Quick Tips to Consider When it Comes to Image SEO Optimization

The images you choose for your website and posts are more important than you may realize regarding Google rankings. You can totally tailor your images to rank well on image searches. Remember, never waste even the tiniest chance to boost your website SEO, no matter what!

Here’s how you can make smart image choices that put your website on the map.

Don’t use stock images unless you REALLY have to. Aim for being as original with your pictures as possible. Remember that stock images are widely used, especially by big name corporations, so it won’t be doing you any favors with getting noticed. Plus, customers prefer seeing the real face and personality behind a business- not actors!

Don’t just stick to photos. Mix it up with infographics, vectors, data charts and short videos. And, always make sure the photos are high quality, not quick snaps with your smartphone.

Know your image formats and make sure to save your images with the correct one. Here is a helpful guide on each format.

Always rename your chosen images. When you do so, make sure the new name is appropriate, descriptive and short. For example, if you have an image of a cat named: “untitled.jpeg” you can change it to “cat.jpeg.”

Alt-text is a must! This is the text that shows up on the screen when a viewer has issues loading the picture. Alt-text boosts the user experience and boosts on page SEO. Keep it short and sweet- just a few words depicting what is happening in the picture. If you can incorporate the main keyword in the phrase, even better. 

Consider the size. You might think that bigger is better when it comes to pictures, but for websites, that’s not always the case. Big pictures can slow down a website, causing visitors to quickly lose interest when they are trying to access your landing page. Play around with your sizing, find what looks appealing, but make sure it doesn’t compromise upload speed.