So we’ve all heard the saying: “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Well, when you apply that saying to your web strategy, a great picture (image) can translate to more site visitors!
Generally speaking, having images and media on your site is a good thing to keep your site visitors engaged. Too often I see websites that have just too much text and it is definitely not the right approach to a website plan – quick and to the point is what site visitors want.
More specifically, over the last several years, there has been a tremendous focus on Search Engine Optimization, commonly known as SEO – that is, getting good ranking on search results page in an organic way (non-paid).
Even more recently, the trend by search engines, like Google, has been to provide a more universal or blended search result listing for web-surfers. For example, images, video, news articles, local listings, etc.
So now, not only do images play a role in making your site more attractive but images will also help your on-site SEO strategies.
Here are four effective ways to optimize your website images for SEO purposes:
1. Relevant Images
Google’s Golden Rule: content is king. In this case, the image always has to be relevant to the content on the website; its key for Google but also key for site visitors. When a visitor lands on your homepage, they will do a quick scan and determine, mostly by images, if they are on the right website (this all happens very quickly). If, in their head, the search words they typed in match the images they see, the will most likely stay and continue to navigate on your site.
2. Correctly Naming your image filenames
As a part of any successful website plan, you should have identified the keywords you want to associate your site with. Then, you should use these keywords in all of your image filename titles. For example, if you have a website about cross-country skiing in Muskoka, then the filenames might be: “cross-country-skiing-muskoka.jpg”. Notice a subtle point here, use “dashes” to separate your words as they are more SEO friendly. What you don’t want to do is title your filenames like: “_DSC9009.jpg” – useless for SEO.
3. Use Descriptive ALT Attributes
This is a bit more technical for the average entrepreneur but your web developer should be able to do this with their eyes closed. The ALT TITLE attribute is another way Google or other search engines search for content on images. It is html code that “tags” the image with a description about the image. In the ALT Tag, you should be more specific – “Cross Country Skiing Muskoka – Horseshow Valley”. Also, place this image as close to any content that is relevant to the image. Whatever you do, don’t just fill this ALT Tag with key words.
4. Descriptive Anchor Text
Anchor text links are links that connect your pages or to images and other media – this is a good usability tactic as it keeps users within your site and gives them info on demand. So, if you linking to or from your images using text, then be sure to be as descriptive as possible (don’t forget your keywords to help describe the image). Like ALT attribute, an effective anchor text describes the contents of the image. This could be similar to what you’ve used in image file names and ALT attributes
Be an SEO expert. Be real.
Reality Business Consulting (RBC) is a Toronto-based Marketing and Website Design and Development company dedicated to helping small business grow. We do this by providing insightful marketing and sales knowledge, planning, execution and website design and development, on a small business budget. The foundation of our success lies in our strong business acumen and our ability to listen to and understand the needs of our clients, translating their ideas into a concrete plan of action; ultimately, delivering profitable results for them.
If you are searching for a professional and customer-focused marketing company with extensive work in website design and development located in Toronto, contact us for a “Reality Check; a no-obligation, no-charge consultation of your business.