Almost every person in the world relies on the internet. People consume it for entertainment purposes or for personal works. The WHO data says, approximately 2.2 billion people across the world are dealing with visual impairments. This disability forms with low vision, blindness, color blindness or having difficulties in using digital content.
Making digital content accessible is the most essential thing to ensure, including those who are dealing with visual impairments. One of the most effective ways to enhance visual accessibility is through the use of alt-text accessibility for images. It offers a textual description of visual content that allows screen reader tools to convey the content to those who are not able to see the images. Screen readings are the technologies that help visually impaired people to easily access the visual information and video content. This blog post denotes the tips on creating alt-text that helps screen readers and in enhancing the visual accessibility.
7 Tips to Develop Alt-text to Improve Visual Accessibility
Here are the seven tips for creating alt-text description that helps to improve visual accessibility:
Know the Purpose of Alt-Text
Alt-text accessibility is designed to serve as a descriptive tool for users who rely on screen readers to access digital content. The primary purpose of alt-text is to convey the meaning and function of an image in a way that is meaningful to those who cannot see it. Understanding this purpose is key to writing effective alt-text. It’s not just about describing what’s in the image but also about communicating its role and significance within the content.
Be Concise and Descriptive
When crafting alt-text, strive to be both concise and descriptive. The goal is to provide a clear and brief description that captures the core of the image without overwhelming the user with unnecessary details. Aim for brevity while ensuring that the description effectively conveys the image’s key elements. For example, instead of writing a lengthy paragraph about an image of a red apple, a brief description like “red apple on a white plate” can be more effective and user-friendly.
Use Proper Grammar and Punctuation
Effective alt-text accessibility should be written in complete sentences with correct grammar and punctuation. That helps ensure that the description is easily readable and understandable. Proper grammar and punctuation contribute to the overall clarity and professionalism of your content. For instance, instead of a fragmented description like “dog, park,” use a complete sentence such as “A brown dog playing in a grassy park.”
Prioritize Significant Information
Focus on highlighting the most important aspects of the image. Prioritize details that are relevant to the context and purpose of the image. For example, suppose an image of a protest is used to illustrate a political article. In that case, the alt-text should mention the protest’s significance rather than just describing the people and signs. This approach helps users understand the image’s contribution to the content and its relevance to the overall message.
Avoid Redundancy
To enhance clarity, avoid repeating information that is already provided in the surrounding text. Alt-text should complement the content without duplicating it. Redundancy can make the user experience tedious and may detract from the effectiveness of your content. Instead, ensure that the alt-text adds value by providing unique and relevant information that is not covered elsewhere in the text.
Consider Context
The context in which an image is used has a significant role in determining the appropriate alt-text. Tailor your description based on how the image contributes to the content. For example, if an image is used as a button or link, describe its function rather than its visual appearance. A description like “Submit button” is more useful for a button image than a description of the button’s design.
Audit Your Alt-text
Regularly reviewing and updating your alt-text is essential for maintaining its accuracy and relevance. Conduct accessibility alt text for icons audits to identify areas where improvements are needed. This process involves checking if the alt-text effectively describes the image and meets accessibility standards. Regular audits ensure that your content remains inclusive and user-friendly.
Additional Tips
- Avoid Describing What Can Be Seen: Instead of describing visual elements that are already apparent from the context, focus on the image’s function or the message it conveys. This approach ensures that the alt-text adds meaningful information rather than stating the obvious.
- Use Keywords Wisely: When integrating relevant keywords to alt-text, use relevant keywords if they help describe the image. However, avoid using too many keywords, as this can make the description hard to read and understand.
- Test with Screen Readers: Utilize screen reader tools to test how your alt-text sounds and ensure it provides a coherent and useful description. Testing with actual users or tools can help you gauge the effectiveness of your alt-text and make necessary adjustments.
What does SEO Do in Alt text Accessibility?
Optimizing alt text for images on a website is an important part of SEO. Alt text, short for alternative text, describes an image and helps search engines understand the image’s content. That also improves accessibility for users with visual impairments. SEO impacts alt text by enhancing the way images are understood and accessible.
Here’s how SEO impacts alt text:
- Improves Search Engine Indexing: Search engines cannot “see” images like humans can. Alt text provides a text-based description that supports search engines in understanding what the image is about, which can enhance the visibility of your content in search engine results.
- Enhances User Experience: Well-written alt text makes images more accessible to users who rely on screen readers, which can improve user engagement and satisfaction.
- Increases Relevance: Adding relevant keywords to your alt text helps search engines connect your images to specific search queries, bringing more targeted traffic to your site.
- Boosts Image Search Traffic: Optimized alt text can help your images appear in image search results, potentially bringing additional traffic to your website from users searching for visual content.
- Supports Content Context: Alt text provides context for images, helping search engines understand how the image relates to the surrounding content. It can enhance the overall Relevance of the page and improve its ranking.
To effectively use SEO in your alt text, make sure to:
- Be Descriptive: Clearly describe the content and purpose of the image.
- Incorporate Keywords: Use relevant keywords naturally, but avoid keyword stuffing.
- Keep It Concise: Aim for a brief description, typically under 125 characters.
- Avoid Redundancy: Don’t repeat information already provided in the surrounding text.
Wrap Up
These tips help to develop alt-text that not only improves visual accessibility but also enhances the overall user experience. Effective alt-text ensures that all users, regardless of their ability to see images, can access and understand the content you provide. Prioritizing accessibility in your content creation process reflects a commitment to inclusivity and user-centered design.
