You know great images can make or break your blog posts and articles, but did you know optimizing those images for search can give your content a huge boost in the rankings? You don’t need fancy software or design skills to start seeing results from image SEO either.
In just 10 minutes, you can learn image formats, resize requirements, and keyword basics that will level up your image game immediately.
Let’s dive in.
Optimize Image File Formats for SEO
As you know a picture worth a thousand words? Well, in the world of SEO, the right image is worth a thousand rankings. Picking the correct image file format is one of the easiest ways to give your page a boost.
Use JPEG for Photos
If you’re sharing photos on your page, JPEG is your best friend. JPEG images are compressed to be web-friendly, with a balance of high quality and small file size.
They rank well in Google image search and are indexed by all search engines.
Choose PNG for Graphics
Need a transparent background or sharp edges? PNG is the way to go. Unlike JPEGs, PNGs support transparent backgrounds and lossless compression, meaning no loss of quality. They’re perfect for logos, diagrams, and text.
The downside is larger file sizes, so only use PNGs when transparency is key.
Keep GIFs Simple
We all love an amusing GIF but save the fancy animations for your social media. On web pages, static GIFs or limited animation (3 frames or less) are best for SEO. Search engines struggle to analyze moving images, so simpler is better if you want GIFs indexed.
Avoid BMP and TIFF
Two formats to steer clear of are BMP and TIFF. These are uncompressed, resulting in enormous file sizes that lower your page load time and rank poorly. They should only be used if you need an extremely high-resolution image for print. For the web, there are better options.
Google appreciates fast load times and will reward you with higher rankings.
Write Descriptive and Keyword-Rich Image Names
Images can make or break your SEO, so taking the time to name them properly is key. Descriptive, keyword-rich file names help search engines understand what your images are about and rank them higher in image search results.
When uploading images to your website or blog, don’t just label them “photo1.jpg” or “img_345.png.” Those names tell Google nothing about your image. Instead, use your target keyword in the file name, like “man_standing_near_bmw.jpg”.
Some other tips for writing good image names:
- Keep names concise but descriptive, ideally under 20-30 characters.
- Use hyphens (-) or underscores (_) to separate words, not spaces.
- Include your target keyword at the beginning of the name if possible.
- Use related keywords and phrases, not just your main keyword.
- Be specific in your descriptions. “Dog” is too broad, “labrador_retriever” is better.
- For product images, include the brand name and product details.
Add ALT Text to Images for Accessibility
Adding alt text to images is one of the easiest ways to boost your image SEO. Alt text refers to the HTML attribute “alt” that contains descriptive text for the image.
This not only helps search engines understand your image and rank it higher, but it also makes your images accessible to visually impaired users who rely on screen readers.
When adding alt text, be concise but descriptive. For example, instead of “photo of dog,” use “Beagle sitting in grass outdoors.” Mention the key elements, objects, and actions depicted in the image.
For icons or buttons, describe their function, e.g. “Search button.”
Keep your alt text under 125 characters.
The alt text also acts is the anchor text for images used as hyperlinks, so it’s very essential for SEO. Make sure the alt text is keyword-rich and includes your target keyword to maximally optimize the image.
You can re-use the image filename or title as the alt text.
Top 3 Image Optimization Tools You Need
If you want your images to rank high in Google image searches, you need to optimize them. Luckily, there are some killer free tools that can handle the heavy lifting for you.
First up is TinyPNG. This nifty tool compresses your images by up to 80% without losing quality. Just drag and drop your images, and voila – smaller file sizes in seconds. The less data your images take to load, the higher they’ll rank.
Next, give Slazzer a whirl. This AI-powered tool can remove background from image. By isolating your main subject, you’ll have an eye-catching thumbnail and smaller file size. Slazzer supports bulk processing and works super fast. Your background-less images will really make an impact.
Finally, don’t forget ImageOptim. This open-source tool losslessly compresses your images by removing EXIF data and optimizing JPEG and PNG files. It’s available for Mac and integrates into your Finder for one-click optimization.
Conclusion
You got this! With just 10 minutes a day, you can take your image SEO to the next level. Start small – optimize 5 images using the right formats, resized properly, and tagged with relevant keywords. Do this consistently and soon you’ll see those images ranking higher.
Remember, image SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. Take it step-by-step and stay consistent.
Happy SEO-ing.
