Image SEO
Images are the fastest way to slow down a page, and a legitimate traffic channel in their own right
About Image SEO
Unoptimized images are the single most common cause of slow page loads, and slow loads are a confirmed Google ranking factor. A full-resolution photo uploaded directly from a camera, often 4, 8MB, served on a page that takes 8 seconds to load is both a user experience problem and an SEO problem. The fix is immediate: compress images before upload, convert to WebP, and use appropriate dimensions for the display size. The other half of image SEO gets less attention: Google Images is a substantial traffic source for certain content types, recipes, products, how-to content, design. Ranking there requires descriptive filenames (blue-running-shoes.jpg beats IMG_4892.jpg), accurate alt text that describes the image content, and structured data that associates the image with the page's topic. Alt text is commonly misused in one of two directions: left blank entirely, or keyword-stuffed. Write it as you'd describe the image to someone who can't see it. That description, written for accessibility, will also satisfy search engines.
Free Image SEO Tools
Image SEO Guides & Articles
Image SEO Guide: Rank in Google Images
Complete guide to optimizing images for search, speed, and Google Images rankings.
GuideAlt Text SEO: How to Write Alt Attributes That Work
How to write descriptive, keyword-rich alt text that helps both SEO and accessibility.
OptimizationWebP vs JPG vs PNG: Which Format Is Best for SEO?
A technical comparison of image formats and their impact on page speed and SEO.
TechnicalImage SEO Subtopics
Image SEO FAQs
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