Hi Pals!

Let’s set the scene, you’re either A) receiving your exciting and exceptional new brand photos, and you want to get them on your website immediately OR B) preparing for your web design project. Here’s what you know about optimizing photos for web (to increase your SEO).

What is SEO? Search engine optimization – a combination of 30+ factors that signal to Google that your website is the answer to what’s being searched.

Today, I’m diving into the wonderful world of optimizing your website photos for SEO. Trust me, it’s a crucial step you don’t want to miss out on. 

So, before you go ahead and start uploading those stunning visuals to your site, let’s talk about why and how you should prep your images to make an impact with load times (which affect user experience) and image titles (a handy place to put keywords).

Step 1: Optimize your Photo File Names

 

First things first, let’s talk about file names. Yes, those seemingly insignificant labels you give to your photos can make a world of difference!

 

1. SEPARATE EACH WORD WITH A DASH (-)

Forget about underscores (_); they’re just not it. Dashes help Google swiftly distinguish between each word, making your content more search-friendly.

 

2. MAKE SURE THE FILE NAME MAKES SENSE TO BOTH SEARCH ENGINES AND HUMANS

Keyword stuffing is a no-no. Your file name should be an honest reflection of what’s happening in the photo. Keep it real!

 

3. MIX IT UP A BIT

Sure, you can save time by batch-naming your photos, but don’t go overboard. Aim to name about 5-10 photos at a time to ensure a variety of well-described file names. Quality over quantity, my friend.

 

4. WHAT ARE YOUR GUESTS ACTUALLY SEARCHING GOOGLE FOR?

Remember, when potential visitors search for services on Google, they don’t always know your business name. So, don’t feel compelled to include it in every file name. Instead, put on your customer’s shoes and think about what they’re typing into Google. Use those words to describe your images.

 

Here are a few examples to illustrate:

BAD: IMG_34560987 (Seriously, what is that?)

BETTER: sarahs-hair-salon-photoshoot-los-angeles (Getting warmer!)

BEST: los-angeles-bridal-hair-stylist- (You’re crushing it.)

Step 2: Compress your Photos

Now that we’ve tackled file names, let’s shift our focus to image size. This one’s a game-changer for both your website’s performance and SEO ranking.

Having optimized photo size ensures your website loads faster, keeping visitors engaged and boosting your search engine ranking. I like TinyJpg.com, which work their magic to compress images without sacrificing quality (and allow you to compress 20 files at a time). Yes, you can still have those crisp, beautiful visuals while keeping your website speedy and SEO-friendly. It’s a win-win!

For those of you who want to know: for photos that load quickly online, the rule of thumb is that longside of the photo to be no more than 1200 px / 72 dpi jpegs. For large background photos you could extend that to 2000 px for the long side.

So, there you have it, my friend. Two simple yet powerful steps to supercharge your website’s SEO performance. Rename those photos with care, and don’t forget to give them a little size makeover. Your website—and your visitors—will thank you for it!

 

Until next time,

Erin