Semalt, semalt SEO, Semalt SEO Tips, Semalt Agency, Semalt SEO Agency, Semalt SEO services, web design, web development, site promotion, analyticsSemalt, semalt SEO, Semalt SEO Tips, Semalt Agency, Semalt SEO Agency, Semalt SEO services, web design, web development, site promotion, analytics

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Semalt Expert: Graphic Optimization
The human brain is known to process graphics faster compared to plain text. This explains why content with
pictures or infographics gets 94 percent more views compared to content with plain text. Using appropriate images
in your content attracts readers and helps to sell your products. Most importantly, graphics enhance user
experience which is critical when it comes to SEO. Now you know that graphics are such a critical element in your
site, it is important to get the most out of them.
Here are eight time-tested tips from Lisa Mitchell, the Semalt Customer Success Manager, on how to optimize
graphics to get better rankings:
1. Identify and use the right graphics
Graphics tell a story, as a result, it is important to make sure that the images you use are relevant to the topic at
hand. When you insert images that are not relevant to the surrounding content, you send mixed signals to your
visitors. Since graphics are meant to help improve your ranking, if they are not relevant to the topic, they lose the
intended SEO value.
When it comes to nding appropriate images, you have many options. These include:
Original images: These are pictures you take using a smartphone or camera.
Stock images: You can get stock images from CCO-licensed image sites including Unplash and Pixabay.
Alternatively, you can subscribe to premium offers on the same sites and others including iStock and

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Shutterstock.
Graphic Interchange Format (GIF) images: These are images used in
short animated clips that add depth as well as interest to your
content. You can get GIFs at GIPGY or create your own using their
app. Alternatively, you can look up GIFMaker or ScreentoGIF.
Design tools: Websites such as PicMonkey and Canvas are excellent
resources for creating your own graphics.
2. Incorporate keywords in graphic lename
While search engines are good at what they do, they cannot see graphics and need descriptive text to tell them
what the graphics contain. Since stock image sites, cameras and other sources of graphics assign default lenames
to pictures that do not assist search engines to understand the graphic, it is important to rename the graphic that
you intend to upload to your site.
The renamed lename tells the search engine what the graphic is all about and also gives you an opportunity to use
a keyword you were optimizing for.
3. Alternative text or Alt text feature
Alternative text commonly known as alt text is a feature on your site that goes a step further than just optimizing
the lename. The feature allows you to describe the subject matter and make the picture relevant to the page. This
feature is used by search engines to gure out the relationship between the graphics le and the content. It also
helps them to know which images are most suitable to present when responding to a search query.
4. Use captions appropriately
Captions are important as they help to add further context to
corresponding text. Ordinarily, people read captions when scanning
through a page. On average, captions are read 300 more times compared
to the main copy. However, it is not necessary to include a caption with
every graphic as long as the surrounding text describes it.
5. Use the appropriate image le type
While there are several types of image les for use, two popular formats are Portable Network Graphics (PNG) and
Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG). A major difference between PNGs, JPEGs, and GIFs is their size and
quality. File size is important for SEO since it affects page load time.
6. Reduce image le size
Since large image le sizes affect page load times, you need to reduce them when necessary. This will not only
improve page load times but also conserve your bandwidth and storage on the server. You can reduce image le size
using of ine tools or opt for online tools such as CompressJPEG, TinyPNG and Image Optimizer.
7. Resize your graphics

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In some instances, reducing le size may not be enough, and you may have to resize them. Resizing images reduces
the width and height of the picture and reduce their le size to improve page load times. Keep in mind that some
image formats such as PGNs deteriorate in quality when resized.
8. Create sitemaps for graphics
Sitemaps provide search engines with extra information about your site's
structure and improve search engine rankings. Sitemaps include a list of
your web pages, the metadata linked to them and how they are organized.
Ultimately, graphics can enhance or stall your SEO efforts. To improve
your rankings, you need to identify the right graphics, optimize them,
describe the images accurately and create sitemaps to enhance visitors'
experience and improve your search engine ranking.