Using Alt Text for SEO

Using Alt Text for SEO: The Secret Weapon You’re Overlooking

Imagine this: Jake is a travel blogger with a website full of breathtaking images. Stunning mountains, golden beaches, and vibrant city streets fill his posts. But despite the visual appeal, his website isn’t ranking well on Google. What’s missing? The answer: alt text.

Alt text (alternative text) is often an afterthought, but it plays a critical role in SEO and accessibility. When used correctly, it can boost your website’s rankings, improve user experience, and even drive more organic traffic. Today, we’re diving into the untold tips and tricks of using alt text effectively for SEO.

1. What is Alt Text and Why Does It Matter?

Alt text is a short description of an image that helps search engines and visually impaired users understand what’s in the image. If an image fails to load, alt text appears in its place. Search engines like Google can’t see images—they rely on alt text to interpret them.

For example, let’s say Emma runs an online bakery. She uploads a mouth-watering picture of her famous chocolate cake but forgets to add alt text. Google doesn’t know it’s a chocolate cake—it just sees an unnamed image file. By adding descriptive alt text, such as “Rich chocolate cake topped with ganache and fresh strawberries”, Emma makes it easier for search engines to understand and index her image.

2. The Hidden SEO Benefits of Alt Text

Alt text doesn’t just help with accessibility—it can directly influence image search rankings. Here’s how:

  • Improves Image Search Visibility: Well-optimized alt text helps images rank in Google Images, driving additional traffic.
  • Boosts Website SEO: Google considers alt text as part of on-page SEO, contributing to overall page rankings.
  • Enhances User Experience: Screen readers use alt text to describe images to visually impaired users, making content more inclusive.

Let’s go back to Jake’s travel blog. Without alt text, his beautiful sunset photo is invisible to Google. But with alt text like “Stunning Santorini sunset over white cliffside houses”, Google can index the image, and Jake might attract visitors searching for Santorini travel inspiration.

3. The Secret Formula for Writing Perfect Alt Text

Many people either ignore alt text or stuff it with keywords. Neither approach works. Instead, follow this formula:

Description + Context + Relevance

For example:

  • Bad alt text: “Picture1.jpg” (Useless for SEO)
  • Too spammy: “Best running shoes, running sneakers, best sneakers for runners” (Google penalizes keyword stuffing)
  • Perfect: “Blue Nike running shoes on a rocky trail during sunrise” (Descriptive, natural, and relevant)

NLP Trick: Make Alt Text Conversational

Think about how a person would describe an image in everyday conversation. Instead of “Black Labrador dog running,” use “Energetic black Labrador retriever sprinting through a grassy park”—this makes it more engaging and relevant.

4. Common Alt Text Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Even experienced website owners make mistakes with alt text. Here are some common pitfalls and how to avoid them:

1. Leaving Alt Text Blank

  • Mistake: Not adding alt text at all.
  • Fix: Always describe the image meaningfully, even if it’s decorative.

2. Stuffing Keywords

  • Mistake: Overloading alt text with keywords.
  • Fix: Keep it natural—describe the image while naturally incorporating keywords.

3. Being Too Vague

  • Mistake: Writing alt text like “Image of a car.”
  • Fix: Be specific: “Red Tesla Model S parked in front of a modern glass building”.

4. Ignoring Context

  • Mistake: Writing alt text that doesn’t fit the page’s content.
  • Fix: Ensure the description aligns with the surrounding text.

5. Alt Text Hacks for Maximum SEO Impact

Want to take your alt text game to the next level? Try these hacks:

1. Use LSI Keywords

Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) keywords are related terms that enhance SEO without keyword stuffing.

For example, if you’re describing a pizza, instead of just writing “cheese pizza,” you can include related terms like “Thin-crust cheese pizza with melted mozzarella and fresh basil”.

2. Optimize for Voice Search

With voice search on the rise, write alt text in a conversational tone. Instead of “dog playing,” use “Golden retriever puppy happily playing with a tennis ball in the backyard”.

3. Keep It Under 125 Characters

Screen readers typically cut off alt text after 125 characters. Keep descriptions concise yet informative.

6. How to Implement Alt Text on Your Website

Adding alt text varies depending on the platform you use. Here’s how to do it on popular website builders:

  • WordPress: When uploading an image, fill in the ‘Alt Text’ box in the media library.
  • Shopify: Go to the product image, click ‘Edit Alt Text,’ and enter your description.
  • Wix: Click on the image, select ‘Settings,’ and add your alt text.

Bonus Tip: Audit Your Existing Alt Text

If you’ve been neglecting alt text, use SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Google Lighthouse to audit your images and improve existing descriptions.

Final Thoughts: Small Change, Big Impact

Alt text might seem like a minor detail, but it’s a powerful tool for SEO, accessibility, and user engagement. By crafting thoughtful, descriptive alt text, you’re not only helping search engines understand your content—you’re making your website more inclusive and discoverable.

So, the next time you upload an image, don’t let it sit there unnoticed. Give it a voice with alt text, and watch your SEO rankings climb!

Now, go back and check your website—how’s your alt text game looking?