Always use "alt" and "title" tags for images, flash objects and links
Most people and businesses over the internet are gunning down for the number one spot – which is to get the highest Page Rank possible in search engines like Yahoo!, and Google. Now most websites these days are using more and more of static content and information as opposed to images and flash objects. This is because of the fact that search engine spiders can’t index flash websites and can’t read and image or flash objects. So the spiders will not be able to make out what the image represents. In such a scenario, experts feel that using the “alt” and “title” tags can help spiders index images as well as flash objects. The “alt” and “title” tags will be able to describe what the image really is in words.
The rule is: you should always add the “alt” attributes to all images on your website and you will need to add the “title” attribute only if the image is being used as a link. Let’s take a look at an example:
If there is a simple image of laptop on your webpage that is not linked to any other page or objects on other pages then it will consist of the ALT attribute only. The code will be as follows:
<p> <img src=”laptop.jpg” alt=”laptop” width=”400” height=”400”/> The laptop is a great portable computer.
Now if the laptop image is linked to the IBM brand of laptop then it will have a TITLE attribute so that the visitor knows where the image is being linked to. The code will be as follows:
<p> <a href =http://www.laptopscheap.com><img src=”laptop.jpg” alt=”laptop” title=”Check out some of the top models in IBM laptops” width=”400” height=”400”/> The laptop is a great portable computer.
Some of the benefits of using the “alt” and “title” attributes include:
• It will enhance the overall browsing experience of those visitors who have disabilities
• Using the “alt” and “title” attributes will increase the keyword density score as well as the relevancy of each of the targeted keywords for your web page.
• Using the “alt” and “title” attributes will ensure that all visitors to your website or that particular page get valuable information related to other pages as well.
• In a way, the use of “alt” and “title” attributes will ensure that your page is search engine optimized
• It will also help in increasing the visibility of images on various search engines like Yahoo and Google.
• You can use relevant keywords in your “alt” and “title” attributes
Apart from the fact that “alt” and “title” attributes should be added to images, you need to ensure the following:
• When using a title attribute, ensure that additional caption or text is added for describing a link
• Add a citation for the URL and keep it short
• Add the title of the image as well as a caption describing that image
Adding “alt” and “title” attributes are considered as good practices and should be used more often by designers and web developers.
By chandni | November 8, 2008 | Filed Under SEO Advice
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Text Area #3
This is an area on your website where you can add text. This will serve as an informative location on your website, where you can talk about your site.
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Do you have an example about how to add the alt or title attribute in a flash objects?