Story Based Question
Let’s say you’ve got an online store selling handmade jewelry. You’ve spent hours crafting the perfect images for your products, but despite having high-quality photos, your product pages aren’t showing up in search results the way you expected. You start thinking—could it be that your image file names are holding you back? You’ve heard that image file names are important for SEO but aren’t sure how to optimize them.
What are the best practices for optimizing image file names, and how can they help your jewelry store’s SEO?
Exact Answer
To optimize image file names, use descriptive, keyword-rich names, avoid generic names like “IMG_1234.jpg,” use hyphens instead of underscores, and keep file names short and clear.
Explanation
Optimizing image file names is one of the simplest yet effective ways to boost your website’s SEO. Here’s why it matters and how to do it right:
- Descriptive and Keyword-Rich Names
Image file names help search engines understand what the image is about, just like alt text. Instead of generic names like “IMG_3456.jpg,” use a name that clearly describes the image and includes relevant keywords.- For your jewelry store, instead of naming an image “IMG_1245.jpg,” name it something like “gold-diamond-ring-wedding.jpg” or “silver-earrings-handmade.jpg.” This tells both search engines and users exactly what the image shows.
- Use Hyphens, Not Underscores
Google treats hyphens (-) as space between words, but underscores (_) are not treated the same. Therefore, it’s best to use hyphens to separate words in the file name for better SEO.- For example, “silver-ring-handmade.jpg” is much better than “silver_ring_handmade.jpg.”
- Avoid Overstuffing with Keywords
While it’s important to include relevant keywords, avoid stuffing your image file names with too many words or phrases. Keep the name clear and relevant to the content.- Instead of “wedding-gold-diamond-ring-best-handmade-ring-for-weddings.jpg,” use a simple “gold-diamond-wedding-ring.jpg.”
- Keep File Names Short and Clear
Long file names can be confusing and make it harder for search engines to interpret the content. Stick to concise, clear names that describe the image accurately.- For your jewelry, a file name like “ruby-necklace.jpg” is clear, while “the-best-and-most-beautiful-ruby-necklace.jpg” is unnecessarily long.
- Don’t Use Special Characters
Avoid using special characters in your file names, such as&,%, or$, as these can confuse search engines or lead to broken links. Stick to alphanumeric characters (letters and numbers) with hyphens separating words.- For example, “pearl-necklace.jpg” is perfect, but “pearl&necklace$#123.jpg” is not.
Example
Here’s how you can apply these best practices to your jewelry store:
Let’s say you’re uploading an image of a handmade silver bracelet.
- Instead of “IMG_9876.jpg,” name the file “handmade-silver-bracelet.jpg.”
- If it’s a specific style, like a braided bracelet, name it “braided-silver-bracelet.jpg.”
- You’ve also got a gold necklace that you want to optimize, so you would use “gold-heart-necklace.jpg” instead of “gold_heart_necklace_321.jpg.”
By making sure your file names are descriptive and clear, you’re making it easier for both search engines and customers to find your products.