How To Master the Key Strategies To Boost Your Image SEO

An often overlooked aspect of SEO is images. Businesses spend time on site structure, pages dedicated to specific content, and H1 and H2 title tags, but they forget to consider image SEO.

Optimized images also help clients find you, speed up your site, and improve your rank on Google.

Did you know that visual search has become increasingly important in recent years? While exact statistics vary, image-based searches are growing in popularity, making image optimization valuable for SEO success.

So, if you are not using image optimization correctly, you're wasting precious SEO resources. Here are some SEO image optimization steps to keep in mind.

Image Formatting

There are many types of image file formats, PDF, EPS, SVG, PNG, PSD, AI, TIF, BMP, GIF, JPG, PS, JPEG, UFO, TGA, EMF, WMF, WEB, and now AVIF.

Each was developed for a different purpose. When you choose images for your website, you want to select a suitable file type. The most commonly used online are:

PNG: This file type produces pretty high-quality images, but the file size is larger

JPG: Here, your image is smaller and may lose some resolution, but you can make adjustments and have it look good on your site

WebP: This format has gained widespread support. It's faster than JPG and PNG and works with the most popular web browsers.

AVIF: This often provides better compression than WebP while maintaining high image quality. It's gaining traction but isn't universally supported yet.

Are you curious about what the image file extensions mean?

PNG stands for Portable Graphics Format. It was designed to replace the Graphics Interchange Format GIF.

JPG, also known as JPEG, is named after the group that created the file type, the Joint Photographic Experts Group.

WebP files were developed by Google. This file format reduces images by up to 34 percent more than PNG or JPG. Its name comes from Web Picture Format.

AVIF stands for AV1 Image File Format. It's based on the AV1 video codec and offers excellent compression and quality.

Image Compression

The HTTP Archive says that images typically make up, on average, 21% of the total weight of a site page.

This is why you should compress your images before uploading them to your website.

No one wants to wait for a page or image to load, and worse, you could lose customers as people have no patience to stand by when they can easily go elsewhere.

There are many compression tools available. Find one that suits you.

Do you want to see how your website images impact your load speed? Take a look at Google's PageSpeed Insights tool. It's part of Google's Core Web Vitals, which have become crucial for SEO since their introduction in 2020.

Core Web Vitals and Images

Speaking of Core Web Vitals, let's talk about how images play a role. One of the key metrics is Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), which measures loading performance. Often, the largest element on a page is an image. By optimizing your pictures, you're not just improving general page speed; you're directly impacting this vital SEO metric.

Lazy Loading

Lazy loading improves page load times. This technique defers the loading of images that aren't immediately visible on the screen. It programs your site to only serve what's needed right now.

This can significantly improve initial page load times, especially for image-heavy pages. Most modern browsers support native lazy loading, making it easier to implement.

Make Your Images Unique

Don't use common stock images. They always look like what they are—common stock images.

Part of your design should include originality. You don't want to be exactly like your competitors. I'm sure these images look familiar.

Another reason to use original imagery is that even if your stock images are well optimized, you won't enjoy the same results as fresh, high-quality pictures.

The more original your site images are, the greater the user experience and the better chance you have of ranking for relevant searches.

AI-Generated Images

With the rise of AI image-generation tools, you might be tempted to use them for your website.

While they can be a powerful source of distinctive imagery, there are SEO considerations to be aware of.

Google's guidelines on AI-generated content apply to images too. The key is to use artificial intelligence to enhance your content, not replace human creativity entirely. Also, be aware that the novelty of AI-generated images might be questionable as these tools become more widespread.

Image File Name Customization

Take the time to rename your image files with descriptive names. Don't use IMG_043593 or Photo.

When Google searches and categorizes your site, it looks at all the content, including your image names. Be sure that the image filename represents the image. It will improve your SEO.

Alt Text

Alt tags stand for Alt Attribute and Alt Description. They are the alternative used when a website can't display a page correctly or if someone has images turned off.

When an image doesn't load, the user sees only a box with the alt tag text. You want a well-written description if the image doesn't appear. At worst, your site visitors will see a summary of the picture. Just ask Google.

In any case, alt text is a requirement under the American Disabilities Act.

Image Structured Data

Google has expanded its support for image structured data. This is like giving Google a detailed map of your images and how they relate to your content. By implementing structured data, you can provide additional context about your pictures, potentially improving their appearance in search results. For example, you can use structured data to indicate that an image is a product photo, a logo, or a recipe illustration.

Mobile-First Indexing

With Google's shift to mobile-first indexing, optimizing images for mobile devices is more consequential. This means considering how your pictures appear on smaller screens and ensuring they don't slow down mobile page loads. Techniques like responsive images, which adapt to different screen sizes, can help maintain a balance between visual quality and performance.

Tools and Resources

Image optimization is always evolving, and new tools are constantly emerging. Some current favorites include:

Squoosh: A powerful, easy-to-use image compression tool

ShortPixel: Useful for bulk optimization of existing images

Cloudinary: Offers advanced features like automatic format selection and responsive image delivery

AVIF Converter: For those ready to experiment with the latest image formats

Remember, the goal is to achieve an optimal balance between image quality and file size.

Final Thoughts

Image SEO is a dynamic field that's constantly evolving. By staying up-to-date with the latest formats, techniques, and best practices, you can ensure your images are not just pretty pictures, but powerful tools in your SEO arsenal.

From applying formats like WebP and AVIF to implementing structured data and considering AI-generated content, there's always room to enhance your image optimization strategy.

Keep experimenting, measuring, and refining. Your website (and your visitors) will thank you for it.

FAQs

Certainly. Here are the Q&As without numbering:

Q: Why is image SEO important?

A: Image SEO is important because it helps clients find your business, speeds up your site, improves your rank on Google, and contributes to visual search, which has become increasingly popular in recent years.

Q: What are some common image file formats used for websites?

A: The most commonly used image file formats for websites are PNG, JPG, WebP, and AVIF. Each has its own advantages in terms of quality and file size.

Q: How do images typically impact a website's load speed?

A: According to the HTTP Archive, images typically make up about 21% of the total weight of a site page, which can significantly impact load speed if not optimized properly.

Q: What is lazy loading and how does it help with image optimization?

A: Lazy loading is a technique that defers the loading of images that aren't immediately visible on the screen. It improves page load times by only serving what's needed right away, especially beneficial for image-heavy pages.

Q: Why is it important to use unique images on your website?

A: Using unique images, rather than common stock photos, enhances originality, improves user experience, and increases the chances of ranking for relevant searches. Unique images also help differentiate your site from competitors.

Q: What is alt text and why is it important?

A: Alt text (alternative text) is a description of an image that appears when the image can't be displayed. It's important for accessibility, SEO, and is required under the American Disabilities Act.

Q: How does image structured data benefit SEO?

A: Image structured data provides additional context about your pictures to search engines, potentially improving their appearance in search results. It can indicate whether an image is a product photo, logo, or recipe illustration, for example.

Q: How has mobile-first indexing affected image optimization?

A: With Google's shift to mobile-first indexing, optimizing images for mobile devices has become more important. This includes considering how images appear on smaller screens and ensuring they don't slow down mobile page loads.

Q: What are some tools recommended for image optimization?

A: The article recommends tools such as Squoosh for image compression, ShortPixel for bulk optimization, Cloudinary for advanced features like automatic format selection, and AVIF Converter for experimenting with newer image formats.

Q: How do Core Web Vitals relate to image optimization?

A: Images play a crucial role in Core Web Vitals, particularly in the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) metric, which measures loading performance. Optimizing images can directly impact this vital SEO metric.