Image SEO without keyword stuffing
Image SEO starts with a relevant image on a useful page. Clear surrounding information and appropriate image descriptions help explain its purpose. Repeating services and town names in every image field does not make an unrelated photograph more helpful to a customer.
Before you start
- Choose an image you have permission to publish on a specific page.
- Identify whether it conveys information, is decorative or acts as a link.
What to do
Match the image to the answer
A photograph of your actual café seating can help someone understand the space. A stock skyline placed on a menu page may add little. Choose images because they clarify the content, and keep any description of a project or location accurate.
Give it meaningful context
Place the image near the text it supports. A short caption can explain a genuine before-and-after example or name the dish shown. Avoid claiming results that a photograph cannot establish, such as a guaranteed improvement in sales or building performance.
Use descriptions for people
Choose a sensible file name and concise alternative text where the image conveys useful information. Describe its purpose in this page rather than stuffing in every service you offer. Decorative images and image-only links have different accessibility needs, so check the intended role.
Check the actual delivery
Open the published page on mobile and desktop to inspect the crop and clarity. Ask a developer to check discoverability if an important image exists only as a CSS background. Optimise file weight separately while retaining the details readers need to see.
What to check
- The image supports a specific point on the surrounding page.
- Names, captions and alternatives do not make unsupported claims.
- The delivered crop remains useful and originals remain available.
Sources and further reading
Platform features can change. Check the provider’s current guidance before changing a live service.