“A picture is worth a thousand words,” they say, and this is surely true. Rather than words, we prefer to interact with graphics. Images have become increasingly important on e-commerce, travel, and media websites throughout time.
According to HTTP Archive, photos make up about 64 percent of a website’s weight on average. If we can shrink the size of these photos without sacrificing image quality, it will have a direct and significant influence on page load times and user experience on your websites.
A quick fact: About half of people prefer websites that load in under 2 seconds. If a page takes longer than 3 seconds to load, nearly 40% of visitors will abandon the site, raising the churn rate. Solving this issue is too simple, just optimize the images.
What is Image Optimization?
Image optimization is the process of adjusting the size, format, and resolution of visuals to fulfill specified requirements.
Image (SEO) optimization is giving search engine crawlers more information so they can recognise your context and rank it higher for greater visibility.
You might be wondering how much traffic picture search brings in. According to Google, this is an undisclosed figure.
However, it is guaranteed that image optimization will increase your chances of drawing people to your site significantly.
According to a recent study conducted , 62 percent of as mentioned earlier says that consumers prefer image search to any other medium. At the same time, when purchasing online, more than 85% of customers prefer to look at pictures rather than read words.
And, with Google’s algorithm becoming smarter by the day – the stakes are just becoming higher.
Similar to content SEO, image optimization doesn’t consume countless hours of configuration. In fact, it doesn’t even call for the need for an SEO expert India.
How to Optimize Images For Search Engines?
Take into account the image’s placement.
To break up the content, many website designers make the mistake of slapping a photo or two at odd places. However, doing so may cause readers to become confused and distracted about your context.
To include a reference to your issue, try positioning photographs near the most accompanying text on your webpage.
Every web page should, in theory, have a hero or featured image at the top, as this is the area that visitors will see first when they visit your site. They will act as a ‘clickbait’ for readers, encouraging them to stay on the page and read more.
Ensure that the content is both relevant and unique.
To create your material more attractive and user-friendly also something that aligns with search engine optimization, always include relevant and valuable photographs. The finest images are ones that accurately portray your topic while also incorporating content.
So, while choosing photos, make sure they’re relevant to the theme. For a post titled “Why Cats Are So Adorable,” you wouldn’t want to use a photo of a lovely puppy.
This will result in a poor user experience. It will also lead readers to believe they have clicked on the wrong link or, worse, have been harassed.
Read: How to Attain Good Ranking in SERP
Choose the Correct File Format
To guarantee that your images load smoothly, select the appropriate file format. However, you must first comprehend some of the most popular possibilities before deciding on the ideal format for your image SEO optimization for your website.
JPG: One of the most widely used formats, JPG files can accommodate thousands of colors. They’re typically used for huge images that can be scaled down without significantly degrading.
PNG: The PNG format offers a wide range of color options.Flat photographs, graphics, icons, and logos work well with them.
GIF: Originally intended for graphics, the GIF format is now primarily used for animated images on the internet.
Reduce the file size.
The photographs you use on your website take up more space than the majority of other items on the page. This will gradually slow down the page’s loading time and degrade its performance.
A recent study found that a one-second delay in page load might result in a 7% decline in conversions. If a page takes longer than three seconds to load, around 40% of people will quit it.
To avoid your website falling into the same trap, make sure your photographs are the smallest size possible. To help you dodge away a poor fate, SEO experts India are there.
Use File Names That Are Exact
Using descriptive file names for your photos will help Google and others understand your website.
On the other contrary, most site developers ignore this functionality and continue to load pictures with file format names like ‘Image 740.jpg.’
File names, on the other hand, are evaluated by search crawlers and found to be relevant for ranking.
Make use of alternative tags.
If your images fail to download for any reason, the Alt Tags are displayed in their place.
Additionally, the Alt Tags assist visually challenged visitors who use screen readers to comprehend your photographs.
For a layman to know these tricks and implement them is no easy feat, thus it’s best to have SEO expert India by your side.
Summary
It has been proved that visuals are crucial in connecting users to your items. Users tend to leave your website if it takes over 3 minutes to load, which will greatly increase your bounce rate and subsequently influence your sales.Here’s sharing a few checklists to consider while image optimization for SEO. Read on to know more!