The document outlines 22 strategies for optimizing image SEO to improve search rankings and online visibility. Key techniques include proper keyword research, using suitable image formats, optimizing file sizes, and enhancing surrounding content. It emphasizes the importance of unique, high-quality images, effective alt text, and relevant metadata for better indexing and user engagement.

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22 STRATEGIES FOR HIGHER
RANKING VISUALS
IMAGE SEO:
IMAGE SEO:

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Master the art of identifying high-volume
search terms for your images by treating your
images as standalone pieces of content with
their own target search term(s).
To find relevant keywords, use Kparser, a
keyword suggestion tool that works
specifically for Google Images.
1. Perform image
keyword research
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Avoid using generic stock images. They will
kill your site’s EAT (Expertise, Authority, and
Trust) rating.
Create “stand out” images that win more
attention and clicks by:
Identifying what already ranks.
Checking the search results for your
target keyword(s).
Noting down what’s there.
Doing the opposite.
2. Create stand out
images that win
more attention and
clicks

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JPG PNG
GIF
Choosing the right file type will keep your
images looking clear and won’t sacrifice load
time which is critical for SEO.
The main image file types are:
GIF – Good for a short animation.
PNG – Good for screenshots of apps
and websites with gradients.
JPEG – Good for photos of people,
places, or things.
3. Use the right
image file type for
your material

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Resize the image to the exact width of the space
you want to put it in. This will slash page bloat
and improve page load time.
Tools you can use to edit your images include:
Pixlr – A free online tool that works
great for minor formatting.
Preview – Standard on all Macs and has
everything you need for basic image editing.
ImageOptim – A free tool for Mac
that has “save for web” features.
RIOT – A free image optimizer for
Windows.
Photoshop – Great program for its
“save for web” option, which helps with
keeping file sizes low without losing quality.
4. Format your image
to optimum proportions
before uploading

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DSC_4563.jpg
eiffel-tower.jpg
A custom descriptive filename will improve
how search engines rank your images.
When deciding on a filename, choose a name
that does these three things:
1. Describes the image.
2. Includes your target keyword
(refer to step #1).
3. Is 1-5 words long.
5. Create custom
filenames for your
images

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Before uploading your image, decrease
the weight of your file. This will allow you
to upload lighter images which results in
a faster website and higher rankings.
6. Compress the
image file for faster
load times

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alt="Lebron James scoring 3-points Los
Angeles Lakers versus Houston Rockets"
7. Use image ALT text
for better image SEO
The image ALT text is the alternative text
that appears in place of an image when the
image fails to load. This is used by screen
reading tools to help people with limited
eyesight.
This also helps search engines better
understand the content of your images.

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8. Optimise captions
for all images
Captions under images keep users on your
page longer and create RankBrain-centric
usability signals. To create great image
captions, describe the details of the photo
that are not obvious.
These will include things like:
The location.
The time of day or year.
Or, a specific event that is taking
place.

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Image Title:
Short, catchy and describes the image.
Different to the image ALT text.
Contains your target keyword (or a close variation).
Image Caption:
Describes details of the photo that are not obvious.
One-to-two sentences long.
Includes LSI keywords.
For your Image Title and Image Caption,
use the following six-point checklist.
9. Provide valuable
information through
your Image Title tag

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bunch
banana tree
cyan
fruit
Follow these four tips to optimise the page
your image sits on:
Update your Page Title to include the
keyword you are targeting.
Amend the page’s URL to include your
target keyword (or a close variation).
Use short, keyword-rich URLs.
Surround your image with relevant text
that supports the image content (focus
on context).
10. Optimise the
content around your
image

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Adding your images to your sitemap will get
your images indexed faster and ensure
more of your material gets shown in image
search results.
11. Include images in
your regular XML
sitemap

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Not Scaled Scaled 200% Scaled 400%
SVG
(1.4kb)
PNG
(2.0kb)
JPG
(2.3kb)
SVGs are vector graphics and are lighter,
faster loading and scale WAY better than
both JPEGs and PNGs.
They scale to ANY size with ZERO loss of
quality, they can be animated, and because
they load instantly, they’re great for SEO.
12. Use Scalable
Vector Graphics
(SVGs)

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When it comes to EXIF data, do these two
things:
Strip out ALL unnecessary EXIF
data (so your image is lighter and
loads faster).
Tag your up image with relevant
EXIF data that’s useful for SEO.
13. Optimise your
image’s EXIF data

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Thumbnail
Medium
Medium Large
Full
14. Serve responsive
images using the
code srcset
With the srcset code, you can serve
different sizes of images depending on the
screen size used by your user.
If you don’t know how to code, WordPress
takes care of the srcset code for you.

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Lazy loading will improve your page load
time dramatically. Lazy loading requires
some web development skills. If you’re using
WordPress, you can use the lazy loading
plugin, LazyLoad.
15. Lazy load your
images to improve
page load speed

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16. Display social
sharing buttons on
images
While social media signals do not impact
search rankings, when your content gets
shared across social media, it will increase
your potential for links and build an
audience for your brand.

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17. Use browser
caching
Browser caching reduces server requests
which speed up page load times. This will
aid user experience and improve SEO.

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18. Use a Content
Delivery Network
A page using a CDN will load as much 2X
faster than a page without one.
But, when you use a CDN, set up a
CNAME record so the cached version of
your images continues to provide
valuable links and traffic.

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og:image
og:title
og:description
19. Display rich
snippets with Open
Graph and Twitter
Cards
Open Graph tags and Twitter Cards
optimise conversation rates and drive a
tonne of traffic to your site.
The Open Graph tags you need to
maximise CTR are:
og:image
og:title
og:description

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20. Standout with
schema markup
Using the appropriate structured data will
further maximise the effectiveness of
your image SEO and ensure the right
image badge appears.
This will help users find relevant content
quickly, encouraging better traffic to your
site.

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21. Format your
images to display in
featured snippets
Featured snippets have experienced
significant growth in recent years. When
optimizing your images for featured
snippet opportunities, I recommend you
sticking with 1200 x 960 px.
Placing your target image towards the top
of your post also signifies its importance
to Google.

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22. Track your
image performance
with GSC
To ensure your image optimization efforts
are succeeding, you need to turn to
Google Search Console.
To track your image results in Google
Search Console:
Log into Google Search Console
Select "Search results"
Navigate to "Search type" and filter by
"Image"
Select to filter by queries, pages, or
both

24. Visuals are just one part of the overall SEO experience. Let SEO Sherpa
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26. RESOURCES:
Featured Snippets: 15 Proven Strategies to Rank in Position Zero
What Are Rich Snippets? The Comprehensive Newbie-Friendly Guide
URL Slugs: How to Create SEO-Friendly URLs (10 Easy Steps)
SEO Basics: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners (2021)
Infographic: How To Write SEO Content That Ranks (11 Proven Frameworks)