Why Does Alt-Tagging Images on Websites Matter So Much.

If you’re not alt-tagging your images, you could be missing out on better search rankings and improved accessibility. Alt tags (or alternative text) provide a written description of images on a webpage, helping both search engines and visually impaired users understand the content. While they may seem like a small detail, properly optimised alt tags can make a big difference in SEO performance and user experience.

Search engines like Google use alt tags to determine what an image is about, which helps websites rank in Google Image Search and enhances overall on-page SEO. At the same time, alt tags play a crucial role in web accessibility, ensuring that screen readers can describe images to visually impaired users. A well-written alt tag provides context and clarity, making content more inclusive and discoverable.

Many websites fail to alt-tag images correctly or worse, ignore them completely. Poorly written or missing alt tags can hurt SEO rankings, limit visibility, and reduce accessibility compliance. But getting them right doesn’t have to be complicated.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about alt-tagging images on websites, from how they improve SEO to best practices for writing effective alt tags. Whether you’re managing an e-commerce store, a blog, or a business website, this simple guide will help you optimise your images the right way.

What Are Alt Tags & Why Do They Matter?

Alt tags, also known as alternative text, are short written descriptions added to an image’s HTML code. Their primary purpose is to help search engines and screen readers understand the content of an image, making them a crucial part of both SEO and web accessibility.

From an SEO perspective, alt tags provide context to search engines, improving a website’s ability to rank in Google Image Search and overall search engine results. If an image fails to load, the alt text also acts as a placeholder, giving users a description of what should be there.

From an accessibility standpoint, alt tags allow visually impaired users to experience the content of an image through screen readers, making websites more inclusive. Without alt text, these users may miss out on valuable information conveyed through visuals.

For businesses, properly written alt tags enhance user experience, improve SEO, and ensure compliance with accessibility guidelines. Whether you run an e-commerce store, a corporate website, or a blog, optimising alt tags is a small but powerful step toward better online visibility and inclusivity.

Alt-Tagging Your Images Can Help Boost Your SEO.

Alt tags are a crucial factor in how search engines understand and rank website content. Alt-tagging images on websites serves multiple roles in improving SEO, user experience, and website accessibility, making them essential for any site looking to perform well in search results.

1. Improving Search Engine Rankings

Search engines rely on text-based information to index web pages. Since they can’t “see” images the way humans do, they use alt tags to understand what an image represents. By including relevant keywords in alt text, you increase the chances of ranking higher in Google Image Search and organic search results.

For example, a poorly optimised alt tag might read: “image1″

Whereas an optimised alt tag would say: “Blue running shoes for marathon training”

2. Enhancing Website Accessibility

Web accessibility is a growing priority for businesses aiming to provide an inclusive experience for all users. Alt tags allow screen readers to describe images aloud, ensuring visually impaired users can navigate and understand your content just as well as sighted users.

Without alt tags, visually impaired visitors may miss out on critical information, such as product details or instructions presented in images. By implementing well-structured alt tags, businesses improve usability and inclusivity.

3. Reducing Bounce Rates & Enhancing User Experience

When images fail to load due to slow internet or browser issues, alt text acts as a placeholder, giving users an idea of what should be there. This prevents confusion and reduces the chances of users leaving the site out of frustration.

Additionally, search engines prioritise websites that offer a smooth and accessible user experience. By optimising alt tags for websites, businesses can create a more structured, readable, and engaging site that ranks higher and retains visitors for longer.

Alt tags aren’t just an SEO trick; they’re a fundamental part of web optimisation that improves both search visibility and user accessibility. Ensuring that every image on your website has a clear, descriptive, and keyword-friendly alt tag will help maximise your site’s potential.

Best Practices for Writing Effective Alt Tags.

Writing effective alt tags is more than just inserting keywords; it’s about making images useful, descriptive, and accessible. Here are some key best practices to follow when alt-tagging images on websites.

