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Why Alt Text Matters: Boost Accessibility and SEO on Your Website

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Steve Soto
Steve Soto
Older man using headphones to search website on tablet

How often do you think about the images on your website? If your answer is “rarely” or “never,” don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many business owners get so caught up in writing great copy and designing a beautiful layout that they overlook one of the most critical aspects: image optimization. That’s where Alt Text (alternative text) comes in.

Alt text isn’t just for SEO; it’s an accessibility game-changer.

These descriptive text labels bring your images to life when they don’t load, help visually impaired users by providing context through screen readers, and even contribute to search engines indexing your images. And if you’re not incorporating it on your website, you’re missing out on traffic from screen reader users and potentially losing search engine rankings.

In this post, we’ll break down alt text so you can confidently add it to your website without feeling overwhelmed.

What Is Alt Text?

Woman with visual impairment using alt text on computer with friend helping

Alt text is a short, descriptive text added to your website’s images. Think of it as the “name tag” for each image, helping both users and search engines understand its purpose. 

Here’s what it does:

Accessibility: Alt text provides descriptions for visually impaired users who rely on screen readers, making your website usable for everyone.

SEO: Search engines use alt text to understand your images, helping them appear in search results and boosting your website’s visibility.

Error Proofing: When an image fails to load, alt text ensures users can still grasp its context.

Alt Text and Accessibility: Creating an Accessible Website for Screen Reader Users

Alt text plays a crucial role in making your website accessible, especially for the 150.18 million Americans aged 18 and older who report some degree of vision loss . By providing descriptions for images, alt text ensures that visually impaired users can navigate and enjoy your website.

But the benefits don’t stop at accessibility. Research shows that users with accessibility needs prefer shopping on inclusive websites, even if prices are higher.  Plus, incorporating alternative text on your website images can actually save your business. Accessibility lawsuits are on the rise, and adding alt text is a simple way to protect yourself from legal action.

Alt Text and SEO: Maximizing Your Business Website’s Visibility

We can’t stress enough how vital alt text is for your website’s rankings:

Image Search Rankings: Well-written alt text helps your images show up in Google Image searches, driving more traffic to your website.

Supports Page Content: Alt text reinforces your content’s focus, helping search engines rank your site higher.

Attracts Customers: Descriptive alt text with target keywords helps users find your website when searching for products or services like yours.

For example, if someone searches for “handmade leather wallet,” an alt tag like “Handmade leather wallet in brown, available at [Store Name]” helps both users and search engines understand what the image is of and what your website is about.

Teenager using alt text via screen reader on laptop

What Does Good Alt Text Look Like?

Writing “good” alt text is simpler than you think.

Here are the main guidelines to follow:

  1. Be Descriptive, Not Wordy: Use simple, clear language to describe what’s in the image and provide context. Example: “Handmade leather wallet in brown.”
  2. Add Relevant Keywords: Include your target SEO keywords naturally, not excessively. Example: “Freshly brewed coffee in a cozy café in [City Name].”
  3. Optimize for Humans First: Make sure your descriptions are meaningful and provide context for screen reader users.
  4. Save Images in the Right Files Formats: Use web-optimized file formats like JPEG or WebP to ensure your images load quickly.
  5. Give Your Images Meaningful File Names: Instead of naming your images “IMG_5678.jpg,” use descriptive file names like “handmade-leather-wallet.jpg.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

It’s easy to make mistakes when optimizing your images.

Here are some common errors to avoid:

  • Keyword Stuffing: It’s important to include relevant keywords, but stuffing your alt text with them is spammy to search engines and confusing for users. Keep it natural and relevant.
  • Fluff Phrases: Phrases like “image of” or “picture of” are unnecessary and waste valuable character space. Screen readers already announce that it’s an image.
  • Not Providing Enough Context: Make sure your alt text gives screen reader users enough context to understand what’s in the image. Example: “A group of people at a business meeting” is much more descriptive than “People.”
  • Not Being Consistent: Use a consistent format for your alt text to make it easy to read and understand. Consistency helps screen reader users move through your website smoothly.
  • Not Testing: Always test your alt text with screen readers and other accessibility tools to ensure it’s working as intended. This is the only way to discover issues and make necessary changes.

3 Examples of Good (and Bad) Alt Text

1. Hero image on bakery website:

Bad: “Cupcakes.”

Good: “Freshly baked chocolate cupcakes topped with vanilla frosting.”

2. Image on a Coffee shop’s online menu:

Bad: “Coffee.”

Good: “Latte art in a ceramic mug served at [Coffee Shop Name].”

3. Infographic on business website:

Bad: “Infographic.”

Good: “Infographic showing how alt text improves SEO and accessibility.”

Alt Text: The Secret to Better User Experience and Rankings

Alt text is one of the simplest ways to improve accessibility and optimize your business website for search engines. 

Spending just a few minutes updating your image descriptions can help you:

  • Reach a broader audience.
  • Rank higher in search results.
  • Create a more inclusive experience for everyone.

But incorporating alt text in images is just the tip of the iceberg for optimizing your website! 

At Breezy Sites, we offer website maintenance and SEO services to help your business website succeed online. If you’re ready to take your website to the next level by making it accessible and optimized, contact us today.

Your Website Should Be As Great As Your Business Is

Ok, you keep hearing that your website is the front door of your business but you just don’t see it. Most of your business comes from referrals and your website is just there. This limits you at only being able to reach the people you can yourself. On top of the fact that when the people you meet see your site, it gives an impression of what it will be like working with you.

You should be confident that your site is up to date, searchable on Google and tells the story as well as you do.

The problem is that your nephew doesn’t have enough experience, you have to manage the freelancer and you don’t want to pay for an expensive site redesign.

The truth is you’re tired of having a website that breaks and is not generating business.

Maintaining your website should be easy. Now it can be. Reach out to learn more about how our team can help you today!
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