Some Search Engine Optimization Tips For Your Images
If your strategy for images is only to find good stock photos and upload them, then you’ve been doing it wrong. Search engine optimization isn’t limited to text and keywords. A Denver SEO service optimizes other aspects like images to help webmaster reach their target audiences.
And images have an important role to play in your optimization strategy. People are more likely to read and remember webpages with images on them. They can also help make the webpage more searchable through the texts attached to the images. The visuals may even appear on the zeroth position as featured snippets or carousels.
Here are some tips you should consider when using photographs and illustrations on your website:
Use Relevant High-Quality Pictures
Don’t add pictures to your pages for the sake of making them look good. Every image you add must have some relevance to your website. They should also be of good quality so that your site looks clean and professional.
Rename Images
It’s a simple trick that can help make your website more searchable. Search engines read the label to understand what the image is about and how it relates to search queries. CMS platforms like WordPress allow you to add a title to each image. Use it to boost your web traffic.
Instead of keeping the file name generated by the camera, rename the photos. You can rename them based on the image content, what the webpage is about or keywords. It’s best to keep the label relevant to the image.
Add Alt-Text
Alt-text is a tag that describes the image to the visitor. It appears when the browser is unable to load the image. It also helps visually impaired people understand the illustration, making it valuable for accessibility. Search engines may rank the website higher based on what tags you add.
You can describe the image and/or add primary keywords for the best results. Keep the description short and don’t stuff keywords.
Compress File Size
Pictures take up a considerable amount of space on the website. Large image files take long to load, which can ruin the user experience. That’s why you should compress the files before uploading them.
You can use editing tools and compressing plugins for the job. Make sure that the plugin compresses the image externally on the server without compromising quality. Test the loading speed to see whether compressing images helps or not.
Use Browser Caching
Browser caching is when pictures from a website are stored in the visitor’s browser. This reduces the time needed to load the webpage significantly because the pictures are already on the computer. You can code the site or add a plugin to enable browser caching.
Add Structured Data
Structured data helps search result pages display your images as rich results (snippets, carousels, etc.) It will flesh out your listings on image search well with the help of badges. It’s not guaranteed to show up on rich results but chances are there.
Place Images In Sitemap
Or create a sitemap for your images. This increases the chances of search engines crawling and indexing the pictures leading to more traffic.
Create Unique Images
Stock photos save money but unhelpful for SEO. Most websites use the same stock images which make the site seem unoriginal. Original images tend to show up on main results which can help with searchability. Real pictures of your products and company will give your customers an idea of what to expect from you. So invest in photography/video production in Denver.
Avoid DMCA Notices
Using stock images is one thing, but using copyrighted images without permission is just asking for trouble. You may receive a DMCA takedown notice that you have to comply with. You may also get involved in lawsuits.
To avoid this create original pictures or stick to stock images licensed for reuse. Many websites allow you to use their pictures either for a charge or free. Be sure to check the attribution requirements before downloading the photos.
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