Images are a very important part of a webpage. This is one of the helpers of Google ranking. But Google can’t read the image. So we need to optimize images for the web according to the best practice of SEO.
Similarly, images impact the speed of the webpage. If you use large size images it may take a longer time to open the page. It is not good for ranking your page. For this reason, it is necessary to work with the images.
In this article, we will know all about image optimization best practices. At the same time, we will get answers to some myths about the images. Surely, it will help to rank the pages as well as will bring potential visitors from the search engine including Google.
First of all, we will know the benefits of using images on a page.
- Images help to increase engagement on your website.
- It helps to decrease the bounce rate in your post.
- It makes a post or page attractive. Even we know a quote an image can tell a hundred/thousand words. Hence, using images with the post makes the most attractive and eye-catching.
- An image with the right SEO can bring potential customers to your website. Because image search is popular on Google.
- Images make the post informative and search engines like it.
That’s why the experts give importance to image optimization to make the post more engaging. The following tasks are important for image SEO and optimization.
How to optimize images for the web for SEO:
In general, we think optimizing images means reducing the file size only. Actually, it is necessary to reduce the file size. But there are some other important factors also. Let’s discuss all the matters related to Image optimization and SEO.
1. Keep the image size optimized
First, it is essential to keep the image size optimized. It means using an image that is acceptable in quality, but the lowest file size. Many of the webmasters ask, what is the best image file size? It is tough to explain. Generally, it depends on various factors. If you make a travel blog, that means you need to use high-quality images of the location. On the other hand, if you run a simple how-to blog, that means, you may use some screenshot which is ultimately lower in size.
For this reason, it really depends on the type of use. But I will tell you, it is good to keep the file between 50kb to 500kb. But keeping it under 200kb with acceptable quality with a maximum of 1500px width is good. Now make it friendly according to your need.
- But be careful about the image size format. Using PNG or JPEG with Save For Web is good. You can also use lower sized GIF format images.
- Take care of the image dimensions. The original files may have a width of 5000px. But when you are using the file for the web, it is good to use it on a maximum of 1500px. We at SpeedHost try to use 1000px to 1200px most of the cases.
- Be aware of using decorative images such as background images, button images, border images, etc. If possible, reduce the decorative image and design only using CSS is good for SEO. No alt text can be used for decorative images.
Page loading time is an important factor in Google ranking algorithms. Pages that take a longer time to load become harder to rank. Each image on the webpage takes more time to load. So if the image is a large size- page loading takes more time. Hence you have to make the image size as small as possible. It is better to save the image in 1000+- pixels (Width) and saves the file in JPEG or PNG format. It’s all about image size optimization.
2. Give a simple, but the related name of the images
Now comes the naming of the images. As you will use the image on the web, you need to use a related name in accordance with the content as well as the image. Whenever you take a screenshot it comes with a default name, something like scr00005. Search engines do not take these types of default image names as a good sign. As search engines are not able to detect the type of images most of the time. So, giving a related name according to the context is good for SEO.
The image file that we provide is contained in the code on the webpage. Everything in the Google algorithm code takes a while to crawl. Of course, the file name cannot be given for that. Use keywords or relevant words in the file name. It is better to use keywords.
So, give a related name following the image and context of your post. It helps to rank the image on the search engines.
3. Use alt text on the image
We forget about the ALT TEXT of the images. Actually, the search engine read the alt text of the images with the file name. When you give a similar alt text with the image name, the search engines get an idea about the image.
For SEO purposes, using alt text helps to rank the image on the search engine. If the website is unable to load the image, it will show the alt text as well. For this reason, it takes a good indication of using an alt text.
Hence, I will repeat, Search engines can only read your web page alt text but not your image. That’s why search engines look for alt text. Because by reading alt text, search engines can understand the image and rank it. So use your image alt text. Keywords must be used when using alt text.
4. Keep the images related to the context
I have already told you it before. Need to repeat I think. As we know image a good intimation of the ranking of your article on the search engine. Some users try to use unconnected images that have no relation to the content. It is not good at all. The visitors do not like this. Ultimately, search engines discover it with the reader’s behaviors as well as in conformity with AI algorithms. For this reason, always keep the image related to the content. Otherwise, use one feature image describing the content rather than 4 or 5 unassociated images.
5. Be careful about the copyright
Sometimes, we forget about these matters. As the big search engines care about copyright. Try to use unique images for your website. If you use any copyright images, mention the name if possible.
Although you will get millions of images which is copyright free. You can check this post where I described the stock photos which are 100% copyright free.
Read Also: 5 Best free tools for optimizing/resizing the images.
Note: Try to use CDN if you use many more images on the post. It will make the web page faster. I always inspire to check the images you use if it is working fine. Don’t forget to check for increasing WordPress website speed, it is essential to keep the readers happy.
To conclude…
Hope you have understood about optimizing the images for the web. Again, image is a good factor in ranking your post or page. So, give importance here if you care about SEO. Anyway, if you need further clarification, you may make a comment. If you get the article helpful, share it on your favorite social media. Thanks for staying with SpeedHost. 🙂
