SEO Optimized Images
SEO Optimized Images
Reptilian brain
‘We humans still have an early evolutionary part of the brain that exists today, which is the reptilian brain. This part of the brain is the most primitive part and is responsible for basic survival motivations such as the fight or flight response. This part of the brain is one of the reasons why images play such an important role in marketing, and more importantly, in blog posts.
Images play an important role in communication and enhance the visual appeal of a website’s branding and its writing. However, if your images are not optimised for SEO, they can have a negative effect on your website’s performance and SEO. In this article, we will provide you with the ultimate guide to image optimisation for SEO, covering everything from file formats to alt tags.
Reptilian brain
We humans still have an early evolutionary part of the brain that exists today, which is the reptilian brain. This part of the brain is the most primitive part and is responsible for basic survival motivations such as the fight or flight response. This part of the brain is one of the reasons why images play such an important role in marketing, and more importantly, in blog posts.
Images play an important role in communication and enhance the visual appeal of a website’s branding and it’s writing. However, if your images are not optimised for SEO, they can have a negative effect on your website’s performance and SEO. In this article, we will provide you with the ultimate guide to image optimisation for SEO, covering everything from file formats to alt tags.
This is a vector. Vector graphics are used mainly for illustrations, graphs, and text.
Which image file format is best for SEO?
The best format for images for your website depends on several factors, such as the type of graphic in your image, the image’s size, and the number of colours needed for good optimisation. There are two types of images that you see online: vector and JPEG.
EPS – Encapsulated PostScript (used for websites)
SVG – Scalable Vector Graphics (used for websites)
PDF – Portable Document Format (can contain both vector and raster images) (used for websites)
AI – Adobe Illustrator Artwork (not used for websites, but used for production)
CDR – CorelDRAW Image (not used for websites, but used for production)
WMF – Windows Metafile (not used for websites, but used for production)
DXF – Drawing Exchange Format (not used for websites, but used for production)
EMF – Enhanced Metafile (not used for websites, but used for production)
This is a vector. Vector graphics are used mainly for illustrations, graphs, and text.
Which image file format is best for SEO?
The best format for images for your website depends on several factors, such as the type of graphic in your image, the image’s size, and the number of colours needed for good optimisation. There are two types of images that you see online: vector and JPEG.
EPS – Encapsulated PostScript (used for websites)
SVG – Scalable Vector Graphics (used for websites)
PDF – Portable Document Format (can contain both vector and raster images) (used for websites)
AI – Adobe Illustrator Artwork (not used for websites, but used for production)
CDR – CorelDRAW Image (not used for websites, but used for production)
WMF – Windows Metafile (not used for websites, but used for production)
DXF – Drawing Exchange Format (not used for websites, but used for production)
EMF – Enhanced Metafile (not used for websites, but used for production)
This is a raster. Raster images are usually photos and can be used for illustrations; however, using raster file types for illustrations will not give you an optimised image.
JPEG/JPG – Joint Photographic Experts Group Image (used for websites)
PNG – Portable Network Graphics (used for websites)
GIF – Graphics Interchange Format (used for websites)
WebP – Web Picture Format (used for websites)
SVG – Scalable Vector Graphics (raster images can be embedded in SVG files, used for websites)
BMP – Bitmap Image (not used for websites, but used for production)
TIFF – Tagged Image File Format (not used for websites, but used for production)
PSD – Adobe Photoshop Document (not used for websites, but used for production)
RAW – Camera Raw Image (not used for websites, but used for production)
This is a raster. Raster images are usually photos and can be used for illustrations; however, using raster file types for illustrations will not give you an optimised image.
JPEG/JPG – Joint Photographic Experts Group Image (used for websites)
PNG – Portable Network Graphics (used for websites)
GIF – Graphics Interchange Format (used for websites)
WebP – Web Picture Format (used for websites)
SVG – Scalable Vector Graphics (raster images can be embedded in SVG files, used for websites)
BMP – Bitmap Image (not used for websites, but used for production)
TIFF – Tagged Image File Format (not used for websites, but used for production)
PSD – Adobe Photoshop Document (not used for websites, but used for production)
RAW – Camera Raw Image (not used for websites, but used for production)
Free tools for editing photos
Paid tools for editing photos
Free tools for editing photos
Paid tools for editing photos
Why use JPEGs for SEO image optimization?
