Why do eCommerce SEO experts use image alt tags?

Alt tags are significant items of an eCommerce store’s SEO checklist. Alt tags feature alternative image descriptions to ensure a positive user experience; these alternative image descriptions help users get an idea about the image if they’re using a screen reader or their web browser somehow failed to upload the photo.

It’s a norm to fill alt tags for eCommerce SEO experts, but why do they give much importance to alt tags, and how do alt tags help eCommerce websites’ SEO? This blog will discuss the importance of alt tags for eCommerce stores’ SEO and alt tags optimizing factors.

What is Alt Tag?

Technically speaking, alt tags are not tags, but image attributes that help you add image descriptions. Alt tags or alt text attributes let you add the textual descriptions for images to improve the SEO and user experience.

You can use HTML to add the alt text for images by accessing the image tags as we have discussed that alt tags are not tags but image attributes. Look at the following HTML image tag to find the alt text insertion,

Image tag without alt text attribute

<img src=“image.jpg” style=”width:500px;height:600px;”>

Image tag with the alt text attribute

<img src=“image.jpg” alt=“image description” style=”width:500px;height:600px;”>

You don’t need to worry about HTML using semi-automated CMS like WooCommerce or Shopify for your eCommerce store. These CMS lets you add alt text for product images through GUI text boxes.

How do Alt tags improve user experience?

Alt tags are crucial while optimizing an eCommerce site for a positive user experience. Alt tags carry the alternative descriptions for images that help to ensure a positive user experience in the following ways,

 

• Screen readers –These are specially designed browsers for people with visual impairment. Screen readers read the web pages for special people; alt text allows screen readers to explain the context of an image. Alt text becomes more crucial when special people are surfing an eCommerce site as knowing product image context is vital for purchasing.
• Slow internet speed – What if a browser fails to upload images because of slow internet speed? Alt text will help such users to understand the context of the image. Slow internet speed is only one issue; browsers can fail to upload pictures because of varying technical matters. And alt tags filled with alternative image descriptions come forward to help users understand the context of the image.

Providing a positive UX is one of the key reasons behind the eCommerce SEO experts’ norms to essentially use alt tags for images.

How do Alt tags impact eCommerce stores’ SEO?

Alt tags ensure a positive user experience, but how do they impact eCommerce websites’ SEO? Well, alt tags are must-do on-page SEO factors; they have immense potential to bring traffic and improve conversion rates for an eCommerce site. Let’s look at the enlisted points explaining alt tags’ SEO impact on eCommerce stores,

• Google ranking metrics rely on alt tags to understand the context of an image. They can’t comprehend an image without alt-text, meaning Google will not even consider an image for listing if it does not have an alt tag.
• Alt tags help search engines to know the actual context of an image and index it in a relevant category against the most suitable keywords.
• Search engine optimized alt tags can get images ranked for Google image search. Most people do Google image searches for products to get a detailed view of a product before making a purchase. Images ranked on Google image search will ultimately boost an eCommerce store’s traffic and conversion rates.

How to optimize the Alt tags for eCommerce SEO?

Filling out alt tags with keywords is not enough. In fact, search engines can take keyword stuffing as a spam activity. Alt tags are like a double-edged sword; they need caution to enjoy the benefits. Let’s follow the enlisted eCommerce SEO experts’ tips to optimize the alt text properly,

• Keyword Phrases – You may use keyword-rich phrases to insert into alt tags instead of single words. Ensure to use a descriptive tone while writing alternative descriptions for the images; it should not sound like a title. Embedding a single word or title in an alt tag will not help you ensure a positive user experience.

• Avoid Duplication –Don’t use a similar alt text for the multiple alt tags; it will send the content duplication signal to the search engines. It will send negative SEO signals and user experience.

• Natural Alt Text – Natural and original writing is the base of SEO, irrespective of the writing purpose. Whether you’re writing a blog post, product description, or alt text, the natural writing style is the key to success. Embed your keywords naturally; artificial keyword stuffing will cause a negative user experience leading to the lower Dwell time. For example, if you’re selling glasses, use alt tags like ‘wear sunglasses to protect your eyes, stylish glasses for a perfect look.’ etc. You can improve these alt texts by adopting a descriptive tone to make them perfect, especially for people with visual impairment.

What to do with decorative images?

How to write the alt text for decorative images or images with no purpose? You might have decorative images on a web page without any significant purpose to explain. Ecommerce SEO experts suggest not using decorative images for a product page or landing page in your HTML. Always try to keep the decorative images in the website CSS section.

If, for somehow reason, you can’t add those images to your CSS, leave the alt tag empty. Screen readers skip the images with empty alt tags to ensure a positive user experience. Look at the following image tag with an empty alt text attribute,

<img src=”image.jpg” alt=”” style=”width:500px; height:600px;”>

If you’re using a semi-automated CMS like WordPress or Shopify, leave the alt text box empty for images without any purpose.

Final Words | Why do eCommerce SEO experts use image alt tags?

Alt tags carry the textual description for images to ensure a positive user experience and help search engines apprehend the actual context of the picture.

In 2021 eCommerce industry witnessed USD 4.9 trillion in sales worldwide, with an expected growth of 50% in the next four years. This immense potential in the eCommerce industry also hints at the severe competition. eCommerce experts are not leaving a single stone unturned to improve their optimization and marketing. Ecommerce SEO experts use alt tags to ensure a positive user experience and enjoy higher ranking for their product images in Google image search.