SEO and Image Search

Image File Size: Less is More

Images take longer to load than text, and the length of time an image takes to load is an important consideration when optimizing a page for high search engine rankings. Basically, strive to make your web site's images as small (in file size) as possible so that they load as quickly as possible. If your site takes too long to load because a massive background image is holding it up, a search engine spider will have spent most of its time on one page of your site as opposed to freely crawling the rest of your site's pages.

Be sure to have your image files properly optimized or compressed for the web - your designer will know what you mean (and insist that they comply!). Also, the naming of your image files and the content of the alt tag is important. Assuming your image relates to the content on your page (and therefore to the keywords that you wish to get high rankings for), you should include the most appropriate targeted keyword in your image filename and/or alt tag. For example, if you're selling dog collars and cat toys, you wouldn't naturally label your dog collars picture with an alt="cat toys" - stick with the most appropriate description, and keep it brief!