Story Based Question
You’re building an e-commerce site for luxury watches. You’ve uploaded stunning product photos, but a friend tests the site using a screen reader and says, “I can’t tell what your images are about.” This makes you realize that not everyone experiences your website the same way.
Meanwhile, you notice that your images don’t show up in Google Image search for “luxury gold watches.” You start wondering if you’re missing a crucial step in image SEO.
How can you ensure your product images are accessible to all users and optimized for search engines? This brings us to alt text—what it is and why it’s essential.
Exact Answer
Alt text (alternative text) is a written description of an image that helps screen readers interpret the image for visually impaired users. It’s also used by search engines to understand the content of an image.
Alt text is important for product images because:
- It improves website accessibility.
- It helps images rank in search results.
- It provides context if an image fails to load.
Explanation
Alt text isn’t just a technical detail—it’s a bridge that makes your content inclusive and more visible online. Here’s why it matters:
- Accessibility:
Alt text ensures visually impaired users can understand your product images through screen readers. For example, a screen reader might say, “Image: luxury gold watch with a leather strap.” This creates a better experience for users who can’t see the image. - SEO Benefits:
Search engines rely on alt text to understand and index images. When you include keywords naturally, like “luxury gold watch,” it increases the chances of your image appearing in Google Image Search, driving more traffic to your product page. - Fallback for Broken Images:
If an image fails to load (e.g., due to a slow connection), the browser displays the alt text instead. This maintains a level of user experience, ensuring visitors still grasp the content. - Legal Compliance:
Many countries have accessibility laws for websites, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Including alt text helps your site comply with these regulations and avoids potential legal issues.
Example
Let’s revisit the luxury watch scenario.
You have an image of a gold watch with a black leather strap and diamond accents. The file is named “IMG002.jpg”, but you decide to add alt text like:
“Luxury gold watch with a black leather strap and diamond-studded bezel, designed for men.”
This description:
- Tells screen readers exactly what the image shows.
- Uses keywords like “luxury gold watch” to enhance SEO.
- Offers context if the image doesn’t load.
After adding alt text to all your product images, you notice a few things:
- Your site’s accessibility score improves.
- Your images rank higher for keywords like “luxury gold watches.”
- Users with slow connections can still understand your products, reducing bounce rates.
By simply writing effective alt text, you’ve improved usability and expanded your audience reach.