Mastering SEO: What Is Alt Text and Why Is It Important?

This is an important step that should not be ignored.

If you’re looking to boost your website’s SEO and improve its accessibility, one small but powerful tool you need to understand is alt text. Often overlooked, alt text plays a significant role in making your website more user-friendly and search-engine optimized.

What Is Alt Text?

Alt text, short for “alternative text,” is a written description assigned to an image on a webpage. It serves two primary purposes:

1. Accessibility: Alt text helps visually impaired users understand an image through screen readers, providing a detailed description of the content.

2. SEO: Search engines can’t “see” images like humans do, so they rely on alt text to understand and index them appropriately.

   
   

Why Is Alt Text Important?

1. Improves Accessibility: Adding alt text ensures your website is inclusive to users who rely on assistive technology. By describing images accurately, you make your content accessible to a wider audience.

2. Boosts SEO Rankings: Alt text helps search engines understand the context of your images, making your website more likely to appear in image search results. This can drive more traffic to your site and improve your overall search engine rankings.

3. Enhances User Experience: If an image fails to load due to a slow connection, the alt text is displayed in its place, giving users a better experience by showing them what should be there.

4. Complies with Accessibility Standards: Web accessibility laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), often require alt text for images. Including it can help you avoid legal complications.

How to Write Effective Alt Text

Writing great alt text doesn’t have to be complicated! Here are a few tips:

• Be Descriptive: Explain what’s in the image in a simple, concise way.

• Include Keywords (Naturally): If relevant, incorporate SEO keywords, but avoid keyword stuffing.

• Focus on Context: Tailor the description to how the image relates to your content.

• Avoid “Image of” or “Picture of”: Screen readers already identify it as an image, so jump right into the description.

  
  

Example of Effective Alt Text

• Instead of: “Image of a HVAC system.”

• Use: “Modern HVAC system installed in a residential home with energy-efficient components.”

  
  

Why It Is Important to Make Alt Text a Priority?

Alt text may seem like a small detail, but it can make a big difference in your website’s performance and usability. By incorporating accurate and keyword-friendly descriptions, you’ll improve your site’s SEO, accessibility, and overall user experience.

At Wildflower Media, we can help you optimize your website and ensure it’s both search-engine friendly and accessible. Ready to enhance your digital presence? Contact us today to get started!