24 February 2025

Image Optimization (Alt Tags, Compression)

1.Role of Images in SEO
Images play a crucial role in search engine optimization (SEO) by enhancing user experience, improving engagement and contributing to better rankings. Search engines anlyze images through their attributes, such as file names, alt text and captions to understand their relevance to a page's convert.Optimized images lead to:

•Better page load speed : Faster websites rank higher in search engine results.
•Improved accessibility - Alt text helps visually impaired users understand images.
•Increased traffic - Properly optimized images can appear in Google image search results, bringing additional visitors.
•Enhanced user engagement - Visually appealing images increase time spent on a page and reduce bounce rates.

2.Compressing Images for Faster Load Time
Large images can slow down a website, negatively affecting both user experience and SEO. Compressing images reduces their file size while maintaining quality. Methods to archive optimal compression include:

1.Choosing the Right Format
•JPEG: Best for photographs with many colors.
•PNG: Suitable for transparent backgrounds.
•WebP: Provides high-quality compression for both lossless and lossy images.
•SVG: Ideal for vector graphics and icons.

2.Using Compression Tools:
•Online Tools: TinyPNG, Compressor.io, Squoosh.
•Plugins for Websites: Smush, ShortPixel (for Wordpress), ImageOptim.
•Manual Optimization: Adjust resolution and quality in photo

3.Resizing Images:
•Ensure image are no larger than needed for display.
•Use responsive images (and tags) to serve different sizes for different devices.

Alt tags & File Naming Conventions
Alt Tags (Alternative Text)
Alt tags describe an image's content, providing context for search engines and assisting users who rely on screen readers. Best practices for writing alt tags:

•Be descriptive and relevant (e.g., "Golden retriever playing in park" insted of "dog").
•Avoid Keyword stuffing; use natural language.
•keep it short but informative (~125 characters).
•Omit " image of" to "picture of" as screen reader already recognize it as an image.

File Naming Conventions
proper file naming helps search engines understand an image's subject and improves SEO. Follow these best practices:

•Use descriptive and concise names (e.g., "red-apple-on-table.jpg" instead of "IMG1234.jpg").

•Separate words with hyphens (-) rather than underscores (_).

•Avoid unnecessary characters and numbers.

•Keep file names relevant to the content of the page

By implementing these optimization techniques, websites can significantly load speed, accessibility, and search rankings, leading to a better overall user experience.