Image optimization can instantly level up your SEO game. If you are not optimizing your web images, it is time you start doing so. Here are 5 ways you can optimize images for the web.
1. Decide on a Format
Firstly, you have to decide the format of your images. The size and quality of the images greatly depend on the image format. So, make sure you choose the right format according to your requirements and preferences.
JPEG is one of the most commonly used image formats and gives great quality. PNG is another format that can be used for web images. Because of its high quality, it is also used for logos and graphics. GIF is the format that supports animated graphics. WebP and SVG are other image formats that are not frequently used.
2. Compress the Images
Compressing your image to reduce the memory size is the subsequent step of image optimization for the web. How the image compresses depends on the format of the image. Some formats permanently delete data while compression and the original file cannot be restored. However, the compression of other formats is reversible.
You can use online image compressing software to compress your images.
3. Resize the Images
If the dimensions of the image don’t fit the layout of your website, you have to resize the image to optimize it for the web. There are a lot of online websites where you can resize your images for free.
However, many online resizing tools have a limit on which formats they support. So, choose the tool that supports your selected image format.
4. Rename the Images
Naming the images is another crucial step in optimizing the images for the web. The name of your image will also appear in the URL of the image after it is published. It will be helpful for users as well as fulfilling Google’s SEO requirements.
5. Add Alt Text to Your Images
One of the most common errors in image optimization is missing alt texts. A survey shows that 86% of websites lacked alt text in images. Alt text is the small text that describes your image and is highly important in SEO.
Firstly, if the image fails to load because of slow internet access, the users will know from the alt text what the image is about. Secondly, it can help visually impaired persons. Lastly, keywords in alt text help you get noticed by Google as it is a great way of SEO.
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