I asked in Search (Google) In SEO does insure images are included for better indexing matterâ€
This is the answer given to that ask:
Yes, including and properly optimizing images is very important for SEO and helps with indexing. Search engines rely on text-based information like file names and alt text to understand images, so proper optimization is key. When done correctly, images can boost your rankings and drive additional traffic.
How images help with SEO and indexing
- Enhances user experience: Visually appealing and relevant images break up text, making content more engaging and readable for users. Better engagement can lead to a lower bounce rate and longer time spent on the page, both of which are positive ranking signals for search engines.
- Improves site speed: Large, uncompressed images can significantly slow down a website, negatively affecting its ranking. Optimizing images by compressing them and choosing the right file format (like WebP) can drastically improve page load times.
- Increases visibility in image search: Properly optimized images can appear in Google Images and other visual search results, driving more organic traffic to your site. This is particularly important for visually driven topics like products, recipes, or travel.
- Aids accessibility: Search engines use alt text, or alternative text, to understand what an image is about. This text is also read by screen readers for visually impaired users, making your content more accessible and inclusive, which is a ranking factor.
- Provides additional context: Search engines analyze the text and captions surrounding an image to understand its context and relevance to the page’s overall topic. Using a descriptive file name (e.g.,Â
golden-retriever-puppy.jpg instead ofÂIMG_12345.jpg) also helps signal the image’s content to crawlers. - Creates indexable content: For complex graphics like infographics or diagrams, images can provide valuable, unique content that can be indexed and ranked for relevant queries.Â
Best practices for image optimization
To make your images work for you, follow these best practices:
- Use original, high-quality images. Unique images are preferred by search engines and help establish brand credibility, while overused stock photos offer no unique value.
- Use descriptive file names. Rename your image files with concise, keyword-rich phrases separated by hyphens.
- Write effective alt text. Describe the image in natural, informative language. Include relevant keywords sparingly, but avoid keyword stuffing.
- Optimize file size and format. Compress images to reduce file size and choose modern formats like WebP where possible to improve page load speed.
- Implement an image sitemap. This helps search engines discover and index all your important images more efficiently.
- Leverage structured data. Adding schema markup can make your images eligible for rich results in search, such as product carousels or recipe details.Â
If you’d like, I can provide more information on how to implement specific image SEO practices, such as writing effective alt text or creating an image sitemap.
https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/google-images is the link provided