1. Be Descriptive But Concise

Alt tags should clearly describe the image while being short and to the point. Avoid vague descriptions or overly detailed explanations. For example:

Bad: “dog” (Too vague)
Good: “Golden retriever puppy playing with a tennis ball in the park” (Descriptive and useful)

2. Use Keywords Naturally

Including relevant keywords in alt tags for websites can improve SEO, but keyword stuffing can harm rankings. Instead of forcing keywords, make sure they fit naturally:

Bad: “Best SEO agency for marketing, social media, and website ranking” (Keyword stuffing)
Good: “Marketing agency team brainstorming social media strategies” (Natural and relevant)

3. Avoid Redundant Phrases

There’s no need to include terms like “image of” or “picture of”. Search engines and screen readers already know it’s an image. Instead, get straight to the point:

Bad: “Image of a laptop on a desk”
Good: “MacBook laptop displaying website analytics on a wooden desk”

4. Be Specific with Product Images

For eCommerce websites, detailed alt tags improve search rankings and help potential customers find relevant products:

Bad: “Red shoes”
Good: “Red Nike Air Max trainers with white soles and breathable mesh fabric”

5. Keep Decorative Images Empty

If an image is purely decorative (e.g., background graphics), use an empty alt attribute so screen readers skip it and avoid confusion.

By following these best practices for writing alt tags, businesses can enhance both SEO performance and accessibility, ensuring that all website images serve a valuable purpose.

How to Add Alt Tags to Websites

Adding alt tags to images is a simple but essential step in optimising websites for SEO and accessibility. Whether you’re using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress or coding manually in HTML, properly tagging your images ensures search engines and screen readers can interpret them correctly. Here’s how to do it across different platforms.

1. Adding Alt Tags in WordPress

• Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
• Navigate to Media > Library and click on the image you want to edit.
• Locate the Alt Text field and enter a descriptive, keyword-friendly alt tag.
• Click Update to save changes.

When uploading a new image in the WordPress editor, you can also add an alt tag in the image settings panel before inserting it into a post.

2. Adding Alt Tags in Shopify

• In your Shopify admin panel, go to Content > Files.
• Click on an image and find the Alt Text field.
• Add a clear and relevant description, including keywords if appropriate.
• Click Save to apply changes.

For product images, go to Products > All Products, select a product, and then edit the alt text for each image.

3. Adding Alt Tags in HTML

If you’re coding manually, add an alt attribute inside the <img> tag:

<img src="image.jpg" alt="A modern office workspace with a laptop and coffee cup">

This ensures the image is search engine-friendly and accessible to visually impaired users.

4. Checking & Updating Alt Tags

To audit your website’s alt tags:

• Use tools like Google Lighthouse or SEO plugins to detect missing alt tags.
• Regularly review and update alt tags to ensure accuracy and relevance.
• Avoid generic text like “image123.jpg”, use descriptive keywords that improve search rankings.

By consistently adding alt tags, businesses can enhance website visibility, accessibility, and SEO performance while ensuring an inclusive user experience.

Alt tags are essential, but many website owners don’t know how to add them correctly. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to add alt tags to websites for different platforms, ensuring your images are optimised for SEO and accessibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long should an alt tag be?

Alt tags should be short and descriptive, ideally under 125 characters to ensure they are fully processed by screen readers and search engines.

2. Do alt tags affect SEO rankings?

Yes! Optimised alt tags help search engines index images, making your site more discoverable in Google Image Search and improving overall SEO.

3. Should every image have an alt tag?

Yes, but purely decorative images can have an empty alt attribute (alt=“”) to prevent unnecessary screen reader interruptions.

4. Can I use the same alt tag for multiple images?

No, each alt tag should be unique and relevant to the specific image to improve SEO and accessibility.

5. What tools can help with alt tag optimisation?

SEO tools like Google Lighthouse, Screaming Frog, and Yoast SEO can help audit and improve alt tags for better optimisation.

6. Do alt tags improve page load speed?

Not directly, but properly tagged images ensure faster indexing by search engines and better user experience, indirectly improving site performance.

7. Can I add alt tags to background images?

Alt tags should be applied to content images, not decorative background images, as screen readers do not typically read background elements.