Powerful Impact of Alt Text on Website Accessibility

Enhancing Search Rankings and User Experience with Effective Alt Text:

Did you know that 54% of web pages are missing alt text on their images? This seemingly small oversight can have a major impact on both accessibility and search engine optimization (SEO). Without alt text, visually impaired users who rely on screen readers miss out on critical content, and search engines have a harder time understanding and ranking images.

Alt text isn’t just a technical detail—it’s a powerful tool that improves user experience, enhances search rankings, and helps your website reach a wider, more diverse audience. Unfortunately, many website owners still overlook its importance. In this guide, we’ll explore why this matters, how it benefits both users and search engines, and the best practices to optimize it for maximum impact and results. Whether you’re new to SEO or looking to refine your strategy, this blog will provide you with everything you need to know about alt text.

What Is Alt Text?

Alt text (short for alternative text) is a description added to an image’s HTML code. It serves two main purposes:

Accessibility: Screen readers use alt text to describe images for visually impaired users. Without it, these users miss out on important visual content.
SEO Benefits: Search engines like Google rely on alt text to understand what an image represents. Properly optimized alt text can improve a website’s rankings in image searches and overall SEO performance.

Why Missing Alt Text Is a Problem

When alt text is missing, images become invisible to search engines and inaccessible to those using screen readers. This results in:

Poor User Experience: Visually impaired users can’t understand the image’s purpose.
Lost SEO Opportunities: Search engines can’t index or rank images without descriptive text.
Reduced Engagement: If an image fails to load, alt text provides context—without it, users may leave the page.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Alt Text

Alt text is essential, but many websites make mistakes that weaken its effectiveness. These errors can impact both accessibility and SEO. Avoid these common pitfalls:

❌ Leaving Alt Text Blank – If an image is meaningful, always add alt text.
❌ Overstuffing Keywords – “Best chocolate cake, cake shop, birthday cake, wedding cake” sounds unnatural and can be penalized by search engines.
❌ Writing Generic Descriptions – Vague alt text like “photo of a car” doesn’t provide useful details.
❌ Adding Redundant Words – Phrases like “image of” or “picture of” are unnecessary and should be omitted.

By following best practices, you can ensure that alt text contributes to both accessibility and SEO performance.

Best Practices for Writing Alt Text

To get the most out of your alt text, follow these simple guidelines:

✔️ Be Descriptive: Describe the image’s content clearly. Instead of “dog,” say “Golden retriever playing in a park.”
✔️ Use Keywords Naturally: If relevant, include keywords, but avoid keyword stuffing.
✔️ Keep It Concise: Aim for under 125 characters to keep it screen-reader friendly.
✔️ Skip Unnecessary Words: Avoid phrases like “image of” or “picture of”—just describe what’s there.
✔️ Leave Decorative Images Blank: If an image is purely decorative, use alt=”” to avoid cluttering screen readers.

Making A Huge Impact:

Alt text may be a small element, but its impact is huge. Missing or poorly optimized alt text can make your website less accessible, weaken user experience, and limit your visibility in search results. Every image on your site is an opportunity to enhance both accessibility and SEO—don’t let it go to waste.

At LDR, we specialize in crafting SEO strategies that drive real results. From image optimization and keyword-rich content to technical SEO enhancements, we ensure your website performs at its best. Don’t let something as simple as alt text hold you back.

We are a Cincinnati Ohio based local marketing and web design company. We have offices located in Cincinnati Ohio and Dayton Ohio, plus clients across 32 states in the USA. Reach out to an SEO expert at LDR today, and let’s optimize your site for better rankings, more traffic, and a fully inclusive experience!