What is Alt Text?
Understanding Alt Text in E-commerce
Quick Definition
Alt text (alternative text) is a concise, descriptive HTML attribute for images that provides context for visually impaired users and improves website accessibility and SEO. When images fail to load, alt text displays in their place, ensuring content comprehension and helping search engines understand image content.
Understanding Alt Text in Digital Marketing
What Makes Alt Text Critical?
- •Accessibility: Enables screen readers to describe images for visually impaired users
- •SEO Enhancement: Helps search engines understand and index image content
- •User Experience: Provides context when images cannot load
Alt Text Best Practices
Be Descriptive
Describe the image's content and purpose accurately
Keep it Concise
Aim for 125 characters or less
Include Keywords Naturally
Incorporate relevant keywords without keyword stuffing
Avoid Redundancy
Don't start with 'Image of...' or 'Picture of...'
Alt Text Examples
| Image Type | Poor Alt Text | Good Alt Text |
|---|---|---|
| Product Photo | image1.jpg | Blue cotton v-neck t-shirt with slim fit |
| Infographic | chart.png | E-commerce conversion rate benchmarks by industry 2023 |
| Lifestyle Image | people.jpg | Diverse team collaborating in modern office workspace |
E-commerce Alt Text Strategies
For online stores, alt text is crucial for product visibility and user experience. Detailed, keyword-rich alt text can improve image search rankings and help potential customers understand products when browsing.
Advanced e-commerce platforms like Growth Suite can help track image performance and provide insights into how descriptive alt text impacts conversion rates, allowing merchants to continuously optimize their visual content strategy.
Put Alt Text into Practice
Ready to apply these concepts to your store? Growth Suite provides the tools you need to implement effective alt text strategies.
Other Terms in "A"
- A/A Testing
- A/B/n Testing
- Above the Fold
- A/B Testing
- Acceleration Mobile Pages (AMP)
- Accessibility
- Accessibility (a11y)
- Access Log