So, social media has introduced Alt text into the game making it even more fun for our marketing departments.
Just one more thing to do and add to that never ending list of optimization.
So, how does it work?
And how do you improve your marketing efforts by using it?
In this blog post, we will explore what alt text on social media is and why it's important to do it.
What is Alt Text on Social Media?
Alt text is an attribute added to an image that provides a textual description of the image.
It is typically used by screen readers to describe images to individuals with visual impairments.
When an image is uploaded to a social media platform, alt text can be added to describe the details of the image.
This allows users with visual impairments to have equal access to the content being shared.
Why is Alt Text Important on Social Media?
Alt text is essential on social media because it makes the content more accessible to a wider audience.
According to the World Health Organization, around 285 million people are visually impaired worldwide, and around 39 million of them are blind.
For people with visual impairments, alt text is crucial as it enables them to understand the context of the image or post.
Furthermore, alt text also helps to improve search engine optimization (SEO) by making it easier for search engines to understand the content of the image.
Including relevant keywords in your alt text improves your chances of ranking higher in search results, which can lead to more engagement with your content.
How to Write Alt Text on Social Media?
When writing alt text on social media, it is important to be descriptive and concise.
Screen readers usually only read the first few words of alt text, so make sure the most important information is included at the beginning.
You should also try to use relevant keywords to help improve your SEO.
Avoid using overly generic descriptions such as "image", "picture", or "photo". Instead, describe the content of the image, including any important details or context.
Here Are 5 Best Practices For Using Alt Text on Social Media👇
Be descriptive:
The purpose of alt text is to describe an image to someone who may not be able to see it.
This means that your alt text should be as descriptive as possible. Describe the content of the image, including any important details or context.
Keep it concise:
While you want to be descriptive, you also want to keep your alt text concise.
Screen readers will only read the first few words of alt text before moving on, so make sure to include the most important information at the beginning.
Use relevant keywords:
Alt text is not just useful for people with disabilities, it can also help improve your search engine optimization (SEO).
Make sure to include relevant keywords in your alt text to help your images show up in search results.
Use proper capitalization and punctuation:
Alt text should be treated like any other piece of written content.
Use proper capitalization and punctuation to make it easier to read and understand.
Don’t overuse it:
While alt text is important, you don’t want to overuse it.
Only include alt text for images that are important or add value to your post. Including alt text for every single image can be overwhelming for screen reader users.
In conclusion, using alt text on social media is an important part of making your content accessible to everyone.
By following these best practices, you can ensure that your alt text is effective and helpful for all users.
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