Neon Blvd, a digital marketing company situated in Las Vegas, is aware of the value of each component of your website, including the photographs. Despite what many people think, photos are not just for decoration; they are essential to search engine optimization (SEO). An optimized image can enhance user experience, speed up page loads, and increase website visibility. But how can you make photos SEO-friendly? Let’s start now.
Recognizing Image SEO
The process of optimizing photos for image search capabilities in search engines is known as image SEO. It not only aids in increasing your website’s visibility but also improves its aesthetics and usability. As many individuals use picture search as a starting point for their research, effective image SEO can increase traffic to your website.
How to Improve Images for SEO
1. Use relevant, high-quality images
Assuring that the photographs you use are of high caliber and relevance is the first stage in image optimization. Clear, appealing visuals that complement your content increase user engagement. However, it’s crucial to strike a balance between file size and quality because huge files can make your website load slowly.
2. Optimally Name Image Files
In addition to indexing the text on your website, search engines also look for keywords in the file names of your images. Use of descriptive, keyword-rich file names is therefore imperative. Use a file name that is more descriptive of the image content, such as “las-vegas-sunset.jpg,” as opposed to something generic like “IMG001.jpg.”
Use Alt Text 3.
For search engines and screen readers people who are visually challenged, alt text, also known as alternative text, describes a picture. When describing the image’s content, it should use pertinent keywords without overusing them.
4. Image File Size Reduction
Large photos can cause your site to load much more slowly, which can severely affect user experience and SEO. To lower the file size without sacrificing quality, use picture compression programs. Online, there are numerous free tools that can do this well.
5. Select the Correct File Type
Images can be stored in three different file types: JPEG, PNG, and GIF. While PNGs are preferable for images that need transparency and sharpness, like logos, JPEGs are better for photography or images with a lot of colors. Small, straightforward visuals and animations work best as GIFs.
6. Use Responsive Images
It’s essential to make sure that your photographs look great on all devices given the increase in usage of mobile devices. When an image is responsive, it will change to fit the size of the screen it is being viewed on. HTML and CSS both allow for this.
7. Make Image Structured Data Available
Google makes advantage of structured data to comprehend the page’s content. You can provide extra context for your photographs and make them eligible for rich results by integrating image structured data.
8. Utilize Image Sitemaps
Google might be unable to access certain photos on your website if it uses JavaScript galleries or image pop-ups. Consider including an image sitemap to guarantee that Google can find all of your photographs.
Conclusion
One area of SEO that is frequently ignored is image optimization. But by taking these steps, you can make sure that your photos help, not hurt, the SEO of your website. Keep in mind that SEO is a long-term endeavor, and that every aspect of your website that is optimized—including the images—contributes to your exposure and success as a whole.
Neon Blvd is the best at SEO in all facets, including image optimization. Do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you need professional advice to improve the functionality and exposure of your website. We’re prepared to shine a light on your business as a top Las Vegas digital marketing agency.
