If you are a blogger or write articles for an online periodical or newspaper, you are likely wondering whether your article should have an image or not. The answer is invariably “yes”. Images give tone to an article and also improve the search engine optimization of your website. This article explains the process of refining an image for SEO and provides some recommendations on using visuals for an optimal user experience.
Always use images
Used wisely, visual elements can help readers better understand your article. While the old adage “A picture is worth a thousand words” doesn't necessarily apply to Google, it certainly holds true when it comes to brightening up a thousand tedious words, depicting your message through a graphic or a data flow diagram, or simply make your social media posts more engaging.
The suggestion is simple: incorporate visual elements into all your written materials to make them more engaging. Additionally, with the growing importance of visual exploration, as shown by Google's search insights, this could lead to a considerable increase in traffic to your website. So it makes sense to prioritize image SEO if you have visual content.
Find the right image
Your article needs an illustration related to its theme. If you're including an arbitrary image for the sole purpose of getting a favorable SEO score, you're not doing things right. The image should reflect the topic of the article or serve as an explanatory tool in the text. Additionally, the image should be placed next to relevant content. If you have a main image or an image that you want to rank, try placing it at the top of the page, as long as it is natural. An image that correlates with text ranks better for the keyword it is optimized for.
Use alternatives
If you don't have original images to use, there are alternative methods to discover distinct images and avoid generic images. For example, Flickr.com is a great source for images because it offers images under the Creative Commons license. However, it is essential to credit the original photographer. Still, you may notice that images featuring people generally look like stock photos unless you take the photos yourself, which is always the best choice. Other image options may be diagrams or sketches. Furthermore, it is worth noting that animated GIFs are extremely trendy these days.
Ensure images are mobile-friendly
If you used the correct file format and compacted your graphics, they should be compatible with mobile devices. However, sometimes the presentation does not live up to expectations. Since more than half of web traffic comes from mobile devices, it is essential to ensure that images do not disrupt the mobile experience. It is therefore strongly recommended to review your website from different mobile devices to ensure that the images are optimal. Keep in mind that tablets, iPhones, and Android devices may display your charts somewhat differently. It is recommended to use Google's mobile-friendly review to confirm that your images do not slow down site speed on mobile devices.
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