Ipod Reviews: Alt Attribute & SEO Optimization

SEO Optimization images is becoming increasingly more important in SEO (Seo optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is really a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This is often a lost opportunity for better rankings.

In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise the use of alternative text for the images on your site:

Images:. Make use of the alt attribute to provide descriptive text. Additionally, we recommend utilizing a human-readable caption and descriptive text round the image.

Why would they ask us to do that? The answer is easy, really; search engines like google have the same problem as blind users. They can't begin to see the images.

Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse using this attribute, attempting to stuff it with keywords, hoping to achieve a particular keyword density, which is not as relevant for rankings now as it was previously.

On the other hand, high keyword density can, on some search engines like google, trigger spam filters, which may result in a penalty for your site's ranking. Even without this type of penalty, your site's rankings will not benefit from this plan.
This method also puts persons who use screen readers at a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that really read aloud the items in what's shown on the screen. In browsing the web, the alt features of images are read aloud too.

Imagine hearing a paragraph of text which is then repetitions of numerous keywords. The page would be far from accessible, and, to put it mildly, would be found quite annoying.
What exactly is an Alt attribute?

An ALT attribute shouldn't be used like a description or perhaps a label to have an image, though many people utilize it for the reason that fashion. Although it may appear natural to assume that alternate text is a label or perhaps a description, it is not!

The words used inside an image's alt attribute ought to be its text equivalent and convey exactly the same information or serve exactly the same purpose that the image would.

The goal is to provide the same functional information that a visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" in the event that the look is not available. Ask yourself this question: If you were to replace the look with the text, would most users receive the same basic information, and wouldn't it create the same response?
A few examples:

Some SEO Optimization Tips

If your search button is a magnifier or binoculars its alt text should be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.

If the image is meant to convey the literal contents of the image, then a description is suitable.

If it's meant to convey data, then that data is what's appropriate.

If it is designed to convey the use of a function, then the function is what ought to be used.

Some Alt Attribute Guidelines:

Always add alt attributes to images. Alt is mandatory for accessibility and for valid XHTML.

For images that play only a decorative role within the page, make use of an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or perhaps a CSS background image so that reading browsers do not bother users by uttering such things as "spacer image".

Remember that it's the function of the image we're attempting to convey. For example; any button images should not range from the word "button" in the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed by the button.

Alt text ought to be based on context. The same image in a different context may require drastically different alt text.

Try to flow alt text with the remainder of the text because that's the way it will be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone listening to your page should hardly remember that a graphic image can there be.
Please keep in mind that using an alt attribute for every image is needed to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, that are used since the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and the rest of Europe. Also, they are necessary to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in america.

It is important to categorize non-text content into three levels:

Eye-Candy
Mood-Setting
Content and Function

I. Eye-Candy

Eye-Candy are things that serve no purpose other than to create a site visually appealing/attractive and (in many cases) fulfill the marketing departments. There is no content value (though there may be value to a sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there's something there which will boost the usability from the site for someone using a non-visual user agent. Make use of a null alt attribute or background images in CSS for eye-candy.

II. Mood-Setting

This is the middle layer of graphics which might serve to set the mood or set the stage as it were. These graphics aren't direct content and could 't be considered essential, but they're important in that they help frame what is going on.

Attempt to alt-ify the 2nd group as is sensible and it is relevant. There may be instances when doing this might be annoying or detrimental with other users. Then avoid it.

For example; Alt text that's just like adjacent text is unnecessary, and an irritant to screen reader users. I recommend alt="" or background CSS images in such cases. But sometimes, it's vital that you get this content inside for all users.

Usually this will depend on context. The same image in a different context may require drastically different alt text. Obviously, content should always be fully available. How you use this case is really a judgment call.

III. Content and Function

This is when the look is the actual content. Always alt-ify content and functional images. Title and long description attributes can also be in order.
The main reason many authors can't figure out why their alt text isn't working is that they don't know why the images are there. You have to determined exactly what function an image serves. Consider what it is about the image that's important to the page's intended audience.

Every graphic has a reason behind being on that page: since it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is advisable to what the page is attempting to describe. Knowing what the look is perfect for makes alt text simpler to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A way to check the usefulness of alternative text would be to imagine reading the page on the phone to someone. What would you say when encountering a specific image to make the page understandable towards the listener?

Besides the alt attribute you have a couple more tools at your disposal for images.
First, in degree of descriptiveness title is in between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and can add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered by the user agent. Remember they're invisible and never shown as a "tooltip" when focus is received via the keyboard. (A lot for device independence). So make use of the title attribute just for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points towards the URL of a complete description of an image. If the information found in a picture is important towards the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content will be lost when the image was removed), an extended description compared to "alt" attribute can reasonably display should be used. It may provide for rich, expressive documentation of the visual image.

It should be used when alt and title are insufficient to embody the visual qualities of the image. As Clark [1] states, "A longdesc is a long description of the image...The aim is by using any length of description necessary to impart the details from the graphic.

It wouldn't be remiss to hope that the long description conjures a picture - the look - within the mind's eye, an analogy that is true even for that totally blind."

Although the alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility and for valid (X)HTML, not every images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.

In many cases, you're better off just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary to incorporate it, and if you don't have a strong urge to do it, don't add that longdesc.

However, if it's essential for the whole page to operate, then you've to include the alt text (or title or longdesc).

What's necessary and what's not depends a lot about the function of the image and it is context about the page.

The same image may need alt text (or title or longdesc) in one spot, but not in another. If an image provides simply no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images might be appropriate to use. However, if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt would be required and perhaps even a long description would be so as. In many cases this kind of thing is really a judgement call.