Images play a critical role in modern websites. They make content more engaging, break up text, and help communicate ideas quickly. But simply adding images isn’t enough. To get the full benefit – for both users and search engines – you need to use image alt tags and title tags correctly.
What Are Image Alt Tags?
Alt tags (alternative text) describe the content of an image in text form. They serve two primary purposes:
-
Accessibility
Screen readers rely on alt text to describe images to visually impaired users. Without alt tags, these users miss important context or information. -
SEO Value
Search engines can’t “see” images. Alt tags help search engines understand what an image represents, improving your chances of appearing in image search results and supporting overall page relevance.
Example:
Instead of:
alt=”image123″
Use:
alt=”Technician servicing a residential gas fireplace”
What Are Image Title Tags?
Title tags provide additional information that appears as a tooltip when users hover over an image. While they don’t carry the same SEO weight as alt tags, they can still improve user experience.
Title tags are useful for:
- Adding extra context
- Reinforcing the message of an image
- Improving usability, especially for interactive elements
Example:
title=”Annual gas fireplace inspection in progress”
In this example, hover over the question on the image below:
Annual gas fireplace inspection in progress
Why Alt Tags Matter More Than You Think:
- Website accessibility compliance
- Search engine visibility
- User experience when images fail to load
- Image search traffic
Best Practices for Writing Alt and Title Tags:
- Describe what’s actually in the image
- Use keywords naturally
- Avoid phrases like “image of” or “picture of”
- Write unique alt text for each image
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Leaving alt tags blank on important images
- Using the same alt text on multiple images
- Stuffing keywords unnaturally
- Relying on title tags instead of alt tags
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