JPEGs can be compressed to a very small size while retaining a lot of the detail and depth that is created when the raw or original file was created. When you use a photographer to shoot photos for your site, they may well supply final files as either a .jpg or .raw. Raw files are only really intended to be modified by the photographer.
When .raw files are edited, they are edited in such a way as to not destroy the original (non-destructive editing). Editing in this way allows the photographer or photo editor to edit a file and not the original .raw. However, programs like Lightroom, Photoshop, or Bridge automatically sync the data in the extra file that holds editing information that is then applied to the .raw when outputting to a .jpg. Most website owners won’t need to be a part of this process, but it’s good to know the general workflow.
When saving a JPEG in Photoshop, you are asked what kind of compression you would like to save the JPEG in. You have the choice of between 1 and 12 levels of compression. The lower the number, the higher the compression and the less image quality. However, the file size will be very small. Here is an image with high compression.
Saving files with low compression will give you near-original levels of quality. However, the file sizes are large and won’t be optimal for SEO images on your website. Here is a low-compressed image; you may notice that it loads slower.
Images with high compression will lead to a bad web experience because the quality of the images is lower. On the flip side, slower-loading images lead to a bad web experience because although higher quality, they load much slower. So what can you do about this problem, and which setting do you use?
Why use JPEGs for SEO image optimization?
JPEGs can be compressed to a very small size while retaining a lot of the detail and depth that is created when the raw or original file was created. When you use a photographer to shoot photos for your site, they may well supply final files as either a .jpg or .raw. Raw files are only really intended to be modified by the photographer.
When .raw files are edited, they are edited in such a way as to not destroy the original (non-destructive editing). Editing in this way allows the photographer or photo editor to edit a file and not the original .raw. However, programs like Lightroom, Photoshop, or Bridge automatically sync the data in the extra file that holds editing information that is then applied to the .raw when outputting to a .jpg. Most website owners won’t need to be a part of this process, but it’s good to know the general workflow.
When saving a JPEG in Photoshop, you are asked what kind of compression you would like to save the JPEG in. You have the choice of between 1 and 12 levels of compression. The lower the number, the higher the compression and the less image quality. However, the file size will be very small. Here is an image with high compression.
Saving files with low compression will give you near-original levels of quality. However, the file sizes are large and won’t be optimal for SEO images on your website. Here is a low-compressed image; you may notice that it loads slower.
Images with high compression will lead to a bad web experience because the quality of the images is lower. On the flip side, slower-loading images lead to a bad web experience because although higher quality, they load much slower. So what can you do about this problem, and which setting do you use?
What setting should I use for my SEO-optimized JPEGs?
The immediate answer is that you should set your image compression to a halfway house. I manually set all of my images; I generally go for 7 compression, or whatever I can get away with. So I might set my images to a 3 compression, but only as long as the images don’t degrade too much.
There is another solution, however, that doesn’t involve messing around with settings in Photoshop. If you don’t have Photoshop, another method is using www.tinypng.com. Even though I’m a Photoshop user, I have found that the compression method used by TinyPNG is much better than Photoshop, or at least until Photoshop improves its compression methods, which by the time you read this article might be a thing. So when I save my images, I choose level 12 for JPEG compression. I save my file, then I upload it to TinyPNG and download the compressed JPEG. This is the best approach, but it is time-consuming.
Should I use PNG for SEO image optimization?
Just like JPEGs, PNGs have their use cases. For example, I almost never find a use for PNGs when it comes to photos of the world, for example. PNGs are usually suited towards graphics like graphs, charts, flow diagrams, etc. There is something about PNG that is only saving what is absolutely needed. Using legacy applications in Photoshop such as “export for web” will allow you to specify levels of color in a PNG, the bit rate in the PNG, and many other settings to allow greater control of SEO image optimization.
Another feature of PNG is the ability to have transparency; this is where the image is in some parts able to be seen, and in other parts, you can see right through the image.
Another feature of .png is the ability to have transparency. This is where the image is partially visible, and in other parts, you can see through the image.
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), which isn’t used as much as it used to be, is almost a raster image format. It supports transparency, just like .png, but in general, the quality is never as good as .png or jpeg. The same size image in both instances will result in the .gif being bigger.
