Alt Text Explained: Why Every Image Needs Alternative Text
Reading Time: 6 Minutes
Published by: Wikicert Academy
Category: SEO & Digital Marketing
Introduction
Every image on your website should do more than simply look good.
Search engines cannot "see" images the way humans do. Instead, they rely on information provided by your website to understand what an image represents.
This is where alt text becomes important.
Alt text improves accessibility, helps search engines understand images, and supports your overall SEO strategy.
Quick Answer
Alt text (alternative text) is a short written description added to an image.
It helps:
Search engines understand the image
Screen readers describe images for visually impaired users
Display information if an image cannot load
Why Alt Text Matters
Proper alt text helps:
Improve accessibility
Support Image SEO
Increase visibility in Google Images
Provide context for search engines
Improve overall user experience
Although alt text is only one part of Image SEO, it's considered an important best practice.
Good Alt Text vs Poor Alt Text
✅ Good Example
Business owner installing an SSL certificate in cPanel.
This clearly describes what the image shows.
❌ Poor Example
image1
or
SEO SEO SEO SSL SSL Google Ranking Best SSL Certificate
Neither provides meaningful information.
Write for People First
Alt text should describe the image naturally.
Ask yourself:
If someone couldn't see this image, how would I describe it?
Keep descriptions concise while remaining informative.
Should Every Image Have Alt Text?
Most content images should include alt text.
Decorative images that add no informational value may use empty alt attributes so screen readers can ignore them.
Avoid Keyword Stuffing
Including a relevant keyword can be helpful when it accurately describes the image.
However, avoid repeating keywords unnaturally.
Good:
SE Ranking keyword research dashboard.
Poor:
SEO tool SEO software keyword research best SEO tool Google SEO.
Alt Text and Accessibility
Accessibility is one of the biggest reasons alt text exists.
Visitors using screen readers depend on alternative text to understand visual content.
Writing meaningful alt text makes your website more inclusive.
Common Mistakes
Avoid:
Leaving alt text empty unnecessarily
Stuffing keywords
Writing vague descriptions
Repeating surrounding paragraph text word for word
Using filenames as alt text
Best Practices
Every meaningful image should:
Clearly describe the image
Be concise
Sound natural
Match the surrounding content
Include keywords only when relevant
Recommended SEO Tool
Checking alt text manually across a growing website quickly becomes difficult.
SE Ranking Website Audit helps identify:
Missing alt text
Image optimization opportunities
Accessibility improvements
Technical SEO issues
This makes it easier to maintain a well-optimised website.
👉 Read our complete SE Ranking Review & Recommendation
Frequently Asked Questions
Is alt text a Google ranking factor?
Alt text helps search engines understand images and contributes to Image SEO, although it isn't a standalone ranking factor.
Can alt text improve accessibility?
Yes.
Alt text allows screen readers to describe images to visually impaired users.
Should every image contain keywords?
No.
Only include keywords when they naturally describe the image.
Can decorative images have empty alt text?
Yes.
If an image adds no informational value, an empty alt attribute is often appropriate.
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