When you add images to your online content, don’t overlook optimizing them. Including SEO for images can make a big difference in your content’s online performance. 

If you’re a content creator, you likely know how important keywords are to search engine optimization. You probably also insert a photo or two into your content to add interest and to break up your copy. But how closely do you pay  attention to those images? Image SEO is just as important as other aspects of your content when you’re trying to boost your rankings. 

What Is Image SEO?

Image SEO is the practice of optimizing your images through thoughtful alt text, captions, and file dimensions, among other factors, to give search engines a better idea of what your content is about. Google can better interpret your content if your images are labeled correctly.

What Is Alt Text?

Short for alternative text, alt text gives Google context for your image content. It is read aloud for visually-impaired users and is displayed if your image fails to load.

Here, you can see the alt text for this blog in the “Alt Text” field. “Miami SEO services” is also the keyword for this piece of content. More on why that’s a good practice in a bit.

(Another thing to do to optimize your image content is to update the filename as well.)

How Do You Best Use SEO For Images?

Use Alt Text Wisely

Now that you know what alt text is and why you should use it, it’s important to understand HOW to use it. For Google to properly reward your use of alt text, it needs to fit the context of your content. 

If you’re writing a blog about sneakers and the alt text for a photo of a sneaker is something like “feel the comfort,” Google won’t make the connection to your content and your rankings may suffer, or at least they won’t be rewarded. Make your alt text “red sneaker” and Google will match your content with your photo, thus rewarding your alt text efforts.

Use Original Content

Google rewards originality and penalizes content that is copied from another source. And, although stock photos are technically not copies, they are not original, unique content, and Google places less SEO value on them. 

Pro Tip: Become an expert (or at least an educated user) of a graphics program like Canva to take your images to the next level. Graphic design resources can be valuable tools too.

It’s simple to customize a stock photo to match your branding, or at least to make it unique. You should see better search results with custom graphics in your content. Give it a try and see what happens to your rankings.

Use Keywords

In SEO, you know that keywords are king. Proper keyword research and implementation are the best ways to boost your content’s search ranking. Tying your keywords in with your alt text is a way to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, when you’re doing SEO for images. 

Not only are you telling Google (and your users) that your photo is associated with your keyword, your photo is another way Google can “see” your keyword. Assigning your keywords to your alt text is a great way to boost your content’s SEO performance.

Leverage Images For Backlinks

When you create compelling custom graphics, your content may grab the attention of other content creators who are looking for a high-quality source to link to in their content. When other sites link to your site, it boosts your site’s authority and in turn, boosts your ranking.

When you have a great idea for a chart, graph, creative image, etc., put it out there (with quality alt text) and backlinkers may come calling.

Partner With A Team Who Specializes In SEO For Images

All these technical details may be too much for your business to handle properly. After all, you are focused on building your business, not on becoming an SEO expert. The good news is that we are SEO experts and we would love the opportunity to use our skills to help you grow. 

Our SEO team at South Street & Co. knows the ins and outs of alt text, SEO, and many other ingredients that make a successful digital marketing campaign. Contact us today to set up your complimentary consultation.