Alt text, or alternative text, is a brief description that provides information about the content of an image on a webpage. Alt text is important for SEO because it helps search engines understand the context of the images on your site. Here are the steps to use alt text for SEO:
- Use descriptive alt text: When creating alt text for images on your site, be sure to use descriptive language that accurately reflects the content of the image. Avoid using generic terms like “image” or “picture,” and instead, use specific details that provide context.
- Use relevant keywords: Including relevant keywords in your alt text can help improve your SEO by indicating to search engines what the image is about. However, be careful not to overdo it or stuff keywords into your alt text, as this can be seen as spammy and hurt your rankings.
- Keep it concise: Alt text should be concise and to the point. Keep your alt text under 125 characters to ensure that it’s displayed properly and doesn’t get cut off.
- Use alt text for all images: Be sure to use alt text for all images on your site, including images in your content, as well as those in your header and footer.
- Use alt text for decorative images: If you have decorative images on your site that don’t add any content or meaning, use null alt text (alt=””) to indicate to search engines that the image doesn’t need a description.
- Use alt text for videos: Alt text can also be used for videos on your site. Use descriptive language to provide context about the video and its content.
- Don’t use alt text for spam: Avoid using alt text to spam search engines or manipulate rankings. This can be seen as a black hat SEO tactic and can result in penalties from search engines.
By following these steps, you can use alt text effectively to improve your site’s SEO and help search engines understand the content of your images and videos.