Image ALT Text Attributes

Depending on whom you talk to, Image ALT (alternative) Text Attributes are anything from meaningless to vital for search engine optimization. The fact is, Image ALT tags are not currently a significant factor in search engine optimization. But they're not meaningless either:

1. Search engine algorithms are constantly changing, and the fact that Image ALT text is not very important to SEO right now does not mean it won't be important tomorrow.
2. Using Image ALT text may not help your SEO results, but using it improperly could hurt.
3. Used correctly for its intended purpose — to describe an image for site visitors who surf with images turned off and for those who are using readers to read the contents of the page out loud — Image ALT text enhances the user experience.

Here is a video by Google engineer, Matt Cutts on how to use Image ALT text:

Good SEO and good Web site development aren't achieved by simply implementing the latest trick. SEO guru, John Alexander of Search Engine Workshops believes in keeping basics in: "Always remembering the “basics” is one of the best strategies to follow."He has a few tips for using Image ALT text:

1. "Use your descriptive keyword rich text in text on the page — but use moderation."
2. "Don't use text that is not relevant to the image."
3. "Never keyword stuff."