Alt tag-how important it is?

Discussion in 'Google' started by jacobkell, Dec 26, 2009.

  1. #1
    I read on various place how alt tag for images is important,so i have it on all my images.But also i know how it is also important to have all content visible to your visitors.Google bot reads alt tag and it's content using it for ranking on serps.To gain better on site optimization,i thinking about converting alt tag description to real text description which will be visible on site.But then i will have duplicate text,one in alt tag and on as text description.Should i remove alt tag from every picture then?I going to do add those descriptions beacuse that will increase clicks,it's not same when visitor watches picture without any description and when he see what he will get when he click on picture.
     
    jacobkell, Dec 26, 2009 IP
  2. FloridaSEOguy

    FloridaSEOguy Peon

    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #2
    very minor equivalent of having that phrase in the text of the doc in my HO. The title tag is key.
     
    FloridaSEOguy, Dec 26, 2009 IP
  3. jacobkell

    jacobkell Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    830
    Likes Received:
    4
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    128
    #3
    Anyway i will replace alt tag with visible text.Same things for se bots,but different for visitors.
     
    jacobkell, Dec 26, 2009 IP
  4. Lex350

    Lex350 Notable Member

    Messages:
    1,889
    Likes Received:
    31
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    215
    #4
    Yes the title tag is very important but you should still use the alt tag every chance you get. Especially if you have many pictures on you site.
     
    Lex350, Dec 26, 2009 IP
  5. akashvista

    akashvista Peon

    Messages:
    189
    Likes Received:
    2
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #5
    Well having the same text in alt and also the real text wont hurt you and also these are just minor factors for deciding SERPs in search engines.
     
    akashvista, Dec 26, 2009 IP
  6. Ascendancy

    Ascendancy Active Member

    Messages:
    1,721
    Likes Received:
    31
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    90
    #6
    It's mostly important for Google Image search. Although you won't gain as much traffic through this as you would a direct article link from high-ranking in Google's SERPS for keywords, plenty of people do use Google's image search and it would be small, constant hits to your site for that image.
     
    Ascendancy, Dec 26, 2009 IP
  7. jacobkell

    jacobkell Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    830
    Likes Received:
    4
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    128
    #7
    One more reason to not use alt tag,since image traffic is waste of bandwithd.
     
    jacobkell, Dec 27, 2009 IP
  8. ContentSpooling

    ContentSpooling Peon

    Messages:
    413
    Likes Received:
    2
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #8
    Alt attribute can also help your keyword to push higher in search result page. This could also help the human visitor to identify the image when it does not load properly.
     
    ContentSpooling, Dec 27, 2009 IP
  9. sagarrai000

    sagarrai000 Peon

    Messages:
    1,475
    Likes Received:
    10
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #9
    "ALT" tag is very important to drive visitors from your images.
     
    sagarrai000, Dec 27, 2009 IP
  10. Bompa

    Bompa Active Member

    Messages:
    461
    Likes Received:
    20
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    58
    #10
    I agree.

    How much does it help? No one really knows. The trick is to watch those
    sites that are outranking you and do all the little things that they do.

    Bompa
     
    Bompa, Dec 27, 2009 IP
  11. aleale

    aleale Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,453
    Likes Received:
    7
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    130
    #11
    I think its effective by 2 reasons!
    1). Google reads it as content
    2). how you feel! if you also get traffic from Google images.
     
    aleale, Dec 27, 2009 IP
  12. elmerd

    elmerd Peon

    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #12
    though not a major ranking factor anymore, the alt tag does help contribute to your overall keyword density on any given page. I could be wrong, but what's a few minutes of time invested in something that can also benefit your images optimization efforts?
     
    elmerd, Dec 28, 2009 IP
  13. tstewart

    tstewart Peon

    Messages:
    308
    Likes Received:
    4
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #13
    ALT Tags is important for your Images which is A HTML tag that assigns the description of an Images.
    Alt tags help some visually impaired visitors who need to use text readers to understand a page format and so should be used. They can't see the images, but can detect text in ALT tags. In addition to this they also help you rank better with search engines.
     
    tstewart, Dec 28, 2009 IP
  14. vezhead

    vezhead Peon

    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #14
    The best way I heard it described is that many on-site factors by themselves have little importance. However, if all aspects of your site match, it becomes very relevant.
     
    vezhead, Dec 28, 2009 IP
  15. Jay_V

    Jay_V Member

    Messages:
    143
    Likes Received:
    2
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    43
    #15
    It's very important if you after some image traffic.
     
    Jay_V, Dec 28, 2009 IP
  16. hsvyas

    hsvyas Peon

    Messages:
    167
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
  17. Abhik

    Abhik ..:: The ONE ::..

    Messages:
    11,337
    Likes Received:
    606
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    410
    Digital Goods:
    2
    #17
    There was a video from Matt Cutts to describe the importance of alt tag.
     
    Abhik, Dec 29, 2009 IP
  18. markzero

    markzero Peon

    Messages:
    133
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #18
    You should put as many text as possible with relevant keywords because bots see your site as lynx browser does, so alt tags ARE important
     
    markzero, Dec 29, 2009 IP
  19. megathrone

    megathrone Active Member

    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    93
    #19
    very important. from my experience same important as text and it promotes image search on google that may lead to new visitors as well
     
    megathrone, Dec 29, 2009 IP
  20. jacobkell

    jacobkell Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    830
    Likes Received:
    4
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    128
    #20
    But wont having same text in alt and site content cause duplication penalty?
     
    jacobkell, Dec 29, 2009 IP