Do you know image alt text is an important SEO factor for Shopify stores? Image alt text, also known as alt tag or description, is the description of the images on your online shop or website. It basically describes what is being displayed in the image. In case the image fails to load, the alt text can serve as a guide for the image.
Today, we will show you how to add and optimize image alt text on Shopify. Our step-by-step guide will also cover their benefits and SEO importance. So, let us find out how to use image alt text in a search engine-optimized manner.
Why Is Image Alt Text Important for Shopify Stores?
Image alt text is a crucial SEO factor that should not be overlooked. Image alt text helps build a more accessible Shopify store. Visually challenged customers can get an idea of your products through the description. This in turn improves your position in the search engine rankings. So, you are following the web accessibility standards and ranking higher. Moreover, image alt text is used in voice search. Therefore, the possibility of appearing in voice searches also increases.
5 Benefits of Adding Alt Text to Images
We will now share some of the main benefits of adding alt text to images. Let us go through them one by one.
1. Give Context to Your Images
Since image alt text is basically the image’s description, you are able to give more context to your images. Suppose your store has hundreds of images of products and other sections. You have added alt text to all these images. Your individual alt text will act as an explainer for every single image in your shop.
2. Achieve Better Search Engine Ranking
Now, what happens when all your images contain precise alt text? The answer is a higher chance to rank higher on search engines. By adding alt text, you are basically guiding the web crawlers from search engines like Google. As a result, there is a chance to get indexed faster and rank higher.
3. Show up in Image Searches
All major search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo have an ‘Image Search’ option. Adding your image alt text on Shopify is crucial if you want your images to appear there. This is another benefit of using relevant alt text in your images. You increase the chances of sales when other searchers find your store through image search.
4. Ensure Web Accessibility Standards
As we mentioned previously, adding alt text to images is a part of ensuring web accessibility standards. Potential customers with visual constraints can listen to the alt text via text-to-audio. It helps them navigate through your store and find what they are looking for. Ensuring accessibility also impacts your SEO performance.
5. Describe Images That Fail to Load
Sometimes, your store’s images might fail to lead due to various issues. When your images have their alt text, visitors can get an idea of the pictures. So, they will not just stare at broken images. Rather, they can learn more about your products and other sections of your store.
How to Add Image Alt Text on Shopify: A Step-by-Step Guide
Now, we will show you how to add image alt text on Shopify in our step-by-step guide. Please follow each step, image and GIF carefully to avoid any mistakes.
Step 1: Make a List of the Image Alt Text to Add
Your image alt text should contain the focus keyword relevant to the product or page. So, conduct adequate keyword research and make a list of relevant focus keywords. Check if the image alt text is missing in any product, blog post or page. You can use Shopify apps like StoreSEO for this. Navigate to the ‘Optimize SEO’ tab under StoreSEO in the left side panel. Click on the ‘Products’, ‘Blog Posts’ or ‘Pages’ button.
You will see a message with a cross mark under Detailed SEO Analysis on the right side if the image alt text is missing. Find out all the images where the alt text is absent. Also, note down where you want to add new images. Then, prepare these images’ alt text and put them in a list.
Step 2: Add Alt Text to Your Store’s Images
Use StoreSEO Shopify app to directly add image alt text when optimizing an existing product or blog post. Click on the ‘Optimize SEO’ button and select the ‘Products’ or ‘Blog Posts’ option. Click on your desired product or blog post. Under the ‘Images’ section, you can add the image alt text. Click on the ‘Save’ button to save the changes. This is how easily you can add alt text to the images of your store’s images and blog posts with StoreSEO. Read our documentation for more information.
You can also add the alt text when adding a new product image or product on Shopify. For Shopify product image alt text, click on the ‘Products’ tab on the left side panel. Then, select your desired product from the list. Under the ‘Media’ section, click on the image where you want to add alt text. Paste the image alt text in the designated field and click on the ‘Save’ button.
For pages, click on the ‘Sales Channel’ button in the left side panel. Click on the ‘Pages’ button. Select your desired page from the list to start editing it.
While editing the page, click on an image inside the content. As shown in the image below, paste the image alt text in the designated field and click on the ‘Edit image’ button. You can also follow this process for newly added images.
Step 3: Automate Adding Image Alt Text on Shopify
Automating the process of adding image alt text on Shopify can save you a lot of time and hassle. With StoreSEO, you can optimize image alt text and bulk add image alt text to all products with ease. To use this feature, click on the ‘Settings’ tab in the left side panel of your Shopify dashboard. Next, select the ‘Bulk SEO Optimization’ option. Now, choose a template for image alt text as you want by clicking on the tag options.
Best Practices for Writing Image Alt Text: 5 Expert Tips for Optimization
We will share some image alt text best practices. We will now give you 5 expert tips so that you can optimize image alt text for SEO. Besides following good Shopify image alt text examples, implement these tips for the best results:
- Prioritize keyword research: Place the alt text with relevant focus keywords after adequate keyword research.
- Use relevant keywords: Use keywords in the alt text that match the image and the search intent of your target customers.
- Use descriptive language: Make sure that the alt text gives a comprehensive description of the image.
- Avoid keyword stuffing: Do not use too many keywords side by side since it might hamper your SEO efforts.
- Use alt text templates: Use alt text templates suggested by Shopify experts or use a Shopify SEO app like StoreSEO for this purpose.
Add Image Alt Text on Shopify for the Best Results
Image alt text is an important part of Shopify SEO that many people often overlook. However, you should add and optimize image alt text on Shopify for the best results. We hope our step-by-step guide will help you in your quest to build an optimized, high-converting Shopify store.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Still have questions? Let us go through some FAQs to clear up any confusion you might have.
1. What are the benefits of adding alt text to images on Shopify?
By describing your images through alt text and giving them context, you are enhancing the web accessibility of your Shopify store. Besides, you can get indexed and increase your chances for higher rankings by adding alt text to your images properly.
2. What are some best practices to follow when adding Shopify image alt text?
Do adequate keyword research to find relevant focus keywords to include in the image alt text. Make sure that the alt text is not missing from any image on your store. Follow good image alt text examples for a clearer idea.
3. Can you recommend a Shopify app for SEO and image optimization?
Yes. Use StoreSEO Shopify app for fast and hassle-free SEO and image optimization. You can easily optimize your products, pages, collections and blog posts with ease using this app. Moreover, you have access to a variety of image optimization settings.
4. Does StoreSEO come with bulk image optimization?
Yes, StoreSEO lets you optimize all or selected images on your Shopify store in bulk. With just a few clicks, you can optimize your store’s images quickly and easily. Moreover, you can turn on an Auto Image Optimization feature.
5. Can you provide some additional SEO tips for Shopify products apart from adding image alt text?
Sure. Make sure to optimize the meta title, meta description, content, images, URL structure and cross-device performance of your store. For more information about Shopify product SEO, read our detailed blog.
