How to Optimize Images for SEO: The Ultimate Guide

Images aren't just decoration—they are a powerful source of organic traffic. Google Images searches account for over 20% of all searches online. If you're ignoring Image SEO, you're leaving traffic on the table.

Here are the 7 essential steps to optimize your images for search engines.

1. Name Your Files Properly

Bad: `IMG_8593.jpg` Good: `red-leather-jacket-mens.jpg`

Google can't "see" images like humans do. It relies on the filename to understand what the image is about. Always use descriptive, hyphen-separated keywords in your filenames *before* you upload them.

2. Use Descriptive Alt Text

Alt text (alternative text) describes the image for screen readers and search engines.

Bad: `jacket` Good: `Man wearing a red leather biker jacket standing in the street` Tips:

• • Be specific
• • Include your main keyword (naturally)
• • Don't keyword stuff
• • Keep it under 125 characters

3. Compress Your Images

Page speed is a ranking factor. Huge images slow down your site and hurt your rankings.

The Rule: Never upload an image larger than it needs to be.

• • Resize: If your blog width is 800px, don't upload a 4000px image. Resize it first.
• • Compress: Use a tool like xpacto to reduce file size without losing quality.

Aim for file sizes under 100KB for large images, and under 30KB for smaller ones.

4. Choose the Right Format

As we discussed in our Format Guide, using modern formats helps SEO.

• • WebP: Google explicitly recommends using "next-gen formats" like WebP in their PageSpeed Insights tool.
• • SVG: Great for logos and icons because they are infinitely scalable and tiny in size.

5. Implement Lazy Loading

Lazy loading means images only load when the user scrolls down to them. This significantly speeds up the initial page load time.

If you're using WordPress or Next.js (like us!), this is often built-in. If not, use the `loading="lazy"` attribute on your image tags:

```html

```

6. Use an Image Sitemap

Help Google discover your images by adding them to an image sitemap. This is especially important if your images are loaded via JavaScript (like in galleries).

7. Add Structured Data (Schema)

If you have product images or recipes, adding Schema markup helps Google display "rich results" (like price, availability, or ratings) right on the image in search results.

Summary Checklist

1. [ ] Rename file to `keyword-description.jpg`
2. [ ] Resize to actual display dimensions
3. [ ] Compress using xpacto
4. [ ] Convert to WebP
5. [ ] Upload and add Alt Text
6. [ ] Ensure Lazy Loading is on

By following these steps, you'll not only rank better in Google Images but also improve your overall site speed and user experience.