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Why are Alt Tags Important for SEO?

In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, ensuring your website stands out in search engine results is paramount. A crucial yet often overlooked aspect of this is the use of Alt Tags to make your content more accessible to audiences who require additional functionality to interact with your content.

Written by

Will Robertson-Brown

November 2023

What is an Alt Tag?

An Alt Tag, short for “Alternative Text”, is an HTML attribute applied to image tags to provide a text alternative for search engines and visually impaired users. Essentially, it describes the content and function of an image on a page. Alt Tags play a critical role, especially when images fail to load, as they display the alternative text to ensure the user still grasps the context of the content.

Why are Alt Tags Important for SEO?

When it comes to SEO, Alt Tags serve as a cornerstone for enhancing visibility. Search engines like Google rely on them to understand and index an image properly, contributing significantly to the contextual relevance of your webpage. By implementing descriptive and keyword-rich Alt Tags, you bolster the SEO of your page, which, in turn, improves your site’s ranking on SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages). Moreover, Alt Tags facilitate better image search visibility, driving additional traffic to your site.

A comprehensive approach to SEO encompasses various elements, and Alt Tags are a vital part of this. They not only aid in making your content more accessible but also contribute to the overall user experience, which is a significant ranking factor for search engines.

How to Add Alt Tags to Images in WordPress

WordPress, being one of the most popular content management systems, provides a user-friendly interface for adding Alt Tags to your images. Here is a simple step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

Step 1 – Log Into Your WordPress Dashboard: Access your site’s dashboard by logging in with your credentials.

Step 2 – Navigate to the Media Library: On the left sidebar, click on ‘Media’ and select ‘Library’. Here, you will find all the images uploaded to your WordPress site.

Step 3 – Select the Image: Click on the image to which you want to add an Alt Tag. This action will bring up the attachment details for that image.

Step 4 – Add Your Alt Text: Look for the field labelled ‘Alt Text’ on the right-hand side of the screen. Enter a descriptive and concise Alt Tag here. Ensure that it accurately describes the image, while also incorporating relevant keywords for SEO.

Step 4 - Alt Tags

Step 5 – Save Changes: After entering the Alt Tag, click on the ‘Save Draft’ or ‘Update’ button to save your changes.

How to Find Alt Tags on Images

If you’re auditing a site or simply wish to check the Alt Tags of images on a webpage, you can do so by inspecting the element in your web browser. Right-click on the image, select ‘Inspect’ or ‘Inspect Element’, and look for the ‘alt’ attribute in the image tag within the HTML code.

How to Write an Alt Tag for an Image

Crafting effective Alt Tags for images is a balancing act between clarity and brevity. Aim to provide a specific and descriptive account of the image, focusing on its main elements and the context within which it appears on the page. Avoid redundancy and the usage of phrases like “image of,” as screen readers already identify the item as an image.

While it is beneficial to incorporate relevant keywords for SEO purposes, ensure that they fit naturally and do not compromise the description’s integrity. Remember that the goal is to enhance user experience, particularly for those utilizing screen readers, and to aid in search engine optimization.

Incorporating Alt Tags into your images is a small yet significant step in optimizing your website for search engines. It not only aids in boosting your SEO efforts but also ensures that your content is accessible to all users, including those with visual impairments.

By following the outlined steps for WordPress, you can seamlessly add Alt Tags to your images, enhancing your site’s visibility and user experience. Remember, a comprehensive SEO strategy is about paying attention to the details, and Alt Tags are an integral part of this puzzle.

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