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If you have a website, you want more people to visit it. One easy way to help your website show up better on Google is by using alt text. Alt text (short for “alternative text”) is a simple thing you can add to your images. It helps search engines understand what your pictures are about. This blog will explain what alt text is, why it’s important for SEO, and how to write good alt text for your website.

Let’s dive in!

What is Alt Text?

Alt text is a short description you add to an image on your website. It tells people (and search engines) what the image is showing. If an image doesn’t load, the alt text will appear instead. Also, people who use screen readers (because they can’t see well) will hear the alt text being read out loud.

Example:

• Image: A red sports car
• Alt text: “Red sports car parked on a sunny day”

Simple, right?

Why is Alt Text Important for SEO?

Search engines like Google can’t “see” pictures the way humans do. They read the code of your site to understand it. When you add alt text to images, you give Google clues about what’s on your page.

Here’s how alt text helps with SEO:

1. Better Search Rankings

Google uses many things to decide where a page should appear in search results. Alt text is one of them. When you describe your images clearly, it helps Google see that your page is relevant. This can push your website higher in search results.

Tip: Use important keywords naturally in your alt text!

2. Image Search Traffic

People search for images on Google all the time. If your image has good alt text, it could show up in Google Images. This means even more traffic to your site!

For example, if someone searches “cute dog photos” and you have an image with the right alt text, your photo could appear — and users could click through to your website.

3. Improves Website Accessibility

Good alt text makes your website easier to use for people who are blind or have poor vision. Screen readers read the alt text so users know what the image is showing. A more accessible website is good for everyone — and Google loves websites that are friendly to all users.

4. Reduces Bounce Rate

When people find what they are looking for quickly, they stay longer on your site. Alt text helps images load faster if the original file is missing or slow, keeping users from leaving your site immediately. A lower bounce rate can also boost your SEO.

How to Write Good Alt Text (Simple Tips)

You don’t have to be a professional writer to make great alt text. Just follow these easy rules:

1. Describe the Image Clearly

Write what you see. Be short but clear.

Bad alt text: “Image1.jpg”
Good alt text: “Chocolate birthday cake with candles”

2. Use Keywords Naturally

If the image matches your main topic, you can add a keyword. But don’t force it. Your alt text should still sound natural.

Example:

• Topic: Best hiking boots
• Alt text: “Waterproof hiking boots for mountain trails”

3. Don’t Stuff Keywords

Stuffing lots of keywords into alt text looks spammy. Google may punish your site for it. Keep it natural and useful.

Bad example: “hiking boots best hiking boots waterproof hiking boots cheap hiking boots”

4. Keep It Short

Alt text should be short — around 125 characters or less. Think: a short sentence, not a paragraph.

5. Don’t Say “Image of” or “Picture of”

Screen readers already know it’s an image. Jump right into the description.

Bad: “Picture of a sunset over the beach”
Good: “Sunset over the beach with pink and orange skies”

Bonus Tips: Extra Ways to Boost Your SEO with Images

• Compress images: Smaller file sizes load faster and improve user experience.
• Use the right file name: Instead of “IMG1234.jpg”, use “golden-retriever-puppy.jpg”.
• Add captions: Sometimes a small caption under your image can help SEO too.
• Choose high-quality images: Clear, beautiful images make users stay longer.

Common Alt Text Mistakes to Avoid

• Leaving alt text blank (unless the image is just decoration)
• Writing long, detailed alt texts
• Using the same alt text for every image
• Keyword stuffing

Remember: Alt text is for helping users and search engines.

Example of Good Alt Text in Action

Let’s say you run a food blog and post a recipe for banana bread. Here’s how you could write alt text for your images:

• Image of whole loaf: “Freshly baked banana bread on a wooden cutting board”
• Image of ingredients: “Ingredients for banana bread including bananas, flour, and eggs”
• Image of a sliced piece: “Slice of moist banana bread with butter”

Each alt text is simple, clear, and related to the main topic. Plus, it uses keywords naturally (“banana bread”).

Conclusion: Small Changes Make a Big Difference

Adding good alt text to your images doesn’t take much time, but it can make a huge difference for your website’s SEO. It helps your site rank better, brings in traffic from Google Images, and makes your site accessible to more people.

Quick recap:

• Always describe the image clearly
• Use important keywords naturally
• Keep alt text short
• Avoid keyword stuffing

By doing these small steps, you make your website stronger, faster, and friendlier for everyone.

Start adding great alt text today — and watch your website grow!

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