About Me 0013: Alt Attribute & Seo

SEO Optimization images is becoming increasingly more essential in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is often overlooked. This is often a lost chance of better rankings.

In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise using alternative text for the images in your web site:

Images:. Make use of the alt attribute to supply descriptive text. In addition, we recommend using a human-readable caption and descriptive text around the image.

Why would they ask us to achieve that? The answer is simple, really; search engines like google have the same problem as blind users. They can't see the images.

Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse using this attribute, trying to stuff it with keywords, looking to achieve a certain keyword density, which is not as relevant for rankings now since it once was.

On the contrary, high keyword density can, on some search engines like google, trigger spam filters, which may create a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without such a penalty, your site's rankings will not benefit from this tactic.
This method also puts persons who use screen readers at a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that really read aloud the items in what's shown on the screen. In browsing the web, the alt attributes of images are read aloud as well.

Imagine hearing a paragraph of text that is followed by repetitions of numerous keywords. The page would be not even close to accessible, and, to put it mildly, will be found quite annoying.
What is an Alt attribute?

An ALT attribute shouldn't be used as a description or a label to have an image, though lots of people use it in that fashion. Although it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is a label or a description, it's not!

The words used within an image's alt attribute ought to be its text equivalent and convey the same information or serve exactly the same purpose that the image would.

The goal would be to provide the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" in the event that the look itself is not available. Think about this: If you were to replace the image with the text, would most users receive the same basic information, and wouldn't it generate the same response?
A few examples:

Some SEO Optimization Tips

If a search button is really a magnifier or binoculars its alt text should be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.

If an image is supposed to convey the literal contents of the look, then a description is suitable.

If it is meant to convey data, then that information is what is appropriate.

If it is designed to convey using a function, then your function itself is what should be used.

Some Alt Attribute Guidelines:

Always add alt attributes to images. Alt is mandatory for accessibility and for valid XHTML.

For images that play merely a decorative role in the page, use an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or a CSS background image so that reading browsers do not bother users by uttering such things as "spacer image".

Remember that it is the function from the image we're attempting to convey. For instance; any button images should not include the word "button" within the alt text. They should emphasize the action performed by the button.

Alt text ought to be determined by context. Exactly the same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text.

Try to flow alt text with the remainder of the text because that is how it is going to be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone listening to your page should hardly remember that a graphic image is there.
Please remember that using an alt attribute for each image is required to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, that are used since the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and the rest of Europe. Also, they are required to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in the US.

It is useful to categorize non-text content into three levels:

Eye-Candy
Mood-Setting
Content and Function

I. Eye-Candy

Eye-Candy are things that serve no purpose other than to create a site visually appealing/attractive and (oftentimes) satisfy the marketing departments. There isn't any content value (though there might be value to a sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there's something there that will enhance the usability from the site for someone using a non-visual user agent. Make use of a null alt attribute or background images in CSS for eye-candy.

II. Mood-Setting

This is the middle layer of graphics which might actually set the mood or set happens as it were. These graphics are not direct content and may 't be considered essential, but they are important in that they help frame what's going on.

Attempt to alt-ify the second group as makes sense and it is relevant. There may be times when doing so might be annoying or detrimental with other users. Then try to avoid it.

For example; Alt text that is identical to adjacent text is unnecessary, as well as an irritant to screen reader users. I suggest alt="" or background CSS images in such cases. But sometimes, it's important to understand this content inside for all users.

Most times it depends on context. The same image in a different context may require drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. How you use this case is really a judgment call.

III. Content and Function

This is when the image may be the actual content. Always alt-ify content and functional images. Title and long description attributes can also be so as.
The main reason many authors can't understand why their alt text isn't working is that they don't know why the pictures are there. You need to determined precisely what function a picture serves. Consider what it's about the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.

Every graphic has a reason for being on that page: because it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what the page is trying to explain. Understanding what the image is perfect for makes alt text simpler to write. And exercise writing them definitely helps.
A way to look into the usefulness of alternative text is to imagine reading the page on the phone to someone. An amount you say when encountering a particular image to make the page understandable to the listener?

Aside from the alt attribute you have a couple more tools at your disposal for images.
First, in degree of descriptiveness title is within between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and may add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered by the user agent. Remember they are invisible and not shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (So much for device independence). So use the title attribute only for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points to the URL of a complete description of an image. When the information contained in a picture is essential to the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost when the image was removed), a longer description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It may provide for rich, expressive documentation of a visual image.

It ought to be used when alt and title are insufficient to embody the visual qualities of an image. As Clark [1] states, "A longdesc is a long description of an image...The goal is by using any length of description essential to impart the details of the graphic.

It would not be remiss to hope that a long description conjures a picture - the look - in the mind's eye, an analogy that holds true even for that totally blind."

Although the alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility and for valid (X)HTML, not every images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.

In many cases, you are better off just going with your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary to incorporate it, and if you don't have a strong urge to get it done, don't add that longdesc.

However, if it's necessary for the entire page to work, then you have to include the alt text (or title or longdesc).

What's necessary and what's not depends a great deal on the function of your image and its context on the page.

Exactly the same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in a single spot, but not in another. If an image provides absolutely no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images might be appropriate to make use of. But if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt will be required and maybe even a long description would be so as. Oftentimes this kind of thing is really a judgement call.