SEO Pictures
Optimises website images so search engines can understand, index, and rank them while improving page speed and user experience.
If you have ever searched for the image SEO king, you already know that core practices like filenames and alt text matter more than any tool.
Key points
- Use descriptive filenames and alt text that reflect the image's content and purpose.
- Compress and resize images before uploading to improve load times and Core Web Vitals.
- Serve different image sizes for different devices using srcset or the picture element.
- Add width and height attributes to prevent layout shift and improve visual stability.
From unseen to visible: a travel image's journey
A travel blog uploaded a 3000px-wide beach photo named 'IMG_1234.jpg' with no alt text. Google could not interpret it, and the page loaded in 8 seconds. After resizing to 1200px, compressing to WebP, renaming to 'crete-beach-2024.jpg', and adding alt text 'Crystal clear water on a sandy beach in Crete', the image appeared in Google Images within two weeks, and page load time dropped to 2.5 seconds.
Three ways optimised images improve your page
- Better discoverability Descriptive filenames, alt text, and image sitemaps help Google find and understand your images, potentially driving traffic from Google Images and supporting page relevance.
- Faster page speed Compressing and resizing images reduces file size, improving load times and Core Web Vitals scores like LCP, which directly affects how users perceive page performance.
- Enhanced user experience Responsive images serve the correct size for each device, and width and height attributes prevent layout shifts, keeping the page stable during loading.
Three common mistakes to avoid
- Oversized files Uploading images without resizing increases load time and hurts performance. Always resize to the maximum display size needed before uploading.
- Keyword-stuffed alt text Alt text should describe the image's purpose naturally, not repeat keywords. Screen readers rely on accurate descriptions for accessibility.
- Ignoring crawlability Images loaded via JavaScript may not be discovered by search engines. Use an image sitemap to ensure they are indexed and visible.
Common questions
What are the best practices for image SEO?
Use descriptive filenames, alt text, compress images, serve responsive sizes, and add width and height attributes for performance.
Should I use background-image or img tag for SEO?
Use the img tag with alt text for content images; background-image is for decorative elements and is not SEO-friendly.
Sources
- Google Search Central: Image SEO Best Practices Official Google guidance on image SEO.
- Yoast: Image SEO Comprehensive guide with practical tips.