How to Add Alt Text to Images in WordPress Like a Pro in 2024

Nowadays, to reach a wide audience and improve search engine rankings, you need an SEO-friendly website. In SEO there are many factors like on-page, off-page, and technical SEO. In the category of on-page SEO there is also a field called “Image SEO” which is one of the most important parts of SEO. Image SEO isn’t just about enhancing the size of the image, it’s also about making it understandable to search engines. This is why knowing how to add alt text to images in WordPress is important. Images on websites with alt text benefit search engines and visually impaired users.

Our goal in this post is to show you how you can add alt text to your WordPress website. But what if you could streamline this process and save valuable time? As part of this guide, we’ll not only cover the importance of alt text, its impact on SEO, and how to add alt text to images in wordpress but also show you how to generate alt text automatically. You’ll be able to optimize your images effectively and efficiently by the end.

What is Alt Text?

Alternative text, or alt text, is an important component of Search Engine Optimization. You can think of alt text as a caption for your images, providing context and relevance. By using screen readers, visually impaired users can understand the content of images on a webpage through a textual description.

However, alt text isn’t just important for accessibility, it can also enhance your website’s SEO. Search engines like Google rely on alt text to understand what an image is about, which can contribute to better ranking in search results.

Why Alt Text for Images Is Important

Including alt text in your images not only makes your website more accessible but also improves its SEO and user experience. Textual descriptions are called alt text, or alternative text. It appears in the HTML code and provides context to both users and search engines. You should use alt text on your WordPress site for several reasons:

1. Enhances Accessibility: By using alt text, you ensure that all users, including those with visual impairments, can understand the content of your images. These descriptions are used by screen readers to describe the images to users who cannot see them.
2. Boosts SEO: Google and other search engines cannot interpret images directly. To understand the content and context of an image, they rely on alt text. So it’s easy to improve your website’s search engine rankings by adding alt text.
3. Improves User Experience: If an image doesn’t load due to a slow connection or other issues, the alt text will show instead. It keeps your content’s context, so users know what the image is meant to convey.
4. Increases Engagement: It can improve user engagement by describing what the image is. Clear, informative content gets more interaction.
5. Essential for E-commerce: Having alt text for your images is important for online stores. The alt text can give potential customers and google as well to provide information about the product image.

Complies with Web Standards: According to WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), adding alt text is an important part of web accessibility. In many cases, compliance with these standards is not only a best practice, but also a legal requirement.

How to Add Alt Text to New Images in WordPress

In WordPress, there are a number of options available for creating alt text. Here’s how to add alt text to photos in WordPress.

How to Add Alt Text Using WordPress Media Library

In WordPress, alt text is essential for improving accessibility and SEO. We will guide you step-by-step through the process.

Step 1: Log In to Your WordPress Dashboard

1. Go to your WordPress Dashboard. Enter the URL of your WordPress site followed by “/wp-admin” (e.g., www.yoursite.com/wp-admin).

Step 2: Navigate to the Media Library

1. Once you are logged in, look at the left-hand sidebar. Locate the “Media” option in the sidebar. It’s usually between “Posts” and “Pages.”
2. Hover over “Media” to reveal the drop-down menu. Click on “Library” from the options.

Step 3: Select an image.

1. Now you will see the Media Library, which displays all your uploaded images, videos, and other media files. Choose the image you want to add alt text to from the library. Also, you can search for it at the top. Click on the image thumbnail to select it.

Step 4: Add Alt Text

1. After selecting the image, you will see a panel on the right with various fields and options. Look for the field labeled “Alternative Text”. This is where you will add your descriptive text.
2. Click inside the “Alternative Text” field and type a clear and concise description of the image. Make sure the description is relevant and helpful for users who cannot see the image.
3. Example: If the image is of a red apple, you could write, “A bright red apple with a green leaf on a wooden table.”

 

Step 5: Save Your Changes

1. Double-check your alt text to ensure it accurately describes the image and includes relevant keywords if applicable. After the process is done it will automatically update the alt text.

How to Add Alt Text Using WordPress Gutenberg Editor

Using the Gutenberg Editor, this step-by-step guide will show you how to add alt text.

