Alt Text On Visuals

TL;DR

Technical UX issues can prevent crawlers and users from reliably accessing or consuming your content. Fix performance, responsiveness, HTTPS/mixed content issues, and intrusive UX blockers. Use Oversearch AI Page Optimizer to rescan and confirm technical quality improves.

Why this matters

Technical quality impacts both crawling and user satisfaction. Performance, HTTPS, mobile, and intrusive UX can block access and reduce engagement.

Where this shows up in Oversearch

In Oversearch, open AI Page Optimizer and run a scan for the affected page. Then open Benchmark Breakdown to see evidence, and use the View guide link to jump back here when needed.

How do I write good alt text?

Describe the image’s content and purpose in the context of the page, in one clear sentence under 125 characters.

Good alt text tells screen readers and crawlers what the image communicates. It is not a place for keyword stuffing — it should be descriptive and contextual.

• Describe what the image shows and why it is relevant.
• Keep it under 125 characters for screen reader compatibility.
• Do not start with “Image of…” or “Picture of…”
• For data visualizations, summarize the key finding.

If you use Oversearch, open AI Page Optimizer → Benchmark Breakdown to check alt text coverage.

Does alt text matter for SEO?

Yes. Alt text is the primary way search engines understand images. It impacts image search rankings and contributes to the page’s topical relevance.

Without alt text, images are invisible to search engines and screen readers. Even decorative images should have empty alt attributes to signal they should be skipped.

• Alt text helps images rank in Google Image Search.
• It adds topical signals to the page.
• Missing alt text fails accessibility requirements.
• AI systems use alt text to understand visual content.

If you use Oversearch, open AI Page Optimizer → Benchmark Breakdown to see alt text signals.

Should alt text describe the image or the meaning?

Describe the meaning in context. What information does this image convey to the reader of this specific page?

A chart image on a page about Core Web Vitals should have alt text like “Chart showing LCP scores across 500 tested URLs, with 38% passing” — not just “chart.”

• Context matters: the same image may need different alt text on different pages.
• For data: summarize the key finding.
• For screenshots: describe the UI element and what it demonstrates.
• For photos: describe the subject and relevant context.

If you use Oversearch, open AI Page Optimizer → Benchmark Breakdown to verify.

What if the image is decorative?

Use an empty alt attribute (alt="") to tell screen readers and crawlers to skip it. Do not omit the alt attribute entirely.

Decorative images (borders, backgrounds, dividers) carry no information. Describing them adds noise. An empty alt signals they can be ignored.

• Decorative images: alt="" (empty string).
• Do not omit alt entirely — that causes screen readers to read the filename.
• Icons with adjacent text labels: use alt="".
• Logos: use the brand name as alt text.

If you use Oversearch, open AI Page Optimizer → Benchmark Breakdown to check.

Common root causes

• Slow load times / Core Web Vitals issues.
• No mobile responsiveness or incorrect viewport settings.
• Aggressive popups/interstitials blocking content access.
• Mixed content or HTTPS misconfiguration.

How to detect

• In Oversearch AI Page Optimizer, open the scan for this URL and review the Benchmark Breakdown evidence.
• Verify the signal outside Oversearch with at least one method: fetch the HTML with curl -L, check response headers, or use a crawler/URL inspection.
• Confirm you’re testing the exact canonical URL (final URL after redirects), not a variant.

How to fix

Learn how to write effective alt text (see: How do I write good alt text?) and when to use empty alt (see: What if the image is decorative?). Then follow the steps below.

1. Improve load speed and address Core Web Vitals issues (LCP/CLS/TBT).
2. Ensure mobile responsiveness and correct viewport settings.
3. Remove or delay aggressive popups that block main content.
4. Ensure HTTPS is enabled and fix mixed content warnings.
5. Run an Oversearch AI Page Optimizer scan to confirm technical quality improvements.

Implementation notes

• If you use a third-party script for popups/ads, test without it to confirm it’s the blocker.
• Mixed content often comes from legacy image/script URLs; fix at the source or via rewrite rules.
• Mobile issues commonly come from missing viewport meta or rigid layouts.

Verify the fix

• Run an Oversearch AI Page Optimizer scan for the same URL and confirm the benchmark is now passing.
• Confirm the page is 200 OK and the primary content is present in initial HTML.
• Validate with an external tool (crawler, URL inspection, Lighthouse) to avoid false positives.

Prevention

• Track Core Web Vitals and regression test after UI changes.
• Avoid interstitials that block content on load.
• Enforce HTTPS and monitor mixed content in CI or monitoring.

FAQ

How do I add alt text in my CMS?

Most CMS platforms have an alt text field in the image upload dialog or media library. In WordPress, edit the image and find the ‘Alt Text’ field. In Shopify, edit the image in the media section. When in doubt, check your CMS documentation for ‘image alt text’ instructions.

Should I include keywords in alt text?

Only if the keyword naturally describes the image. Alt text should describe the image, not stuff keywords. When in doubt, describe the image honestly — if the keyword fits naturally, include it.

How long should alt text be?

Under 125 characters. Screen readers may truncate longer text. One clear sentence describing the image’s content and purpose is ideal. When in doubt, write one concise sentence.

Do decorative images need alt text?

Decorative images should have an empty alt attribute (alt=”). This tells screen readers to skip them. Never omit the alt attribute entirely. When in doubt, if the image does not convey information, use empty alt.

Can missing alt text cause legal issues?

Yes. Missing alt text violates WCAG 1.1.1 (Level A), which is referenced by ADA, Section 508, and EU accessibility directives. It can be grounds for accessibility lawsuits. When in doubt, add alt text to every image.

How can I verify the alt text fix?

Run Lighthouse accessibility audit to find images missing alt text. Search page source for img tags without alt attributes. When in doubt, run an Oversearch AI Page Optimizer scan.