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An In-Depth Look At Image Optimization: Fact And Future

Columnist Clay Cazier separates known from unknown image optimization elements and looks to the future of the discipline.

Clay Cazier on December 18, 2015 at 11:00 am

As the world moves farther down the mobile path, the advantages of including images within search results are clear: image results are more easily seen, understood and clickable than traditional organic listings.

Perhaps it’s for this reason that Google Images are now shown to be 32.4 percent of search results within MozCast.com’s SERP Feature History for the past 30 days (at the time of this writing), as compared to 24.6 percent recorded in October 2013.

With this in mind, I thought it was a good time to recap some image optimization tips to help improve image visibility within search results.

Top Factors

Image should have a relevant two- to four-word filename.
Image should use a descriptive two- to four-word ALT tag.
It should have a relevant heading, caption or surrounding text.
Use clear images, placed high up on the page, that specify width and height attributes.
Create and submit an image sitemap.

[Read the full article on Search Engine Land.]

Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Marketing Land. Staff authors are listed here.

About The Author

Clay Cazier

Clay Cazier is Vice President, Search Strategy for PMX Agency, an integrated marketing agency. Clay's resume includes more than 15 years of web development, search engine optimization and content marketing experience on both the client and agency side, including successful ventures in healthcare, travel, legal and retail verticals. At PMX Agency, Clay's role is to lead brands in the formulation of optimization and content plans to be executed in a joint effort between PMX Agency and clients' marketing teams. This not only requires deep technical knowledge but the ability to spot search trends and communicate the opportunity in a way that inspires C-suite executives to act. Clay graduated in 1996 from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi with a BA in Philosophy (Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa) and a BA in Biology (Magna Cum Laude). His search marketing experience built over the years was solidified more recently by completing Rutgers University's Social Media Mini MBA in 2010. After living and working in the New York/New Jersey area for 16 years, Clay and his family have recently moved south to help grow PMX Agency's South Carolina office.