By R A Smith
Search engines are integrating more elements into their search results in an attempt to provide a better user experience. These changes provide both a challenge and an opportunity to optimize web pages for higher search ranking. Improving image seo is one such opportunity.
Most websites use image code that looks something like this:
Many websites use image code that is missing the information that let search engines find the images or video, and potentially rank them in the search results. The benefit of gaining additional traffic is well worth the effort for optimization.
Here is a List of Image SEO Tips:
• Name image files and alt tags appropriately for improved seo relevance. Also, try to use absolute link designations, and include image size data.
• JPG files are preferred because search engines are going to interpret a GIF as a standard graphic image and JPGs as photos.
• Make image files accessible to the search engines, and not use limitations such as, robots exclusion, or javascript for clicking to see a larger image.
• Optimize the text in your RSS feed just like you should with your posts and web pages, with descriptive, keyword rich text in your title and description.
• Use keyword rich tags with your images such as captions, comments, cross-grouping, location, and themes.
• Optimize the page and the content surrounding your images or video, which can rank based on titles and text that surrounds them on the page.
• Improve your chances for videos to be found by the crawlers by creating a video sitemap and list it in your Google Webmaster Central account.
• Videos that show up in Google blended search results don't just come from YouTube. Submit your videos to other quality video sites like Metacafe, AOL, MSN and Yahoo.
• Use the words "image" or "picture" in your photo ALT descriptions and captions. Many searches include a keyword plus one of those words.
• Enable "Enhanced image search" in your Google Webmaster Central account. Images are a big part of blended search results, helping Google to find your photos can help your SEO efforts.
Written by Rick Smith at 10th Degree, an SEO marketing service, and a division for dealer website design
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=R_A_Smith
