Alt Tags Implementation Guide – SEO & Accessibility
Complete guide for adding alt tags to all images across all 4 WordPress sites for better SEO and accessibility.
Why Alt Tags Matter
🔍 SEO Benefits
Search engines use alt text to understand image content, improving page rankings and image search visibility.
♿ Accessibility
Screen readers use alt text to describe images to visually impaired users, making sites accessible to all.
📱 Performance
Alt text displays when images fail to load, providing context even on slow connections.
🎯 User Experience
Better context and meaning for all site visitors, improving overall user experience.
Implementation Methods
Method 1: WordPress Media Library (Recommended)
- Go to Media Library: WordPress Admin → Media → Library
- Select Image: Click on any image to edit
- Add Alt Text: Fill in the “Alternative Text” field
- Save: Update the image
- Repeat: Process all images in library
Pros: Changes apply everywhere the image is used
Method 2: Individual Posts/Pages
- Edit Post/Page: Go to the content you want to update
- Click Image: Select the image in the editor
- Image Settings: Click the image settings button
- Add Alt Text: Fill in the alt text field
- Update: Save the post/page
Pros: Context-specific alt text for each use
Method 3: Bulk Plugin (For Large Sites)
- Install Plugin: “Auto Alt Text for Images” or similar
- Configure Settings: Set up automatic alt text generation
- Run Bulk Update: Process existing images
- Review and Edit: Manually improve generated text
Pros: Fast bulk processing, good starting point
Site-Specific Alt Tag Guidelines
🏢 Vallie Insurance
- Professional Focus: “Professional insurance agent reviewing policy documents”
- Include Keywords: “auto insurance”, “life insurance”, “business protection”
- Local Context: Reference Tennessee, Greeneville when relevant
- Action-Oriented: “Family protected by comprehensive insurance coverage”
Example: “Vallie Insurance agent explaining auto insurance options to Tennessee family”
🎨 Rustdawg73
- Artistic Description: “Gothic steampunk artwork featuring industrial machinery and dark atmosphere”
- Style Keywords: “gothic”, “steampunk”, “dark art”, “industrial”
- Medium/Technique: “Digital art”, “mixed media”, “illustration”
- Mood/Theme: “Atmospheric horror illustration with Victorian elements”
Example: “Dark gothic steampunk digital artwork depicting industrial horror scene with rust and decay”
🏢 BRNTC
- Business Focus: “BRNTC business networking event in Greene County”
- Local Emphasis: Include “Greene County”, “Greeneville”, “Tennessee”
- Community Aspect: “Local business leaders collaborating”
- Professional Tone: Business-appropriate descriptions
Example: “BRNTC members discussing business opportunities in Greene County Tennessee”
🎭 BRCTN
- Arts & Culture: “Local artists showcasing creative works in Greene County”
- Community Events: “Arts festival participants enjoying cultural activities”
- Creative Focus: Emphasize artistic and cultural elements
- Local Pride: Highlight regional arts and culture
Example: “BRCTN arts festival featuring local Greene County artists and cultural performances”
Alt Tag Best Practices
✅ Do This
- Be Descriptive: Clearly describe what’s in the image
- Keep It Concise: 50-125 characters is ideal
- Include Keywords: Naturally incorporate relevant SEO terms
- Context Matters: Consider how the image relates to the content
- Be Specific: “Red 2024 Honda Civic” vs “car”
- Include Action: “Person signing insurance documents” vs “person”
❌ Avoid This
- Generic Text: “image”, “photo”, “picture”
- Too Long: Overly detailed descriptions
- Keyword Stuffing: Forcing unnatural keyword repetition
- Redundancy: Repeating caption or surrounding text
- File Names: “IMG_1234.jpg” or “DSC_5678.png”
- Empty Alt Tags: Leaving the field blank
Implementation Checklist
🏢 Vallie Insurance
- □ Homepage hero images
- □ Service page illustrations
- □ Team member photos
- □ Insurance type graphics
- □ Blog post images
- □ Footer and header logos
🎨 Rustdawg73
- □ Art gallery images
- □ Album cover artwork
- □ Process/tutorial images
- □ Portfolio showcase
- □ Blog tutorial graphics
- □ NFT marketplace images
🏢 BRNTC
- □ Event photos
- □ Member directory images
- □ Meeting/networking photos
- □ Local business features
- □ Community event images
- □ Greene County locations
🎭 BRCTN
- □ Arts event photos
- □ Cultural festival images
- □ Artist showcase photos
- □ Community gathering images
- □ Local venue photos
- □ Performance/exhibition images
Tools and Resources
WordPress Plugins
- Auto Alt Text for Images: AI-powered alt text generation
- SEO Optimized Images: Bulk alt text editing
- Accessibility Checker: Identifies missing alt tags
- Image SEO: Comprehensive image optimization
Testing Tools
- WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluator: Check accessibility compliance
- Screen Reader Testing: Test with NVDA or JAWS
- Browser Developer Tools: Inspect alt attributes
- Google Lighthouse: SEO and accessibility audits