17 replies to this topic

[utku]

Hi,

I have heard some rumours that alt tags with target keyords are harmful. Also a long title(over 100 char) was considered as risky way to hang keywords. What do yoýu think about these.

Regards

[magellan]

Where did you hear these rumours?

Use the alt tag to describe an image (maybe 1-4 keywords).

Try to keep the title to maybe 70 characters and use it to describe the page in summary.

Just my £0.02

[SearchRank]

The actual name is "alt attribute" which is an attribute of the image tag. Alt attributes can certainly be used but one shouldn't stuff them full of keywords. Also, search engines only pay attention to alt attributes of images that are hyperlinked to another page.

The common rule with title tags is around 64 characters. Doesn't hurt to exceed this. They will just get cut off by engines at some point.

[strangerrr]

alt tag is for visitors with text only browsers, graphic turned off, handicapped browsers ... alt tag should used to describe the image ... not by stuffing keywords... yes ofcourse there are some limitations due to the ppls stuffing keywords in alt tag ....

[Jill]

Yes, that is correct. The major search engines ignore alt attributes of non-clickable images, I've tested this many times.

[chrishirst]

seohh, I think you've mis-understood strangerrr.

It's not meant to imply only for text browsers and screen readers, rather that it is important for these and by refering to handicapped browsers meaning devices for users with disabilities.
Not everyone calls a spade a flat bladed digging implement.

[SearchRank]

I think enough research has been conducted to prove that title attributes do nothing for SEO. They may look cool but that is about it.

As for alt attributes, you can make sure keywords you wish to target are represented but at the same time you really want to keep in mind that their intended use really is to describe the image. Therefore one should be careful what they place in them. For example, when you see a whole set of navigation buttons stuffed with the same repetitive keyword over and over again, it is pretty obvious that the alt attribute is being abused. Plus it looks silly as well.

[Jill]

Ideally, should keywords in the alt attribute relate to that page or the target page?

Yes, they should describe the page they're pointing to, much like if you were going to make it be a text link.

Hello, this is an SEO forum.

Isn't this a bit purist? Don't we need to prudently use (but hopefully not overuse!) each tool at our disposal?

That's the beauty of the "make your site the best it can be for your users as well as the search engines" method. By naturally using all the attributes and tags at your disposal in the manner in which they were intended, while also keeping the search engines in mind, you will create the perfect balance between user and SE.

It's a wonderful/beautiful thing when it works out right!

Think about it...by describing the page your pointing to in a graphical navigational link through the alt attribute, you're helping those it's intended to help. i.e., the site visitors with images turned off, the site visitors who use screen readers and/or may have vision problems, and the search engines who can't otherwise read your pretty navigation button.

SEO done this way completely rocks and is nearly bulletproof from random algorithm changes.

<added>Oh yeah, and yes, link title attributes are ignored by all the major search engines. So use them only for usability, as necessary.

[Jill]

Really? I don't see how they get in the way of reading and using the buttons. Usually they work nicely, as intended!

[torka]

On IE, the ALT attribute causes a tooltip popup to appear, which can obscure other nav buttons. This is wrong; it should only happen when there's a title attribute (which is the way it works on most other browsers). It goes away after a few seconds when the mouse is moved away, but it can be annoying.

What I've done is to add a blank title attribute to images where I need to have an alt attribute for accessibility but I don't want the broken IE tooltip function to interfere. This seems to suppress the IE display of the alt attribute. So, for instance, I might have:

CODE

<img src="something" alt="description of the image" title="">

That seems to work and it doesn't seem to adversely affect anything.

HTH!

--Torka

[Jill]

Hey cool workaround, Torka!