Easy SEO Tips for images

Easy SEO Tips for images

    Images can dramatically enhance the layout of your website or blog post. An image grabs your attention and draws you into the text. Not only does a graphic add relevance and aesthetic value to your copy, but it can drive additional traffic through better search engine results.

    Just as you optimize copy for the Web, optimize your images by using the following tips:

• 1. Don't forget your keywords: Name image files with applicable keywords just as you would for URLs. Include keywords in the image's caption. The file name and caption should not only describe the image, but it should also reflect what you want to be ranked for. Search engines will crawl these keyword-rich file names and captions to determine their relevancy. (Also, try to keep your images in one directory folder on your website and use common types of files; save photos as JPEGs and illustrations or graphics as GIFs.)

          Example: daisy-flower-arrangement.jpg.

• 2. Take alt text seriously: Alt text (alternative text) is a description of your image that's inserted into the alt attribute field in the HTML code. The description replaces the image if it doesn't appear. Alt text increases image search results. Even descriptions as short as one sentence or phrase need to be unique and include keywords.

         Example: Low calorie strawberry and banana smoothie recipe

• 3. Link with anchor text: Using the proper anchor text has a major impact on rankings. Make sure that the linked anchor text uses descriptive keywords that describe the image and copy. Search engines will give your image a better ranking if it's linked with accurate anchor text.

         Example: residential roofing services

 By Abby Terlecki