Esther Sedlaczek

How writing the alt-tag strengthens your presence on Google and Blogger.com

Introduction of the significance of Alt Text

Some of us might have heard of alt text but didn’t give much attention to it. We may have thought it was not that important. But to avid SEO and content writers, an alt tag is a very important aspect of their content as it helps the overall quality of a website and user experience.

An alt tag or otherwise known as alt text is an HTML attribute that provides alternative information for an image. This information is displayed when the image cannot be displayed, such as when the image file is missing or when the user has turned off images in their browser. Alt text is also used by screen readers to describe images to visually impaired users.

In the context of SEO, alt text is important because it can help search engines understand the content of an image. This information can then be used to improve the ranking of a website in search results. For example, if a website has an image of a product, the alt text could describe the product, including its name, brand, and model number. This information could then be used by search engines to rank the website higher in search results for queries related to that product.

Alt text and its accessibility

Alt text is also important for accessibility. For visually impaired users, alt text provides a way to understand the content of an image. This information can help them to navigate a website and to understand the content of a web page.

In addition to providing information for search engines and visually impaired users, alt text can also be used to improve the overall user experience. For example, if an image is taking a long time to load, the alt text can provide users with a brief description of the image while they wait for it to load.

How to write an effective alt text

When writing alt text, it is important to be descriptive and concise. The alt text should accurately describe the image, but it should also be concise enough to be easily read and understood. In general, alt text should be no more than 125 characters long.

Here are some tips for writing effective alt text:

1. Be specific. The alt text should accurately describe the image, including any important details. For example, if the image is of a product, the alt text should include the name, brand, and model number of the product.
2. Be concise. The alt text should be no more than 125 characters long. If the alt text is too long, it will be difficult for users to read and understand.
3. Use keywords. The alt text should include keywords that are relevant to the image. This will help search engines to understand the content of the image and to rank the website higher in search results.
4. Avoid using generic alt text. The alt text should not simply be a generic description of the image, such as "image of a product" or "image of a person." This type of alt text is not helpful for search engines or for visually impaired users.
5. Proofread the alt text. The alt text should be proofread carefully for any errors. Errors in the alt text can make it difficult for users to understand the content of the image.

Examples of effective alt text

Here are some examples of effective alt text:

• Alt text for an image of a product: "A red iPhone 12 Pro Max with a black case."
• Alt text for an image of a person: "A woman sitting at a desk, smiling."
• Alt text for an image of a landscape: "A beautiful sunset over the mountains."

Conclusion

Alt text is an important aspect of SEO and accessibility. By writing effective alt text, you can improve the ranking of your website in search results, make your website more accessible to visually impaired users, and improve the overall user experience.