Ensure SEO-friendly images on your website with these steps:
Use Original Images: Stand out online with unique and authentic visuals, avoiding stock or widely-used photos for a distinctive user experience.
Select Proper Image Format: Prefer SEO-efficient formats like WebP or SVG, while considering JPEG and PNG, and avoiding BMP and GIF.
Name Files Descriptively: Utilize clear and relevant file names to offer context to search engines and users.
Resize Images: Adapt image dimensions to ensure optimal display and loading across Desktop, Tablet, and Mobile devices.
Compress Images: Use tools like ImageOptim or plugins like WP Smush to minimize file size without compromising quality.
Remove EXIF Data: Eliminate unnecessary metadata to enhance privacy and reduce file size.
Add Image Title: Include tooltips to provide extra context or calls to action when users hover over images.
Incorporate Alt Text: Implement descriptive alt text for accessibility and enhanced SEO.
(Optional) Use Captions: Consider adding captions to provide deeper context or explain complex images like graphs.
Specify Image Dimensions: Avoid layout shifting by defining image dimensions in HTML.
Implement Responsive Images: Ensure adaptability to various screen sizes for improved user experience.
Apply Lazy Loading: Defer image loading until necessary (as users scroll) to optimize initial page load times.
Utilize a CDN: Employ a Content Delivery Network to boost image loading speed, security, and reliability.
Create an Image XML Sitemap: Help search engines efficiently discover and index your images.
Employ Structured Data: Use Schema.org markup to provide extra context, potentially enhancing visibility in rich search results.
Set Up OpenGraph & Twitter Cards: Manage how content, including images, is displayed when shared on social platforms.
Applying these steps, from selecting to uploading and formatting images, will ensure they're not only visually appealing but also optimized for search engines and varied devices, enhancing user experience and SEO performance.