Image SEO Optimization in WordPress

Images are key for making your content more accessible, appealing, and engaging for consumers, but they’re also important for SEO.

For starters, they provide crucial contextual information to search engines. Second, optimised pictures boost user engagement and search engine rankings by speeding up page loading.

You should know the basics of image optimization to provide your brand the best chance of success with SEO.

What Is Image Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Image SEO, also known as image optimization, is the act of optimising your website’s photos so that Google can easily identify and rank them.

To put it another way, it aids Google and other search engines in deciphering your content and displaying your photographs in image search results.

To do so, you must optimise your photographs for the web, which we will show you how to do. But first, consider why you should utilise photos in your material in the first place.

How to Optimize Your Images in WordPress

To optimise your photos in WordPress, make sure to include additional information about them so that search engines can figure out what they’re about.

Every day, search engines become more intelligent. They are highly adept in recognising and categorising images. They do, however, require you to offer context for the image, and the first step in doing so is to name your image files correctly.

Use Descriptive Image File Names

Always use as descriptive a file name as possible when naming your images.

Google has this to say about image filenames:

“[…] the filename can provide Google with information regarding the image’s subject matter. My-new-brown-kitten.jpg, for example, is superior to IMG00023.jpg.”

Make an effort to be specific. Big-eyed-playful-brown-kitten.jpg, for example, is preferable than brown-kitten.jpg.

Consider the keywords that users would use to find your image on Google.

Make use of alternative tags

Although viewers may comprehend what an image is about, search engine spiders require further information. It’s impossible for search engines to accurately index your visual content without alternate text. A decent alt tag not only gives context, but it also aids visually challenged people. Search engines can interpret the alternative text to help rank a page even if images aren’t loading due to a malfunction. To increase visibility, insert brand-relevant terms here. Just stay away from keyword stuffing.

Give more information than you did in the file name. While there is no perfect number of words to convey something about the visual, strive for 10 to 15.

Resize your Images

Image size and file size are not the same thing. Image size refers to the dimensions of an image (e.g., 1024 by 680 pixels). File size is the amount of space needed to store it on the server (e.g., 350 kilobytes).

Images with higher resolution and larger dimensions (often created with a professional camera) slow your page load times considerably. While they work well for print reproduction, you need to scale down the file size without losing too much quality for them to work well on the web.

When Should You Use JPEGs?

JPEG files are suitable for both print and web applications. A ‘lossy’ format is used for this type of image file. Some of the information in a larger image’s file is lost when it is converted to a JPEG.

That data isn’t required to simply display the image. What this means is that converting to a JPEG results in a lesser file size, but there may be a loss in overall image quality. Thankfully, the quality loss isn’t too noticeable, especially for little photographs.

When Should You Use PNGs?

PNG files, like JPEGs, are valuable for web content, but in a different way. PNGs are more adaptable and useful for producing web graphics since they can have transparent backgrounds, for example.

PNGs are saved in a ‘lossless’ format. This means that when the file is compressed, all of the image’s information is preserved. As a result, they are often of greater quality, although they provide a modest boost in file sizes and page speeds. They’re ideal for graphics and icons, as well as really high-resolution photos.

Make the Image Title more Attractive

If you’re using WordPress, the image title is normally derived from the file name, so you may leave it alone. If you don’t use WordPress or the title doesn’t adequately describe the image, rename it using the keywords in the same manner you would file names.

Image names aren’t as significant for SEO as alt text, but they can provide more context. In terms of user engagement, image titles are more useful. Add a short call to action, such as “purchase now” or “download now.”

Compression of Images

In a word, image compression is a technique for reducing the size (in bytes) of a graphic file while maintaining acceptable image quality. As previously stated, high-resolution photos with needlessly huge file sizes can have a significant impact on page speed.

For a faster render time, you should constantly compress your images.
Optimized photographs, on the other hand, are on average 40% lighter than unoptimized images. You should optimise any photos and other media that you post to your website, either before or during the upload process, as a general rule.

Make use of distinctive Photographs

Stock photos are acceptable, but they will not necessarily improve your search rankings because other websites frequently use the same images. It’s a good idea to post unique photographs whenever feasible, just like it’s a good idea to upload original written content.

Make sure your text goes well with the photos

Search engines might use the copy on the page to determine the relevance of your photos. If there isn’t enough information to explain an image, add more relevant text and, if feasible, describe the image.

Conclusion

Before you post any image, keep these ideas in mind if you’re having trouble getting your material recognised. Both search engines and human viewers will like your material more if you employ these picture optimization tactics.