Focus Groups: Alt Attribute & Seo

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

In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise using alternative text for that images in your site:

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

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

Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse using this attribute, trying to stuff it with keywords, hoping to achieve a particular keyword density, which isn't as relevant for rankings now since it was previously.

On the other hand, high keyword density can, on some search engines, trigger spam filters, which may create a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without such a 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 really read aloud the contents of what's displayed on the screen. In browsing the net, the alt attributes of images are read aloud too.

Imagine listening to a paragraph of text that is then repetitions of many keywords. The page would be far from accessible, and, to put it bluntly, will be found quite annoying.
What is an Alt attribute?

An ALT attribute should not be used as a description or a label to have an image, though lots of people use it in that fashion. Although it might seem natural to assume that alternate text is really a label or perhaps a description, it's not!

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

The thing is to provide the same functional information that a visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" when the image itself is not available. Ask yourself this question: If you were to replace the look using the text, would most users get the same basic information, and wouldn't it create the same response?
Some examples:

Some SEO Optimization Tips

If a search button is a magnifier 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 items in the look, then a description is suitable.

If it's designed to convey data, then that data is what is 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 and for valid XHTML.

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

Keep in mind that it is the function of the image we are attempting to convey. For instance; any button images shouldn't include the word "button" in the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed through the button.

Alt text ought to 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 remainder of the text because that is the way it is going to be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone listening to your page should hardly remember that a graphic image is there.
Please remember that utilizing an alt attribute for each image is required to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, which are used since the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and also the rest of Europe. Also, they are required to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in america.

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 (oftentimes) satisfy the marketing departments. There isn't any content value (though there might be value to some sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there is something there which will enhance the usability of the site for somebody utilizing a non-visual user agent. Make use of a null alt attribute or background images in CSS for eye-candy.

II. Mood-Setting

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

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

For instance; 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 cases. But sometimes, it's important to understand this content in there for all users.

Most times this will depend on context. The same image in a different context may require drastically different alt text. Obviously, content should always be fully available. The way you use this example is really a judgment call.

III. Content and Function

This is where the image is the actual content. Always alt-ify content and functional images. Title and long description attributes can also be so as.
The reason many authors can't figure out why their alt text isn't working is that they don't know why the images exist. You have to figured out precisely what function an image serves. Think about what it is concerning the image that's vital that you the page's intended audience.

Every graphic includes a reason behind being on that page: since it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what are the page is attempting to explain. Knowing what the look is for makes alt text simpler to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A method to look into the usefulness of alternative text is to imagine reading the page over the telephone to someone. An amount you say when encountering a specific image to create the page understandable towards the listener?

Besides the alt attribute you've got a couple more tools available for images.
First, in degree of descriptiveness title is within between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and can add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered through the user agent. Remember they are invisible and not shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (A lot for device independence). So make use of the title attribute only for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points towards the URL of a complete description of an image. When the information contained in an image is important towards the concept of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost if the image was removed), a longer description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It may offer rich, expressive documentation of the visual image.

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

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

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

Oftentimes, you are better off just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary to incorporate it, and when you don't possess a strong urge to get it done, don't include that longdesc.

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

What's necessary and what's not depends a great deal about the function of your image and it is context on the page.

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