How to Fix Images Alt Text Issue in WordPress: A Step-by-Step Guide

Images are essential to creating an interesting and visually appealing website. However, many website owners overlook the importance of properly setting the alt text for their images. In WordPress, the alt text not only improves accessibility but also plays a crucial role in SEO. If you’re facing issues with your images’ alt text, this guide on how to fix images alt text issue in WordPress will help you fix them effectively.

Why Alt Text Matters

Before diving into the solutions, let’s understand why alt text is so important. Alt text (alternative text) is used to describe the content of an image. It serves multiple purposes:

• Accessibility: Screen readers can describe images to people who are blind or visually handicapped by using alt text.
• SEO: Search engines use alt text to understand what the image is about, which can improve your site’s ranking in image search results.
• Loading Time: If an image fails to load, the alt text will appear in its place, providing context to the user.

Without proper alt text, you could be missing out on significant SEO benefits and creating a less accessible website.

Common Alt Text Issues in WordPress

Before you can fix alt text issues, it’s important to identify them. Common problems include:

1. Missing Alt Text: Images uploaded without any alt text.
2. Duplicate Alt Text: Multiple images with the same alt text, can confuse search engines.
3. Keyword Stuffing: Overloading alt text with keywords, can lead to penalties from search engines.
4. Irrelevant Alt Text: Alt text that doesn’t accurately describe the image.

How to Fix Images Alt Text Issue in WordPress

1. Use the Media Library to Add or Edit Alt Text

The simplest way to add or edit alt text is through the WordPress Media Library.

1. Go to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Media > Library.
3. To edit a picture, click on it.
4. In the attachment details window, you’ll see a field labeled “Alt Text.”
5. Type in an accurate alt-text description of the image that is both detailed and pertinent.
6. Click Save.

2. Bulk Edit Alt Text Using a Plugin

If you have numerous images without alt text, manually editing each one can be time-consuming. Thankfully, there are plugins available that allow you to bulk edit alt text.

Recommended Plugin: SEO Optimized Images

1. Install and activate the plugin.
2. Navigate to the plugin’s settings page.
3. