Whocrazieryouorme: Alt Attribute & Seo

SEO Optimization images has become more and more important in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This is often a lost chance of better rankings.

In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise using alternative text for the images on your web site:

Images:. Use the alt attribute to provide descriptive text. In addition, we recommend utilizing a human-readable caption and descriptive text around the image.

Why would they ask us to do that? The answer is simple, really; search engines like google have the same problem as blind users. They can't begin to see the images.

Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse the use of this attribute, trying to stuff it with keywords, looking to achieve a certain keyword density, which isn't as relevant for rankings now as it was previously.

On the contrary, high keyword density can, on some search engines, trigger spam filters, which might create a penalty for your site's ranking. Even without this type of penalty, your site's rankings will not take advantage of this tactic.
This method also puts persons who use screen readers at a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that actually read aloud the contents of what is shown on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt attributes of images are read aloud as well.

Imagine hearing a paragraph of text that is then repetitions of many keywords. The page will be not even close to accessible, and, to put it bluntly, will be found quite annoying.
What exactly is an Alt attribute?

An ALT attribute should not be used like a description or perhaps a label to have an image, though many people use it for the reason that fashion. Though it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is a label or perhaps a description, it's not!

What used within an image's alt attribute ought to be its text equivalent and convey the same information or serve exactly the same purpose the image would.

The thing would be to supply the same functional information that a visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" when the look is unavailable. Think about this question: Should you replace the image with the text, would most users receive the same basic information, and would it generate the same response?
Some examples:

Some SEO Optimization Tips

If a search button is really a magnifying glass or binoculars its alt text ought to be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.

If an image is meant to convey the literal contents of the image, a description is suitable.

If it is meant to convey data, then that data is what's appropriate.

If it is meant to convey using a function, then the function itself is what ought to be used.

Some Alt Attribute Guidelines:

Always add alt attributes to images. Alt is mandatory for accessibility as well as for valid XHTML.

For images that play merely a decorative role within the page, use an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or perhaps a CSS background image so that reading browsers don't bother users by uttering such things as "spacer image".

Keep in mind that it's the function from the image we are trying to convey. For instance; any button images shouldn't include the word "button" in the alt text. They should emphasize the action performed by the button.

Alt text should be determined by context. Exactly the same image in a different context may require drastically different alt text.

Attempt to flow alt text with the rest from the text because that is the way it will be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone listening to your page should hardly be aware that a graphic image is there.
Please keep in mind that using an alt attribute for every image is required to meet the minimum WAI requirements, which are used as the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and the remainder of Europe. Also, they are necessary to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in the US.

It is important to categorize non-text content into three levels:

Eye-Candy
Mood-Setting
Content and Function

I. Eye-Candy

Eye-Candy are stuff that serve no purpose other than to make a site visually appealing/attractive and (in many cases) satisfy the marketing departments. There isn't any content value (though there may be value to some sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there is something there which will boost the usability from the site for somebody using a non-visual user agent. Use a null alt attribute or background images in CSS for eye-candy.

II. Mood-Setting

This is the middle layer of graphics which may actually set the atmosphere or set the stage as it were. These graphics are not direct content and may not be considered essential, but they're essential in that they help frame what is going on.

Attempt to alt-ify the second group as is sensible and is relevant. There may be times when doing this might be annoying or detrimental to other users. Then try to avoid it.

For example; Alt text that's just like adjacent text is unnecessary, as well as an irritant to screen reader users. I recommend alt="" or background CSS images in such instances. But sometimes, it's important to get this content in there for all users.

Usually this will depend on context. Exactly the same image inside a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content should always be fully available. How you use this example is really a judgment call.

III. Content and Function

This is when the look is the actual content. Always alt-ify content and functional images. Title and long description attributes can also be in order.
The main reason many authors can't figure out why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the pictures exist. You need to figured out precisely what function an image serves. Consider what it is concerning the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.

Every graphic has a reason for standing on that page: since it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what are the page is trying to describe. Knowing what the look is perfect for makes alt text simpler to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A method to look into the usefulness of alternative text would be to imagine reading the page over the telephone to someone. What would you say when encountering a specific image to create the page understandable to the listener?

Besides the alt attribute you have a couple more tools available for images.
First, in level of descriptiveness title is in between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and may add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered through the user agent. Remember they're invisible and not shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received through the keyboard. (So much for device independence). So use the title attribute only for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points towards the Link to a full description of an image. When the information found in an image is important towards the concept of the page (i.e. some important content will be lost when the image was removed), a longer description compared to "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It can provide for rich, expressive documentation of the visual image.

It ought to be used when alt and title are insufficient to embody the visual qualities of an image. As Clark [1] states, "A longdesc is really a long description of an image...The goal is to use any period of description necessary to impart the facts from the graphic.

It wouldn't be remiss to hope that a long description conjures an image - the look - in the mind's eye, an analogy that holds true even for the totally blind."

Although the alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility as well as for valid (X)HTML, not every images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.

Oftentimes, you're best just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary to incorporate it, and if you don't have a strong urge to do it, don't include that longdesc.

However, if it's essential for the whole page to work, then you've to add the alt text (or title or longdesc).

What's necessary and what's not depends a lot on the function of the image and it is context on the page.

Exactly the same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in one spot, although not in another. If an image provides absolutely no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images may be appropriate to use. However, if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt would be required and perhaps a long description would be in order. In many cases this kind of thing is really a judgement call.