Alt-text on all my images or only my contextual images?

[JonathanLinda91]

Hello everybody,

I have a question regarding Alt-text. Is it important, regarding SEO, that I add alt-text to all my images, or only on my contextual images?

Hope someone can help me.

[CommT]

I wouldn't add ALT tags to all images. Only those that add context to a page - if it's a design element that repeats from page to page it would be incredibly annoying to have it read out by a screen reader over and over again. Example: 'Company X Logo, Company X Logo, Company X Logo, Company X Logo....' How to wind-up the blind very quickly!!!

I started my digital career working for an agency that specialised in producing accessible websites for schools, nurseries, public libraries etc. I learned a lot about how screen readers work there and it was a real eye-opener. (if you excuse the pun)

XXX A

[TommyTan]

Hi,

I would add alt text to all images.  As Amelia mentioned, if helps users that are using a screen reader or if the image doesn't render, it gives visitors an idea what the image is.  Furthermore, since Google can't crawl image yet, it tells Google what the image is about.

In addition, it also helps with your Google Image ranking which can lead more visitors to your site when they are searching for an image on Google.

[CommT]

This is a really good question.

I think ALT tags should be used on all images that add information to the user, but not on those that are just there to add a bit of interest to the page (background images etc).

Someone using a screen reader would find it intensely annoying if you just stuff keywords into your alt tags. Don't ever forget the true purpose of alt tags: they are there to help people using screen readers (generally blind and visually impaired people) to 'view' a web page. Not to get additional SEO benefit. Though of course, if you choose relevant images you can 'kill two birds with one stone'!

[Vizergy]

I wouldn't bother with design element only images; borders, backgrounds etc... only actual images of something you can describe.  I would also stay very far away from just adding keywords to the alt attribute.  If the images are relevant to the page's focus just describing the image accurately will help a great deal.

[GPainter]

The alt image is great for helping visually impaired users and seo engines its a good idea if you've got the time to give all your images alts.