Optimizing images with proper alt text and titles is a crucial part of any WordPress website. However, many site owners don‘t take full advantage of alt text and titles or understand the differences between them.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll dive deep on everything you need to know about image alt text vs. title in WordPress.
After 15 years as a WordPress expert and webmaster, I‘ll share my insider tips to help you enhance your image SEO and boost accessibility.
Contents
What is Image Alt Text?
Alt text, short for "alternative text", refers to a written description added to images on webpages. It‘s specified in HTML code using the alt attribute within the image tag:
<img src="image.jpg" alt="Description of the image">The alt text displays if an image fails to load properly on a site. This ensures visitors still get a basic understanding of what the image conveys.
Alt text also serves an extremely vital purpose for accessibility. Screen reader software used by visually impaired users will read the alt text aloud to describe images on a page.
Additionally, alt text has become increasingly important for SEO in recent years. Search engines like Google can‘t actually "see" or understand images. So they rely on alt text to determine what an image contains and if it‘s relevant to a search query.
💡 Tip: Make sure to include alt text on every meaningful image on your WordPress site for better accessibility and SEO.
What is an Image Title Attribute?
The title attribute can also be added to <img> tags in HTML:
<img src="image.jpg" alt="Alt description" title="Title description"> When present, this displays a small tooltip popup with the title text when a user hovers over the image.
However, image titles are not as important as alt text:
- Google doesn‘t use image titles for ranking purposes.
- Screen readers do not read aloud the title text for accessibility.
- Often redundant when paired with effective alt text.
In most cases, concise and descriptive alt text is sufficient on its own for an image.
Alt Text vs. Title: Key Differences
Let‘s look at some of the key differences between image alt text and title attributes:
| Alt Text | Title Attribute | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Accessibility & SEO | Supplemental hover text |
| Visibility | Displayed if image doesn‘t load | Only visible on hover |
| Accessibility | Read by screen readers | Not read by screen readers |
| SEO Value | Critical for image SEO | Minimal SEO benefit |
| Length | 125 characters or less | Can be longer descriptions |
| Usage | Add to all meaningful images | Optional |
As you can see, alt text plays a much more vital role overall, especially for accessibility and SEO. Title attributes have minimal SEO impact and are not crucial for most images.
How to Add Alt Text in WordPress
Adding descriptive alt text to your images in WordPress is easy using these methods:
In the Block Editor
The block editor is the newer default editor used when creating posts and pages in WordPress. To add alt text to an image here:
- Edit the page or post where you want to add an image.
- Insert an Image block.
- Upload an image or select one from your media library.
- In the image block settings on the right, add your alt text in the "Alt Text" field.
- Publish or update the post/page.
In the Classic Editor
If you‘re still using the classic editor in WordPress, here‘s how to add alt text:
- Edit the post/page where you want to add the image.
- Click "Add Media" above the editor.
- Upload a new image or select an existing one from your media library.
- In the media popup, enter your alt text in the "Alt Text" field.
- Insert the image into your content.
- Publish or update the post/page.
In the Media Library
You can also go back and add or edit alt text for existing images in your WordPress media library:
- Go to Media > Library in your WordPress dashboard.
- Hover over an image and click "Edit".
- Enter the alt text in the "Alt Text" field.
- Click "Update" to save the changes.
This will not automatically update alt text in existing posts. But any future uses of that image will have the new alt text attached.
How to Add Image Titles in WordPress
Adding title attributes to your images can also be done in WordPress, but is not quite as straightforward. There are two approaches:
As WordPress Image Titles
When you upload images to your WordPress media library, there is a "Title" field that identifies each:
WordPress image titles in the media library
This serves as the file name for WordPress. It will also be the default title attribute when inserting images into posts.
To edit these titles:
- Go to Media > Library.
- Hover over an image and click "Edit".
- Update the text in the "Title" field.
- Click "Update".
As HTML Title Attributes
You can also directly add a title attribute to images displayed in your content:
In the Block Editor
- Edit the post/page and select the image.
- Expand the "Advanced" options in the sidebar.
- Enter your desired text in the "Title attribute" field.
- Update the post/page.
