If you are a website owner or have ever explored web development, chances are you have heard of image alt tags. But what exactly are they, and why are they important? Image alt tags serve to provide a text alternative to images on websites for people who may be visually impaired or use screen readers. In addition, image alt tags can also help you improve your rankings in search engines such as Google. Let's look at exactly how this works and how you can use them to your advantage.

What are Image Alt Tags?

Image alt tags are HTML attributes that contain descriptive text about an image on a website. As we mentioned above, they serve two main purposes: to describe the image so that visitors who cannot view it can understand what it is and to give search engines more information about the content on your page. The latter function is particularly important when it comes to improving your website's ranking in Google's search engine results pages (SERPs).

An Example of Image Alt Tags in Action

For example, let's say you have a blog post about apples and you include a picture of an apple on your website. You want people who search "apples" or "red apples" to see this photo when they search on Google-which means you must optimise the photo with the right keyword phrases in its alt tag. Additionally, since images can be interpreted by screen readers for blind people, adding descriptive alt tags will also make sure everyone has access to this information and can follow along with your content.

The Importance of Image Alt Tags for SEO

Google pays close attention to the content of your site when determining where it should rank in its SERPs. This includes not only textual content but also media such as images. By adding appropriate image alt tags, you can give search engines more information about the content of your page. This makes it easier for them to determine what keywords should be associated with your site and how relevant it is for certain searches. This can then lead to improved rankings in SERPs and increased visibility for your site overall.

How To Write Effective Image Alt Tags

Writing effective image alt tags isn't as hard as it might seem-you just need to keep a few things in mind. First, make sure that each tag accurately describes the content of the image-don't try to stuff too many keywords into one tag or use irrelevant words just for the sake of having more words! Additionally, make sure that any words used in an alt tag appear multiple times throughout the rest of the page (without keyword stuffing), as this will give Google better context on what topics are being discussed on that page. Finally, don't forget to add descriptive captions underneath each image-this will further help search engines understand what topics are being discussed on each page.

If your business doesn't have the time to implement its SEO strategy, it can be beneficial to hire an SEO agency to oversee and manage your business's online visibility.

Conclusion

Overall, image alt tags can play an important role in helping improve your website's ranking in Google's SERPs by providing additional information about its contents. However, writing effective image alt tags requires some thought and consideration; make sure that each tag accurately describes the content of an individual image without keyword stuffing! Additionally, don't forget to include descriptive captions alongside each photo; this will further help search engines understand what topics are being discussed throughout each page on your site! With these steps taken care of, you'll be well on your way towards improved rankings and greater visibility online!