When it comes to ecommerce, every tiny detail counts, especially when you're trying to get noticed by search engines. One often overlooked aspect is the use of alt text for images. While it might seem like a minor element, properly optimized alt text can significantly impact your SEO efforts, making your products more discoverable.
In this post, we'll break down the steps to optimize your ecommerce alt text, explore why it's important, and share some tips to help your products get the attention they deserve. Whether you're new to alt text or looking to refine your approach, you'll find practical advice to boost your ecommerce strategy.
Understanding Alt Text and Its Importance
Alt text, short for alternative text, is a brief description of an image on your website. It's used by screen readers to describe images to visually impaired users and serves as a fallback for browsers that can't display the image. But that's not all—it plays a crucial role in SEO.
Why does alt text matter for SEO? Search engines can't "see" images but can read text. By providing accurate descriptions of your images, you help search engines understand the content of your page. This understanding can enhance your site's relevance for certain keywords, potentially boosting your rankings.
For ecommerce businesses, this means that well-crafted alt text can make your products more visible to potential customers. Imagine someone searching for "red leather handbag." If your product image has optimized alt text, your product is more likely to appear in search results.
Crafting Descriptive and Concise Alt Text
Writing alt text might seem straightforward, but there's an art to it. The goal is to be descriptive yet concise, providing enough information without overwhelming users or search engines. Here are some tips to guide you:
- Be specific: Describe the image accurately. Instead of "handbag," you might say "red leather handbag with gold buckle."
- Use keywords naturally: Incorporate relevant keywords, but avoid keyword stuffing. The text should read naturally and make sense to a human.
- Keep it short: Aim for no more than 125 characters. This length is optimal for most screen readers and search engines.
- Avoid using "image of" or "picture of": It's generally understood that alt text describes an image, so there's no need to include these phrases.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure your alt text is both helpful and SEO-friendly.
The Role of Alt Text in Accessibility
Alt text isn't just about SEO; it's also a key component of web accessibility. By providing clear and descriptive alt text, you ensure that all users, regardless of their abilities, can understand the content on your site.
When creating alt text, consider how someone using a screen reader would experience your site. Does your description provide enough context? Is it clear and informative? By focusing on accessibility, you're not only complying with web standards but also expanding your audience.
Moreover, search engines favor accessible websites. By enhancing the accessibility of your site through thoughtful alt text, you could improve your SEO indirectly. It's a win-win situation: you make your site more inclusive and potentially gain more visibility.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Like any other aspect of SEO, alt text optimization has its pitfalls. Here are some common mistakes to watch out for:
- Keyword stuffing: Overloading your alt text with keywords can harm your SEO rather than help it. Keep it natural and relevant.
- Using alt text for decorative images: Not every image needs alt text. For purely decorative images, it's better to use an empty alt attribute (
alt=""), so screen readers skip over them. - Being too vague: "Product image" or "photo" doesn't provide any useful information. Be specific about what the image depicts.
- Ignoring alt text altogether: Leaving alt text blank is a missed opportunity for both accessibility and SEO.
Avoid these mistakes, and you'll be on the right track to optimizing your alt text effectively.
Using Tools to Assist with Alt Text
Creating alt text manually for every image can be a daunting task, especially if you have a large ecommerce store. Fortunately, there are tools that can help streamline the process:
- Image recognition tools: These can automatically generate alt text based on the image content. While they can save time, it's essential to review and edit the generated text for accuracy.
- SEO plugins: Many ecommerce platforms offer plugins that can help you manage alt text and other SEO elements efficiently. These tools often provide suggestions and tips for improving your alt text.
- Content management systems (CMS): Some CMS platforms have built-in features for adding and optimizing alt text, making it easier to manage across your site.
While tools can be incredibly helpful, remember that they can't replace human judgment. Always review and refine the alt text to ensure it meets your standards for quality and relevance.
Alt Text for Different Types of Images
Not all images are the same, and neither is the alt text you should use. Different types of images serve different purposes, and your alt text should reflect this:
Product Images
These are the stars of your ecommerce site. Your alt text for product images should be as descriptive as possible, highlighting the product's features, color, and any unique qualities. This helps potential customers find exactly what they're looking for.
Infographics
Infographics can be tricky since they often contain a lot of information. Your alt text should summarize the key points, providing enough context for users who can't see the image. Consider linking to a full text alternative if the infographic is complex.
Decorative Images
Sometimes images are used purely for visual appeal. In these cases, it's best to use an empty alt attribute to ensure screen readers skip over them, keeping the focus on more important content.
By tailoring your alt text to the type of image, you can ensure it's both useful and appropriate for your site.
Testing and Refining Your Alt Text
Once you've optimized your alt text, it's important to test and refine it over time. SEO is not a set-it-and-forget-it process, and alt text is no exception.
Here are some steps you can take to evaluate your alt text:
- Conduct an audit: Review your existing alt text to identify areas for improvement. Look for vague descriptions, keyword stuffing, or missing alt text.
- Use analytics: Monitor your traffic and rankings to see if changes to your alt text are having an impact. Look for patterns or trends that could indicate areas of success or further improvement.
- Get feedback: Ask colleagues or users for their input on your alt text. They may provide insights you hadn't considered.
By continuously testing and refining your alt text, you can ensure it remains effective and aligned with your SEO goals.
Integrating Alt Text into Your Overall SEO Strategy
Alt text should not exist in isolation—it should be part of a broader SEO strategy. Here are some ways to integrate alt text into your overall approach:
- Keyword research: Use the same keywords for your alt text that you use in other parts of your site, like titles and meta descriptions. This consistency can help reinforce your site's relevance for those terms.
- Content alignment: Ensure your alt text aligns with the surrounding content. If your page is about red handbags, your alt text should reflect that focus.
- Regular updates: SEO is ever-changing, and so should your alt text. Regularly update your alt text to reflect new keywords or changes in your product lineup.
By integrating alt text into your overall SEO strategy, you can create a cohesive and effective approach that maximizes your site's potential.
Alt Text for Mobile and Responsive Design
In today's mobile-first world, it's essential to consider how your alt text works on different devices. While the principles of good alt text remain the same, there are some additional considerations for mobile:
- Responsive design: Ensure your alt text works well with responsive design. Images might appear differently on mobile, so your alt text should still make sense in these contexts.
- Load times: Mobile users may have slower internet connections, so keeping your alt text concise can help improve load times and user experience.
- User experience: Consider how mobile users interact with your site. Is the alt text helpful in this context? Does it enhance the mobile experience?
By considering mobile and responsive design, you can ensure your alt text is effective across all devices.
Final Thoughts
Optimizing alt text for ecommerce is a small step with significant potential benefits. From improving accessibility to enhancing SEO, well-crafted alt text can make your products more discoverable and your site more user-friendly.
At Pattern, we understand the importance of a holistic SEO strategy that goes beyond rankings. We focus on driving real results by creating programmatic landing pages and crafting conversion-focused content that turns visitors into paying customers. Unlike other agencies, we don't see SEO as a guessing game. We view it as a growth channel that drives sales and lowers your customer acquisition costs. If you're looking to enhance your ecommerce strategy, consider partnering with Pattern to achieve measurable results.