Guide to Write the Best Alt Text for an Image

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Guide to Write the Best Alt Text for an Image

Can you describe an image that you can’t see? Confusing, isn’t it?

That’s how search engine crawlers will look at a broken link image that lacks a description. There will be no clear understanding of what the image is all about, but can this affect the ranking of your website?

Many sites have images with missing Alt Texts, including those sites that have broken internal images. What does this do to the ranking of a website? The website’s reputation gets downgraded as other competing sites provide a better quality of content and visuals.

Search engines want a website to have proper images that can be seen clearly. However, if this is not achieved, then the search engine will not consider ranking your website. The reason is that visual quality affects the user’s intention to stay and read on.

As a search engine is very concerned about the user’s experience, it will not consider images without alt texts.

How do you work with images that have broken links?

Broken image links or not, the Alt Text tab is always present for each image to be filled with a suitable description. If an image does not pop up immediately on your website, use the feature called Alt Text. Alt Text is also known as Alt Descriptions or Alt Attributes. This feature is used within an HTLM code to describe the appearance or function of an image.

The description will contain text that describes what the image is trying to convey.

For instance, you have uploaded the image that depicts a group of professionals sitting at a table. How would you describe this image? Imagine that the person you are describing the image is unable to view the picture. So, your Alt Text description should be something like – ‘group of five professionals sitting around a conference table in a meeting room’.

Now that you know the significance of Alt Text, let’s get into when this feature is needed.

When does Alt Text play a significant role?

The Alt Text system is a primary function in the backend part of a website. It is like a backup mode that serves its purpose for images that refuse to show up. You can relate this function to the operational way of a backup generator in a building. When the electricity goes off, the generator will turn on to provide light to the tenants regardless of the main supply.

Similarly, when the image is broken, the Alt Text will show up regardless of the image’s visibility.

What causes the image on your website to fail from opening appropriately?

Most images on your website will show up, while some may not. Here’s why:

  • Incorrect File Path – If the path leading to the directory containing the folder and files to the images is wrong, the images won’t upload.
  • Wrong File Extensions – The file extension of the site may demand a ‘.png’ rather than a ‘.jpeg’ file of the image. When the wrong file extension is added, the image won’t load.
  • Missing Files – When you do not upload the image files to the web server, loading issues occur. This is a common mistake that leads to images not loading appropriately.
  • Misspelt Filenames – The file path containing the image has been misspelt incorrectly, leading to image-loading issues.
  • Image Host Down – If you are using images from another site hosting platform that goes down, your images won’t load.
  • Transfer Issues – The file from which the image is being uploaded has transfer issues, be it from your domain or external.
  • Database Problems – The database on your site faces some technical issues due to which images are not loading.

 

Guide to write the best Alt Text for an Image

  1. Image description – Describe the image as precisely as possible because the better you explain, the happier the search engine. The Alt Text was developed to provide text explanations of images for users who cannot see them. Note that the Alt Text was also designed for visually impaired individuals using screen readers. If an image is meant to convey the design but not the meaning or value, the image should be placed within CSS and not HTML.
  2. Short description – Keep the Alt Description short as is highly considered by screen readers. The cut off is around 125 characters.
  3. Use the main keyword – The Alt text features allows you to include your target keyword on a page. Thus, this proves to be another opportunity to show search engines that your page is highly relevant to a particular search query. Add your keyword to at least one page, if not all. However, your priority is to maintain the fitting description.
  4. Do not stuff keywords – The search engine does not even look at an Alt Text stuffed with keywords with no meaning. Yes, it’s an intelligent system, so refrain from manipulation. Also, your website might get into trouble for unnecessary stuffing of keywords.
  5. Avoid using images as text – Search engines can’t read the text you place within images. Nevertheless, if you decide to use such images, adequately describe such pictures in the Alt Text tab.
  6. Do not type “image of,” “picture of,” – The Alt Text tab is specifically designed for images and nothing else. Therefore, do not start with descriptions that say “image or” or “picture of”, etc.
  7. Use longdesc=”” for longer descriptions – Suppose your image descriptions require longer text, then explore the option of longdesc=”” tab. This additional feature is used for complex images with a longer explanation.
  8. Alt Text for Form buttons, too – You heard that right! If a form on your website has a “submit” or an “Enquire Now” or any other call-to-action button, give it an Alt Attribute. Image buttons should contain an Alt Attribute to explain the function of the button like “apply now”, “sign up,” or “send form”, etc.

Search Engine Optimisation contains simple methods to rank your website. Even you can do it; however, organic marketing requires dedication daily. Therefore, if you need SEO services for your brand, give us a call or fill our online form today.