How to Update Image Alt Tags in WordPress for better SEO

1. Log into your WordPress Dashboard: #

• Access your website’s admin area by going to www.yourwebsite.com/wp-admin.
• Enter your username and password.

2. Navigate to the Media Library: #

• On the left sidebar of your WordPress dashboard, click on ‘Media’.
• Choose ‘Library’. This will display all the images and other media files you’ve uploaded to your website.

3. Locate the Image: #

• If your media library is displayed as a grid, you’ll see thumbnails of all your images. If it’s in list format, you’ll see them listed with titles.
• Find the image you wish to update. You can use the search bar if you have many images and need to find one quickly.

4. Edit the Image: #

• Once you’ve found your image, click on it. A popup window will open showing the image details.
• On the right side of the popup, you’ll see various image details like the filename, date when the image was uploaded, and more.

5. Update the Alt Text: #

• Find the field labeled ‘Alt Text’.
• If the image already has alt text, you can modify it. If not, you can add your desired alt text here.
• The alt text should be descriptive and convey the content or purpose of the image. For instance, if it’s an image of a golden retriever playing with a ball, a good alt text might be “Golden retriever playing fetch with a red ball.”

6. Save Changes: #

• Once you’ve updated the alt text, make sure to click the ‘Update’ button on the bottom right corner of the popup to save your changes.

7. Bulk Edit (Optional): #

• If you have several images and want to update their alt text in one go, you can use plugins like “SEO Friendly Images” to automate the process. Always remember to be careful when using plugins as they can affect site performance and security.

Tips: #

1. Consistency: Be consistent with how you label images, especially if they’re part of a series.
2. Avoid Keyword Stuffing: While it’s good to include keywords in alt text for SEO purposes, it should be done naturally and should always be relevant to the image.
3. Use Short, Descriptive Text: Aim for clarity and brevity.

Conclusion: #

Regularly updating and optimizing image alt tags is a best practice in WordPress website management. Not only does it enhance accessibility for visually impaired users, but it also provides SEO benefits by helping search engines understand the context of your images. This small effort can make a big difference in your website’s overall performance and user experience.