In the Classic Editor
- Edit the image placeholder and click the "Edit Image" icon.
- Expand the "Attachment Display Settings".
- Enter the title in the "Title Attribute" field.
- Update the image changes.
This will add a tooltip users see when hovering over that image on the front end of your site.
Should You Use Image Titles?
Whether or not to use title attributes will depend on your specific goals and needs:
Potential Benefits
- Provides supplemental hover text
- Can include longer descriptions
- Easy to implement in WordPress
Drawbacks
- Minimal SEO value for rankings
- Not read by screen readers
- Often redundant when paired with alt text
- Poor UX if overused
For most websites, concise and accurate alt text is sufficient on its own.
However, title attributes can provide nice additions for things like:
- Crediting image authors or sources
- Linking related references
- Describing charts, graphs, or technical illustrations
Use your best judgment on when titles may be warranted for your images. Don‘t over-optimize at the expense of user experience.
Best Practices for Optimized Alt Text
To ensure your alt text is as effective as possible, here are my top tips as a WordPress expert of 15 years:
Be Accurate
- Precisely describe the image content and context.
- Do not exaggerate or include unrelated details.
Be Concise
- Keep alt text under 125 characters.
- Use brief sentences and tight language.
Include Target Keywords
- Work primary keywords in naturally if relevant.
- Don‘t force keywords that don‘t fit.
Avoid Keyword Stuffing
- Alt text is meant to be read by users.
- Avoid awkward over-optimization.
Write Unique Text
- Custom alt text tailored to each specific image.
- Don‘t duplicate full sentences.
Use Natural Language
- Write conversationally, as if summarizing the image aloud.
Add Useful Details
- Dates, locations, names, etc. can provide helpful context.
Call Out Important Text
- If an image contains key text, mention it in the alt text.
Describe Photos
- For photos of people, name who is pictured and what action they are doing.
Summarize Charts and Graphs
- Briefly explain what the data illustrates.
Omit Redundant Info
- No need to say "Image of…" or the file name.
Sticking to these guidelines will ensure your alt text maximizes SEO and accessibility for each image on your WordPress site.
Tools for Auto Alt Text and Titles
Adding well-optimized alt text and titles to all your images can be tedious, especially for large sites.
Luckily, there are some handy WordPress plugins available to auto-generate alt text and titles:
| Plugin | Key Features | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| SEO Image Optimizer | Auto-generates alt/title text based on image name and content | Free |
| Yoast SEO Premium | Uses AI for automatic generation | $89/yr |
| Rank Math SEO Pro | Auto-generates alt text from AI or media title | $99/yr |
The best option depends on your budget and needs:
- For a free basic solution, a plugin like SEO Image Optimizer is a good starting point.
- For more advanced auto-generation and bulk editing, a paid plugin like Yoast SEO or RankMath SEO can be worthwhile.
These tools help automate the optimization process for alt text and titles in WordPress. Try out a few options to see which works best for your site.
Alt Text vs. Title: Summary
Here‘s a quick rundown of the key points about image alt text and title attributes:
- Alt text is vital for accessibility and SEO. Include on every meaningful image.
- Title has minimal SEO value and is optional. Use selectively if needed.
- Effective alt text is accurate, concise, and uses target keywords naturally.
- Good titles supplement alt text with extended descriptions and links.
- Dedicated plugins can automate the generation process.
Optimizing your images with strategic alt text and selective titles where appropriate will improve the visitor experience and help your WordPress site rank higher in search engines over time.
Conclusion
Hopefully this guide provided you with a thorough understanding of how to use alt text and title attributes for your WordPress images.
Proper use of alt text and titles may seem minor, but can have a big impact on your website‘s accessibility, SEO, and overall user experience over the long term.
As a quick recap, here are my top 5 tips:
- Include alt text on every meaningful image.
- Craft descriptive, concise alt text without over-optimizing.
- Use titles selectively for extended details.
- Check plugins to auto-generate and manage alt/title attributes.
- Continuously audit new images and refine existing alt/title text.
Optimizing your images may take time upfront, but is one of the highest ROI activities you can do for your WordPress site.
Have any other questions about using alt text and titles effectively? Let me know in the comments!
