Are You Using Alt Text Properly?
So, what is alt text, and are you remembering to add it to your images?
When you add an image to WordPress, you can assign it 'alt text'.
This is a simple description of the media file, and usually takes the form of a short sentence.
The original purpose of image alt text was accessibility.
It was created so that guests to your site with any visual impairment (that is, those people who cannot actually see the images in your content) still have some way of knowing what they are.
Why is it important?
Google and other search engines have been taking advantage of the information presented by alt text for a long time.
Their bots pay attention to the text of each alt tag, using it to gain a deeper understanding of your content.
Where do I find my alt text?
If you are not sure where your alt text is, simply login to WordPress and go to your media library.
Select one of your images and a box will pop up which includes the alt text field.
Let's see it in action!
What alt text would you add to this image of Central Park in New York?
Bad alt text example: "Bridge river trees skyscrapers"
That is just a list of words!
Okay alt text example: "Central Park"
Hmm, a bit better, but how do we know we are looking at a bridge?
Better alt text example: "Bridge at Central Park”
That's more like it - we know what the image is and where the location is.
Best alt text example: "Bridge at Central Park over a river surrounded by trees with skyscrapers in the background”
There we go - now we can picture it!
And remember, a screen reader cuts off after 125 characters, so try not to exceed that.
The example I gave above is 90 characters.
Thank you for reading!
Recent Comments
43
I add alt text to my images but am unaware it has a character limit.
Thank you for the helpful info, and have a good day.
It's always beneficial to add a description to each and every picture we use in my opinion Diane...
I was not aware of the 125 character cut off though... great to know!
How often would you recommend using the targeted keyword for each post when it comes to the alt text?
For every image?? Or only when it is relevant??
Just as I suspected then Diane!
Appreciate the clarification and enjoy what is left of your Sunday!!!!! 😉
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Even Better Best Alt TEXT: "The Home Alone Bridge in Central Park over a river surrounded by trees with skyscrapers in the background"
That's not just a bridge in Central Park, it's THE Home Alone Bridge in Central Park.
This might seem trivial, and just me showing off my Central Park Filming Location knowledge, But it's not!
As you said Google Bots take note, and there is going to be a lot more traffic from people searching for images of the home-alone bridge than just a bridge. Using your descriptive Alt-Text will miss all that traffic.
Your explanation is certainly valid, you just picked a poor example picture to illustrate it as the bridge in question happens to also be a very famous filming location from a very famous film. Thousands of people hunt this bridge out every day.
But by pointing this out it does really just illustrate your point further. The purpose of the Alt-Text is to let Google know what that image is, but it's not always simply a verbal description of the image. If it means something, you should be including that over and above just saying what you see.
P.S using this correctly and you can generate traffic too by your image appearing in the "images" tab of the search.
As an example, using the best Alt-TEXT for your image will probably not generate much traffic or position you on the Images page. Whereas using mine will possibly get you there. Especially if you have an article dedicated to it!
How do I know all this? Google "home alone bridge central park" and click the images tab...
...3 of the top 20 images are mine!
Here, in 🎯
Well done. Good info.