Step 1: Log In to Your WordPress Dashboard

Step 2: Open a Post or Page in the Gutenberg Editor

1. On the left-hand sidebar, locate either “Posts” or “Pages,” depending on where you want to add the image.
2. Click on “Posts” or “Pages,” then click on the title of the post or page you want to edit. This will open the Gutenberg Editor.

 

Step 3: Add or Select an Image Block

1. In the Gutenberg Editor, click on the “+” button to add a new block. From the block options, select “Image.” This will allow you to add a new image to your post or page.
2. Upload or Select an Image:

• Upload: If you want to upload a new image, click “Upload,” choose the image from your computer, and upload it.
• Media Library: If you want to use an existing image, click “Media Library” and select the image from your library.

Step 4: Add Alt Text to the Image

1. Once the image is added to the post or page, click on the image to select it. In the same way, you can select an existing image. This will open the image settings panel on the right side of the screen.

2. In the image settings panel, look for the field labeled “Alternative Text”
3. Click inside the “Alternative Text” field and type a clear and concise description of the image. Make sure the description is relevant and helpful for users who cannot see the image.

Step 5: Save Your Changes

1. Double-check your alt text to ensure it accurately describes the image and includes relevant keywords if applicable. It will update the alt text automatically.

 

How to Add Alt Text Using WordPress Classic Editor

Here is a step-by-step guide for adding alt text with the Classic Editor.

Step 1: Open a Post or Page in the Classic Editor

1. Choose either “Posts” or “Pages” from the left-hand sidebar. Go to “Posts” or “Pages,” then click on the title of the post or page you want to edit. This will open the Classic Editor if you are using the classic editor.

Step 2: Add or Select an Image

1. You can add alt text to an existing image by selecting it. After selecting the image a small box will appear on the image where you can align it. There is also a pencil icon beside there. Simply click on it.

Step 3: Add Alt Text to the Image

1. When you click on the pencil icon, you will be taken to another screen where you can enter the alt text in a dedicated input field which is called “Alternative Text”. Insert the alt text there.

Step 4: Save Your Changes by clicking on the Update button.

How to Add Alt Text to Images in WordPress Elementor

Many people using Elementor are not adding alt text to their images. However, including image alt text is essential for better SEO. Here’s how you can add alt text to images in WordPress Elementor.

Step 1: Navigate to the Desired Page or Post

Once logged in, find the page or post where you want to add alt text to an image. You can do this by:

1. Click on “Pages” or “Posts” in the left-hand menu.
2. Find the specific page or post you want to edit.
3. Click “Edit with Elementor” to open the Elementor editor.

Step 2: Select the Image

In the Elementor editor

1. Locate the image you want to edit.
2. Click on the image. This will open the image widget settings panel in the left. When you click on the image, you will be taken to the settings panel for the picture.

Step 3: Add Alt Text

To add alt text:

1. In the image settings panel, look for the field labeled “Alt Text” or simply “Alt.” Enter descriptive alt text for the image.

Step 4: Save Your Changes

Once you’ve entered the alt text, click on the select option. It will save the alt text.

How to Add alt text to images in WordPress With Plugin

Using a dedicated alt text generator plugin offers numerous benefits. It automates the alt text generation process, saving time and ensuring consistency. Also, optimize alt text for SEO, offer customization options, and streamline workflow. Let’s see how to use a plugin to create alt text in wordpress

Step 1. Installing the AI Image Alt Text Generator Plugin

• Access Your WordPress Dashboard.
• Hover over “Plugins” to reveal additional options.
• Click on “Add New” to go to the plugins page where you can add new plugins to your site.

Install the Plugin

• At the top right of the plugins page, you’ll find a search bar.
• Type “AI Image Alt Text Generator for WP” into the search bar and press Enter.
• Browse through the search results to find the plugin by BoomDevs.

• Click the “Install Now” button next to the plugin’s name.
• Wait for the installation to complete, then click the “Activate” button to enable the plugin on your site.

Step 2: Setting Up the AI Image Alt Text Generator

Access the Plugin

Once activated, the plugin will add a new menu item to your WordPress dashboard.

Look for “AI Alt Text Generator” in the left-hand menu and click on it to access the plugin’s main page.

Check Plan Credits

• On the plugin’s main page, you’ll see your current plan credit status, which should be 0 initially. Plan credits are necessary for generating alt text, and an API key is required to get these credits.

