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Search Engine Optimization and Ranking HTML Tips by SEO Central

HTML Tip... Alt and title attributes for optimization, placement and ranking.

HTML Tip for SEO
Using ALT Tags and TITLE Attributes for Optimization...

ALT Tags and TITLE Attributes
For Search Engine Optimization and Ranking

When creating web page content from an seo perspective, you really need to keep two things in mind...

The search engine spiders and algorithms, for good search engine placement.
The visitor or potential client, for conversion into sales and return visits.

In doing so, you need to squeeze the most out of every html element you can, and two such elements of optimization that can be squeezed effectively to satisfy both the search engine algorithms and the end user are the ALT tag and TITLE attribute. They not only increase site usability and promote specific on page items, if you clearly understand the where, when, and why of using them... they have tremendous optimization value as well.

The use of ALT and TITLE attributes is a simple technique that can improve your search engine rank, make site navigation easier, and increase accessibility to disabled visitors. Yet, more than 70% of websites surveyed where not incorporating either ALT attributes or TITLE attribute. So go ahead and improve your site's profile with human visitors and search engine spiders both, with the simple addition of ALT and TITLE attributes.

ALT Tag or ALT Attribute

First, lets make it clear that although referred to more often than not as an ALT tag, it is definately an ALT attribute. Any html element placed within an html tag is an html attribute.

Now, I'm sure we all know that the ALT attribute is the alternative text description for images. It displays before the image is loaded and displays when the image is not loaded. It also displays in text based browsers such as Lynx, and according to the W3C, the ALT attribute is...

A required element for all images
Only to be used within image tags
Specifically intended to describe images

You should try and make your ALT text complete sentences, rather than a list of keywords or file names. Just keyword terms repeated over and over throughout a string of ALT tags could actually be interpreted as spam and get you penalized by some search engines, and most visitors are likely to see (or hear) some version of your ALT text so keep it meaningful.

TITLE Attributes

The TITLE attribute, in contrast to the ALT attribute, can be used for virtually any html page element and is not a requirement according to the W3C. You can use TITLE attributes to describe links, tables, form, form attributes, individual table rows, lists, headings, blockquotes and other structural HTML elements. The TITLE attribute is more versatile than the ALT attribute and many search engine ranking algorithms read the text in TITLE attributes as regular page content.

Specifically, the TITLE attribute is an easy way to give the majority of your visitors more information without taking up valuable real estate on your page. The maximum permissable length of the TITLE text for Internet Explorer is more than a 1000 characters, but we recommend trying to keep your descriptions below 25 words,as much more than this can be very hard to take in at a glance.

ALT and TITLE Attribute Benefits

ALT and TITLE text...

Enhances the browsing experience of visitors with disabilities
Increases kw density and relevancy for your targeted kw's
Provides valuable information to all your visitors with descriptive link titles and descriptive text about other page elements.

ALT and TITLE attributes are simple to add to your code, and remember that the ALT attribute is a requirement html element for images.

ALT and TITLE attributes boost both your promotion efforts and your site's accessibility, and they are a useful optimization tool because the Search Engine Spiders love the keywords. Visitors with images turned off or who use text browsers, screen readers and other assistive technologies will appreciate your effort to orient them on your Web page and explain the purpose of elements like tables, forms, and links.

The TITLE attribute displays on mouseover, while the ALT attribute displays for images if the images are turned off or don't load. The TITLE attribute displays correctly for all page elements.

There are few coding techniques that can give you as many benefits for so little effort as your ALT and TITLE attributes... use them wisely!

ALT and TITLE Attributes from an Optimization Perspective

Use ALT attributes as they were intended, not simply a repository for dumping keywords... the search engines won't like it. Use them with all your Image tags, as per W3C standard, to describe the image or the image's intended purpose. Do it with keyword optimization in mind, and remember that the weight given to any one particular ALT or TITLE attribute is probably miniscule at best, but when combined to carrry your keywords and theme domain wide, can make a real difference for both your search engine placment and the user's experience while navigating your site.

Assign TITLE attributes to the following html elements, reflecting the assigned kw’s for the page and or target page, conforming always to acceptable application and usage...

All images... ALT and TITLE attributes for any one image should be different.
Navigation bar and other global anchor text... combine domain wide kw's with kw's from the target page into descriptive, meaningful text.
All forms, questionaires and drop downs... describes the purpose of element.
Form elements such as images and buttons... describes the purpose of element.
Bulleted lists... describe the theme of, or what the lists consists of as a whole.
Tables... describe the theme of, or what the table consists of as a whole.
Individual table rows... provides addition specifics and details.
Frames... provides additional information.
Headings... provides additional information.
Blockquotes... provides additional information.
Contextual links within the content... use descriptive text that bridges the gap between the source and target pages, in terms of kw's optimized for.

In the webmaster help sections for each search engine they state that you should use ALT text to include additional keywords. The problem with this broad statement is that many of the unethical and rookie SEO companies have spammed the search engines using ALT and TITLE attributes, often using a simple find and replace technique to dump the same keyword terms into all the ALT and TITLE attributes within a particular page. This is bad seo practice and will do nothing but hurt you in the end.

The ALT attribute and the TITLE attributes are for two distinctly different purposes, and should contain descriptive text that makes sense, is meaningful, adds value and purpose, and yes... contains keywords and kw terms specific for that page and/or the domain (domain wide kw's and terms).

Remember...

The TITLE attribute is to give the visitors to your website additional information about specific html page elements such as forms, lists, tables and links... and to increase the overall accessibility and usability of your web pages.
The ALT attribute, on the other hand, is intended to provide a text alternative to an otherwise missing image, plain and simple.

Research has yet to find any solid evidence that any of the search engines actually use the TITLE attribute, but all do use the ALT attribute. Having said this, we believe the TITLE attribute, when used in accordance with its intended purpose, is read by the search engine spiders as if it were content, affecting your keyword density, and adding weight to pages optimized for the specific terms being queried.

At the very least, TITLE attributes improve the users experience while visiting the site, by adding additional information that supports the main content of the page, or by describing, in a beneficial way, details about the intended purpose of some particular page element... and that is spider food you can count on to bring better search engine position and ranking.

The Last Word on ALT and TITLE attributes

Although no single TITLE or ALT attribute can directly alter your search engine ranking in any meaningful way, when used thoughtfully and as intended, throughout a web page or better yet throughout the entire domain, the TITLE and ALT attribute can make a difference, a difference you can take to the bank.

Modern search engines are so sophisticated that when you make the effort to improve your websites usability and the value it offers your visitors, it begins to stand out from the crowd, and suddenly the search engines recognize your site as a website with purpose and value...

In Summary...

The extra time you spend designing and writing effective ALT and TITLE attributes will bring rewards in the form of better search engine position and ranking, a reward well worth the effort!

For more search engine optimization tutorials and informational articles on the search industry and how to achieve good search engine position and ranking, go to our SEO Central Search Engine Position and Optimization Tutorials Page and Internet Marketing Articles and Information Center.

If you are looking for a Search Engine Optimization Firm that is performance based, an SEO Firm that cares... then SEO Central is your best choice!

Give us a call or fill out the Request SEO Quote Form and one of our friendly professional seo service team members will be happy to go over your Web site with you and determine what the best search engine marketing strategy will be.

Contact the SEO Central team of search engine optimization experts today for seo information and to learn more about the search engine optimization strategy that is right for you...

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