How fast the page loads, how original and in-depth the written copy is, how user-friendly the design of the page is, all of these are factors that can help (or harm) your site from reaching the masses.

Over time, and with more Google updates being released, we’ve learned what areas are specifically important to focus on as we write, post, and make changes to our content. The one we’ll be focusing on in this post is something not everyone thinks about as they’re trying every other tactic to rank their site: Image Optimization.

If you think that there isn’t much weight to how and where you upload images to your website – guess again. In fact, image optimization is one of the growing areas of importance as image carousels overtake the top of search results, and as consumers demand more images in media than ever before.

If you’ve been wanting to get your images right in terms of optimization, here are 3 things you should always be doing.

1.      Name Images Properly

The first thing you want to do is choose an image that goes well on your page. Something that is clear, eye-catching, and memorable is best. When people can engage with images they tend to stay on pages longer, which is only more beneficial to your efforts.

Once you’ve selected and downloaded an image, be sure that it is formatted properly. You need to tell the crawlers what the item uploaded is. This should include naming the file in a short and easily identifiable way (example: child-eating-cake instead of IMG_4359) and use target keywords whenever possible.

2.      Always add ALT Tags to Images

There’s another area that the engines will look at too and it’s called the “alternative text” for the image. Also known as an ‘ALT Tag’ this is included with the image tag and tells the search engine what’s on the page visually. It is important because like the naming of the image file on your computer, it associates keywords with what’s being depicted in the picture.

ALT tags are also key for accessibility reasons such as providing attribute data on the page for those who are using screen readers. In case an image doesn’t load, it’s also a great back-up to let users know what image would have appeared there – improving their overall experience.

3.      Use the Smallest File Size Possible

Even if you name your image properly, and add the correct tagging, you can still be left behind when it comes to SEO optimization if you are not considering the file size. One of the most important things you need to consider with a website is page speed and load time. Users have been notorious for clicking right out of a website if the page doesn’t load immediately.

If you want to maximize load time, you need to ensure your images are scaled and using the smallest possible size so they load instantly. There are a number of free image optimizer tools online you can upload your images to and adjust. You will follow steps to allow these tools to compress the file as well as format the pixels and resize the photo for optimal placement.

So the answer to our original question, Does Image Optimization Matter in 2020? Yes! Absolutely. And it will continue to play an increasingly important role as voice searches and AI become a regular part of everyday life. Plus, taking all of these steps translates to better rankings in the SERPs and that’s what everyone wants, isn’t it?

Want to improve your website? Looking to get new, effective content written? Give us a call today to talk to an SEO Expert about how Keyword Performance can help.

The post Does Image Optimization Matter in 2020? appeared first on Keyword Performance.

We’ve made a list of the top 3 things your marketing plans should include for 2020.

We hope you enjoy the infographic below as well! Feel free to share it and spread the word to your peers!

Social Media Keeps Growing

Social media continues to grow as an important factor in how brands connect with their customers. We’re seeing the heavyweights grow their business focus with more tools to boost engagement with users and there are new entrants in the space all promising to create focused online communities where brand awareness and a business’s online presence can thrive.

KEY TAKE AWAY: Find the social channels your target audience and customers are using most and excel on that platform. Not every business needs a presence on every social channel.

Video Takes Center Stage

Video has exploded onto our online world in the last few years. With video making up most Internet traffic today, there’s no doubt that it should be a part of your strategy in 2020. It’s far more than just an outlet for at-home video-makers to create content they hope gets noticed. Today, video at every stage of the customer journey and the sales funnel is proving profitable and effective.

KEY TAKE AWAY: As you start getting viewers, take notes on which formats (live video, staged productions, news-style videos) are getting the most attention and build from there.

User Experience is More Important than Ever

We wouldn’t be an SEO & Web Design company without offering our thoughts on the importance of UX when it comes to digital marketing. In fact, never before has there been more of a need to build and design sites that can be seen and digested across screens and platforms than right now. The devices of tomorrow have screens of all sizes – from giant monitors to smartwatches and some that use only voice and sensors to interact. This is coupled with demands for clean, minimalistic designs and extreme personalization.

KEY TAKE AWAY: If you’re building new or updating your online properties, it’s important to keep the future in mind and strike a balance between what users are demanding and what they’re not even aware they’ll need in the future.

At Keyword Performance we offer years of expertise and focused guidance for all your online marketing initiatives and want you to start the New Year off right. Have questions? Need help putting your plans into action? Get in touch today!

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