6 Search Engine Optimization Techniques (part 2)

In the last post I covered  the first three tips that should be a primary focus when optimization images.

• Finding the right image:  You have to make sure that the content you’re pushing on your pages speaks to and engages your visitors
• Use Keywords:  Placing keywords within the image file name help ensure a solid index when your content gets crawled
• Placing Alt Text: Since search engine spiders can’t “see”, the alt tags tell them what it is that they looking at.

There are 3 more search engine optimization techniques that you can apply to your image optimization to get some real value out of your graphics.

The Anchor Text

This is an equally important part of image optimization, and it’s as strong here as it is with your general links.  Often, website owners and designers will link to images without consideration for the content they use to do so.  If you use descriptive anchor text centered on your targeted keywords then you’ll start seeing a lot of your images get ranked for those key words.  Linking to an image with the text “click here” or “see the photo here” doesn’t provide any SEO value…. Unless you want to rank for “click here”.  Those ‘keywords’ don’t give the search engines any information about what they’re looking at or the purpose of the image.  With the right keywords utilized as anchor text, both search engines and people will understand more clearly what’s on the other side of the link.

Make Sure The Image Is Relevant

I touched on this a little in the previous post.  You can boost the rank of an image and a website (and how it’s indexed) when the image is placed within content that is relevant to the tags and titles you’ve placed.  When everything comes together and “all the stars are properly aligned” then the search engines gain a strong understanding of the content and are less likely to take you as a spammer.

Keep in mind that putting a picture of a dog up and calling it a duck in all manner of optimization will make the search engines see it as a duck but your readers will know the difference.  Don’t try to fool the search engines.  You won’t come out on top with the actual traffic that comes in.

Avoid Stuffing

This isn’t limited to just image optimization.  It’s been said a thousand times again and again across many networks yet people still do it, especially with images.  Your alt text, captions and of course your file names need to be concise and written with brevity in mind.  They shouldn’t contain a long list of keywords that you’re trying to gain rank for.

You should never optimize your site with the sole intent to gain search engine ranking.  It should always be made simpler for the user first with the search engine optimization techniques to gain rank coming in a distance second.

To Your Success,
Joerg Weishaupt

P.s. Get more information on social media and marketing in my free primer "Building A Successful Marketing Strategy". Sign up for your free copy today.

Related posts:

1. 6 Search Engine Optimization Techniques For Images (part 1)
2. Top Search Engine Optimization Techniques For Driving Traffic
3. Hitchhikers Guide to Search Engine Love
4. 10 Local Search Engine Optimization Tips
5. Pleasing the Search Engine Spider

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