Alt Text

Alt text, short for alternative text, is a written description of an image that serves both accessibility and SEO purposes on social media and websites. For accessibility, alt text allows screen readers to describe images to visually impaired users, making content inclusive and compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). For SEO, alt text provides search engines with contextual information about images, helping them appear in image search results and contributing to overall page relevance. On social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, and Facebook, users can add alt text when posting images. Best practices for writing effective alt text include being descriptive but concise (under 125 characters), including relevant keywords naturally, describing what is actually visible in the image, and avoiding phrases like 'image of' or 'picture of.' For complex images like infographics or charts, provide a summary of the key information. Alt text is particularly important for brands because it improves discoverability and demonstrates commitment to accessibility. ClicksMeGet recommends adding alt text to all social media images as part of a comprehensive content strategy that maximizes reach and engagement.