Alt Text Guide
Image Alt Text SEO Examples:
The Formula That Ranks
Alt text is the strongest on-page image SEO signal — and the most commonly done wrong. This guide gives you real before/after examples for every major image type, plus the formula behind every good alt text.
What Is Alt Text and Why Does It Matter for SEO?
Alt text (the alt attribute on an <img> tag) serves two purposes. For accessibility, it is read aloud by screen readers when an image cannot be displayed. For SEO, it is the primary text signal that tells Google what an image depicts.
Google's image crawler cannot "see" images the way a human does. It relies on text signals — alt text, file name, surrounding page content, captions, and metadata — to understand what an image shows and which queries it should rank for. Alt text is the most direct of these signals because it is explicitly written by the page author to describe the image.
Alt text alone is not sufficient for strong image SEO rankings. It works best as part of a complete signal stack that includes EXIF metadata, ImageObject schema, and keyword-rich file names. See our image SEO examples guide for the full picture, and our image SEO optimization guide for the complete process.
The Alt Text Formula
Formula:
[Subject] + [Action/Detail] + [Location/Context]
The formula works because it maps directly to the three signals Google uses to match images to local search queries: what is in the image (subject), what is happening (action or detail), and where it is (location or context).
Not every image needs all three components. A product image may not need a location. A decorative image should have empty alt text. Apply the formula where it fits naturally — never force keywords where they do not belong.
Alt Text Examples by Image Type
Bad alt text
plumberGood alt text
Emergency plumber repairing burst pipe under kitchen sink in Clearwater, FLWhy: Adds action (repairing), subject detail (burst pipe, kitchen sink), and location (Clearwater, FL) — three independent ranking signals.
Bad alt text
food photoGood alt text
Grilled salmon with roasted vegetables at The Harbor Grill, Clearwater Beach FLWhy: Names the dish, preparation method, and the specific restaurant with location. Ranks for both food queries and local restaurant searches.
Bad alt text
red shoesGood alt text
Women's red leather ankle boots with block heel, size 8, front viewWhy: Includes material (leather), style (ankle boots), heel type, size, and view angle — all signals that match product search queries.
Bad alt text
SEO diagramGood alt text
Diagram showing how EXIF metadata flows from image file to Google's entity graphWhy: Describes the diagram content precisely. Ranks for informational queries about EXIF and entity graphs rather than the generic term 'SEO diagram'.
Bad alt text
team photoGood alt text
LinkDaddy LLC team at the Clearwater, FL office — image SEO specialistsWhy: Attributes the image to the business entity with location and role description. Reinforces E-E-A-T signals for the About page.
Bad alt text
decorative bannerGood alt text
alt="" (empty)Why: Purely decorative images should have empty alt text (alt="") so screen readers skip them. Never use 'decorative' as the alt value — that is read aloud by screen readers.
Alt Text Length: The 50–125 Character Rule
Alt text should be 50–125 characters. Under 50 characters is usually too vague to be useful. Over 125 characters risks being truncated by screen readers and may be treated as keyword stuffing by Google. The goal is a single, complete descriptive sentence — not a paragraph.
If you find yourself writing alt text longer than 125 characters, you are probably trying to describe a complex diagram or infographic. In that case, consider adding a visible caption or a longer description in the surrounding page text, and keep the alt text to the most important summary.
How Alt Text Relates to EXIF Data
Alt text and EXIF metadata are complementary signals that work best when they agree. Alt text is an HTML attribute read by Google's web crawler. EXIF data is embedded in the image file and read by Google's image indexing pipeline. When both describe the same subject and entity, Google has higher confidence in the attribution.
For a local business image, the ideal setup is: alt text describing the subject and location, EXIF Artist set to the business name, EXIF GPS matching the business address, and XMP Description containing the business name and niche. This creates a four-layer attribution cluster that is extremely difficult for competitors to replicate. See our EXIF data for SEO guide for the technical implementation.
Go Beyond Alt Text
Alt text is one signal. LinkDaddy Media automates the full stack — EXIF metadata, GPS coordinates, ImageObject schema, and entity attribution — so your images rank on every layer Google reads.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good alt text example for SEO?
'Emergency plumber repairing burst pipe under kitchen sink in Clearwater, FL' — describes subject, action, and location. Contrast with 'plumber image' which gives Google nothing to work with.
How long should alt text be for SEO?
50–125 characters. Long enough to describe the image meaningfully, short enough to avoid keyword stuffing. Screen readers typically cut off at 125 characters.
Should alt text include keywords?
Yes, but naturally. Include the primary keyword where it fits the description. Never force keywords or repeat them. Keyword stuffing in alt text is ignored or penalised by Google.
What is the difference between alt text and image title?
Alt text is read by screen readers and search engines — it is the primary SEO signal. Image title appears as a tooltip on hover and has minimal SEO value. Always prioritise alt text.
How does alt text relate to EXIF data for SEO?
They are complementary signals. Alt text is an HTML attribute read by Google's web crawler. EXIF data is embedded in the image file and read by Google's image indexing pipeline. When both describe the same entity, Google has higher confidence in the attribution.