About Me 0086: Alt Attribute & Seo

SEO Optimization images has become increasingly more important in SEO (Seo optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is really a critical step that is often overlooked. This is often a lost opportunity for better rankings.

In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise using alternative text for the images in your site:

Images:. Use the alt attribute to supply descriptive text. Additionally, we recommend utilizing a human-readable caption and descriptive text around 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 cannot see the images.

Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse the use of this attribute, attempting to stuff it with keywords, looking to achieve a particular keyword density, which isn't as relevant for rankings now as it once was.

On the contrary, high keyword density can, on some search engines like google, trigger spam filters, which may create a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without this type of penalty, your site's rankings will not take advantage of this plan.
This method also puts persons who use screen readers at a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that really read aloud the contents of what is shown on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt attributes of images are read aloud as well.

Imagine listening to a paragraph of text which is followed by repetitions of numerous keywords. The page will be far from accessible, and, to put it mildly, will be found quite annoying.
What exactly is an Alt attribute?

An ALT attribute should not be used like a description or perhaps a label for an image, though many people use it in that fashion. Though it might seem natural to assume that alternate text is a label or a description, it's not!

What used inside an image's alt attribute ought to be its text equivalent and convey exactly the same information or serve the same purpose that the image would.

The thing would be to provide the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" in the event that the look itself is unavailable. Think about this question: Should you replace the image with the text, would most users get the same basic information, and wouldn't it create the same response?
A few examples:

Some SEO Optimization Tips

If your search button is really a magnifying glass or binoculars its alt text should be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.

If the image is supposed to convey the literal contents of the look, a description is suitable.

If it is designed to convey data, then that information is what is appropriate.

If it is meant to convey the use of a function, then the function itself is what should 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 in 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 things like "spacer image".

Remember that it is the function from the image we're trying to convey. For instance; any button images shouldn't range from the word "button" within the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed by the button.

Alt text should be determined by context. Exactly the same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text.

Try to flow alt text with the remainder from the text because that's the way it is going to be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone hearing your page should hardly be aware that a graphic image is there.
Please remember that utilizing an alt attribute for each image is needed to meet the minimum WAI requirements, that are used as the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and the remainder of Europe. Also, they are required to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in america.

It is important to categorize non-text content into three levels:

Eye-Candy
Mood-Setting
Content and Function

I. Eye-Candy

Eye-Candy are stuff that serve no purpose apart from to make a site visually appealing/attractive and (in many cases) satisfy the marketing departments. There isn't any content value (though there may be value to a sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there's something there which will boost the usability of the site for someone utilizing a non-visual user agent. Use a null alt attribute or background images in CSS for eye-candy.

II. Mood-Setting

This is actually the middle layer of graphics which may actually set the atmosphere or set the stage so to speak. These graphics aren't direct content and may not be considered essential, but they are important in they help frame what is going on.

Attempt to alt-ify the 2nd group as is sensible and it is relevant. There might be instances when doing so might be annoying or detrimental to other users. Then try to avoid it.

For instance; Alt text that's just like adjacent text is unnecessary, and an irritant to screen reader users. I suggest alt="" or background CSS images in such cases. But sometimes, it's important to get this content inside for all users.

Usually it depends on context. Exactly the same image inside a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. How you use this example is really a judgment call.

III. Content and Function

This is where the image may be the actual content. Always alt-ify content and functional images. Title and long description attributes may also be so as.
The main reason many authors can't understand why their alt text isn't working is that they don't know why the pictures are there. You have to figured out precisely what function a picture serves. Think about what it's concerning the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.

Every graphic includes a reason for being on that page: since it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is advisable to what are the page is attempting to explain. Knowing what the look is for makes alt text easier to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A way to check the usefulness of alternative text would be to imagine reading the page on the phone to someone. An amount you say when encountering a particular image to create the page understandable to the listener?

Aside from the alt attribute you have a couple more tools at your disposal for images.
First, in level of descriptiveness title is in between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and can add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered by the user agent. Remember they're invisible and never shown as a "tooltip" when focus is received through the keyboard. (So much for device independence). So use the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points to the URL of a complete description of the image. If the information found in an image is important towards the concept of the page (i.e. some important content will be lost if the image was removed), an extended description compared to "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It can offer rich, expressive documentation of the visual image.

It ought to be used when alt and title are insufficient to embody the visual qualities of the image. As Clark [1] states, "A longdesc is a long description of the image...The aim is to use any period of description necessary to impart the facts of the graphic.

It wouldn't be remiss to hope that the long description conjures a picture - the look - within the mind's eye, an analogy that holds true even for the totally blind."

Although the alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility as well as for valid (X)HTML, not every images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.

Oftentimes, you're best just going with your gut instinct -- if it's not essential to incorporate it, and when you don't have a strong urge to do it, don't include that longdesc.

However, if it's necessary for the entire page to work, then you have to include the alt text (or title or longdesc).

What's necessary and what's not depends a great deal about the function of your image and it is context about the page.

The same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in a single spot, although not in another. If the image provides absolutely no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images may be appropriate to make use of. But if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt would be required and maybe a long description would be in order. In many cases this kind of thing is really a judgement call.