Improve accessibility and enhance search engine optimisation by using image Alt Attributes

A quick and effective way to improve accessibility and enhance search engine optimisation (SEO) is to always use good alt attributes for your images and photographs. Alt attributes, sometimes referred to as 'alt tags', play a significant role in making your content more accessible to individuals with visual impairments. Additionally, as a by-product, the use of good alt attributes will provide many SEO benefits.

Accessibility

Alt attributes provide alternative text descriptions for the images or photos on your webpage. By including descriptive alt text, visually impaired users who rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers can understand (listen to) the content and context of the images you have decided to publish. This extra piece of editing work will ensure that everyone, regardless of their visual abilities, can access and understand the content presented on your site.

Improved SEO

Search engines rely on text-based information to understand and rank the worlds vast amount of webpages. Since search engine crawlers cannot interpret images directly, alt attributes provide a way to convey the relevance and meaning of an image. By including a few relevant keywords in alt text, you can optimise your webpages for search engine rankings. This can increase visibility and improve organic traffic.

Enhanced User Experience

Alt attributes not only benefit visually impaired users, it also enhances the experience for all visitors to your site. For example, if images fail to load due to slow internet connections or a temporary technical glitch, the alt text will be displayed instead, this provides context and information about the missing photo or image.

Web Standards and Accessibility Guidelines

Adhering to web accessibility guidelines and standards is essential for creating an inclusive online presence. Alt attributes are a fundamental requirement under these guidelines, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). By implementing alt attributes properly, you demonstrate your commitment to providing an accessible and inclusive web experience to all.

More visitors and improved user engagement

By incorporating alt attributes into your website, you broaden your audience reach and engagement potential. When visually impaired users can fully engage with your content, they are more likely to share and recommend your website to others. Additionally, improved accessibility contributes to a positive user experience for every visitor, which can lead to increased time spent on your site.

Summary

Alt attributes are essential for improving accessibility and SEO simultaneously. By providing descriptive alternative text for images, you ensure that visually impaired users can access and understand your content. Simultaneously, alt attributes enhance your website's search engine visibility, leading to increased traffic. Prioritising alt attributes not only helps you meet accessibility standards but also provides a better user experience for all.

We will look at how to write good ALT attributes in a future post.

Comments are closed on this post.