If you are an editor or a blogger you probably have encountered a certain question on a daily basis: should I add an image to my article? To answer this question, “Yes, you should.” Images on an article will appear more appealing to your readers and can contribute to your SEO efforts. We have come up with a few quick and simple steps for you to follow to optimize your image for SEO.
- Choosing the right image. When selecting an image that best relates to the article you are writing about, you should grasp the opportunity to add an image of your own. This will not only benefit your article but also comes across unique which readers appreciate.
- Preparing your images. When optimizing an image, make sure when downloading the image to compress the size and also maintain its image resolution. Having large images will affect your site speed and increase your bounce rate, which is not good for SEO. If you are struggling to find an image of your own and looking for an alternative, pixabay.com is a great tool to use without any attribution
- Alt text and title text. You want Google to know what the image is about. If your image is a sunset in Boston showing the Boston Harbor, the file name shouldn’t be DCS2788.jpg, but Boston-Habor-Sunset.jpg. The main keyword would be Boston Harbor, as that is the main subject of the photo. Make a good habit of this by renaming your file name at the beginning.
- XML Image sitemaps. You should create and submit your XML sitemap to Google webmasters. By Adding images to your XML sitemaps will not inform Google about images on your site. But also help Google index your images better.
Optimizing your images is one of the simplest methods you can use. With these quick and simple steps, images can play an important role in conversion which is great for User experience and SEO purposes.