3 Ways to Improve Your Image SEO

This episode addresses how photographers can enhance search visibility by strategically optimizing images. Effective SEO involves structuring website data, copy and images, to signal important information to search engines.

1. Use Keyword Phrases to Name Images

Image file names should reflect each page's target keywords. The first image carries the most weight, so it should use your primary keyword phrase, for example grimsby-newborn-photography.jpg, with later images using variations like newborn-photographer-grimsby.jpg. Establish a consistent naming schema in your raw processor (Capture One or Lightroom).

2. Write Descriptive ALT Tags

Every image needs substantive alt text, ideally two to three sentences describing the photo. Avoid keyword stuffing; write natural descriptions. Platforms like Squarespace use captions as alt text, so strategic file naming means descriptions are never blank.

3. Optimize for Speed

Use a tool like JPEGmini to compress images without visible quality loss, improving load times, a crucial SEO factor for mobile users.

Homework

1. Run all images through compression and reupload
2. Rename images on main pages using targeted keyword phrases
3. Optionally, write detailed alt-tag descriptions

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