Why Image Optimization Matters

If you’re like most business owners, you’re always looking for ways to improve your website’s performance. And if you’re not already using image optimization techniques, then you’re definitely missing out on some major benefits! Image optimization can make a big difference in the speed and performance of your site. So why not give it a try? You may be surprised at how much of a difference it makes. In this post, we’ll take a look at why image optimization matters, and we’ll give you some tips on how to get started. So read on to find out more!

Whether you are building your own website or working with a website builder like Unwired Web Solutions, you need to understand why image optimization is important. But before we even dive into how to do image optimization, it is important to talk about what it is. 

What Is Image Optimization?

There are two main aspects of image optimization. The first is resizing images while maintaining quality, and the second involves image optimization for SEO with relevant keywords. But why is this so important?

Page Speed – Oversized images that are not optimized can make a website slow and clunky. Users will not wait for your website to load if it takes too long. By optimizing your image sizes, you can speed up the loading time and reduce the number of people who will exit quickly. 

User experience – Google takes user experience into account when ranking sites. If your website is bogged down with large images that take a long time to load, your users will not be getting the best experience. Sites are expected to load quickly, so making sure your images are correctly optimized is one of the best ways to meet user expectations. 

SEO – Image optimization can help ensure that your site ranks in searches on Google. It can also be beneficial to the overall SEO of your website. 

How To Optimize Images

As previously mentioned, images should be optimized for both aesthetics and SEO. When optimizing your images, you want to make sure that they still look good after they’ve been compressed. This means avoiding any drastic reductions in quality – you don’t want your images to look pixelated or blurry. All images should be optimized for web viewing while still maintaining their quality. They should also be named appropriately for SEO purposes.  

The following are a list of ways you can take your images to the next level in optimization:

File type

When creating an image for your website, you will have to choose a file type to save it. Some of the most common include JPEG, PNG, and GIF. JPEGs will work for most images on your site except for those with a transparent background. This type of file option is ideal because they allow for higher quality images with smaller file sizes. PNGs are ideal for images that don’t have a lot of color, are transparent, or don’t have a lot of text. However, PNGs will require larger file sizes. 

GIFs are a little different as they are great for animation. They can compress images into smaller file sizes, much like JPEGs, but the color range is more limited, making it a poor choice for photography. 

Image Name

Most people don’t give a second thought to what they name their images, but in terms of SEO, it matters a lot. Google will crawl the file names of your images to make sure they are what you say the image is. 

It is vital to name your images with descriptive and keyword-rich phrases in mind. For example, if you leave your image named “dsc184293.jpg,” it will be a missed SEO opportunity. Instead, name the image after the photograph, such as “red-high-heel-shoes.jpg”. 

File Size

It is unnecessary to have large files on your website, and it will have a negative effect on your site’s performance. Since most people will not wait longer than 3 seconds for an image to load on a website, resizing and compression is a vital step in uploading images to your site. You will want to make sure your photos have been reduced in size while preserving the quality of your images. 

Alt Images Tags

The alt image tags, also called alt attributes, are the text alternatives to your photos when they fail to load on your website. They are also used to describe what your images are all about to people with visual impairments. Also used by search engines, your alt image tags can help your organic ranking. 

Be sure always to use plain, descriptive language. If your image is of a product with a model or serial number, include it in the description. Including a keyword in the alt image tag is also a great way to help with SEO. 

The Image Process

Images are a key part of website design, but creating great photos is only the first step. Image optimization is an essential part of the image process associated with website design. 

By following these tips, you can help to ensure that your images are helping your website rather than hindering it. Optimizing your images for both aesthetics and SEO purposes is a crucial part of any successful website. So, don’t wait any longer, start optimizing your images today or contact us for help!  We are rated as the top SEO company in Kitchener and can help with all aspects of web design.