Does anyone add a title to each picture?

[Poppylong]

Hi, I was just reading an article on tagging images. I've never given my images a title. The article was really old, so I just wanted to double check that this is worth it before I title all my images!

Thank you

<img src="xxxx
width="220" height="212" alt="Yellow hot air balloon"
title="Yellow hot air balloon" />

 

[Andriusgr]

Not really, but alt tag does matter

 

[OldWelshGuy]

do NOT abuse the alt image attribute or Google can end up slapping you. name the image properly, title the image and use a good alt image attribute.

Google are now starting to use Exif metadata as well.

 

[CarlReed]

I don't think the title tag has any weight in SEO whatsoever, if it does it's so small it doesn't even matter.

That is unless you're trying to rank images.

Always use the image alt tag but don't overdo it with keyword stuffing.

One keyword based alt tag per page is enough, if you have more images just keep it natural.

 

[OldWelshGuy]

I don't think the title tag has any weight in SEO whatsoever, if it does it's so small it doesn't even matter.

That is unless you're trying to rank images.

Always use the image alt tag but don't overdo it with keyword stuffing.

One keyword based alt tag per page is enough, if you have more images just keep it natural.

Image search is massive now, and getting bigger.

 

[macmacman]

Should you describe what the image is or use keywords? Eg if you sell balloons should the image be:

"large yellow balloon in the sky"

Or

"balloons for parties"

 

[OldWelshGuy]

If it is a large yellow balloon in the sky then that should be the alt image attribute. Google have developed image software that can now read images and work out what they are, so those who have abused the alt img attribute can look forward to getting a slap sometime in the next 12-24 months I would say.

 

[johnmessingham]

I generally do unless I am including text around the image that describes it fully. As others have said, the 'alt' tag is the important one regarding SEO.

 

[Wowfish Design]

Alt tag is all that matters and if the image is relevant to the keyword Google will never penalize you.

 

[seomentor]

Alt tag is all that matters and if the image is relevant to the keyword Google will never penalize you.

Sorry I completely disagree from experience. Adding alt text, adds to your content overall and depending on what else is on your page can either help it or over optimise the page.

I have a simple rule. If the image is of the quality I would want it to be found in mage search I add alt tags and name the image appropriately taking into account what else is optimised on the page.
If I have no interest in being found on image search (which for me is 99% of the time), I never add alt tags.

In fact on some larger site that have multiple images on each page, there only to enhance data rather than having value in their own right, I don't even name them, I number them. This is what Ebay does.

 

[Tom @ Click Miners]

If I have no interest in being found on image search (which for me is 99% of the time), I never add alt tags.

.

Alt tags are primarily for blind users who use screen readers. So you somehow damage accessibility of your websites.

 

[StevePoster]

It is important to include alt tags to the images because it will tell the search engine what is your picture is all about and the graphics will be searchable to the targeted users .

 

[fisicx]

If I have no interest in being found on image search (which for me is 99% of the time), I never add alt tags.

You would be surprised on how people now use image search. For some it's the primary search option. For the few minutes it takes to add some alt tags it seems silly not to do so.

But also add captions and make sure the image is relevant to the local content. This means putting @OWG's yellow ballon picture next to the paragraph discussing the merits of ballons and the relevance of the colour.

If the image has no relevance and is for decoration only you can still add alt text. Just call it 'styling image' or similar. People seach for this sort of bling and it's possible someone doing and image search can land on your site and become a client. It worked for me.

 

[altonroot]

If I have no interest in being found on image search (which for me is 99% of the time), I never add alt tags.

Whether you want your images found on image search or not can be choice of individual. But time and time again, real world Panda optimisation proved that proper content formatting with images and videos and other elements helps. Google doesn't read images, it use alt at the moment (as OWG said they are inventing machine learning algo to read images). They can't read video, they consider desc from embed code.
All those who wants to learn real world Panda optimization can refer this white-board Friday on Moz http://moz.com/blog/panda-optimization-whiteboard-friday

 

[Gateway2Digital]

i never Really use Titles but ALWAYS must use the ALT tag this is a must

 

[splashweb]

The ALT tag was surely designed primarily to be for human consumption, so a consise descriptive and relevant sentence seems most natural to me.

