Alt text (alternative text), also known as "alt attributes", “alt descriptions" or "alt tags,” are used to describe the appearance and function of an image on a page.
Why do you need to add image alt text
Here’s what alt text does:
- Adding alternative text to images improves web accessibility. Visually impaired users using screen readers will be read an alt attribute to better understand the image on the page.
- Alt tags will be displayed under the image for additional context.
- Alt tags help search engine crawlers to index an image properly. For more details, refer to Google Image best practices.
Adding an image title (alt text)
Here’s how you can enter the alt text for an image:
- Hover your mouse over the image you want to set the action for. If the image is editable, you will see the Customize button:
- Click on the image to activate the control pane. Click the Media setting icon.
- Enter the image Title (alt text) into the respective field:
- Once done, click Save and then Publish your site.
Best practices of adding alt text
The best format for alt text is descriptive but not overloaded with keyword stuffing. Here are some guidelines:
- Describe the image as concisely as possible. Alt text must provide text explanations of images for users who are unable to see them. If an image is just there for design purposes, then leave the alt text field empty.
- Keep it short. Most screen readers truncate alt text at 125 characters.
- Use your keywords. Alt text provides you another opportunity to include your target keyword on a page. This gives you an opportunity to inform search engines that your page is relevant to a search query. Try to include your keyword in the alt text of at least one image on the page.
- Avoid keyword stuffing. Google will not punish for alt text, but it might if you stuff as many relevant keywords as possible. Focus on writing descriptive alt text and add just one keyword to it. Remember that alt tag will appear under the image as an additional description.