The good thing about .gif is that they can be animated. Think about all those animated .gifs you send on your phone using WhatsApp; it’s the same technology.
What file size is best for SEO image optimization?
Like all questions in marketing, “it depends.” For example, if you have a fast web host server that you pay perhaps £30 to £50 per month, the size of your image doesn’t matter very much. Companies that pay web host fees like this are generally bigger brands that have the excess cash needed to pay these fees. For the most part, people are paying about £10 per month in fees. These types of customers need to be more aware of the images on their site.
Let’s say you want to have small images accompanying your written article in the middle of your text. Your image shouldn’t be any bigger than 500 pixels wide and 500 pixels in height and width. You need to keep your image resolution at 72 dots per inch. The file size once you compress your images should be about 100 KB in size. If your image is in the MBs in size, this is way too big.
What’s the best image size for hero images for SEO image optimization? If you want an image that will spread across the top of your page and be very dominant, then an image of 1920×1080 is okay for the moment. I say okay for the moment as the current largest on average are usually in the 1920×1080 range, but this all depends on your users. In most B2B marketing, customers have 1920×1080 resolution screens. Outside of this, it can be different, so think about your final customer and what they will be seeing.
Keep your hero image to about 200 KB to 300 KB in size. I have another method that gets this size down to under 100 KB, so ask me, and I can help.
If you use vector images, it doesn’t matter how big your .svg is going to be. The only consideration is how detailed the vector is. Unlike jpeg, where the complexity of images is not a factor in image size, it very much is when vector is concerned.
What file name is best for SEO image optimization? Here it is again: like all questions in marketing, “it depends.” For example, if you are targeting the keywords “Marketing in London,” then make sure you have this written in your file name, along with a description that goes along with what the image is of.
What file size is best for SEO image optimization?
Like all questions in marketing, “it depends.” For example, if you have a fast web host server that you pay perhaps £30 to £50 per month, the size of your image doesn’t matter very much. Companies that pay web host fees like this are generally bigger brands that have the excess cash needed to pay these fees. For the most part, people are paying about £10 per month in fees. These types of customers need to be more aware of the images on their site.
Let’s say you want to have small images accompanying your written article in the middle of your text. Your image shouldn’t be any bigger than 500 pixels wide and 500 pixels in height and width. You need to keep your image resolution at 72 dots per inch. The file size once you compress your images should be about 100 KB in size. If your image is in the MBs in size, this is way too big.
What’s the best image size for hero images for SEO image optimization? If you want an image that will spread across the top of your page and be very dominant, then an image of 1920×1080 is okay for the moment. I say okay for the moment as the current largest on average are usually in the 1920×1080 range, but this all depends on your users. In most B2B marketing, customers have 1920×1080 resolution screens. Outside of this, it can be different, so think about your final customer and what they will be seeing.
Keep your hero image to about 200 KB to 300 KB in size. I have another method that gets this size down to under 100 KB, so ask me, and I can help.
If you use vector images, it doesn’t matter how big your .svg is going to be. The only consideration is how detailed the vector is. Unlike jpeg, where the complexity of images is not a factor in image size, it very much is when vector is concerned.
What file name is best for SEO image optimization? Here it is again: like all questions in marketing, “it depends.” For example, if you are targeting the keywords “Marketing in London,” then make sure you have this written in your file name, along with a description that goes along with what the image is of.
Add Alt Text
Alt text is a description of your image that appears when the image cannot be displayed. Alt text is essential for accessibility as it enables visually impaired users to understand what the image is about.
Alt text is also essential for SEO because it helps search engines understand what your image is about. Therefore, it is crucial to use descriptive alt text that includes your target keywords.
Use Captions and Context
Captions and context can help to provide additional information about your image. Captions should be concise and descriptive, providing context for the image.
Contextual information can also be provided through the surrounding text. It is essential to ensure that your image is relevant to the content on the page and that it supports the overall message of your website.
Conclusion
Optimizing your images for SEO is crucial for improving your website’s performance and ranking. By choosing the right file format, optimizing image size and compression, using descriptive file names, adding alt text, and using captions and context, you can ensure that your images are optimized for SEO.
With these tips in mind, you can improve the user experience of your website, increase engagement, and boost your SEO ranking.
