The inner workings of an SEO are geared towards applying strategic formulations which will enhance the position of a particular website when someone searches the web using particular phrases or words which are key to the subject being researched. Traditionally this optimization would spew out results based on HTML pages alone. This has now evolved to search results, which will use all properties in web sites such as images as well as books and videos. For instance Google implemented this and calls it a Universal search. It has apparently changed the view of searches completely and settled once and for all the doubt among SEO circles if using ALT text or keywords in the file names of images effect rankings. They definitely do. Consequently every component on a site has to be optimized, as do images in which the following could be of help.
Firstly the context of an image is important. This context is made up of the content especially in terms of the keywords and headings, which surround the image. A whole lot of images do not necessarily help unless it pertains to an extremely popular super brand.
Secondly know that the URL is also considered as a component of the context of the image. Give attention to the domain, directory, and file names. Use keywords in them as they are taken into account when relevant.
Next, take a cue from the newspaper and magazine publications and place captions rich with keywords along with the images.
Fourthly, check on the image type. It is fundamental. Make certain that it is .jpg and definitely not .gif. The former is the specified format for photographs while the latter is more used for graphics.
The images themselves need to be carefully chosen. This is the fifth observation you need to keep in mind. Poorly chosen and an irrelevant image can do immense harm. Take out any images that would not help your cause by appearing on the result page of a search.
Sixthly formulating sitemaps which feed following, onto the images. As it happens with web pages, a search engine can trail a sitemap that you have created of images.
The use of ALT text, which is rich in keyword content, will definitely be of help in optimizing your images. It cannot be overdone by stuffing the ALT. It has to be to the point and short. This was a point of high debate. As stated earlier the debate has been squarely settled. In fact this particular activity could be the make or break over on which site enjoys the top ranking in a list of results. Don’t forget to use it.
The other considerations are to use of the words such as “Photo” or “Picture” in the ALT text, as these words are often used when initiating a search. Placing a watermark on the image or inserting a brand onto the URL captures significant traffic. Always insist on your images being top quality. Uniqueness with good contrast will always score.
It hard to sometime do seo for your pictures, but its an must and you will be surprise how people actually search through photos.
“Black Seo Guy “Signing Off”