Stop Overlooking Alt Text: The Accessibility and SEO Booster Everyone Ignores

Ever wonder why your shiny website full of stunning images doesn’t rank as high as you’d hoped in Google’s search results? Or why your site isn’t accessible to everyone, despite your best design efforts? The answer might lie in the small but mighty alt text—a detail so often overlooked, it’s practically an inside joke in the web dev community.

Stop Overlooking Alt Text: The Accessibility and SEO Booster Everyone Ignores

Ever wonder why your shiny website full of stunning images doesn’t rank as high as you’d hoped in Google’s search results? Or why your site isn’t accessible to everyone, despite your best design efforts? The answer might lie in the small but mighty alt text—a detail so often overlooked, it’s practically an inside joke in the web dev community.

Alt text (short for “alternative text”) is that snippet of code describing an image to users who can’t see it. Maybe they’re visually impaired, or maybe the image just isn’t loading. Either way, alt text is the gateway to bridging that gap. It also happens to be a powerful SEO tool, giving search engines crucial info about your images and your overall content. Ignore alt text, and you’re basically throwing away free accessibility points and potential ranking boosts.

What Is Alt Text, Really?

Let’s cut the jargon: Alt text is an HTML attribute added to an image tag that describes what’s in the image or the function of the image if it’s more contextual than visual. For example:

<img src="cat_photo.jpg" alt="A fluffy grey cat sitting on a windowsill" />


The alt attribute here ensures that screen readers and search engine crawlers know what the image is about. If someone’s device can’t display the image, this text will appear, giving them a basic idea of what they’re missing. If you’re using WordPress or another CMS, you usually just fill in a field labeled “Alt Text” when you upload an image. That’s it.

So why does this matter? Because ignoring alt text means ignoring a whole chunk of people and search-engine signals.

Accessibility: The Moral and Legal Imperative

Accessibility isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a moral obligation (and often a legal one, depending on your region). Websites need to be usable by as many people as possible, including the visually impaired. Alt text is one of the simplest ways to achieve that.

  • Screen Readers: People with visual disabilities rely on software that reads out loud what’s on the screen. If your image has no alt text, the reader might just say “Image” or “Graphic,” which is about as helpful as saying nothing.
  • Legal Ramifications: Certain countries or states have accessibility laws (like ADA in the U.S.) that require websites to meet accessibility standards. Skip alt text, and you risk lawsuits or fines.

Bottom line: Adding alt text is not just about SEO or user-friendliness—it’s about being inclusive and potentially avoiding legal trouble. And guess what? When you do the right thing for accessibility, Google tends to smile upon you, too.

SEO Benefits: Why Google Cares About Your Images

Images are like the secret sauce for making your site visually engaging, but search engines can’t “see” them. They rely on textual clues to understand what the image is about. That’s where alt text steps in like a hero.

  • Context for Crawlers: Alt text tells Google that your “cat_photo.jpg” is actually a “fluffy grey cat sitting on a windowsill.” That adds relevant keywords to your page content, boosting its thematic consistency.
  • Image Search Rankings: Ever done an image search on Google? Sites that properly label their images can appear in those results, driving traffic you might not get otherwise.
  • Keyword Reinforcement: If your page targets “handmade ceramic mugs,” adding relevant alt text to your product images can reinforce that keyword theme. Just don’t keyword-stuff your alt text—it’s cringe and Google hates that.

Quick Tip: Keep alt text clear and descriptive. Don’t just throw random keywords in. Google’s not stupid, and forced keywords can read like spam.

How to Write Alt Text That Doesn’t Suck

  1. Describe the Image: Keep it concise but clear—“Man reading a newspaper on a park bench” is better than “Man. Newspaper. Bench.” or “stock_image_101.”
  2. Context Matters: If the image is purely decorative, you can sometimes leave alt text blank or marked as “decorative,” depending on your platform. But if it’s integral, describe what’s relevant to the page’s content.
  3. Avoid Keyword Stuffing: “Best cat toy store cat toy cat playing cat toy cat in London.” That’s the fastest way to get penalised.
  4. Reflect Brand Voice (Sometimes): If your brand is edgy or witty, a subtle dash of personality in alt text can be refreshing, but don’t overdo it. Clarity first, fun second.
  5. Stay Under 125 Characters: That’s a general rule for screen readers. If you need more detail, you can use additional attributes or captions.

