You may not realize this,
but images can generate a TON of traffic from image-based search
engines (G Blurbpoint ask an seo expert oogle Images for example).
If you want more of this
traffic, you must learn how to optimize your images to score some of
this traffic.
Your first step should be to
set up a Google Account where you can use Webmaster Tools.Inside the
Webmaster tools you will
find an option under Tools named ”Enable enhanced image
search”.When this option is enabled Google will start cataloging
your images for placement in the search engine results for images
which can increase your traffic,especially if you can show in the
search results that show images above the organic search results.
After you have instructed
Google to look for your images,you want to be sure your images are
telling Google and the other search engines exactly what they are
about.How do you do this? Here are some things to pay attention to
and think about when using images.I’ve listed them in order of ”my
importance”.
1. Image Size -
Larger images tend to rank better.Most image results that show in the
top three I have done test searches on have been over 250 pixels in
both directions.Bigger images make sense to show first all other
things being equal.I would shoot for 280 x 280 to be safe.
2. Image Close to
Relevant Text - Keyword above or below the image in the same DIV
-or- keyword in the same paragraph as the image, close to the image.
Keyword should be in the same <td> (table cell) as the image.
3. Page Title &
Page Theme -The title content and image should all be connected.
4. File Name -
Before you upload your image, pick a descriptive filename—preferably
a file name you want that image to rank for—because it will help
with your search engine rankings.
5. Alt Tags -
What is image alt text?
The short answer is, it’s
the text that the search engine uses to understand images.To include
it, you simply add alt="this is your alt text" to your
image tag.
Here’s an example: <img
src="Blurbpoint-ask-an-seo-expert.jpg" alt="Blurbpoint
ask an seo expert" />
6. Image Title
Tags - This text shows up when you rollover the image in a popup.
They should also describe image. Example:<img
src=”Blurbpoint-ask-an-seo-expert.jpg” width=”200”
height=”350” alt=”Blurbpoint ask an seo expert”
title=”Blurbpoint ask an seo expert”>
Alt/Title for images have
been spammed too much (like Meta tags) so I don t think they play
much of a factor at all anymore in images search.Please share any
successes you may have had with image search or ideas you have tried.
I’m especially interested in anyone who has tried an image sitemap
or what you think of this idea.
Conclusion
As a content,images need to
be cared for their use.The use of an appropriate description would be
good not only for users, but also for SEO efforts and efforts to
increase traffic.If you spend hours crafting the perfect post, don’t
miss out on the chance to optimize your images for maximum search
engine benefit.
