Alt text, or alternative text, is a brief description added to the attribute within an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) image tag to provide information about the image’s content to search engines and users who may not be able to see it.
The main function and impact of alt text are to support accessibility, helping users with visual impairments or those using screen readers understand visual content. However, alt text also plays a critical role in SEO, influencing your site’s rankings and visibility in search results.
Below are some reasons from GetFound explaining why alt text is crucial in SEO and how it impacts your site’s overall performance!
1. Helps Search Engines Understand Image Content
Search engines like Google cannot see images the way we do, but they can read text. Alt text provides additional information to inform search engines about the image’s content.
The impact of alt text is essential, as search engines use this information to determine the image’s relevance to a search query. By adding descriptive and relevant alt text, you provide clear cues to search engines about how the image relates to the page’s content.
This also helps your images appear in Google Image Search, increasing traffic to your site. If you optimize the alt text with relevant keywords, the images on your site will be more easily discovered by users searching for related topics.
2. Enhances Accessibility and User Experience (UX)
SEO is not just about attracting search engines but also about delivering the best experience for all users.
The impact of alt text is particularly significant for users with visual impairments, as they rely on screen readers to understand a webpage’s content. The screen reader will read the alt text to describe the image, allowing users to grasp the visual content’s context.
Google considers site accessibility as a ranking factor in SEO. Sites that support accessibility tend to receive positive ratings from Google, as accessibility contributes to a better user experience.
Therefore, by adding appropriate alt text, you not only help users with limited access but also signal to Google that your site is user-friendly for all.
3. Increases Content Relevance and Keyword Usage
Alt text also provides an opportunity to optimize keyword usage, an essential element in SEO. By including relevant keywords in the alt text of your images, you increase the page’s relevance to the topic discussed.
However, avoid keyword stuffing (excessive repetition of keywords) in the alt text, as this practice could harm your SEO. Alt text should remain natural, descriptive, and relevant to the displayed image.
So, the impact of alt text is clear, if you have an image closely related to your target keyword, incorporating it into the alt text can effectively strengthen the page’s context and relevance.
This helps search engines understand that your page aligns with the user’s query, making it easier for the page to appear in related search results.
Also Read: Why On-Page SEO is Important for Your Online Success?
4. Potential Traffic from Google Images
Google Images is often overlooked in SEO strategies but can significantly contribute to a site’s total traffic.
By optimizing alt text, your images are more likely to appear in Google Image search results, opening up greater opportunities for users to discover and visit your site.
Users searching for specific images often click on the image link and navigate to the related site. Thus, if your image has relevant and engaging alt text, users are more likely to click on it.
This is particularly beneficial for e-commerce or visually driven blogs, where product images or aesthetic visuals can capture users’ attention in Google Images.
5. Reduces Bounce Rate Through Image Relevance
The impact of alt text ensures your images align with the right search queries. When images appear in search results that match the user’s search intent, visitors to your site are more likely to stay and explore further, ultimately reducing the bounce rate.
Google uses bounce rate as one metric to assess page quality and content relevance. When users spend more time on your site because they find relevant information, it sends a positive signal to Google that your page meets user needs, which can help improve rankings in search results.
Don’t Underestimate Alt Text’s Impact on Your SEO Strategy, Let GetFound Help!
Overall, alt text has a significant impact on SEO, particularly in terms of accessibility, content relevance, and traffic potential from Google Images.
The function and impact of alt text are to help search engines understand the visual content on your page, ultimately increasing the chances of your images appearing in search results. Additionally, relevant and descriptive alt text supports accessibility, enhances user experience, and reinforces keyword relevance.
If your business needs SEO support to stay competitive in the SERPs, GetFound can definitely help! Contact us to consult with our qualified experts.
