As many as one-fourth of the total users search images on Google. Therefore, it is vital to comprehend some image optimization tips and implement them. It will help you improve your SEO game.
Moreover, if a web page is visual, it enhances user engagement. You can follow the pointers below and start executing them one by one.
1.Save Image Name the Right Way
You may think that the way you name an image on your desktop is for you to understand where the files are kept or view them in an organized manner. Rather it has a bigger role to play.
For that matter, Google or any search engine understands picture content from the way you save it.
It is the best practice to save the image file with a keyword. That does not mean you stuff it with keywords.
Let us look at some examples of good and bad keywords.
Good: puppy.jpg
Good: hairy_brown_dog.jpg
Remember the rule is simple, straight, and descriptive.
Bad: Img1235.jpg
Bad: dog_doggy_doggo.jpg
So, don’t let that picture dump lie with random names in your downloads. The easiest way is to save it with the right name the moment you download it.
2.Describe Your Images with Alt Texts
For any image that you upload, it is essential to use an alternative text. What is it?
When images on the web page take some time to load, alt text is shown on the screen instead. This helps Google to understand what does the picture file contains.
Moreover, it is best to use keywords in your alt tags. For instance, if the keyword is ‘kite,’ your alt text can be more descriptive, like ‘yellow colored paper kite.’
However, if you pick an alt text like ‘kite yellow kite paper kite,’ that would be a wrong practice as it suggests keyword stuffing.
3.Pick Image Titles and Captions Carefully
You should always make sure that you choose the right place to upload your picture.
Google generally understands that the text around the picture, be it a paragraph, image title, or caption, is for that particular picture. If you misplace the text and image, then it will give wrong suggestions to the search engine.
Google will collect the information from what content you have used to describe it. To give you an example, if the image title says ‘Supply Chain Model,’ the caption can say ‘The journey from procuring raw material to delivering the final goods.’ At the same time, the paragraph can explain the entire process of their supply chain.
4.Compress Your Images
Don’t be scared to compress your images. It will slightly bring down the quality of the image, but it won’t be noticeable.
The pros, on the other hand, are much higher. This will help your web pages to load faster and cater to a better user experience. The user will be able to navigate smoothly across different web pages.
A few tools help you with image SEO for your website, such as ShortPixel, Compresso.io, MozJPEG, etc. You can shortlist the images and upload them on either of these tools in JPEG or PNG format.
To begin with, you can try default settings and then figure your way out in a few permutations and combinations.
5.Capture Different Angles of the Image
If you have a product on the website you wish to sell, one headshot would not be the right way to go about it.
A better way would be to have a lifestyle shot, room shot, a zoom-in shot, etc., since the users cannot touch and feel the product for themselves while shopping online.
So, it becomes essential to capture multiple shots so that the user knows what it looks like and can relate better to convince himself to buy it.
You need to go a little extra mile with your photograph to get the user’s attention. It will ultimately result in a conversion and pay off the hard work that your team had put in.
6.Understand the Game of the File Size
If you pick a high-quality image with huge dimensions, it will certainly provide the best visual experience to the user. However, there is a drawback. The page load time will increase.
Further, if you try to minimize the dimensions from the backend, then too, the speed won’t reduce. The reason is that you are still sticking to the same file size.
Some tools help you save the file for the web. It does not hamper the quality. Instead, it just reduces the file size.
The right way is to use a smaller version of the images on the website. In addition to that, you can give your users an option to view a full-sized image in a new tab. This way, you will retain your potential customer.
7.Know the Best File Type
To know the right file type for your image, you should know how you will use it.
If you are using larger illustrations or images, then JPEG is the best file type that you should go ahead with for picture clarity and color tones.
If the background is equally important as the subject, then a PNG file would do justice.
For animations and showy pictures, GIFs are the right choice. Moreover, if you want to go for a smaller image or a thumbnail, pick GIF as the file type.
Depending on the image size and quality you need, a few software can save the image in your desired format.
8.Use a Variety of Images
Every image you pick for a web page should be different. Having similar images on more than one or two web pages pulls down the user’s attention.
For instance, imagine a few blog posts on the website with interesting content but the same set of images. No one will even bother to read them, right?
The most appropriate way is to plan photoshoots for different pages of your website.
Sometimes that won’t be feasible, so you can repurpose the existing images or own an account to get unique pictures.
It is like doing search engine optimization for the content, which makes it better for Google.
9.Don’t Forget the Site Maps
What is a site map? It is a list of all the web pages of your website to help google navigate which content is where.
A map of your site has an essential role to play in improving the SEO of the website.
