Importance of Image Optimization For Search Engines. Examples of Traffic From Google Image Search.
697 people read this post so far! Stumble it!
|
Importance of image optimization was explained a lot of times by many web marketing experts (Example: Search Engine Watch, Web Analytics World, or SEOBook) but most webmasters still ignore basic rules to optimize images and attract get traffic from image searches like Google Images, Yahoo! Image Search, or Bing Images. Honestly, I wasn’t a big fan of image optimization for search engines because I was just lazy to tag (add “alt” tag) and write descriptions for each image. In August I decided to test how image optimization can improve my traffic. I spend all day applying image optimization and SEO strategies to images in my library. This week I took all data and it kind of impressed me.
In a week I received 103 visits from Google Image search and almost 300 page views. It is not bad for beginning, my plan is to generate 1000 visits / week by the end of this year, let’s see if it is possible.
How to optimize images for search engines:
-
Use words to describe image in file name. Avoid codes and numbers in file names when you upload image on the server and a website.
-
Add “alt” tags and descriptions to every image.
-
Search engines read words and content around images, write descriptions of the images.
-
Keep all images in the same folder on your server. Name it simple: images, photos, art, or design.
-
Optimize page with an image. Image will rank well if page or a website rank high.
Many visitors who search for images don’t come back on a website and traffic could be useless for some people who are interested in selling stuff online… but image optimization is extremely important who sell advertising space on a website and needs extra visitors, clicks, and page impressions.
September 24th, 2009 at 1:54 am
I’m getting off my lazy ass and optimizing my images. Wordpress have a nice media admin, I should be able to knock them all out really fast
[Reply]
September 24th, 2009 at 9:36 am
Yep, all you have to do is to click on the image in admin panel and click edit button. Once you write descriprions for your images it will be easier in the future to do it right on the spot.
[Reply]
September 24th, 2009 at 4:33 am
Using http://www.picapp.com as your source for images, will drive your image SEO
[Reply]
September 24th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Picapp is a great network but I don’t like the fact that they embed ads and offers inside images. Also, picapp images hosted by picapp and you can place a code on your site… it means that only picapp receives SEO benefit.
[Reply]
September 25th, 2009 at 1:33 am
I have had great success in the past optimizing for image search to bring in extra visitors. This is a great way to boost visitor and income if your site earns revenue from CPM advertising.
[Reply]