How to use images to boost your search engine ranking
Ranking well in search engine results isn’t just about your written content; effective use of logos, diagrams and images is vital too. Optimising your images boosts your website’s chances of showing up on image searches, and a great logo or powerful picture can be very effective when it comes to motivating people to click through to your site.
However, many people don’t know where to start when it comes to using images in this way. That’s where we can help. Here are six key questions you should be asking as you get to grips with your use of images.
How do I size images for the internet?
Big images can slow down your website, poor, low resolution images give a bad impression, so it’s important to find a balance between quality and size. A good tip is never to upload images that are larger than they will ever appear on screen; that extra size is simply not necessary. When it comes to choosing which file type to use, PNG is a good bet because it offers a good balance of compression ratio and image quality.
How do I name images for the internet?
The file name you choose can help search engines find your content in a relevant context, so don’t just upload images with a file name that’s a list of letters and numbers. Use the opportunity to label it with keywords. So, for example, instead of uploading an image titled DSC_0461.png, you could upload an image titled lasagne_recipe.png.
How do I use alt attributes to boost my page ranking?
You’ll need to add title text and alt text for each image. These are read by search engines’ web crawlers to identify what is in your image if the image itself doesn’t load, so it’s advisable to put keywords into them. When writing the title text, write it as you would a normal sentence – so no underscores or dashes in between words. Similarly, your alt text needs to be written in straightforward language, and make sure you don’t make it too long. About 80 to 150 characters is great, but it’s not the end of the world if it’s a bit longer.
How do I use my page URL to boost my search engine ranking?
The URL of the page your images are on is another important factor so make sure it’s short and rich in keywords.
Should I use stock photography on my website?
Stock photos may seem a great way to get professional-looking images – but remember that the same images are likely to be appearing on numerous other sites, which may negatively affect your ranking. Another factor to consider is that stock photos usually look generic and impersonal and that can be a turn-off for people considering visiting your site. If you can, you’re often better getting some good quality photos taken of your team in your real office rather than opting for stock images.
How do I boost image engagement?
Search engines favour content with high engagement in the form of clicks to your site, embeds and shares on other pages and social shares – so pick images people will want to engage with. It’s also a good idea to use them on your social media (linked to your site) to try to boost engagement.