So, every image, graph, or other imagery on your web page should be a part of the site map. Google will take them into account as well while indexing those web pages. This will help if someone performs a Google Image search.
There are two options to add images to the site map. You can manually type the details, including the caption, image title, descriptions, etc., or you can use Yoast SEO which will automatically do the job for you. It is a free plugin on WordPress.
10.Structure Your Images for Better SEO Results
It is always a plus to set a structure to the imagery you are using on your web pages.
For instance, if the page is about booking a stay, it should contain all standard pieces of information. It can include the area, how far it is from the airport or train station, how much time it takes to reach there, what is included in the stay, etc.
You need to understand that if someone is looking up an image through Google Image, then a structured one has a higher chance of popping up on top with an anchor to your web page. It will get you more traffic.
11.Source Your Images Every Time
An image that you are using on your website may be owned by someone else.
If it is so, then you should not use it. It may result in a copyright issue, and you will end up paying the penalty more than what you would probably be earning.
Be it Getty images or iStock, and it is always better to crosscheck the ownership.
Further, in case you use someone’s image, then you need to source it. Attribute them for using their image on your platform. However, this way, you will end up generating a backlink for them.
The best way to go about it is using authentic images. Performing photoshoots of your products, services, and stores so that your content always remains authentic.
12.Allocate Space to Your Images
It is one of the most important tips for image SEO. The code that runs in the backend must know the dimensions of every image that will be resent on your web page.
Its purpose is to reserve the space for all those images when a web page loads on the screen.
Further, it also enhances the user experience because it expects an image to fit in that boundary.
Similarly, it applies to the thumbnails of the videos you are using as they are images. So, it is important to provide the length and breadth of each image on the pages.
13.Suit Imagery as per Mobile
You may have come across the term of Accelerated Mobile Pages in the context of SEO of your website.
AMP is like a way to slightly modify the code so that the web pages open within no time on a mobile phone. This gives you a better ranking.
Your images should automatically adjust themselves if a user is browsing your website on your phone. It should not be displayed as per the dimensions on a desktop.
For instance, browsers like Mozilla allow such kind of resizing.
This is a crucial factor for image optimization, or else the users tend to leave the platform. It will increase your bounce rate.
Make your images responsive independent of the gadget a user uses to view your website.
14.Use Relevant Images at the Top
The images that you use on your web page should be relevant. It means that the written content and visual content should complement each other.
If you fill-up the page with random images, it will do no good in improving your website’s analytics.
Further, as a protocol, Google always navigates a web page from top to bottom. Therefore, the most important text and image should occupy the space on top.
Also, the pictures used above can be slightly larger than the ones used at the bottom.
Always remember while using any image that only meaningful ones have the power to create an impact.
15.Do Not Spark Controversy Through Images
As a practice, it is always suggested to never use images that can show your business or work in a bad light. Do not believe in the rule that any publicity is good publicity.
With this method, you can gain the spotlight for a while, but, of course, the joy will be short-lived. You may receive a high footfall, but it won’t stay.
So, it is essential to keep your content organic, both written and visual.
The images should not provoke any sensitive topics of such as castism, racism, etc. Your images should not hurt people’s sentiments.
Be careful in choosing your visual language, as it will largely affect your business.
16.Mark Your Web Pages
Each of your web pages should have your company’s logo on it. In simple words, this way, you stamp your website.
It is nice to use vectors for images such as logos, highlighting your business USPs, or unique icons.
The best part of using vectors is that resizing them does not affect their image quality.
These are made of points, lines, and simple shapes. Therefore, the image neither gets blocky or blurry while the user zooms in or out on a particular web page.
Using vectors does not lead to visual imbalance or cause any disruption in the user’s experience.
17.Embed Links to the Images
The images on your web pages should have a link embedded. When the user clicks on any image, it will take him to another piece of relevant information on your website.
This will help the user navigate from one page to another and enhance their time on your website.
Moreover, if your website is a storehouse of aesthetically rich images, it generates a high possibility of getting many backlinks. This can act as fuel for your website to thrive.
Try to feature several infographics, charts on your website for better visual interpretation for your users.
18.Pay Heed to Optimization Speed
Are these image optimization tips working for your web pages? How do you know?
When you have performed a basic image optimization, then it becomes essential to double-check if the web page is loading quickly or not. It should not lag like earlier.
For this, you can use several tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights, WebPage Test or WebWait, etc. It is always better to run your website through these tools every once in a while.
This will help you ensure that the constant updating of content or images on your website does not alter the page loading speed.
Author BIO:
Joseph Schneider is the Marketing Director at Haitna Digital. With high-quality content and targeted content marketing campaigns, he has helped hundreds of SMEs to increase their inbound leads organically.