alt text (alternative text), also referred to as "alt attributes", “alt descriptions,” and technically incorrectly as "alt tags,” are used inside an HTML code to explain the looks and performance of a picture on a page.


Alt text uses:

1. Adding various text to photos is initial and foremost a principle of internet accessibility. Visually impaired users exploitation screen scanners are read an elevation attribute to higher perceive an on-page image.

2. Alt tags are displayed in situ of a picture if an image file can't be loaded.

3. Alt tags offer higher image context/descriptions to search engine crawlers, serving to them to index a picture properly.

 Code syntax

<img src="tulip flower.png" alt="white tulip flower">

Optimal format

The best format for alt text is sufficiently descriptive however doesn't contain any spammy tries at keyword stuffing. If you'll shut your eyes, have somebody read the alt text to you, and picture a reasonably correct version of the image, you're on the right track. You can optimize your website with the help of some Website Optimize Tool and check whether your site missing image Alt Tag or not.

Let's look at a few examples of alt text for this image of a beautiful-looking white tulip flower:



Okay:
<img src="tulip flower.png" alt="tulip flower ">

This alt text is just "okay" as a result of it's not terribly descriptive. Yes, this is often a picture of a tulip flower. But, there's a lot to be said regarding this image.

Better:

<img src="tulip flower.png" alt="bunch of white tulip flower ">

This alt text could be a higher different as a result of it's way more descriptive of what's within the image. This isn't simply a bunch of "Tulip flower" (as the primary alt text example demonstrated); it's a bunch of white tulip flower!

Not recommended:

<img src="tulip flower.png" alt="">
or
<img src="tulip flower.png" alt=" tulips, white tulip, tulips flower, beautiful tulips white tulips fresh tulips, original tulips">

Neither of those examples are suggested. The first line of code really doesn't contain any alt text in the least (notice the quotes are empty), whereas the second example demonstrates keyword stuffing in the alt text.

    How do I write smart alt text?

1.      Describe the image as specifically as potential.

Alt text is, initial and foremost, designed to produce text explanations of pictures for users who are unable to determine them. If a picture really doesn't convey any meaning/value and is simply there for design functions, it ought to live inside the CSS, not HTML.

2.      Keep it (relatively) short.

The foremost standard screen readers interrupt alt text at around 125 characters, thus it's best to stay it to that character count or less.

3.      Use your keywords.

Alt text provides you another chance to incorporate your target keyword on a page, and therefore another chance to signal to search engines that your page is extremely relevant to a selected search question. Whereas your initial priority ought to be describing and providing context to the image if it is sensible to do this, embrace your keyword within the alt text of a minimum of one image on the page.

4.      Avoid keyword stuffing.

Google won't dock you points for poorly written alt text, however, you'll be in hassle if you utilize your alt text as a chance to stuff as several relevant keywords as you'll consider into it. Concentrate on writing descriptive alt text that gives context to the image and if attainable, includes your target keyword, and leave it at that.

5.      Don't use pictures as text.

This can be less of an alt text-specific best follow and a lot of a general SEO-friendly web development assumption. As a result of search engines can't scan text inside your pictures you must avoid exploitation pictures in place of words. If you need to do thus, justify what your image says inside your alt text.

6.      Don't embrace "image of," "picture of," etc. In your alt text.

It's already assumed your alt text is concerning a picture, thus there's no must specify it

7.      Don’t forget longdesc="".

Explore using the longdesc="" tag for a lot of complicated pictures that need an extended description.

8.      Don’t neglect form buttons.

If a form on your website uses a picture as it’s “submit” button, provides it an alt attribute. Image buttons ought to have an alt attribute that describes the operate of the button like, "search", "apply now", “sign up,” etc.
About Author:
Chetna Sharma, Editorial Contributor and SMO executive at www.geoflypages.com with digital marketing expertise, enjoys writing blog posts. Chetna works day-to-day to reshape the social presences of the company. Chetna is a prolific writer who has written various engaging and informative blogs on various subjects. Chetna when not writing enjoys doing other creative works like sketching and image editing on Canva.