9 Tips for Writing Perfect Alt Text for Accessibility [Boost SEO & Inclusivity]

Alt text matters. It’s not just a description; it’s a lifeline for accessibility. For many users, it’s how they experience images online.

If you’re not using alt text effectively, you’re excluding people. Screen readers rely on it to convey visual content to those with visual impairments. It’s also a key factor in SEO, helping search engines understand your images.

Crafting good alt text isn’t hard, but it requires thought. You need to balance clarity, context, and conciseness. Done right, it makes your content inclusive and boosts its reach.

What Is Alt Text For Accessibility?

Alt text, or alternative text, describes visual content for users who can’t see images. Screen readers use this text to provide essential context to visually impaired users, ensuring equitable digital experiences.

Accessible alt text follows WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards. A 2023 WebAIM study found that 60.6% of website homepages lacked accessible image descriptions, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive alt text integration.

Search engines also rely on alt text for crawling and indexing images. Clear, keyword-oriented descriptions improve accessibility and boost SEO visibility.

• Accuracy: Clearly state the image’s purpose, e.g., “A brown dog catching a frisbee in a park.”
• Context Relevance: Ensure the description matches the surrounding content.
• Conciseness: Limit text to 125 characters for optimal clarity.

Include alt text on every image, chart, and graphic to create more inclusive, enriched web experiences.

Importance Of Alt Text In Digital Content

Alt text is a key element of digital content, providing essential benefits for accessibility, compliance, user experience, and SEO. It bridges the gap between visual content and inclusive access for all users.

Enhancing Accessibility For Visually Impaired Users

Alt text ensures inclusive access for users with visual impairments. Screen readers read this text aloud, delivering critical image context to those unable to see visuals.

A 2023 WebAIM study found that 60.6% of website homepages lacked accessible image descriptions. Adding descriptive alt text guarantees equity by providing vital content to millions relying on assistive technologies.

Example of an effective alt text: “Red apple sitting on a wooden table with sunlight.”

Improving SEO And Search Engine Reach

Alt text improves your content’s SEO performance. Search engines use alt text to understand image context, boosting your visibility in image-based searches.

Clear, keyword-focused alt descriptions also enhance ranking potential. For instance, including terms like “blue ceramic coffee mug” connects your content to specific search queries.

Maximizing your search reach while promoting accessibility positions your site as both user-friendly and authoritative.

Best Practices For Writing Effective Alt Text

Alt text plays a critical role in making web content accessible to everyone, especially users with visual impairments. By adhering to best practices, you ensure inclusivity and enhance SEO.

Be Descriptive And Concise

Be specific while keeping your description under 125 characters. Assistive technologies convey shorter text more effectively.

Example: “Golden retriever playing fetch in a sunny park.”

A 2023 WebAIM report revealed 60.6% of homepages lacked accessible alt text, highlighting the importance of clear, concise descriptions. Avoid filler words and describe the essential elements.

Avoid Using Generic Phrases Like “Image Of”

Drop phrases like “image of” or “picture of” as screen readers already announce it. These redundancies slow down users dependent on assistive devices.

Instead, go straight to providing value. Example: Use “Ocean waves crashing against a rocky shore during sunset” rather than “Image of ocean waves.”

Incorporate Keywords Naturally

Include relevant keywords for SEO, but ensure they fit the context of the image. For instance, in an e-commerce setting, use “Blue silk dress with floral patterns.”

Overloading text with keywords (keyword stuffing) hurts usability and search rankings alike. Make your alt text helpful, not robotic, to enhance both usability and search performance.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Alt text plays a critical role in web accessibility and SEO. Avoiding frequent mistakes is essential to improve user experience and make your content inclusive.

Overloading With Keywords

Stuffing alt text with excessive keywords hinders accessibility and confuses users. Focus on clear, descriptive text. For example:

Poor Alt Text: “apple fruit farm fresh sweet juicy healthy organic apple”.
Better Alt Text: “A fresh red apple on a wooden table.”

Data from WebAIM confirms that simplicity ensures better user interaction and aligns with accessibility standards. Prioritize user context over SEO.

Skipping Alt Text For Decorative Images

Every image needs a purpose, even decorative ones. If an image adds no contextual value, leave the alt attribute empty (alt="") instead of skipping it. Research shows 60.6% of homepages fail to include proper alt text, affecting accessibility.

Example:

For a decorative divider, use:

<img src="divider.jpg" alt="">

This approach helps screen readers skip non-essential content, improving navigation for visually impaired users.

Writing Alt Text That’s Too Lengthy

Brevity is key. Keep alt text under 125 characters to avoid being cut off by screen readers. Overlong descriptions disrupt user experience.

Poor Example: “A modern kitchen with white marble countertops, a stainless steel oven, wooden cabinets, indoor plants, and sunlight streaming through large windows.”
Better Example: “Modern kitchen with sunlight on white marble countertops.”

Following WebAIM’s 125-character guideline ensures conciseness while maintaining clarity. Always aim for readability and relevance.

Tools And Resources For Implementing Alt Text

Effectively implementing alt text involves using reliable tools and following established guidelines. A combination of automated tools and best practice standards ensures accurate, accessible descriptions.

Accessibility Testing Tools

Use tools to identify gaps in alt text and improve accessibility compliance:

• WAVE Evaluation Tool: Analyzes web pages for WCAG compliance, highlighting missing or poor alt text.
• axe Accessibility Checker: Delivers comprehensive reports on accessibility barriers, with real-time testing.
• A11y – Accessibility Inspector: Evaluates visual content for accessibility issues and offers actionable insights.

The 2023 WebAIM study reported that 60.6% of website homepages lacked accessible image descriptions. Tools like these streamline corrections to enhance user experience.

Guidelines From W3C And Other Organizations

Follow standards to craft effective alt text:

• WCAG: Provides guidance to ensure alt text is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.
• W3C: Recommends concise, functional descriptions aligned with the image’s purpose.
• Accessibility professionals: Stress skipping alt text for purely decorative visuals or using empty alt attributes (alt="").

Implementing these guidelines fosters inclusivity and improves SEO. For compliance and optimization, always align alt text with global accessibility standards.

Conclusion

Alt text is more than just a technical requirement—it’s a powerful way to make your content accessible to everyone while boosting your SEO efforts. By prioritizing thoughtful, descriptive, and concise alt text, you ensure your website is inclusive and user-friendly for all audiences.

Remember to follow best practices and leverage accessibility tools to refine your alt text strategy. Every step you take toward accessible content strengthens your digital presence and creates a more equitable online experience for all users.