If you post an image on your website or on social media, be sure that you include alt-text (alternative text). Alt text is a description of the image that doesn’t appear on the site or post but is “behind the scenes” if needed. You should include alt text because:
Your alt text should be concise, but descriptive enough that someone could visualize the image in their head using the words that you provide. You can and should use targeted keywords when appropriate but don’t overly use keywords, which search engines may ding you for.
- It is a principle of web accessibility. Visually impaired viewers with the aid of a screen reader will be able to better understand the image. The reader will read the image description that you provide.
- It will display in place of an image if it can’t be loaded.
- It helps with search engine optimization because search engine crawlers use alt text to properly index images.
Your alt text should be concise, but descriptive enough that someone could visualize the image in their head using the words that you provide. You can and should use targeted keywords when appropriate but don’t overly use keywords, which search engines may ding you for.
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