According to the best internet marketing company, blog posts with images get 94% total views than those without. But did you know you can properly optimize the images on your articles to further increase the views on your page? Optimizing your images can also help your pages to rank better on search engine results.
Curious as to how you can optimize images for SEO and ranking? Here are helpful ways on how you can make your images SEO-friendly:
- Name your image file correctly.
The name should depict what the image is and contain the keyword you’re using. Make sure not to abbreviate or separate your keyword-focused name with hyphens.
- Use the right resolution.
Use only the highest resolution for the space the image will take up in the article. If not, then stick to the standard resolution for web pages which is 72dpi. A higher resolution only makes the page loading time longer.
- Reduce the image file’s size.
Aside from the image resolution, the file size should be reduced as much as possible. Small file sizes mean faster load time for the page and less dead weight.
- Use captions.
You can use the caption to add relevant information to the image, which users may need to find the image. Captions should also feature keywords related to the image itself and the article’s overall content.
- Add alt text to optimize the image.
If the picture fails to load, the alt text will take the place of the image instead. So when writing the alt text, make sure to describe what exactly happens in the picture using relevant keywords.
- Use the right image for the right article.
According to Yoast SEO, an image that is surrounded by related text can rank better for the keywords it is optimized for. The picture you use should also help the reader identify what the article is about, instead of distracting.
- Make your image responsive.
Change the image size depending on what the screen size the reader is using, whether it be a smartphone or desktop. Just like how mobile-responsive sites are essential, the same rule goes for responsive images.