How to Optimise Images for SEO.

In SEO, people tend to forget about one very specific thing: optimising their site’s images.

However, what they don’t realise is that it plays a crucial role in improving your website’s visibility and attracting organic traffic.

By optimising images, you can improve your website’s performance and increase its ranking in search engine results pages.

It’s not too intense, so why not try and give it a go?

Choose the Right Image Format

SEO needs the correct format for images.

There are three common formats to consider: JPEG, PNG and GIF.

• JPEG is ideal for photographs and complex images.
• PNG is for images with transparent backgrounds or simple graphics.
• GIF is only recommended for animated images.

By using the correct format, you can optimise the image quality and create faster loading times.

Compress Images

Large image file sizes can negatively affect your site’s loading speed, causing higher bounce rates.

Compressing your images reduces file sizes without compromising visual quality.

You can use online tools or plugins to compress images before uploading them.

Aim for a balance between image quality and file size for speedy load times.

Optimise Image Filenames

When you save your images, rename them so they accurately represent its content.

Avoid names like “IMG001.jpg” or randomised characters.

Instead, use keywords that align with the image, as well as the content of the page/site.

ie. If your image is of a sunset in Bali, its filename could be “bali-sunset.jpg”, or any variation.

Descriptive filenames improve your image’s visibility in image searches and contribute to SEO.

Utilise Alt Text

Alt text (alternative text), is HTML code that describes the content of an image.

It helps search engines understand the image’s context and assists users with visual impairments.

When adding alt text, be descriptive but concise, including relevant keywords where appropriate.

Do NOT be tempted by keyword stuffing – focus on accuracy.

Alt text boosts SEO, but also improves the accessibility of your site.

Image Captions and Surrounding Text

Images that have relevant captions and surrounding text enhance their SEO value.

Search engines consider these elements to understand the image’s context within content.

Use descriptive captions that work with the image and give extra information.

Also include keywords in the surrounding text to boost the images relevancy.

Now What?

These are the easiest things you can do to optimise your sites images.

It may take a little practice to get the hang of it, but it should be something you definitely consider.

If its something you don’t want to spend your time on, it could be worth investing in some SEO support.

Get in touch with Searchworthy if you’d like some quality assistance.