When it comes to building a website, images often play a big role. They make pages more engaging and help explain ideas clearly. But if your images are missing one small detail, like alt text, you could be losing out on accessibility and search engine benefits.
Whether you’re a business owner, blogger, or marketer, learning how to use alt text properly can make your site easier to use and easier to find. This guide will walk you through what alt text is, how it helps people and search engines, and how to write it well.
What Is Alt Text?
Alt text, short for alternative text, is a brief written description of an image on your website. It appears in the HTML of the image and is read aloud by screen readers for users who cannot see the image. It also shows up in place of an image if it fails to load.
Think of alt text as the words that paint a picture when the image isn’t available. It should be clear, descriptive, and accurate without going overboard. For example, instead of saying “image,” a good alt text would be “woman stretching before a morning run in the park.”
How Alt Text Supports Accessibility
Alt text plays an essential role in making the internet a more inclusive place. People with visual impairments use screen readers that read out content aloud. When you include alt text, those tools can describe what’s on the screen.
Here’s how alt text helps with accessibility:
- Helps screen readers explain images to users
- Supports users with slow internet or image-blocking browsers
- Meets accessibility standards such as WCAG
- Avoids excluding visitors who can’t see images
- Promotes a better user experience for all visitors
Alt Text and SEO Benefits
Alt text also helps search engines understand your content better. Google and other search engines can’t “see” images the way humans do, so they rely on alt text to understand what the image is about.
Here’s how it helps improve SEO:
- Image Indexing: Alt text helps search engines identify and index your images properly, making them eligible to appear in image search results.
- Keyword Ranking: When written naturally, including keywords in alt text can slightly boost your chances of ranking for related search queries.
- Google Images Visibility: Well-written alt text increases the likelihood that your images will appear in Google Images, driving more traffic to your site.
- Content Relevance: Alt text allows search engines to connect your images with the surrounding text, which improves the overall relevance of your page.
- Keyword Mapping Strategy: Using consistent and relevant alt text supports your broader keyword mapping plan by reinforcing the focus of each page.
How to Write Effective Alt Text
Writing alt text might seem easy, but it takes a bit of practice to do it well. The goal is to describe the image in a way that helps users and supports SEO, without sounding robotic.
Here are six easy-to-follow tips to get it right:
1. Describe What You See Clearly
Keep your description short but specific. A simple phrase is usually enough to get the point across. For example, “A bowl of fresh strawberries on a wooden table” tells more than just “strawberries”.
Ask yourself what someone would need to hear to understand the image without seeing it. Focus on the main subject of the image rather than every little detail.
2. Keep It Relevant to the Page
Make sure your alt text supports the message of the page it’s on. If the image is decorative and adds no meaning, it may be better to leave the alt attribute empty so screen readers can skip it.
Relevance is key to both accessibility and SEO. For example, if the page is about healthy breakfast options, describe the image in that context instead of just listing items.
3. Use Keywords Naturally
If your image matches a keyword you’re targeting, it’s okay to include that keyword in the alt text. Just make sure it sounds natural and isn’t forced.
Keyword stuffing won’t help and could harm your SEO. Use tools like Google Trends to find suitable terms that people are searching for, then include them only when they fit the image and context.
4. Avoid Using “Image Of” or “Picture Of”
Screen readers already know it’s an image, so you don’t need to say so. Just describe what the image is showing.
Instead of saying “Image of a man smiling in front of a laptop,” simply say “Man smiling in front of a laptop during a video call.” It’s cleaner and gets to the point faster.
5. Don’t Overload the Text
Alt text should be short and to the point, ideally under 125 characters. This keeps things simple for screen readers and helps search engines understand it quickly.
If you have more to say, use captions or surrounding text. Save the alt tag for the essential details only.
6. Think About Functionality Too
Some images have a purpose, like buttons or links. In those cases, the alt text should explain the action, not just the visual.
For example, if the image is a clickable icon that leads to a contact form, your alt text could say “Contact us form link” rather than “Envelope icon.” That way, users understand what the image does, not just what it looks like.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to get alt text wrong. Being aware of common mistakes can help you keep your website more accessible, user-friendly, and search engine-friendly.
Here are five common mistakes to watch out for:
- Missing Alt Text on Important Images: Skipping alt text on key visuals like product photos, infographics, or banners means users and search engines miss out on essential context.
- Vague Descriptions: Using words like “photo” or “image” without details doesn’t help screen readers or SEO. Always describe the actual content of the image.
- Keyword Stuffing: Forcing too many keywords into alt text makes it unreadable and spammy. It also risks hurting your search engine rankings rather than helping them.
- Overly Long Descriptions: Alt text should be concise. Writing long paragraphs makes it harder for screen readers to deliver a good user experience.
- Adding Alt Text to Decorative Images: If an image is purely decorative and doesn’t add meaning, it’s better to leave the alt attribute empty so screen readers can skip it.
Conclusion On Alt Text
Alt text may seem like a small thing, but it can have a big impact on your website. It improves accessibility for those who rely on screen readers and helps search engines better understand your content. Writing thoughtful, relevant alt text is a quick win that boosts both user experience and SEO.
Need help improving your SEO or updating your content for accessibility? BestSEO Singapore offers smart, effective strategies that help your site rank better while making it more user-friendly. Whether you need help with keyword mapping, alt text, or improving anchor text, our team is ready to support your growth online.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alt Text
What Is Alt Text Used For?
Alt text is used to describe images for visually impaired users and to help search engines understand the image content. It appears in the HTML of the image tag.
Does Alt Text Affect SEO?
Yes, alt text helps search engines index your images properly, improving visibility in search results. It can also support your keyword ranking if used correctly.
How Long Should Alt Text Be?
Ideally, alt text should be short, around 125 characters or less. It should clearly describe the image without being too wordy or detailed.
Should All Images Have Alt Text?
Important images should always have alt text. Decorative images that don’t add meaning can have empty alt attributes, so screen readers skip them.
Can I Use Keywords in Alt Text?
Yes, but use them naturally. Avoid stuffing. You can use tools like Google Trends to find suitable keywords that match your content and image purpose.
