{"id":27741,"date":"2020-09-22T10:13:10","date_gmt":"2020-09-22T17:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iteratemarketing.com\/?p=27741"},"modified":"2020-09-22T10:13:10","modified_gmt":"2020-09-22T17:13:10","slug":"what-is-alt-text-and-how-does-it-benefit-your-patients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iteratemarketing.com\/blog\/what-is-alt-text-and-how-does-it-benefit-your-patients\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Alt Text? [And How Does It Benefit Your Patients]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is Alt Text? [And How Does It Benefit Your Patients]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To create and strengthen the online presence of your TMS therapy clinic, you need to start focusing on the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) of your website. This entails focusing on hundreds of different factors, one of which is the use of Alternative Text<\/em> (alt text) on your web pages. But what is alt text? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More importantly \u2013 how exactly can it help improve the online visibility of a TMS therapy clinic?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article we will talk about what alt text is, why we use it, and how it can benefit your (potential) patients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s dive right in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Alternative Text?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Alternative text is a very short description of the image used on a webpage that is specified in the HTML code of that page. It is also referred to as \u201calt description\u201d or \u201calt attribute\u201d (and colloquially referred to as alt tags<\/em> by some people). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since search engines can only analyze text content, alt text helps them understand what your images are about. Furthermore, they enhance the user experience by making your content accessible to visually impaired users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Write Image Alt Text (Format)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Writing alt text isn\u2019t as complicated as it sounds. You just need to provide a clear-cut description of your image. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, you need to learn where <\/em>to write the alt text. Here\u2019s a sample HTML image tag:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<img src=\u201cimage.jpg\u201d alt=\u201cimage description\u201d title=\u201cimage tooltip\u201d><\/strong><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
The part where it says \u201cimage description\u201d <\/em>is where you write the alt text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ideally, alt attribute should be under 125 characters \u2013 that\u2019s the average screen reader\u2019s (assistive technology for visually impaired people) character limit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are some alt text examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
  • Person talking to their therapist in a clinic<\/li>
  • Three individuals sitting in the park and laughing<\/li>
  • Woman taking pie out the oven<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    You don\u2019t have to make your alt text creative \u2013 just describe the image in the simplest and most concise way possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    How to Add Alt Text on WordPress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    If you\u2019re on WordPress, you can easily add or update alt text without needing to delve into the HTML code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    1. Navigate to the post or page whose image(s) you want to edit. Open the destination page in editing mode.<\/li>
    2. Click on the image you\u2019re interested in. Then click on \u201cImage settings\u201d in the sidebar.<\/li>
    3. In the field where it says \u201cAlt text (alternative text),\u201d write your alt text.<\/li>
    4. Click the \u201cUpdate\u201d button in the upper right corner.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      Et voila \u2013 you\u2019re done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      Why is Image Alt Text Important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      Here are some reasons why alt text is so important:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      • Helps with Web Accessibility<\/strong> \u2013 alt text is primarily used for visually impaired people. With the help of screen readers, visually impaired people are able to<\/em> hear<\/em> alt texts to better understand on-page images.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
        • Overcomes Loading Issues <\/strong>\u2013 when an image file fails to load on a webpage, the alt text is displayed in its stead, ensuring that users don\u2019t miss out on anything important.<\/li>
        • Helps Search Engines <\/strong>\u2013 as mentioned earlier, alt text helps search engine crawlers read<\/em> images and display them in relevant image search results.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
          Not all images need descriptive alt text. If the image you added within your content only retells information included in the body text, or it\u2019s a decorative image, you may choose to skip adding the alt text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
          How to Write Good Alt Text for Your Images? (Best Practices)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
          Here are some tips for writing alt text that count:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
          • Be Relevant<\/strong> \u2013 the main point of using alt text is to make your content accessible to the visually impaired. Describe the image in a way that you\u2019d describe something to someone who lives with visual impairments \u2013 leaving all the unnecessary details out.<\/li>
          • Make it Brief<\/strong> \u2013 you don\u2019t want screen readers to cut off your long descriptions. Make sure to keep your alt text clear under 125 characters. <\/li>
          • Include Target Keywords <\/strong>\u2013 if the context of the image allows for it, use your target keyword in the alt text. This can help make your content more relevant to the intended search query. As with everything else, avoid keyword stuffing.<\/li>
          • Use Empty Alt Text <\/strong>\u2013 for images that don\u2019t require any alt text, use empty alt attributes. This means writing nothing in the quotations (alt=\u201c\u201d<\/em>). If you don\u2019t do that, some screen readers will instead read out the image file name, which could confuse the user. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
            In the end, it\u2019s all about keeping things simple, thinking of the user, and considering the on-page ranking factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
            Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
            There are a lot of boxes to tick when it comes to SEO best practices, and alternative text \u2013 no matter how insignificant it might seem \u2013 is one of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
            Remember \u2013 the little efforts you make can all add up to enhance the rankings of your TMS therapy clinic on Google, attract potential patients to your website, and help grow your business.<\/p>\n