How To Optimize The Site’s Images

1. Post high-quality images with the right format and the right size.

Standard photos must be in JPG format. Graphics and images that require transparency must be in PNG. To optimize graphics with limited colors, use PNG-8 over PNG-24. It is also better to reduce the number of colors from 256 to 16. Don’t forget to use SVGs (vector graphic images) for icons and logos for scaling. It won’t increase the size of the file. When using images, its actual width must not exceed the width of the largest container used (multiplied by two for retina displays).

2. Publish content using responsive images.

The latest CMS like WordPress version 4.4 already has the scrset attribute built-in. Not all blogs and CMS are fortunate. They must enter and code the srcset attribute which provides the browser a list of image variants. The attribute makes it possible to show the image on different screen sizes. When combined with the sizes attribute, the images can load on different screens without too much effort. Srcset and sizes attributes are vital to an SEO and social media marketing company. They impact user experience (UX) through the increased appeal of the post and the decreased loading times.

3. Use the right file name.

The file name of the images allows Google and other search engines to know what is the image about and what is on it. The right file name makes it easy for the image to appear on image search engines.

4. Add alt tags.

The alt tag is the abbreviation for the alt attribute on an img tag. The alt tag of an image describes what is on the file. It also describes the function of the image on the page. Screen readers, non-visual browsers, Braille readers read the text on the tag to make the image accessible.

The code of the alt tag looks like this:

<img src=“image.jpg” alt=“image description” title=“image tooltip”> The alt tag is not only helpful for the blind and visually impaired people. It is also has a purpose for SEO. It can be used to describe the image using keywords. The alt tag does not have to be spammed or stuffed with keywords to be effective. A phrase with 16 or fewer words is enough to describe what is on a particular image. Use descriptive, concise and accurate words when filling out the alt tag. However, not all images on a site have a purpose. Some are on the site for design reasons. If that’s the case, the images must be part of the CSS and not the HTML. If the change is not possible, make it an empty alt attribute like this: <img src=”image.png” alt=””> The empty alt attribute ensures screen readers skip over the images.

5. Create an image XML sitemap.

Provide search engines about the images and its information on your site by creating a sitemap. Adding the image-specific tags to an existing sitemap is fine and works just as well as separate one. The images listed on the XML sitemap helps the search engine like Google index the images. Indexing helps the images appear in search results.

5. Fix the alignment and utilize captions.

An image with the same width as the text column emphasizes the image. Use proper alignment to ensure the image complements the text. At the same time add captions. Captions help readers to scan the content. They can be used to provide an overview or the purpose of the published content.

6. Refrain using stock photos.

The image that is part of the content must always be relevant to the text. Use original works and photos over stock images. It also helps to use GIFs, but use it sparingly. Too much can distract the reader from the motions of the image.

These are some ways to image optimization. It helps the site improve user experience as well as its SERP ranking. It can also increase conversion rates when buttons and other CTA-related images have the right title and alt tags.

The post SEO Techniques: Image Optimization appeared first on Internet Marketing Reach.

1) Use descriptive file names

You should have known by now that Google cannot read images, but it can read alt texts and captions. This makes all the more important to let Google know what the image stands for by naming the image better. For instance, gone are those days of Image001.jpeg. What’s in right now is optimizing-image-files-for-better-seo.jpeg. With this, the image itself, with its proper name, may contribute so Google can figure out what the page is about. Nonetheless, don’t put too long a name. Avoid keyword stuffing.

2) Use alt texts

You need to make sure that the alt text you put is keyword-rich as well. Alt text, from its name, is the text alternative of the image. If, in case, the browser cannot render the image properly, the alt text will appear as a substitute to the image. This is especially true when the browser isn’t able to load the image because it is too heavy. The goal of putting alt text is minimizing the likelihood of bounce rate even when the images cannot load. Just make sure that the alt text is true to the image. Meaning, it should accurately describe the image.

3) Monitor page load time

You must take advantage of Google Analytics tools and features. For instance, you can determine site and page load speed. Typically, heavy pages tend to load slower perhaps due to the existence of equally heavy images. By analyzing load times, you can distinguish whether a particular page has too many and too heavy images. So you’d know, the rule of thumb is 3 to 5 seconds load time. Remove unnecessary images.

4) Reduce image file size

Better yet, you can consider reducing the file sizes of the images if you deemed each image as important. You can either crop the images or compress them. There are many tools that help you with this. One example is Paint wherein you can reduce the size by pixel. With this, there is no need to sacrifice the quality of the image. The same goes with sacrificing the quality of user experience (UX). Fundamentally, users want to see images along with the texts especially when the texts are too long; images are also breakers. However, they do not want to see inconsistent and poor quality images.

5) Use commonly supported types of image files

Know that the recommended image file type in the web is JPEG and PNG. Anything beyond these two might be a compromise. Thus, if it is possible to find and use JPEG images, then do so. Using PNG should only be your second choice.

6) Contextualize

This is a common mistake that you might be doing right now. It will certainly help Google in comprehending the entire page and website if the image is closer to the texts that directly relate to it. Ensure that the image is close to the relevant text otherwise Google will be confused. Google assesses the image on a page based on the text that surrounds it. This is how Google dissects images especially those that do not include captions, descriptions and alt texts.

Remember that aside from pleasing Google, all of these points to one important thing: UX. Great contents build traffic, but it is the images that come with it that give it context for better comprehension of the written content. So, if you are not yet optimizing your image files, now is the right time to do so. Just follow the points given above.

Image credit: Zuhah.com

The post Optimizing Image Files for Better SEO appeared first on Internet Marketing Reach.