SEO Photos optimization
Why is it important for SEO to name images correctly and describe each element?
When a user searches for images, your photo will be indexed at the top if it's formatted correctly. Google has already learned to identify what's in an image. However, it still needs help with a title and accurate description to rank correctly.
It's reasonable to order optimization and image search in Yandex & Google for resources with more visual content: postcards, memes, travel and impressions, from professional or amateur photographers, artists, tattoo studios, educational materials, or products/services.
Yandex's originality requirements: your photos must not appear on any other websites, even on your social media accounts or on platforms where you can buy photos for your business. Just look at similar images to see where else the material is located.
Google has simpler requirements: keywords and words from the semantic core.
For example, if you have standard products, briefly include the model, color, material, functionality, size, style, and other important information in the title and text. Image size matters. The smaller the photo, the faster it loads. Google recommends using the WebP format to reduce image size. Don't forget to check your website's loading speed. Size, quality, and weight: the image should be large, clear, and lightweight.
Recommendations
Photos have three important elements: Name, Alt, Title
Photo title
The name comes before the extension. The main ones are jpg, jpeg, png, webp.
name.jpg / name.jpeg / name.png / name.webp
- ✅ Language : I recommend only the classic English language, which is compatible with all search engines, browsers, and website platforms.
- ✅ Each letter is capitalized, no uppercase letters.
- ✅ Ideally up to 20 characters
- ✅ Each photo must have its own original title.
- ✅ If there is a preview (a reduced copy), then the photos are duplicated with different names, and their sizes and weights are different.
- ✅ Between words there is only a defix "-"
It is forbidden
- ❌ No spaces or underscores "_"
- ❌ A name written in Latin but sounding Russian is like "Soviet Union" for SEO. If you can't write a single word in English, you won't rank well in Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, or Yahoo. But Yandex will appreciate your "leggings and tie-dye."
- ❌ Russian names in Cyrillic—not all devices and platforms support it. Therefore, they are replaced with symbols and icons, as Tilda does. WordPress, however, supports Russian in photo names.
- ❌ Duplicate the same photo on the page, using different names and metadata. At least change the lighting or flip it horizontally or vertically.
- ❌ Having two different images for the mobile version and for the desktop is considered a hidden element.
- ❌ Using words with the same root in a single meta tag (alt or title), especially repeating them, is prohibited. Spam and tautology are prohibited.
- ❌ Having two different photos on the site with the same name.
- ❌ Naming the photos is pointless: 12345.jpg.
Alt and Title
✅ Alt ⎨English image alternative - alternative image name⎬- is a short meta tag of 3-5 words, consisting of keywords.
✅ Title is a meta tag that contains the title/ description of the image - a phrase or a whole sentence, with the addition of LSI words.
✅ There is no period at the end! Neither for the alt nor for the title. The only punctuation marks allowed for meta tags are ellipsis, question marks, exclamation marks, and colons. No periods, commas, or semicolons.
✅ All meta tags must contain relevant keywords and not be over-spammed.
Weight and size
- The lighter the photo, the faster it loads and the smaller the page weight.
- The larger the canvas of the image, the more likely Yandex and Google are to accept it as an original.
- The clearer the image, the more trust real users have in the site.
Here you need to find a happy medium – upload a high-quality, lightweight, large photo. Below is a link to a free tool that reduces the size of photos without losing quality.
Tools
Examples of pics optimization
This is assuming you only have one image per page. If you have more, such titles will be over-optimized; they just need to be sorted and kept short so that information isn't repeated in each one.
beef-steak.jpg
Alt: Medium rare steak from the chef of the Boss restaurant
Title: The menu features tender beef steak for gourmets and connoisseurs of exquisite meat delicacies
сaesar-salad-shrimp.jpg
Alt: Caesar Salad Recipe with Shrimp
Title: Caesar dressing, king shrimp, iceberg lettuce, Parmesan cheese, cherry tomatoes, garlic, white croutons
art-university.jpg
Alt: IICMAS Boss
Title: International Institute for the Creation of Modern Art Systems Boss
apartment-renovation.jpg
Alt: Turnkey apartment renovation in St. Petersburg
Title: Modern design, individual approach, layout development, on-time delivery, top foremen in St. Petersburg
modern-kitchen.jpg
Alt: Buy a kitchen in St. Petersburg
Title: Stylish turnkey kitchen with furniture, appliances, and plumbing. Equipment installation, connection, and commissioning included