I usually use the TITLE tag too, with duplicate content, as, for example with current FF, the ALT tag content doesn't display when hovered, whereas the TITLE tag will. If the image is within an <a> tag then I place the TITLE within the <a> tag and the ALT within <img>.

 

[EpicWebs]

I recommend looking at it from an accessibility point of view rather than an SEO point of view, then alt tags and title tags will become fairly obvious when to use and not to use them.

 

[Faevilangel]

title tag on the image isn't in the W3 guidelines, title is only supposed to be added to link elements e.g.

<a href="#url" title="my link">
<img src="#url" alt="my link image" />
</a>

 

[Metachick]

I look at it this way, whether it makes a difference to SEO or not, it only takes two minutes to add a title to a picture so I always try to if I can as it won't harm your SEO unless of course you do go overboard with the 'keyword stuffing'.

 

[jackobfernandas]

alt tag is proper way to use in image.using title in image is useless

 

[RichardFT]

I recommend looking at it from an accessibility point of view rather than an SEO point of view, then alt tags and title tags will become fairly obvious when to use and not to use them.

Quite agree with this.

 

[cristinabarkerjones]

I don't think the title tag has any weight in SEO whatsoever, if it does it's so small it doesn't even matter.

Adding a title tag can only improve the performance of the website in Google's SERP (not only for image results). My personal experience shows that websites with unique images with unique file names, unique alt texts and relevant titles help in the fight for a place in Google's top pages.

 

[EpicWebs]

Adding a title tag can only improve the performance of the website in Google's SERP (not only for image results). My personal experience shows that websites with unique images with unique file names, unique alt texts and relevant titles help in the fight for a place in Google's top pages.

This is true, but in my experience you have to be careful with over doing it, as google has shown it's not worried about removing sites from their index anymore (not removing, but lower the site in the rankings).

 

[Deepanshu Gahlaut]

I always add title to each and every picture. This is because when a user points over the mouse over the picture, he would get the brief about that and title does the same.
However, from SEO perspective don't forget to include ALT tag.

 

[adamo]

Definitely make use of the alt tag for images you're uploading. Even if it's not totally keyword optimised, Google will still see you're using it so that has to be better than just leaving it un-touched..

 

[rivalkyrie]

No we should not use title in image. Alt tag must be given another name but no need to give image names of title.

 

[Louis Porter]

I look at it this way, whether it makes a difference to SEO or not, it only takes two minutes to add a title to a picture so I always try to if I can as it won't harm your SEO unless of course you do go overboard with the 'keyword stuffing'.

I agree, it doesn't take much time so why not. I also read recently that the original file name can affect SEO.

 

[astrolabium]

I will only use ALT tag and will keep simple. Stuffing with keywords won't help you, instead it may harm your image ranking.

 

[antp__]

I also read recently that the original file name can affect SEO.

This was going to be my next question. That's if I have the right end of the stick.

You're saying upload an image to /images. Say, blue balloon in the sky.
Because this is pulled through into the source code as

<img src="images/blue balloon in the sky.jpeg" alt="Blue Balloon in the sky" />

Is this where you are coming from?

 

[Louis Porter]

This was going to be my next question. That's if I have the right end of the stick.

You're saying upload an image to /images. Say, blue balloon in the sky.
Because this is pulled through into the source code as

<img src="images/blue balloon in the sky.jpeg" alt="Blue Balloon in the sky" />

Is this where you are coming from?

I read it a while back, and my memory isn't perfect, but essentially yeah. I think it makes sense as I've come across a number of website's that have images saved as img56448.jpg (or something of the sort).

Maybe this will give you a bit more info: http://www.smartbugmedia.com/blog/7-ways-to-optimize-image-files-for-seo

 

[antp__]

Thank you @Louis Porter, i'll take a look at the link in a moment.