I was told I need to write alt text (alt attribute) for every image, but what should I write? Should I just describe what's in the image or add keywords?
Some of my images have very long alt text, some are short. Is there a standard length? Is it better for SEO to be strong or light?
Does Google read the alt text or is the image itself enough?
Alt text (alt attribute) is critical for Google to understand the image content. It also provides accessibility for visually impaired users who use screen readers.
Alt text rule: Describe what's in the image naturally. Don't force keywords (keyword stuffing) as you might get penalized. Example: Wrong: 'paris tourism guide paris tourism' / Correct: 'Eiffel Tower front view'.
I used to add keywords to every image at first. A consultant told me not to do that because of keyword stuffing. Then I wrote naturally: just describing what's in the image. My traffic didn't change but my site felt cleaner.
Doki · Log management setup · 2025
Alt Text Writing Rules: - Briefly describe what's there (5-10 words) - Add keywords if natural (don't force it) - Don't leave it empty (not accessible) - Don't start descriptions with 'image of' / 'photo of' (leave blank) - Decorative images: alt='' (empty) - Put long descriptions in figcaption
Quick fix: 1) Open WP image editor. 2) Write alt text for each image (describe what's in it). 3) If there's a keyword, add it naturally (don't force). 4) Ctrl+S to save. 5) Done. Most images took 1-2 minutes to complete.
edit: I wrote something wrong above, sorry about that.
Let me speak from the other side; I'm on the supplier side. Don't hesitate to ask; those who don't ask always pay more.
If you're going this route, sort this out first. Everyone rushing into writing alt text gets stuck at the same point.
Just leaving this note, it might be useful.
I don't think this advice fits everyone. A page that answers one question works better than one touching on five topics.
Good luck with that.
Sorry, but this doesn't apply in every case. Don't hesitate to ask; those who don't ask always pay more.
Good luck with that.
Doki · Vulnerability scanning · 2025
i have no experience with writing alt text, so I'm asking but a competitor's ranking might come from years of accumulation not just their content.
ranking is the result, search intent is the input. look at intent first. like if I were you, I'd go this route.
We got stuck at the same point for a while. If it's your first time start small; scaling comes later.
If rankings stay the same but clicks drop, the issue isn't your page, but the search result appearance. Correct me if I'm wrong.
We experienced almost the exact same thing last year. If it's your first time, start small; scaling comes later.
Doki · Brand identity · 2025
I agree, and I'd like to emphasize that. Solutions that work at a small scale collapse when you grow; I learned this late.
Don't hesitate to ask; those who don't ask always pay more.
Yes, that's exactly how it is with writing alt text. anyway taking notes for two weeks yields better results than a six-month estimate.
If I were you I'd go this route.
Let me summarize the topic, since several different answers were given. Any comment made without a control group is just a guess.
When making a decision, first look at what data you have on hand. Correct me if I'm wrong.