Image Optimization
Google loves page loading speed which can be achieved by Image SEO. Without image optimization, you are wasting your valuable time and content. Google recommend image size not more than 100kb.
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11 Effective Image SEO tips you should follow to optimize images and rank higher in Google |
Follow 11 simple steps to optimize images
1. Upload web-ready images
If you takes pictures from camera then be noted that camera image is of high resolution (up to 1920*1080 pixels) which is print-ready image. Upload this image in your website is not good decision. Such image reserve space according to its size however load in web page according to screen resolution of device which is low. It means that we are getting web ready image quality of image having print ready image size which is again a bad decision. So convert such images to web-ready image. Most experts recommend web ready image size 900*200 pixels.
2. Choose right image format
There are so many image formats. You can convert from one format to other as png to jpg, jpg to png, webp to jpg, jpeg to jpb, webp to png etc. Common formats are
JPG / JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
This is the name of group who created this image format. If u have same image in all formats, then jpg quality will be high. For more visual and bigger images, this format is recommended. JPG format use lossy compressed technique. For storing photographs at a smaller size, JPG is recommended
PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
PNG is used for transparent background. It uses lossless compression technique for image which makes it suitable for use on the Web. To store text, line drawings, or icons at a small file size, PNG image format is better to use.
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
Svg is vector based graphics in xml format. Unlike other image format, SVG image maintain its quality while zooming and is used where you need image zooming without pixelate.
3. Compress image
Images play a vital role in web page loading speed so compress images in your website. There are several online image compressor tools which reduce the image size without reducing the quality. I use SHORTPIXEL image compressor as it compress 50 images at a time. Moreover you can do lossy, lossless or glossy compression.
4. Don’t use images subject to copyright
Create your own images or use copyright free images (public domain images). Using copyrighted images degrade your site SEO. If the owner of an image view his images on your website, he can issue a DMCA Takedown which you must comply with. DMCA is Digital Millennium Copyright Act which is issued to the owner of website having copyrighted material.
5. Use descriptive image file name
Image file name is also a factor which affect SEO. Use file name which should be self explanatory and it should explain about image. It helps the search engine to understand your image and improve your site SEO.
6. ALT Tag
If a browser cannot render an image due to any reason, it looks for ALT tag which is a text alternative to image. Browser then shows an empty image box with alt text at the top left corner. There are many tags for images, but alt image is most important for SEO. Google don’t know about image, it read image alt attribute and rank page. If image is not loading properly in page, even then by crawling alt attribute, google rank it accordingly. Google does not rank images without alt attribute.
So optimize Alt text by using web page long tail keyword in its text. All images in your website should contain optimized alt tag to achieve better ranking.
For example your web page have a picture of smart TV then the alt tag can be
<img src=”smart tv.jpg” alt=”smart tv”/>
However, a better alternative text that describes the image is:
<img src=”smart tv.jpg” alt=”sony 32 inch smart tv”/>
7. Image title
When you hover your mouse on image (even if image not loaded), it shows title text. Your image title should be keyword to help search engine to rank it.
8. Use responsive image
Google give better ranking to web page having mobile ready and responsive images. You should use responsive images who can adjust its size according to underlined screen size. Otherwise, it have negative effect on search engine as well as visitors.
9. Add images in XML sitemap
Create a new sitemap for images or add images in your already created sitemap. What is a sitemap and how to create a sitemap. Sitemap helps search engine to crawl and index URLs so it can rank you images. You can generate sitemap using online sitemap generator.
10. Image caption
Image / photo caption is short description about image. It is written in HTML as below
<figure>
<img title=”mobile price” src=”” alt=”alternative” width=”” hight=”” />
<figcaption>short description about image</figcaption>
</figure>
It should also contain as more keywords as possible.
11. Text around image and image location
Text around image should be relevant to the image. Image should be located in page as per its best and relevant place. Google also take it a SEO ranking factor.
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