A seldom used technique to drive traffic to web sites is image optimization for search. The success of the Google images directory has made it possible to gain increased market share with just a small amount of work on your site's images. Specifically, you can increase your traffic substantially by appropriate naming and tagging of your display images (by "display images" we are referring to the images that highlight your content, not the images that make up your site's look and feel elements)
Google images optimization Tip #1 > Add ALT tags to your images now
The key is that the image's ALT tag needs to be the same as your site's main KWP (keyword phrase). Most importantly though, each alt tag should be unique. Only include your KWP on an image once on your page. You can use your KWP in other places, content for example, but only include it once in an image. This eliminates any potential search penalties for keyword stuffing.
Google images optimization Tip #2 > Add Title tags to your images
A good title tag serves to further define the purpose of the image and add context relevancy. Just as with the ALT tag, the title tag needs to be unique. Do not repeat it in your page on any other images TITLE tag.
Google images optimization Tip #3 > Follow your image with text containing your keyword.
You will want to include text next to or following your image. The text needs to include your KWP. This is critical to this strategy. Here is an example:
<img src="yourkeywordphrase.jpg" alt="your keyword phrase" title="your keyword phrase">
Then immediately following that, you want to include your text containing your KWP.
Google images optimization Tip #4 > Break free from the Frame!
Once Google indexes your page and your newly optimized images, you will begin to see referrals and traffic to your site from images.google.com. The real beauty of this is, if your site ever slips in the main index (not likely if you are optimizing and back-linking regularly) your Google images referrals should stay consistent during this period or vice versa. It provides an excellent way to hedge against the infamous "Google Dance" that we are all subject to from time to time
In conclusion: Always optimize one image on your page with your site's main keyword phrase in the image name, image ALT tag and image TITLE tag. Also place text in close proximity or directly adjacent to this image that contains that same keyword phrase. Optimize any additional images on your page with your secondary keyword phrases. Only optimize one image per keyword phrase. Happy searches!
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