15 Tips To Get More Traffic Using Images

A way to get more traffic (hits) to your website is to maximize the potential of your pictures being picked up on Image Search Engines (e.g. Google Image Search).  This Blog will give you 15 Tips to help you maximise your websites traffic potential.  In some Web Search Engines some highly relevant images to the searched topic are shown.  So if you can get a picture in there then you’re likely to increase your traffic.

1. Insert Keywords into your Alt Text – Ensure that you include a keyword or phrase relevant to your image and web page.  The keyword/phrase should be inserted in the code for the image.
2. Give your images simple Descriptive Names – For Example: If your image is of Lewis Hamilton call it something like ‘lewishamilton.jpg’ not ‘5369821.jpg’.  If you’re stuck for what to name the image use the same text as the Alt Text.
3. Use relevant text around the image – We suggest that around the image you use the keywords/phrase, ideally before and after.
4. Use Adsense to Analyse Search Engines Content View – Adsense is a Google Advertising Unit which you can put on your site/blogs.  By using Adsense you will be able to see how Search Engines view your site in terms of general theme.  We suggest that you edit the content slightly until Adsense has the keywords features in.  Adsense may only work for Google but it give you a general idea of what search engines consider your site to be based around.
5. Use Thorough Titles and Tags – By having good titles and tags you will find the traffic is much better.  Use your Keywords/Phrases in your titles and tags.
6. Use Specific Image Link Names – When you link to an image use descriptive link titles.  For example: If the photo you’re linking to is of Lewis Hamilton don’t use ‘Click Here’, use ‘Lewis Hamilton Driving’ or ‘Lewis Hamilton Image’.
7. Use Internal and Social Tags – If you’re using pretty much no or very little content on the the webpage then you may find it helpful to use internal tagging functions or social tags (e.g. Technorati or Flickr).  This should help increase the rank of your image.
8. Use Categories to Catch the Eye of a Larger Audience – By using a broad range of images you will be able to reach out to more people.  For example; have related images.
9. Ensure that your Image Folder is accessible to Search Engines – It is important to make sure that search engines can view your robot.txt file.  This will allow search engines to view your image files.
10. Limit use of javascript Links – By limiting the use of javascript links on image files you will allow search engines more access.
11. Re-Upload/Update Images – If you have an image with highly common keywords/tags then it may be an idea to remove and then re-upload a different version of your image.  This may help the ranking on search engines.
12. Google Webmaster Tools – A great little application from Google.  It helps you improve the site visibility on Google.  To help images click on the diagnostics tab.  Then select enhanced image search.  Click on the check box to opt your site into image search for your website.  (This can only be done after your website has been verified by Google)
13. Google Image Labeller – Google Image Labeller helps to improve the quality of Image Search and the likeliness of your Images being picked up.  It allows you and others to write tags for images which come up.
14. Use ‘Hot’ Topic Images – An easy way to get more visitors from Google Image Search is to deliberately use images to catch visitors who are searching ‘hot’ topics.  For example, images of global events or the latest popular tv show.  If you need a hand finding some ‘hot’ topics try using Google Trends for some help.  Check out our Post on Google Trends!
15. Check the Number of Google Images Indexed – Another important part of Google Image Optimization is to keep an eye on how many images, from your site, are being indexed by Google Image Search.  This will give you some response to how good your optimization is and what needs improving.  A way to do this is use a site search operator.  For example, go to Google Image Search and type in your website name with ’site:’ at the beginning.  E.g. site:pctoolbox.co.uk

Has this been helpful?  Got any tips of your own?

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