Alt text

What makes a good alt text?

A good alt text describes an image clearly and concisely. Make sure it is relevant to the page's context and avoid vague or unnecessary details. Briefly describe what can be seen in the image and include relevant keywords without over-optimizing. Effective alt texts contribute to SEO, search engine marketing, and help your content rank better in Google Images.

Bad examples of alt exts

Poor alt texts cause confusion and lack SEO value. Avoid the following:

Vague file names – "image123.jpg" tells nothing about the image
Too generic – "photo" or "image" adds no value
Overly detailed – "Man in a blue jacket walking a dog in the park"
Keyword stuffing – "SEO alt text keyword image webpage"

A strong alt text is short, descriptive, and relevant. This helps both search engines and users.

Good examples of alt texts

A good alt text supports both SEO and user experience. Here are strong examples:

Clear and concise – "Dog on a leash in the park"
SEO-friendly – "Black leather sneakers for men"
Contextually relevant – "Laptop displaying open SEO dashboard"
No unnecessary words – Not: "Image of a black sneaker"

Search engines appreciate clear alt texts, and users benefit from better readability. Avoid generic terms and be specific. Want more online visibility? Start with quality alt texts.

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Is alt text still relevant?

The relevance of alt text depends on various factors such as the industry and website type. In sectors where visuals are key—like e-commerce or interior design—optimized alt texts can have a bigger impact on SEO and accessibility.

An effective approach is to run an SEO test: optimize a number of alt texts and measure the impact on both image rankings and the pages they appear on. This will give you insights into the actual effect of alt text on your website.

How to add alt text to you website

Adding alt text can be done in various ways depending on your CMS. Alt text helps search engines and screen readers better understand your images.

Adding alt text via HTML Code

Adding alt text in HTML is simple. Use the alt attribute within the <img> tag like so:

This allows Google to better understand the image and improves your website’s accessibility.

To inspect the HTML and find the alt text, follow these steps:

CTRL + U to view the HTML source of the page.
CTRL + F and search for alt= to locate the alt text for images.

Adding alt text via Wordpress or other CMSs

In WordPress and other CMSs, adding alt text is easy. Upload an image, go to the media library, and fill in a short, relevant description. This enhances your visibility and ensures screen readers can interpret your content accurately. A small tweak with big impact on SEO and accessibility.

AI generated alt text: When to use it

AI and automated tools can generate alt text, but they’re not always accurate. They often lack context and may include irrelevant terms. Use them as a starting point, but always review and optimize manually. That way, your alt text remains SEO-friendly and genuinely valuable to users.

Alt text for different types of content

Alt text varies by content type. A product image requires a detailed description with keywords, while an infographic should capture the key insights. For decorative images, alt text is usually unnecessary. By aligning your alt texts with the content type, you improve SEO and accessibility without adding noise.

Alt text for blog images and illustrations

Alt text for blog images should support the content of the article. Briefly describe what’s shown and how it relates to the text. For illustrations, the focus is on conveying the visual message. This helps both search engines and screen readers interpret the image.

Alt text for charts and infographics

Alt text for charts and infographics should not only describe what’s shown but also summarize the main insights. Example: "Infographic shows that 70% of online purchases are made via mobile." This keeps information accessible to screen readers and helps Google understand the context.

When is alt text not needed?

Sometimes, alt text is unnecessary. Think of decorative images used purely for layout purposes. In such cases, an empty alt attribute (alt="") is the best option. This ensures screen readers skip these elements and focus on what truly matters to the user.