Step 3: Obtaining a Free API Key

Click “Get Started for Free”:

• On the plugin page, find and click the “Get Started for Free” button.
• This will redirect you to the API provider’s signup page.

Complete the Signup Form:

• Fill out the signup form with your name, email address, and password. Make sure all required fields are completed accurately. Click the “Create Account” button once you’ve filled out the form.

Verify Your Email:

• Check your email inbox for a message. Open the email and click on the verification link to activate your account.
• If you don’t see the email, check your spam or junk folder.

Copy Your API Key:

• After verifying your email, you’ll be redirected to my account page. Find the My Subscription option here you will find your API key.
• Click on the key to copy it to your clipboard for later use.

Step 4: Enter the API Key in WordPress

• Go back to your WordPress dashboard.
• Navigate to “AI Alt Text Generator Settings” within the plugin’s menu.
• Paste your API key into the designated API key field.
• Click the “Save” button to store the key and activate your plan credits.

Step 5: Generating Alt Text for Individual Images

1. Navigate to Media:
   • In your WordPress dashboard, click on “Media” in the left-hand menu to access your media library.
2. Open an Image:
   • In the media library, browse and click on the image you want to add alt text to.
   • This will open the image details page where you can edit the image’s metadata.
3. Generate Alt Text:
   • On the image details page, you’ll see an “Update Alt Text” button.
   • Click this button to use the AI to generate alt text for your image.
   • The alt text will automatically be added to the “Alt Text” field.

Step 6: Bulk Generating Alt Text for Multiple Images

1. Go to AI Alt Text Generator:
   • In your WordPress dashboard, click on “AI Image Alt Text Generator“ in the left-hand menu.
2. Select Bulk Image Alt Text Generator:
   • On the plugin’s main page, find and click on the “Bulk Image Alt Text Generator” tab.
3. Generate Alt Text for All Images:
   • You’ll see a button labeled “Generate Alt Text”.
   • Click this button to start the bulk generation process.
   • The plugin will automatically generate alt text for all images in your media library.
   • This process may take a few moments depending on the number of images you have.

Why use bulk image generation?

If you have a large number of images, the bulk generation process will efficiently handle them all. You can continue with other tasks or even shut down your device; the process will continue automatically without interruption. Once completed, all your images will have SEO-friendly alt text added. You can know more in our separate post about how to add bulk image alt text in WordPress.

Step 7: Using the Plugin with the Gutenberg Editor

1. Create a New Post:
   • In your WordPress dashboard, go to “Posts” and click on “Add New” to create a new blog post. Or you can go to the existing post as well.
2. Add Your Content:
   • Use the Gutenberg editor to add text, images, and other content to your post.
   • Insert images as you normally would by uploading them or selecting from your media library.
3. Locate the AI Alt Text Section:
   • In the bottom right corner of the Gutenberg editor, find the “AI Alt Text” section.
4. Configure Options:
   • Overwrite Existing Alt Text: Enable this option if you want to replace existing alt text with new AI-generated text.
   • Add SEO Keywords: Enable this option to include SEO keywords in the alt text, making it more effective for search engines.
5. Generate Alt Text:
   • Click the “Generate Alt Text” button to apply the changes.
   • The plugin will automatically generate and update the alt text for all images in your post.
6. Publish the Post:
   • Publish the post to enable alt text generation for the images.

Here’s how you can automatically generate alt text and save time. You can also explore additional plugin settings, and access them via the “AI Image Alt Text Generator” section in your WordPress dashboard. Here, you can fine-tune various features to optimize your alt text generation process.

You can change the language and enable options like keyword placement, and automatic alt text generation for new uploads to customize your alt text experience. Also, you can choose which image types will generate alt text when you upload them to customize the plugin’s behavior. Your WordPress site’s images will have SEO-friendly alt text created with these settings.

Is it Free or Paid?

With the AI Image Alt Text Generator plugin, you can start with a free plan or upgrade to a premium plan for more features. The plugin gives you 40 credits for free when you use it for the first time. With these credits, you can generate alt text for your images for free. You can test the plugin’s functionality and see how it benefits your WordPress site this way.

You can upgrade to the premium plan for just $4.99 a month if you need more credits or advanced features. This plan gives you 250 credits, so you can generate alt text for more images. It’s a great deal compared to other similar plugins.