When done right, alt text is invisible to most users but essential to those who need it—and to search engines.

Common Alt Text Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Leaving It Blank for Key Images: If the image conveys crucial info (product images, infographics, etc.), skipping alt text leaves a chunk of your audience in the dark.
  2. Keyword Overload: Trying to jam your entire SEO strategy into a single alt tag is spammy. “Blue men’s running shoes size 10 Nike running shoes best running shoes” is an abomination.
  3. Using “Image of…”: Screen readers already know it’s an image. Get to the point: “Happy customer holding our new organic smoothie bottle.”
  4. Generic Filler: “Picture1.jpg” or “ProductShot.jpg” helps no one. Descriptive text is your friend.
  5. Copying the Filename: A sloppy “Blue_Jeans_for_sale_001.jpg” is not good alt text. Properly rephrase it for clarity.

Remember, alt text is meant to help people and crawlers. Don’t phone it in or over-engineer it. Aim for natural, brief descriptions with a pinch of context.

Tools and Tech to Make Alt Text Easier

  • CMS Alt-Text Fields: WordPress, Shopify, Wix—they all have alt text input fields when you upload an image. Use them.
  • Plugins & Extensions: Some SEO or accessibility plugins can scan your site for missing alt text, like Yoast SEO (WordPress) or Accessibility Checker. They’ll nag you, which is exactly what you need if you’re forgetful.
  • AI Auto-Generate: Tools like Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud Vision can auto-generate alt text. Caution: these can be hit-or-miss, so double-check.
  • Web Accessibility Checkers: Sites like WAVE or Siteimprove can flag images that lack alt tags, ensuring you don’t miss anything.

While automation helps, a human touch ensures your alt text truly captures the essence of the image, especially for brand-specific or emotional content.

Myth-Busting Alt Text Misconceptions

  1. Myth: “Alt text only benefits blind users.”
    • Reality: It benefits them and search engine crawlers, plus it’s a fallback if images fail to load on slow connections.
  2. Myth: “I should repeat my page’s target keyword in every alt.”
    • Reality: That’s keyword stuffing. Descriptive is the key; adding relevant terms when natural is fine.
  3. Myth: “Decorative images also need alt text.”
    • Reality: If it doesn’t add meaning, you can use an empty ("") alt attribute so screen readers skip it.
  4. Myth: “Alt text is optional if I have a caption.”
    • Reality: Captions can be helpful, but alt text serves a distinct function for accessibility tools. Use both if needed.

Don’t let these myths sabotage your alt text game.

FAQ: Burning Questions About Alt Text

Q: Do I add alt text to background images in CSS?
A: Typically, no. Alt text is for inline images (<img> tags). Background images used purely for style usually remain decorative.

Q: Should I localise alt text for multilingual sites?
A: Yes, absolutely. If your page is in Spanish, your alt text should also be in Spanish to benefit local users and search crawlers.

Q: How long should alt text be?
A: Aim for under 125 characters. Enough detail to convey meaning, but not a novel.

Q: What if the same image appears multiple times?
A: For repeated images, you can use consistent or even empty alt text if it’s decorative. But be mindful if the image’s context changes.

Q: Does it matter for infographics?
A: Infographics usually require more detailed alt or supplemental text to describe the data. Don’t leave users guessing.

Conclusion: Elevate Your Site, One Alt Text at a Time

Stop ignoring alt text, seriously. You’ve seen how crucial it is for accessibility—allowing screen reader users to engage with your content. You’ve grasped how it boosts your SEO, offering an extra textual clue to search engines about your images and overall site context.

Next steps:

  1. Audit your site: Use a tool or plugin to find missing alt text.
  2. Write descriptive alt tags that help both humans and bots. If it’s decorative fluff, keep it empty—but if it’s integral, describe it well.
  3. Stay consistent: Add alt text whenever you upload new images. Don’t let laziness sabotage your long-term SEO.
  4. Experiment with subtle keyword usage: But only if it feels natural. You’re not stuffing a turkey here.

It’s time to transform your site from a visual black box for those who can’t see or can’t load images, to an accessible, SEO-friendly marvel. Because in a crowded digital world, every edge counts—and alt text is one of the easiest edges you can deploy. So get to it. No excuses.