What Are the Best Practices for Writing ALT Text?

When it comes to SEO, we often talk about keywords, backlinks, and content. But there’s one thing many people still overlook image ALT text.

If you run a website or blog, and especially if you’re doing local SEO, writing proper ALT text can make a big difference. It helps your images appear in Google search, improves accessibility, and supports your overall SEO strategy.

In this article, we’ll look at the best practices for writing ALT text, with simple examples and tips you can start using right away.

What Is ALT Text?

ALT text (short for “alternative text”) is a written description of an image. It serves three main purposes:

1. Helps search engines understand what your image is about.
2. Assists users with visual impairments by describing the image via screen readers.
3. Shows a text alternative when an image doesn’t load on a browser.

So it’s not just for SEO it’s also about improving user experience.

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Why Is ALT Text Important for SEO?

Google can’t “see” images the way humans do. It reads your ALT text to understand the image content. Well-written ALT text helps your images appear in Google Image Search, supports page relevance, and can even boost your rankings when combined with good content and keywords.

If you’re doing local SEO, including your location in the ALT text can also help you show up in nearby searches.

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Best Practices for Writing ALT Text

Let’s go through the most important do’s and don’ts when writing ALT text.

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1. Describe the Image Clearly and Accurately

Your ALT text should explain exactly what the image shows. Think of it as describing the image to someone who can’t see it.

Example:

Instead of writing:
alt="image"
Write:
alt="Red velvet cake with white cream and strawberries, made at our Mumbai bakery"

This tells both search engines and users what the image is about.

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2. Keep It Short but Meaningful

ALT text should be brief and to the point around 10 to 15 words is ideal. You don’t need full sentences, just clear descriptions.

Example:

alt="Bridal makeup service at our salon in Andheri, Mumbai"

Short, descriptive, and keyword-friendly.

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3. Use Relevant Keywords (But Don’t Stuff it)

Including one relevant keyword in your ALT text helps with SEO. But don’t overdo it keyword stuffing can harm your rankings.

Bad example:

alt="best cake shop Pune cake order cake birthday chocolate cake shop near me"

Good example:

alt="Chocolate birthday cake with frosting from a bakery in Pune"

Always make sure the keyword fits naturally in the description.

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4. Include Location for Local SEO

If you’re targeting local customers (like a salon, bakery, or studio), mention the city or area in your ALT text.

Example:

alt="Hair spa treatment at our Bandra salon in Mumbai"

This improves your visibility in local image search results.

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5. Avoid Using “Image of” or “Picture of”

There’s no need to say “image of” or “photo of” in your ALT text. Screen readers already know it’s an image.

Instead of:

alt="Image of a birthday cake"

Use:

alt="Two-tier chocolate birthday cake with golden decoration"

You save space and make the ALT text more useful.

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6. Write Unique ALT Text for Each Image

Don’t copy-paste the same ALT text for every image. Each image has a unique purpose, so its description should match.

Example:

Image 1 ALT text:
alt="Chocolate truffle cake with cream from our Andheri bakery"

Image 2 ALT text:
alt="Fresh vanilla cake with birthday message written on top"

Even small changes make a difference and help search engines index your images correctly.

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7. Don’t Use ALT Text for Decorative Images

If your image is just a design element or background (like icons or lines), it doesn’t need ALT text. In that case, use an empty ALT attribute like this:

<img src="background-icon.png" alt="">

This tells screen readers to skip it, making your site more accessible.

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8. Match the ALT Text to the Image Content

Make sure the ALT text actually describes what’s in the image. Don’t try to sneak in unrelated keywords.

Bad example:

alt="Best SEO expert in India" (for an image of a team meeting)

Better:

alt="Team meeting with laptops discussing marketing strategies"

ALT text should match the image not just your SEO goals.

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9. Use Simple Language

Your ALT text should be easy to understand. Avoid complex words or technical jargon unless necessary.

Example:

alt="Child blowing out candles on a chocolate cake at a birthday party"

Clear and relatable.

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ALT Text Writing Checklist

Here’s a quick checklist to follow:

• Is the image described clearly?
• Does the ALT text include one relevant keyword?
• Is the text 10–15 words long?
• Is it unique to that image?
• Is it helpful for both users and search engines?
• Does it include a location (if local SEO is important)?
• Is it free of keyword stuffing or generic phrases?

If the answer is “yes” to all, your ALT text is good to go.

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Finally

Writing good ALT text doesn’t take much time but it can make a big difference in your SEO, accessibility, and user experience. It’s one of those small things that many people ignore, but smart website owners and SEO specialists take seriously.

Whether you’re running a local bakery, salon, clinic, or blog, applying these ALT text best practices will help your content get found and appreciated by more people.

In my experience, even updating just a few ALT tags on an old site has helped clients get more traffic from Google Image Search within a few weeks.

So next time you upload an image, take a moment to write a good ALT text. Your SEO (and your visitors) will thank you for it.

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