Images and graphics are often neglected in SEO. However, it is extremely important today to optimize these elements as effectively as possible. In this article, we present some tips and information that will help you optimize your website.
Image SEO: The Best Optimization Tips
The Most Important Ranking Factors for Images
In image SEO, there are some special ranking factors that affect search results. We summarize the most important ones in the following overview.
Surrounding Text
The surrounding text plays a fundamental role in image SEO. The main keyword should appear near the image – for example, in the image caption or in the paragraph after or before the image. This trick is rarely used consciously. In texts with a high keyword density, the term appears almost automatically near the image.
Experience shows that a new placement of images can visibly increase traffic. The surrounding text is therefore an extremely important ranking factor. However, you should avoid keyword stuffing. It is not worth overloading the text with search terms – this is immediately recognized by Google. This usually leads to a penalty for the page, which can result in a significant drop in traffic.
Image URL
Another factor is the image URL. Here you should try to use „speaking“ file names. Hyphens are preferable to spaces and underscores. The file name should be clear and not too long.
Alt Attribute
The alt attribute is the text that is displayed when the integrated image is not loaded. From the search engine’s perspective, it makes sense to use this source code element as a ranking factor. Most search engine optimizers advise using no more than two to six words. The text should describe the image as accurately as possible. An example would be „white sofa bed with playing children“.
Image Size
It is obvious that an excessive image size negatively affects the ranking. Images that are too large prolong the loading process. This deters many users. A high bounce rate is pure poison for almost every website. Therefore, make sure that images load quickly on all devices. Even with a mediocre internet connection, the image should appear on the screen in one to two seconds.
On free image platforms like Pixabay, several image versions are often available. It is best to choose the smallest or a medium version. High-resolution images are nice to look at, but unsuitable from an SEO perspective. An exception are projects for which HD images are absolutely necessary – for example, the homepage of a professional photographer.
Originality of Images
Everyone knows this phenomenon: there are stock images that you feel you see on every second website. If the image you are using has already been used countless times, it will not get a good ranking. Invest some time in the search: on the free platforms, there are some hidden gems that have only been used on a few websites so far.
Do not make the mistake of using the most popular images. These are usually displayed at the top of image databases. Go to the following pages and look for high-quality image files that may have been uploaded by new users who are not yet well-known.
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Here we come to another point that is far too little considered by SEOs: the age of the image is also a ranking factor. The newer the image, the more original and contemporary it is – that’s how the Google algorithm sees it. Ideally, you publish your own image that you have not yet used on the internet. The quality of the image is rather secondary. However, a certain level should not be undershot, otherwise the bounce rate will increase.
Title Attribute
The title attribute is displayed when you hover over the image with the mouse. This attribute can be optimized relatively quickly. Whether the effort is worthwhile, you have to decide based on the results. There are optimizers who edit the title tags on every page. Others refrain from doing so and prefer to dedicate themselves to other factors.
XML Sitemap
With the help of a plugin, you can generate an XML sitemap. This helps you to make your images more known on the World Wide Web. A frequently used tool is „Google XML Sitemap for Images“, which can be used for WordPress. Caution: The images are only listed here from a certain size.
Quick Optimization with Online Tools
Free online tools enjoy enormous popularity. For example, Adobe offers a tool for merging files that is accessed and used thousands of times daily. Users can combine two PDF files into one file using the browser-based program.
Few users know that there are also many helpful tools in the SEO area that can be used free of charge. Test versions of platforms like MOZ or XOVI can often be used for days or even weeks. If you prefer it simpler, you can perform an SEO check that covers the most important points. The user can then download a free report that summarizes everything important.
Anyone who wants to use such a tool should have a certain basic knowledge of SEO. Terms like „Alt Tag“ or „Keyword“ are usually not explained – it is assumed that the user is familiar with these terms common in SEO.
Why Image SEO is Worthwhile
Image SEO is worthwhile not only because Google considers the optimization of graphic content as a ranking factor. Images can also generate a significant amount of organic search traffic. This is not just about pure image search, which often generates no more than 1 percent of the total traffic.
Rather, it is about the results of Universal Search. These are the images that are listed in the normal search. If the Google search engine suspects that images are also being searched for, they are automatically displayed. An example would be a search term like „crocodile“ or „snowdrop“. Here there is a search intent that indicates that the user wants to see at least some images.
If products are sold on one's own website, good image SEO is essential. A search query like "white sofa bed" clearly indicates that there is a purchase intention. No internet user buys a sofa bed without having seen it beforehand. Therefore, Google displays not just one, but several images that show different models or a model from different perspectives.
Conclusion
With the help of our optimization tips, you should be able to adapt your website’s images to the current requirements of search engines. How you weigh the individual factors is at your discretion. The alt tag is often overestimated by SEOs. More important is that you choose a suitable image that keeps the user engaged and fits perfectly into the content. As an SEO agency, we are happy to help.
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