The images, in relation to SEO, is something that is usually left out, because usually traffic from images using search engines often get very little conversion. But thinking on the positive side, traffic from image through search engines or links may lead to recurrent visits to our site. Here are some things to keep in mind when positioning of images and to get traffic / links through them:
- Name the image file
This is one of the key elements in optimizing images as the file name is most valued. For example, if you speak of “Blue Window” a perfect image name would be “blue-window.jpg“. Preferably in small letters and a hyphen as a separator. If you have more pictures of the same type, it would be best to name them with a logical numerical order (for example, “blue-window-2.jpg“).
- Image file format
From what I’ve seen predominantly in the SERPs and experience, .jpg and .gif seem to be better valued formats and from my point of view, something less for .png.
- ALT tag on images
The text of the ALT tag is designed for screen readers or for people with visual impairment to define what image they saw. Knowing this, the ALT text of the label must meet to screen readers with specific keywords for search engines and without full of keywords that are spammy. Example: ALT spammer “sell sell blue window window blue window” ALT basic “blue window” SEO ALT “blue aluminum window” Basically try to find a balance, trying to have short concise phrases and significantly must define the image to which they relate.
- Image title tag
One tends to think that the ALT tag and title on images serve the same purpose, but it is not. The title tag has much less weight than the ALT and could be used to complement the title tag, but must not be abused. The title tag appears when you mouse over, for example in firefox. The guidelines that basically one should keep in mind is that title tag should be relevant, short, catchy and concise.
- Titles and texts in bold
I also noticed that images with titles and text in bold near the image (in terms of code) work well for search engines
- Image Captions
Typical captions below the image does not give bad result, and obviously related to the previous point, so if you put them, put them …
- Image size
From what I’ve seen, those that usually appear in a better position are images with reasonable size i.e. either large or small. But it does not mean that the images are not positioned large or small, and that there are now searches for images by . In general it appears that images larger and smaller than 100pixel x100pixel 1200pixel x1200pixel tend to have better positions in a normal search of images.
- Shapes and colors
Currently in the image search engine can search by color, and will not be long so you can search for forms. This will be taken into account in the selection of images, either in specific colors, or shapes defined (e.g. a face)
- Page content, links, domain, etc …
At the time of positioning images also affect the remainder of SEO factors regarding the page where the image is referred. For example the actual content page, the relevance of it, the links to that page, domain name, etc…
- Allow hotlinking
Important to allow hotlinking, meaning that images can be used / embedded in external sites, or at least that they can be used when found in search engines.
CONCLUSION: SEO for images
The traffic from image is often considered of “low value”, and indeed often leaves little income, perhaps taking advantage of CPM campaigns. Of this traffic, most users will just take the image and not over your site, but some may get to visit your site and become a customer, so we can not lose this opportunity. On the other hand, it can also be a good source for links in a slow and progressive way, for example, through reference of where they get the picture. In short, do not waste traffic we can get from the pictures.
