Optimising Your Images 'Alternative Text' (or 'alt') Attribute

The images on your page can help your listings a little, too. Each image on your page can include a keyword phrase or two as an 'alt' tag (alternative text) that relates to the image. An 'alt' tag is the the name label that pops up when your cursor hovers over an image on a web page.

This text also shows up to help those that may have their images turned off when visiting your site. This does not work for all engines, but it certainly does not hurt,  so we recommend you give it a try where you can.

Tag limits:  We do not recommend using more than a brief sentence to describe an image.

Image Tag tips:

• Be sure to use the keyword phrases that you also used in the copy of your page, title tag, and meta description.
• Don't try to squeeze a large number of keywords into the "alt" attribute. We recommend using no more than 3-6 per image and try to construct a short readable sentence.
• Describe the image - do not just list keywords.

How to Edit Your 'Alt' Tags

1) Select the image you want to edit in the text editor on the page

2) Click on the 'image' icon in the toolbar (the wee picture icon)

3) In the Image Properties pop-up that opens, add a brief but accurate description of the image to the 'Alternative Text' field.
 

4) Click 'OK' to close the pop-up, and on the 'update' button below the text editor to confirm the changes.