Inclusivity is intentionally including groups of marginalized people who otherwise would be excluded. There are many ways to be inclusive in this world. Many have dedicated their life’s work to identifying these ways. One way that many of us can be inclusive is to include alt text on our websites. Hence, the topic of this post. Sometimes it’s the little things that really are the big things!
Many people get confused between alt text and title text. So to start, we will do a cross-comparison of the two.
Definition: Alt text (alternative text) is used within an HTML code to describe the appearance and function of an image on a page.
Characteristics:
- Less Descriptive
- Helps image optimization
- Text displayed in place of image if image can not be shown
- Improves SEO rankings
- Lives within HTML code
In picture format, alt text looks like the following:
Image from: Green Geeks
So now the big question, “How does this differ from title text?”
Definition: Title text is the text a user sees after hovering over an image.
Characteristics:
- More Descriptive
- Hover over image to see
- Not necessarily needed
- Does not show if the image cannot load
- Can help those who are visually impaired
Where to add this information on your site:
If you’re using a WordPress backed site, here is where you would be able to enter alt text and title text information.
Why is all of this important anyway?
- Accessibility: First and foremost, alt text is important because of web accessibility. Users who may be visually impaired will have the same opportunity to enjoy your site as individuals who are not. Including all of this on your site is just the tip of the iceberg. Here are more ways to make your site more accessible.
- SEO: Including your keyword in your image alt text will give your page an even better chance of ranking on Google for it. It’s important to be mindful of keyword stuffing, but if including your keyword makes sense – we recommend adding it.
Being inclusive not only benefits members in society, but it can also benefit your business. If you would like help making sure your site is accessible, reach out to us!