Furthermore, if you talk to their live support, you’ll get special discounts on AI Image Alt Text Generator. It’s even more cost-effective to upgrade if you contact their support team for discounts on premium plans. No matter which plan you pick, AI Image Alt Text Generator offers flexibility and affordability. Identify the best plan for your WordPress site based on your alt text needs.

Why Use AI Image Alt Text Generator Plugin

The AI Image Alt Text Generator plugin for WordPress makes this process simple and efficient. Here’s why you should consider using it:

1. Automation: The plugin automatically generates alt text for your images. This saves you a significant amount of time, especially if you manage a large website with many images.
2. SEO Benefits: Properly optimized alt text improves your website’s search engine ranking. Your site will be more visible and potentially receive more traffic as a result. You can make sure every image contributes to your SEO by using this plugin.
3. Ease of Use: You don’t need any technical skills to use this plugin. It integrates seamlessly with WordPress, and the user interface is straightforward. As a result, it is accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical expertise.
4. Bulk Processing: If you have a lot of images, manually adding alt text to each one can be overwhelming. This plugin can handle bulk image processing, adding alt text to multiple images at once, which is a huge time saver.
5. Customizable: The plugin allows you to customize the generated alt text. This means you can ensure that the descriptions are relevant and tailored to your content, further enhancing your SEO strategy.

Case Study: Boosting Efficiency with AI Image Alt Text Generator

Adding alt text to images used to take a lot of time, especially when managing our blog site. It was a challenge to come up with alt text that was unique, relevant, and SEO-friendly for each image. However, since we started using the AI Image Alt Text Generator plugin, this task has become much easier and faster.

It’s been a game-changer for us. Using it saves us a lot of time by creating high-quality, descriptive alt text for images. By ensuring that each alt text is accurate and relevant, the plugin has improved the quality of our content and helped us rank higher.

Although it’s our product but our experience with this plugin has been overwhelmingly positive. We’ve been able to maintain high standards and be more efficient with the AI Image Alt Text Generator plugin. We recommend this plugin for anyone who manages a blog with lots of images. It’s been a huge help to our workflow.

Best Practices for Writing Effective Alt Text

WordPress images need alt text for accessibility and SEO. We already know alt text helps visually impaired users and improves search engine rankings. Here are some best practices for writing alt text:

Be Descriptive but Concise

Give a clear and concise description of the image. Make sure you get the point across in a few words. Don’t add unnecessary details that don’t add value.

Good Example:

• Alt Text: “A red apple on a white table”

Bad Example:

• Alt Text: “Apple”

Use Relevant Keywords Naturally

Include relevant keywords that fit the image’s context. Search engines love this because it helps them understand the image content without stuffing keywords.

Good Example:

• Alt Text: “Golden retriever playing fetch in the park”

Bad Example:

• Alt Text: “Dog playing fetch dog fetch park”

Avoid Keyword Stuffing

You should include keywords in your alt text but don’t overdo it. Your SEO efforts will suffer and the text will sound weird.

Good Example:

• Alt Text: “Sunset over a mountain range”

Bad Example:

• Alt Text: “Sunset, mountains, nature, beautiful sunset, scenic view”

Focus on Context

You need to make sure the alt text fits the context of the content around the image. It helps users and search engines understand what the image is about.

Good Example:

• Alt Text: “Person working on a laptop in a cafe”

Bad Example:

• Alt Text: “Person with a computer”

Include Essential Details

Highlight the key elements of the image that help you understand what it’s about. Use colors, objects, and actions that are important to the image.

Good Example:

• Alt Text: “Blue sports car driving on a highway”

Bad Example:

• Alt Text: “Car on road”

Be Mindful of Accessibility

Screen readers need alt text, so make sure you have it. Don’t forget to make your descriptions clear and easy to understand for people with visual impairments.

Good Example:

• Alt Text: “Group of friends hiking in the forest”

Bad Example:

• Alt Text: “Hiking”

Keep It Unique

It’s important to have unique alt text for each image. Don’t use the same description for multiple images, even if they’re similar. It’s better for SEO and user experience if you have unique descriptions.

