Using your keyword in the alt text box
At Yoast, we firmly believe that websites should be usable by everyone, including people with a visual impairment. The alt textbox plays an important part in this, as it clarifies the content of an image. Visitors of your site that use a screen reader can listen to the alt text read aloud, to better understand the value and function of the image. So, you should make sure that the alt text sufficiently describes the image.
Besides improving accessibility, the alt text also helps search engines determine what’s on the image, which influences how the image ranks. So, should you add your keyword or keyphrase in the alt text to improve your ranking? Let’s go into that for this week’s Ask Yoast!
Stephen Stefanski emailed us his question:
Some people told me you should never put a keyword in the alt text box. I think I actually should. What do you advise?
Watch the video or read the transcript for my answer!
Using your keyword in the alt text box
“Well, the alt text box is meant to say, “Hey, this is on this image”. And if you can describe that image using a keyword, then yes you should.
If you cannot describe the image using the keyword, then no, you should not. It’s that easy… Good luck.”
Read more: Image SEO: alt tag & title tag optimization »
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Thank you for this very important information, great!
This is true, I only put keywords on alt text box when the image is clearly define what is on the image.
If it’s irrelevant, then I wouldn’t put any keyword on the alt text, just what the image is about.
Thank you for this post, I totally agree.
Well said, Rahadian, you’re very right!
Very good to learn from you. I have a blog and its tips have helped me a lot
I was little confused on this but this short video removed this confusion. Thank you Team yoast.
Glad we could help, Deepak :-)
Wow great video! Now i actually understand what ALT does and how to use it right.
Will share it ! Thanks!
Sounds amazing,
It was a great video to make the content SEO more efficient in order to get desired SEO outcomes via content marketing. I was afraid to use them before but now i will surely use in all images.
Hi! Glad you liked the video! Just a tip: while you don’t have to be afraid to use your keywords in the alt text, you should make sure the text fits the image, and of course, don’t spam too many keywords in the alt text ;-) Stick to that and all will be well :-)
Hey thank you very much for sharing this article and especially the video. I do not focus much on the alt text box but after watching the video i have realized its important. This article has been very benefitial.
Great and amazing , thanks alot
Very good and great post i am using my all sites on yoast seo plugin this is amazing plugin and i am reed all article on yoast plugin update Thank you
Thanks, Jerry, that’s lovely to hear :-)
Your plugins toast SEO . It’s amazing .
Thanks
Yoast team
I always use image alt text in my articles. I also like to include my keyword in the alt text.
These will help users understand my content better and may help me rank higher also.
For sure. Good luck, Saheed!
I never missed yoast articles but i missed this one because i was busy now i am reading this??
Hahah cool video! :D
Hey Joost!
I always use Alt Images Text. It is helpful, as you’ve mentioned here. You are not only helping those people, but you are also helping your content rank higher because of this.
I have not heard that advise to actually describe what’s on the image in the alt text. This is new advice to me. This is very interesting and helpful Thank you so much for sharing that!
Best regards! :D
Glad you like our advice! Good luck with your website
Very clear video! now, I understand why I always use the alt text.
I always write an alt text, but did not know why. The video makes me understand it now!