Image SEO
Image SEO alt text without keyword stuffing
Image SEO starts with making the image understandable. Search engines can process images, but the page, file name, captions, and alt text still help explain what the image is.
I write alt text for people first. That usually makes it better for search too.
Quick answer
Good image SEO alt text describes the image in the language a reader would use. I include a keyword only when it naturally describes what is visible.
The practical SEO rule
If a keyword naturally describes the image, use it. If it does not, leave it out. Stuffed alt text reads badly and does not help anyone understand the image.
For e-commerce, this means product name plus visible detail. Blog posts usually need the subject or screenshot. Local pages can include the place when the image shows that place.
A cleanup workflow that works
I start with images that already get impressions or sit on important pages. Then I fix empty alt attributes, vague text like "image", and repeated alt text across galleries.
For a large catalog, I use bulk generation, export the results, and review the rows before importing them into the CMS or product feed.
- Fix missing alt text on high-value pages first.
- Rewrite generic text like "photo", "banner", or "product".
- Keep one image description per image.
- Review generated text before bulk import.
Examples
- Weak: Best running shoes running shoes buy running shoes online.
- Better: White mesh running shoe with blue sole on a gray background.
- Better with context: Screenshot of Google Search Console showing image search impressions.
Common questions
Should alt text include keywords?
Only when the keyword naturally describes the image. If it feels forced, I leave it out.
Which image alt text should I fix first?
Start with important pages, product pages, and images already getting impressions.
Related guides
Generate alt text from an image
Upload an image, paste a URL, or use bulk generation when you have a list of image URLs.