When you are writing content for a website or article that you plan to post on the internet to drive traffic to your website, you need to use SEO practices to make sure those pages are seen. You want to make sure your posts are seen by as many people as possible, and that means making sure they rank high on search engine results. The more optimized for SEO that page is, the more views it will get. That is why it is important to use SEO-friendly images. Anyone with a website should know how to optimize images for SEO. Here are some tips that can help you do that.
What Is Image Optimization in SEO?
Image optimization is the process of using images to help make a page or website rank higher on search results. Images are part of a website and, therefore, play a role in the topic and placement of it. Images keep people interested in the content and can even attract them to a page. When a person is reading a website, paragraphs of straight text can overwhelm them. It is nice to throw in photos to help break up that text and even help the readers get a better understanding of the website and topic.
Some people even use image searches to find websites. Naming your photos with SEO in mind can make a significant difference and generate new traffic to your pages. Simply put, image optimization is the process of making smart choices about image tags and alt images that will help those images bring people to your website or page.
Things to Keep in Mind When Optimizing Images
- Be Descriptive When Naming Images
- Use Keywords When Possible
- Use Alt Tags
- Be Aware of File Names
How to Optimize Images for SEO
Google and other search engine look for certain things when it comes to rankings. Your photos should add something beneficial to your content and improve it in some way. The images you use will not only give your readers a break from the blocks of texts, they can also improve your rankings. If you are hoping to improve your rankings with SEO, make sure you remember these key things.
Choose a Good Image Title
Google currently does not use the title of the image for ranking purposes, but analytics are always changing, so there is a chance that it might start doing so soon. Still, when uploading an image into WordPress or a similar program, you name that image. When a reader moves their cursor over the image, the name of it is displayed. It is important to give your images unique titles that are relevant to the content or website. This will prevent your audience from being confused and come in handy if any search engines decide to use image titles for rankings.
Create an Alt Tag
Alt tags are what search engines use to index images. They are important because they can play a role in how the entire website is indexed and ultimately ranks. A good alt tag should be directly related to the topic of the website or page or the category that it hopes to rank in. Choosing an irrelevant alt tag can actually hurt rankings due to incorrect indexing.
How to Name Images for SEO
Using keywords that apply to your images and content is the best way to name your images and improve SEO. Instead of thinking of your images as something that complement your article, think of them as part of the article. Sure, images are a nice distraction from reading, but they also play a key role in how people understand and feel about your website or page.
Think about how you use the internet and how you search for things. Most of your readers will use search engines the same way. When you upload your images, name them in a way that you would search for them. Don’t leave the generic name that the system tags them with, and don’t name them something irrelevant to the content. You want your images to help your SEO, and that means you have to work hard to optimize each one to show up first in image search results.
What to Avoid When Optimizing Images
- Avoid putting too many keywords in your image titles. This can cause search engines to penalize you. Try to make your image titles and file names natural.
- Do not make your image names too long. This can make it harder for search engines to categorize the website or page. Try to keep it simple and use some of the same keywords that you used in the text.
- Avoid using alt tags on images that aren’t meant to redirect to another page or that are only added for pure entertainment.
- Don’t over-optimize, and work toward finding a good balance. If you struggle to read or understand an article or page because there are too many images, your readers will have the same problem.
The Importance of SEO Optimization Using Images
When you are writing content for a website or page, you should always do so with the intent of getting it noticed. Content is meant to inform the readers and get them interested in learning more about a certain topic. If you don’t bring people to your website, they might not know it exists. Website optimization is a great way to make sure people can find your articles. Search engines use a variety of methods to decide how they will rank a website. Keyword usage is one of the biggest things they consider, but image tags are another.
Many people are not aware of the role that photos play in search engines. Don’t make the mistake of using photos carelessly or failing to optimize them to improve how your site ranks. If you are wondering if you are using images right on your site, visit ScanBacklinks.com and run a check on your content. Don’t miss out on page views. Use your images to bring in more website traffic.
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