Alt Tag Implementation Guide – BRCTN

🎯 Why Alt Tags Matter

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Accessibility

Screen readers use alt text to describe images to visually impaired users, making your site inclusive and compliant with accessibility standards.

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SEO Benefits

Search engines use alt text to understand image content, improving your site’s visibility in image search results.

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Mobile Experience

Alt text displays when images fail to load on slow connections, ensuring users still understand the content.

✅ Best Practices for BRCTN

Describe the image content clearly and concisely (125 characters or less)
Include relevant keywords naturally without keyword stuffing
Avoid phrases like “image of” or “picture of” – it’s already implied
For decorative images, use empty alt text (alt=””) to hide from screen readers
For complex images, provide detailed descriptions in surrounding text
Use descriptive file names that complement the alt text
Maintain consistency with your site’s tone and focus area

📝 Site-Specific Examples for BRCTN

❌ Poor Alt Text Examples

alt=”image1.jpg”

alt=”picture”

alt=”photo”

alt=””

✅ Excellent Alt Text Examples

alt=”Artists collaborating on community mural project”

alt=”Cultural event showcasing local creative talent”

alt=”Art gallery opening featuring emerging artists”

alt=”Creative workshop with community members learning new skills”

🛠️ Implementation Steps

Image Audit Checklist

Identify all images on your site (logos, photos, graphics, icons)

Review current alt text (if any) for quality and relevance

Categorize images by type (content, decorative, functional)

Write descriptive alt text for content images

Set empty alt text for purely decorative images

Optimize image file names to match alt text

Test with screen reader software

Validate accessibility compliance

🎨 Content-Specific Guidelines

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Professional Photos

Focus on the business context, services provided, and professional atmosphere. Include location when relevant.

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Artwork & Graphics

Describe the style, subject matter, colors, and mood. Include the artist or creation method when appropriate.

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Charts & Infographics

Summarize the main data points and trends. Provide detailed data in accompanying text or tables.

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Logos & Branding

Include the company name and brief description of the logo design or brand element.

🔧 Technical Implementation

WordPress Implementation:

// In WordPress admin, edit media files:

// 1. Go to Media Library

// 2. Click on image

// 3. Fill “Alternative Text” field

// 4. Update image

HTML Implementation:

<img src=”professional-consultation.jpg”

     alt=”Artists collaborating on community mural project”

     width=”600″

     height=”400″>

CSS Background Images:

// Use ARIA labels for CSS background images:

<div class=”hero-banner”

     role=”img”

     aria-label=”Cultural event showcasing local creative talent”>

</div>

📏 Quality Metrics

Length: 125 characters or less for optimal screen reader performance
Specificity: Detailed enough to convey meaning, concise enough to be practical
Context: Relevant to surrounding content and page purpose
Keywords: Include 1-2 relevant keywords naturally
Tone: Match your site’s voice and professional level
Accuracy: Truthfully describe what’s actually in the image

🖼️ Alt Tag Implementation Guide