Good Example:

• Alt Text: “Cup of coffee on a wooden table”

Bad Example:

• Alt Text: “Coffee”

Why is Image Alt Text not Showing in WordPress?

Alt text is really important for SEO. But sometimes you may find that the image alt text does not appear in WordPress. You may find this frustrating since it directly impacts your website’s accessibility and search engine ranking. Here, we’ll explore why your image alt text may not be showing in WordPress.

1. Alt Text Not Added: One of the most common reasons is simply forgetting to add alt text. When uploading an image, make sure to fill in the alt text field.
2. Theme Issues: It is possible that some WordPress themes do not support alt text. Make sure your theme supports this feature. If not, consider using a popular theme like Astra or GeneratePress.
3. Image Source URL: The alt text might not display if the image is hosted on an external site. Make sure your images are uploaded directly to your WordPress media library.
4. Plugins Interference: Alt text can be messed up by certain plugins. Identify the culprit by deactivating your plugins one by one.
5. Incorrect HTML: If you’re adding images manually via HTML, ensure the syntax is correct. You should include the alt attribute within the img tag, as follows: <img src=”image.jpg” alt=”your alt text”>.
6. WordPress Updates: It is possible for updates to cause problems sometimes. Keep your WordPress version up-to-date. Make sure the current version does not have any known issues.

Advanced Tips for Optimizing Images in WordPress

Adding alt text to images is not the only way to optimize them in WordPress. Your website’s performance and SEO can be significantly improved by implementing advanced techniques. You can make your images more effective with these expert tips:

1. Before uploading an image, rename it with descriptive keywords. Use something like “sunset-beach-vacation.jpg” instead of “IMG1234.jpg.” This helps search engines understand what your image is about.
2. Choose the best file format for your images. The JPEG format is ideal for photographs, while the PNG format is ideal for images with transparency or text. It is a good idea to use SVG files for simple graphics since they are scalable and usually have a smaller file size.
3. Your website might slow down if you have big image files. Compress images with TinyPNG or Smush without losing quality. It’ll speed up your site and make it easier to use.
4. Your images should be responsive so they look good on any device. For different screen sizes, WordPress creates multiple versions of your images automatically, but you can also use the srcset attribute in your image tags.
5. You can provide additional context to users and search engines by adding captions and descriptions to your images. Descriptions can be added in the media library, while captions appear below the image.
6. The lazy loading delay loads the images until they’re in the viewport. You’ll load your page faster this way. Lazy loading is built into WordPress, but you can also use Lazy loading plugins.
7. Images are easier to find and index if you have an image sitemap. You can generate an image sitemap with plugins like Yoast SEO.
8. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to test your website’s performance. With these tools, you can see how your images affect your site’s speed and make improvements.

FAQ

What is alt text and why is it important?

Add Alt text to images, or alternative text, is a description added to images on your website. By optimizing your images, search engines can better understand your content, you can improve your SEO, and visually impaired users can access your site.

Can I add alt text to multiple images at once?

Yes, you can add alt text to multiple images using plugins like “AI Image Alt Text Generator”. This plugin allows you to add alt text for several images quickly.

What should I include in my alt text?

It is important that your alt text is concise and descriptive. Avoid keyword stuffing by including relevant keywords. Make sure someone who cannot see the image can understand the image. This is because you need to add alt text to images.

Does alt text affect SEO?

Yes, alt text can improve your SEO. You can improve your site’s image search ranking by explaining the context of your images to search engines.

How long should my alt text be?

Typically, the alt text should be around 125 characters long and descriptive. Be concise while accurately describing the image.

Are there any tools to check if my images have alt text?

Yes, “AI Image alt text generator” can help you check if your images have alt text. It can also create alt text for all those who have no alt text.

Is it a good idea to add alt text to images?

If you don’t add alt text, search engines and screen readers won’t understand your images. Your SEO can be hurt and your site will be less accessible to users with visual impairments as a result.

Conclusion

WordPress images need alt text to be SEO-friendly and accessible. We have discussed two methods for adding alt text in this blog post. The first method is manually adding alt text. The second method involves automatically adding alt text using a plugin. With a plugin that generates alt text using AI, you can save time and ensure consistency. By following those steps, you can boost your SEO and make your site more accessible by ensuring all your images have appropriate alt texts. These practices will enhance the performance and usability of your WordPress website.