#optimizeimages

Imagine each image on your site as a secret agent working tirelessly to boost your SEO rank. In 2024, it’s not just about looking good, it’s about strategic moves behind the scenes.

In 2024, images are so much more than just decorative elements on a web page. Visual content has become a critical component of SEO success.

Each image on your site serves as a tactical agent, working diligently behind the scenes to boost your search rankings. But simply having images on your site isn’t enough. You need to optimize them for maximum SEO impact.

Follow these 8 optimization techniques to make your visual assets shine bright in 2024:-

1. Choose Relevant, High-Quality Images

The first rule of thumb is to only use images that are relevant to your content. Choose photos that mirror the soul of what you’re discussing on the page. Random, generic stock photos don’t cut it anymore.

Include high-quality images that enhance the reader’s experience and provide visual appeal. Avoid anything pixelated, distorted, or blurry.

While sites like Canva make it easy to create custom images, steer clear of copyrighted photos you don’t have licensing rights for. The last thing you want is a DMCA takedown notice.

2. Use Descriptive File Names and Alt Text

Before uploading images to your site, take time to give them descriptive file names. Instead of something generic like “image001.jpg”, go for “santorini-beach-sunset.jpg”.

Equally important is alt text. Craft accurate, concise descriptions of what’s in each image, while working in 1–2 primary keywords. For the beach sunset example above, the alt text could be “breathtaking sunset ocean view of Oia Santorini”.

This helps search engines understand your images and may result in them appearing in Image SERPs down the road.

3. Compress and Optimize for Faster Loading

As page loading speed becomes more critical for SEO in 2024, image optimization is a must. Use advanced compression techniques to trim down file sizes without sacrificing visual quality.

Plugins like Smush can compress JPEG, PNG, GIF, PDF, and SVG files. Other options include TinyPNG or Optimizilla.

Additionally, convert images into next-gen WebP format. WebP files are 25–35% smaller than JPEG/PNG equivalents. Use a plugin like WebP Converter for Media to automate this process. The end result? Lightning fast load times.

4. Create and Submit an Image Sitemap

Dedicated image sitemaps serve as “roadmaps” for search engine bots. They list out all the images on your site, allowing bots to more easily crawl and index your visual content.

An image sitemap is an XML file that lives separately from your main XML sitemap. Submit it to search engines through Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools, etc.

Most SEO plugins like Yoast SEO or RankMath can auto-generate image sitemaps for you. Just don’t forget to actually submit them to the search engines!

5. Implement Schema Image Markup

Schema markup enables you to enhance image SEO even further. It uses structured data to annotate images with additional attributes.

For instance, you can use schema.org tags like:

ImageObject: defines the image itself

Caption: describes the image contents

Description: provides a text description of the image

This gives search engines extra clues into what an image represents, possibly resulting in rich image SERP listings.

6. Make Images Responsive

With mobile accounting for over 50% of web traffic in 2024, making images responsive across devices is non-negotiable.

Use the HTML srcset attribute to define different image versions for varying screen sizes/resolutions. The browser will automatically load the best size for each device and connection speed.

7. Lazy Load Your Images

Lazy loading techniques delay the loading of non-visible images below the fold. Images only load as the user scrolls down the page.

This majorly improves initial load times and provides a smoother user experience. Try a lazy load plugin like Lazy Load by WP Rocket or Enable jQuery Lazy Load.

Some themes like Astra even have built-in lazy loading functionality. Take advantage of this free speed boost!

8. Strategic Image Placement

Carefully consider where you place images on the page. Images should complement the surrounding content and serve as visual anchors for key sections.

For example, an image of someone doing a yoga pose would be perfectly aligned next to a section discussing the benefits of that pose.

Relevant imagery boosts SEO rankings and keeps users engaged as they scan the page. Avoid sticking random stock photos in for no reason.

Tools and Plugins for Image Compression and Optimization:-

🠮 Smush- A popular WordPress plugin for image compression and optimization. 🠮 Kraken.io- An online image optimization tool with various features. 🠮 TinyPNG- An online tool that uses smart lossy compression techniques. 🠮 Optimizilla- A web-based image optimizer that allows bulk compression. 🠮 ImageOptim- A desktop application for compressing images on Mac. 🠮 Converter for Media plugin for WordPress- It automatically converts images in WebP format.

Strategic Placement of Images in Content:-

🠮 Place images near the beginning of the content to grab attention. 🠮 Use images as visual anchors for important sections or key points. 🠮 Align images with the text they illustrate or enhance. 🠮 Insert images within blog post intros, CTAs, and social media previews. 🠮 Use relevant images to break up long paragraphs or create visual breaks in the content.

Power of Visual Content in 2024

Optimized images are the ultimate double threat for SEO and UX in 2024.

Not only do they boost organic visibility and search rankings, but they significantly enhance the user experience. Clean, crisp, relevant visuals make content infinitely more enjoyable to consume.

Just be sure to keep your images fresh! Update old photos or switch up visual themes to keep content looking vibrant and trendy.

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but optimized images are worth a thousand new visitors.

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Thank You!

Nitin Mathur

Webjinnee