Best practice SEO for images added via WP

[Curran]

<label class="setting" data-setting="title">Hi</label>

When adding an image to a post or page using wordpress I have complete 4 fields:

Title
Caption
Alt Text
Description

If the image is of an orange campervan in Cornwall, UK then how best would I complete these fields? Can Title and Alt be the same and can Caption and description be the same?

Thank you for this!

James

[FedeEinhorn]

It doesn't really matter that much if you use the alt text, and title well to describe the image. However, I always recommend (and do it myself) renaming the image to match the title, in your case something like orange-campervan-cornwall-uk.jpg.

Always use dashed to separate words, not underscores

[Curran]

One other thing if you have time - what should the image be called in the file it's uploaded from? Would it be 'orange campervan cornwall uk'? Thanks

[Curran]

Thank you - it makes sense now!

[Curran]

Thanks for a fast and detailed response!

[FedeEinhorn]

Hi James,

Each field is actually intended for something different:

• Title: should be what is the image. In this case: orange campervan
• Caption: Is what shows up under the image describing it to users visiting the page. In this case: orange campervan in cornwall, UK blah blah.
• Alt Text: Should be an image description that appears when the browser can't (for some reason) display the image. In this case can be either "orange campervan", "Image of orange campervan" or whatever you think describes best the image when somebody can't see it.
• Description: Is just that, a short, brief description of the image contents.

Hope that helps.

[Travis_Bailey]

First, I would focus on making the alt tag accessible. If the image didn't load, or a user happened to be visually impaired, could they tell what should be in the images place? So alt="orange campervan in cornwall uk", but only if the context of Cornwall UK is important. Don't write a book, if the image is that of a green apple - then alt="green apple".

Here's more on alt text. *Note, don't use images for a nav, but definitely alt -exactly- if you don't have a choice.

The purpose of a caption is editorial. It should be a little less terse than your alt text. If you're writing about traveling through Cornwall in your campervan something like; "What an adventure I had when driving my orange campervan through Cornwall UK". If you're writing about your trip through Cornwall UK in your orange campervan - then you've successfully given the lizard brain a reason to possibly stick around and read.

The description part really depends on if your theme supports it. More on that here. An example would be; "I really liked this shot of my orange camper van. The sunsets in Cornwall UK are amazing!" (If there's a sunset.) You're really just providing commentary here.

The title is closer in spirit to the alt text. It may also include a CTA. "Click here for more adventures"

But the overall goal should be aimed at being descriptive where appropriate and succinct where necessary. Doing so improves accessibility. If you're remotely talking about the topic, the keywords tend to fall into place.