Did you know that images on a website are not always visible?
It may happen that images do not load due to a technical error or a slow internet connection. But don’t panic! Alt text offers the solution. This alt text provides a description of the image, still giving users an idea of what’s in the photo. In this way, the content of the website is accessible to everyone, including people with a visual impairment. Alt text is a small but indispensable addition to your website.
Alt text for SEO
Did you know that an alt text is not only useful for users who cannot load an image? Search engines also use it to understand what can be seen in an image. That’s why it’s so important that you write alt text in a smart, informative way. Having relevant visuals on your website is also crucial for the ranking of your page on Google. So if you’re serious about optimizing your SEO strategy, don’t underestimate the power of alt text. It’s a small but effective way to increase the visibility of your pages and drive more traffic to your website.
Alt text for which images
A website cannot function without images. Whether it’s a header photo, website logo, or button, all images have a file name and an alt text. It is very important not to leave the alt text empty for search engine optimization. If the alt text is missing, search engines cannot estimate what the image is about. While it is wise to leave the alt text blank for purely decorative images, the alt text should definitely be filled in for informational images. If you leave the alt text empty, the search engine cannot judge whether your website uses relevant images. It is therefore important to help the search engine get a clear picture of your website. So make sure you provide alt texts that match the search terms you want to score on. This way, you can be easily found, and you will come into contact with the people who are looking for your website more quickly.
How do you add alt text to an image?
Accessibility on the web is very important, and adding alt text to an image can help with that. An alt text is not only useful for people with visual impairments, but it can also speed up the rendering of the image. Fortunately, adding alt text to an image is a piece of cake in most CMS systems. By navigating to the media/gallery/files sub menu and clicking on the image in your media gallery, you can easily adjust the alt text. It’s important to remember that the same alt text will be associated with all pages containing the same image unless you reload the image. In this case, you will have to enter the alt text again.
Alt texts and image names
In addition to a good alt text, the image name is also an indication for search engines of what can be seen on an image. It is important for search engines to know what an image is about, and by using relevant file names, you make this understandable for the search engine. This way, you can get even more out of your images, and it is also good for the accessibility of your website. In short, pay attention to the filename of your images and score higher in the search results!
Frequently asked questions
Why is alt text important for SEO?▼
Alt text helps search engines understand image content and improves your website's visibility in search results. It also makes your site accessible to users with visual impairments and ensures content is available even when images fail to load.
Should I add alt text to all images on my website?▼
You should add alt text to all informational images, but it's wise to leave alt text blank for purely decorative images. This helps search engines properly evaluate your website's relevant visual content.
How do I add alt text to images in my CMS?▼
Navigate to the media, gallery, or files submenu in your CMS, click on the image in your media gallery, and easily adjust the alt text field. Remember that the same alt text applies to all pages using that image unless you reload it.
Does image filename matter for SEO?▼
Yes, image filenames are important indicators for search engines. Using relevant, descriptive filenames helps search engines understand image content and improves both your SEO rankings and website accessibility.
What happens if I leave alt text empty?▼
Search engines cannot estimate what the image is about, making it harder to judge if your website uses relevant images. This negatively impacts your SEO performance and accessibility for users with visual impairments.