Images SEO optimization – Google Images, Bing Images

The key steps in SEO optimization of photos

• are Correct file names:

  Use descriptive names that include keywords, such as seo-optimizacia-snimki.jpg instead of IMG_1234.jpg.

• Alternative text (Alt text):

  Add a short but descriptive alternative description that search engines can change to understand the content in the photo. It also helps visually impaired people who use Screen readers.

• Image Titles:

  Add a title that can be displayed as a tooltip when the user holds down the mouse cursor on the image.

• , Compressing and formatting:

  • Compress photos to reduce file size, without compromising quality.
  • Use modern formats such as WebP, which offer better quality with a smaller file size.
  • . Tools such as EWWW Image Optimizer, Imagify, reSmush, and ShortPixel can help automate the compression process . enicomp.eu.

• Proportions:

  Make sure that your photos have the correct aspect ratio (for example, 16∶9, 16 colon 9,16 ∶9,4 ∶3, 4 colon 3,4 ∶3) and the appropriate resolution.

• Scaling and responsive design:

  Use srcset attribute to provide different versions of the image for different screen sizes, which improves the experience of mobile devices.

• and location data:

  If possible, adding location data to photos. can improve local SEO.
   

• Use descriptive names,: Replace the generated names like DSC12345.jpg with clear, descriptive names that include keywords. For example, chervei-sportni-obuvki.jpg this is better than snimka.jpg.
• Use lowercase letters and hyphens: Always write file names in lowercase and separate words with hyphens -. Avoid underscores and  other special characters. 

• Compress the image: Use image compression tools to reduce the file size without significantly losing quality. This improves the page loading speed.
• Select the desired format:
  
  • JPEG: Suitable for images with a large number of colors and details.
  • PNG: Suitable for graphics, icons, and images with transparent backgrounds.
  • WebP: A newer format that offers better compression than JPEG and PNG, resulting in faster page loading. 

• Describe the content in the photo: Alt text should describe what is in the photo. It is displayed if the image cannot be downloaded, and is important for consumers using screen readers.
• Include the keyword: Include the main keyword, but only if it is appropriate and naturally fits into the description. Avoid excessive keyword saturation.
• Example good Alt text: Alternative text for red athletic running shoes. 

• provides additional information: Although not as important for SEO as Alt, text, or title, an image can present additional information when the user holds down the mouse cursor on the image.

• Increase customer commitment: Captions in a photo can provide context and hold users ‘ attention. They can also help search engines better understand the content of an image and page.

• Optimization for mobile devices: Use attributes like srcset and < picture > elements to display different versions of the image depending on the user’s device. This ensures that the page loads quickly, whether it’s opened on a phone, tablet, or computer. 

• Improve your download speed:  The lazy loading function loads images only when the user scrolls to them. This speeds up the initial page load.

• Indexing help: Creating a separate sitemap for images helps search engines to find and index all images on your site, even those that are not visible in the main searches. 

• Provides the context of search engines: Using Structured Data like Schema Markup, can help search engines better understand the image content and show them as rich search results, such as recipes, products, photos, or articles.