What is Alt Text and How Does It Improve Image SEO

When was the last time you uploaded an image to your website and thought, “Right, now let me write a description for this too”? Probably not often—and that’s completely normal. Most people forget that search engines don’t actually see your images. That’s where alt text comes in.

In this blog, we’ll break down what is an alt text, why it’s so important for SEO, and how you can use it to boost your site’s visibility and accessibility. And if you’re looking to improve your overall SEO performance, partnering with a trusted SEO agency in Abu Dhabi can help you implement best practices across the board—including alt text.

Let’s start with the basics. Alt text—short for “alternative text”—is a brief description you add to an image’s HTML code. Its original purpose was to describe images to people using screen readers, such as visually impaired users. But over time, it has also become an essential part of image SEO.

So, what is an alt text really? It’s a way to tell both users and search engines what an image is about. For example, an image of a woman holding a coffee cup could have this alt text: “Smiling woman drinking coffee at a cafe in Abu Dhabi.” This description helps Google understand the image, even though it can’t see it.

And just like that, your image becomes more than just a pretty visual—it becomes SEO-friendly.

Search engines rely on words to understand web content. They can read your titles, subheadings, and paragraphs—but when it comes to images, they need your help. That’s where alt text becomes crucial.

When you add descriptive alt text to your images, you give Google more context. This can help your images rank in Google Images and, in some cases, improve the overall SEO score of your webpage.

More importantly, alt text is a vital component of image optimisation for better SEO. Optimised images load faster, perform better, and attract search engine attention. Adding alt text is one of the simplest ways to make your images work harder for your website.

Alt text isn’t just about SEO—it’s also about inclusivity. Many people use screen readers to browse the web, and these tools rely on alt text to describe images. So, when you add good alt text, you’re not just helping your rankings; you’re also making your website more usable for everyone.

And guess what? Google notices this. It prefers websites that provide a good user experience to all types of visitors. If your site is accessible, fast, and well-structured, it’s more likely to rank higher in search results. Alt text plays a role in that.

Now that we’ve answered what is an alt text, let’s look at how to write it effectively.

Your alt text should accurately describe what’s in the image. Think about what someone who can’t see the image would need to know.

Bad example: “Image123.jpg”
Good example: “Chocolate cake with raspberries and whipped cream on top”

Most screen readers cut off alt text at around 125 characters. So keep it short and to the point. A sentence is often enough.

You can—and should—include relevant keywords in your alt text, but only if it makes sense. Don’t force it. For help with selecting suitable terms, here’s a handy resource on how to choose the right SEO keyword.

There’s no need to start your alt text with “Image of…” or “Picture showing…” Google already knows it’s an image.

Let’s say you run a bakery in Abu Dhabi and post a photo of one of your signature cakes. Instead of leaving the image file as “cake1.jpg,” you add this alt text:
“Vanilla sponge cake topped with berries and powdered sugar, served on a white plate.”

Now, when someone searches for vanilla cake ideas or bakeries in Abu Dhabi, your image has a chance to appear in the results. That’s the power of well-written alt text—it helps your images show up in places they never would have otherwise.

Optimising your images doesn’t stop at alt text. It’s part of a bigger process that includes:

• Compressing images to improve loading speed
• Using proper file names (e.g., “strawberry-cake.jpg” instead of “IMG_09234”)
• Serving images in modern formats like WebP

But alt text is the foundation. Without it, your images are essentially invisible to search engines—even if they’re fast and high-quality.

That’s why it’s such a key player in image optimisation for better SEO.

Short answer: everywhere.

Every image that serves a purpose on your website should have alt text. This includes:

• Product photos
• Feature images on blogs
• Infographics
• Icons and buttons (e.g., cart, contact, email)
• Banners and promotional graphics

If it adds value or has a function, it should be described.

As you optimise your site, keep an eye out for these common alt text mistakes:

• Leaving it blank: Missed SEO opportunity and poor accessibility
• Keyword stuffing: Makes your content sound robotic and unnatural
• Duplicate alt text: Each image should have a unique description
• Too vague: “Photo of food” doesn’t help Google or your visitors

Take a few extra seconds to write meaningful alt text—it’s worth the effort.

So, what is an alt text? It’s a simple line of text that can make a massive difference.

Alt text helps search engines understand your images, boosts your chances of ranking in image search, and makes your website more accessible to users with disabilities. It’s a win-win-win.

If you’re not already using alt text on your website, now’s the time to start. Review your current images, update their descriptions, and watch how they start to contribute to your SEO goals—quietly but powerfully.

And if all of this still feels overwhelming, don’t worry. A trusted SEO agency in Abu Dhabi can help you craft an SEO strategy that includes everything from keywords to alt text to technical improvements. Because in SEO, it’s the little things—like alt text—that often make the biggest impact.