The internet and search engines are evolving and getting smarter. If you are not optimizing for image searches on your website you are missing out on a lot of traffic. With smartphones, people are inherently lazy. If your friend has a product and you want to know where to buy it, snap a photo and Google will tell you where the nearest location and pricing for it is at.
It has been assumed that we treat graphics as a way to diversify the content or present a product. However, their power is much greater. When properly optimized, they increase the chances of a good position in Google Images – a search engine that surpassed YouTube, Bing, or Google Maps. And no, it’s not just about picture descriptions.
How does the Google Images search engine work?
Much has been written about placement, nearly typically in the context of Google search engine optimization. Stores pay a lot of money to have their items appear first, and the website was a model of how to look such that the bot would like it. It’s odd that graphic optimization is still occasionally overlooked, and that it’s typically confined to writing captions for photographs. Behind all, Google Images is the second most popular search engine after Google Search.
Google Images, or simply Google Graphics, is a search engine used to search for images. It was launched almost 20 years ago, in 2001. Users use it to find images and photos thematically related to a given query. Now with a click of a button on a mobile phone, you can take a snapshot of anything and find it on Google.
An example of the results in Google Images
Images appear in Google Images when Googlebot determines that they are related to the search phrase. Of course, he has to find such a graphic beforehand, and he does it when indexing websites. Google categorizes all photos and images in an appropriate way, assigning them specific keywords. This is done based on photo descriptions and what is on them. The bad news is that, as befits an algorithm, it doesn’t always work properly. Googlebot may not be able to judge what’s in the graphic, so optimizing your photos and images is important, also for SEO.
Positioning of images on Google
Another way to attract traffic, get consumers, or create a brand is to use the Google Images search engine. In reality, it provides us with a similar placement to Google Search, however, the way it operates is plainly different. Optimizing photographs and images have additional benefits in addition to reaching a bigger audience (if an image from our site shows in Google Images).
One of them is, so important for SEO, shortening the page loading time. Properly optimized graphics will allow the page to load and load quickly, although the server is of course also responsible for a quick response. Improving this element may have a positive effect on the overall rating and position of the website in SERPs.
Another benefit of optimizing your graphics is capturing the user’s attention. Unique, interesting photos and images increase engagement. They make users devote their time to them. In some industries, there is even a chance that the artwork will spread virally.
How to optimize graphics for SEO?
- The name of the photo
Each image file should have an appropriate name: concise and containing the keyword. Combinations like “sxtnfbnef.jpg” are unlikely to work. Importantly, words in the name should be separated by a hyphen (“-“). We avoid “_” and special characters – the bot may misinterpret them.
- Graphics size
The larger the graphic, the greater the load on the website. Due to SEO, it is worth reducing each photo first. It is recommended that it weighs no more than 200 KB. Both free online tools and graphics programs such as Photoshop can be used to reduce graphics.
- Photo map
If there are a lot of photos on your page, it’s a good idea to create separate sitemaps with the URLs of all the images. This will make indexing them easier and increase the chance of a good position in Google Images.
- Graphics format
Graphics should be in .jpg or .png format. The former is more popular, but the latter is more recommended. Images and photos in the .png extension do not lose their quality during conversion.
- Structured data (rich snippet)
Structured data is a kind of extended description for photos. They can contain information such as product features, prices, and opinions.
- Alternative description
Graphics added to the network should contain an alternate description (ALT). This is a detailed description of the photo and briefly summarizes what is in it. It is worth using keywords there, but the priority is to describe the content of the graphic. It should not be large, its length should be approx. 70 characters. ALT is a great help for both the Google robot and the disabled. The alternative description is also useful when the graphic does not load properly.
- Title tag
The title tag, the title of the image, should describe what is on it. It is not recommended to duplicate alternative text.
- Photo caption
The caption under the graphic should briefly present what is on it. This will make navigation easier for the user, but also increase the chance that the bot will categorize it correctly.
Additional information
When optimizing graphics, it is also worth taking into account a few additional factors that are not obvious due to SEO but may still have an impact on the positioning. These are:
- the uniqueness of graphics – unique, self-made photos or graphics increase interest and are better assessed by Google robots;
- graphics quality – the higher the quality, the better;
- the layout of graphics – graphics should be added in the vicinity of keywords because it is a signal for the bot that it complements the content on the page.
Where to get the graphics?
Let’s be honest, hardly anyone has their own photo studio or the knowledge and tools necessary to create good, unique graphics. In that case, you can use Shutterstock’s photo banks.
Marketing without photographs is difficult to conceive, but you have to start somewhere, right? The ideal situation would be to engage a photographer who can swiftly, cheaply, and professionally prepare the right images. However, for a variety of reasons, this is both impossible and unprofitable. It differs significantly from free image banks.
Legally and for free?
Pictures are needed for ads, articles, banners, projects, presentations … and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! In an ideal world, it would be enough to find a photo in Google Images, but we all know that we can run into legal problems in this way. After all, every photo is copyrighted and the licenses are often unclear.
Therefore, you can buy the right to a photo or use a photobank (eg Adobe Stock), where you can find professional photos available under the purchased license. But just redeemed. What if we don’t want to spend money?
All you need to do is use the free photo banks.
TOP 9 free photo banks
1. Pixabay.com
A large database of photos of various types. It is probably the most popular free photo (and video) bank and therefore there is a high probability that someone has used a given photo more than once. Avoid selecting photos that you somehow already associate with because you probably really do.
2. Unsplash.com
Another very popular free image bank. You will find there, above all, breathtaking landscapes, but not only. The search for the perfect photo is facilitated by a clear division into categories.
3. Pexels.com
The Pexels search engine is very similar to Pixabay. You will find both photos and videos in it. There is also a board with the most popular photographers on the Pexels homepage.
4. Gratisography.com
If you are looking for original, often fun, and rarely used photos, Gratisography is your best choice. It’s a free image bank full of bizarre photos. Unfortunately, the Gratisography database is small compared to other banks.
5. PicJumbo.com
PicJumbo is a free, high-quality image bank. The division into various categories makes it easier to search. One of those banks to keep in mind when you have little time to find good photography.
6. Foodiesfeed.com
Free image bank entirely dedicated to food photography? This is what Foodiesfeed is all about. Here you will find both beautiful photos of ready meals and artistic photos of individual products. They are all divided into 6 main categories: coffee, cake, pizza, meat, top view, and healthy food.
New Old Stock is a free image bank designed with retro photography in mind. Most of them are black and white historical photos. An unusual bank that comes in handy when you need atmospheric photographs in a specific style.
7. Startupstockphotos.com
In this free image bank, you will find all the photos related to your office work. It is worth emphasizing, however, that these are not only employees and their computers. The bank also has city views, photos of office rooms, and photos with smartphones.
8. StockSnap.io
Another very transparent and extensive image bank. You will find high-quality, well-categorized photos in it. Keep in mind the “Trending” category – by monitoring it, you can find interesting photos that are just becoming popular.
9. Reshot.com
Tired of popular stock photos and looking for a great photo that you won’t find in other free image banks? Reshot is the solution for you. In this bank, all photos are selected manually.
When looking for a photo in a free bank, I remember that some of them also offer paid photos. So be careful and always check the marking of the selected material.
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