5 replies to this topic

[Anthony]

Jill and High Rankings Staff:

I absolutely love the new forum! I figured since I’ve been an avid reader of your newsletters, I might as well start to contribute to some of its discussions.

I currently monitor and improve my company’s web presence both in SEO and SEM strategies. Although, this is not my main work objective, I have taken on a new liking towards this industry. Thanks again for all you help and support.

Question:

My company’s website is graphically enhanced which I know causes problems for most search engines. Does it help to label images as key words or phrases in order for that site to appear more relevant? What about other labels such as the SRC and Image name with the same keywords as the example below demonstrates? If so, how much is too much?

Example of source code optimized for blue widgets:

<td><a onmouseover="changeImages( /*CMP*/'blue_widgets',/*URL*/'images/Index/blue_widgets_over.gif');return true" onmouseout="changeImages( /*CMP*/'blue_widgets',/*URL*/'images/Index/blue_widgets.gif');return true" href="pro_blue_widgets.html"><img src="images/Index/blue_widgets.gif" alt="Blue Widgets" name="blue_widgets" width="204" height="60" border="0"></a></td>

If this is too much, what recommendations would you have for a graphically or image enhanced site?

Thank you for help.

[awall19]

It seems you are using java script to perform most of your visual functions. It is not a good idea to label images that serve no purpose, but you can label those that do have a purpose.

Many people have been stuffing img alt tags so its a good idea not to overdue it. You can add titles and img alt statements to the images. The weighting on the image alt tags has went to zero or near zero in many of the top search engines.

I would consider placing text based links at the bottom of the page and using the java sparingly when possible.

[Scottie]

I agree with Aaron.

The other thing to consider is that the text in a link is going to be given more importance than the alt attribute of an image link. If you are serious about optimizing, go with text links.

Images that are not links hardly seem to be noticed anymore- most likely because of alt tag stuffing. The only alt attributes that seem to carry any weight are the ones attached to link images.

[brianjulkunen]

alt tags are supposed to be for browsers with images disabled, you can use your keywords in the alt tag if it describes the picture. my new philosophy on seo, if you are using for something that it isn't supposed to be used for, just don't do it. Also I wonder if anyone knows the weight that the title= tag in an href has in optimizing?

[qwerty]

I don't think the SEs index the title attribute of links. Try doing a search, in quotes, of the text of a title attribute. In my experience, the page (either the source or the target) does not come up in the SERP.

[Jill]

Naming the images is a good idea if you want to be found in image searches.

But one thing struck me from your post:

...in order for that site to appear more relevant?

(bolding mine)

They key is not to "appear" more relevant. That simply won't cut it. The key is to BE more relevant.

If your page really isn't more relevant than the next guy's then naming your image files with keywords certainly isn't going to help you!

Jill