If you’re not already optimizing your images for search engines, you’re missing out on a big opportunity to bring in more traffic. In this blog post, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about image SEO. Read on!
What Is Image SEO
Image SEO is the process of optimizing images for search engines. This includes both the image file itself and the accompanying text (known as “alt text”). By optimizing your images for search, you can increase your chances of appearing in image search results and driving traffic to your site.
How to Improve Image SEO
There are a few key things to keep in mind when it comes to image SEO:
- Use unique images. Don’t just use stock photos – instead, try to use unique photos that will help your website stand out from the crowd. You can hire a professional photographer or take your own photos.
- Use descriptive filenames. Make sure your image file names are descriptive and include relevant keywords. For example, rather than naming an image “IMG_1234.jpg,” try something like “pizza-restaurant-nyc.jpg.”
- Optimize alt text. Alt text is the text that appears in place of an image if it can’t be displayed. It’s also used by screen readers to describe images to visually impaired users. Make sure your alt text is descriptive and includes relevant keywords.
- Resize images. Large image files can slow down your website, so make sure to resize your images before uploading them. You can use an image editing program like Photoshop or a free online tool like Pixlr.
- Choose an appropriate format. JPEG is best for photos and images with lots of colors, while PNG is best for graphics with few colors and transparent backgrounds. GIF is best for animations.
- Use image sitemaps. Image sitemaps are a great way to tell search engines about all the images on your website. You can generate an image sitemap using a free online tool like XML-Sitemaps.com.
- Optimize your website’s speed. As we mentioned before, large image files can slow down your website. Make sure to optimize your site’s speed by using a caching plugin, compressing images, and using a content delivery network (CDN).
- Choose lazy loading. Lazy loading is an image optimization technique whereby image resources are only loaded when they are visible to the user. This means that images which the user cannot see (i.e. below the fold) are not loaded until the user scrolls down to them. Lazy loading can help improve image SEO in two ways: first, by reducing image file sizes (since fewer image files need to be loaded); and second, by reducing the number of image requests (since only visible images are requested from the server).
- Utilize Caching. When a user visits your site, their browser will download all the image files it needs to display the page. These image files are then stored in the browser’s cache. The next time the user visits your site, their browser will check its cache to see if it already has the image files it needs. If so, it will load them from the cache instead of downloading them from the server.
Common Mistakes With Image SEO
There is a lot to keep in mind when it comes to image SEO. Therefore, it’s also pretty easy to make a mistake. Here are the most common pitfalls you need to avoid to make sure your images are helping, not hurting, your site’s ranking.
- Not optimizing image file names: As we mentioned above, it’s important to use descriptive file names for your images. Don’t make the mistake of using generic file names like “IMG_1234.jpg” – instead, take the time to describe what’s in the image.
- Not using alt text: Alt text is an important part of image SEO, but many people forget to add it. Make sure to include relevant keywords in your alt text so that your images can be easily found by search engines.
- Too much keyword stuffing: Don’t stuff your image file names and alt text with keywords – this will only result in lower quality traffic and could get you penalized by search engines. Instead, focus on using relevant keywords in a natural way.
- Infringing copyrights: When searching for an image, be sure not to infringe any copyrights. If you use someone’s image without permission, you could be sued. It’s best to either use your own images or royalty-free images.
Image SEO – The Bottom Line
Image SEO is an important part of driving traffic to your website. By optimizing your images for search engines, you can improve your chances of appearing in image search results and increase the amount of traffic you get to your site.
Keep in mind the best practices for image SEO, and avoid common mistakes like not using alt text or stuffing keywords. And finally, be sure to infringe copyrights when searching for an image. With these tips in mind, you can optimize your images for search engines and increase your website’s traffic.