Why Image Alt Text is Crucial for SEO Success

Images make up over 60% of website content today, but many businesses overlook a key element: alt text. Alt text helps search engines understand what your images show. Without it, you're missing out on valuable SEO opportunities. Google cannot see images like humans do. It reads the alt text to understand what the image contains. This helps Google rank your images in search results. Good alt text can increase your image search traffic significantly. Alt text also makes your website accessible. People who use screen readers rely on alt text to understand images. Over 285 million people worldwide have visual impairments. Proper alt text helps them navigate your website. Here are key benefits of good alt text: Better search engine rankings More image search traffic Improved accessibility Better user experience Higher conversion rates Common mistakes to avoid: Using "image.jpg" or generic names Keyword stuffing Making alt text too long Forgetting alt text entirely Using the same alt text for different images Best practices for 2024: Be specific but concise Include relevant keywords naturally Describe what's actually in the image Keep it under 125 characters Consider the image context For websites with many images, consider using AI tools. They can generate accurate alt text quickly and consistently. This saves time and ensures quality across all your images. Start optimizing your alt text today. It's one of the easiest ways to improve both SEO and accessibility.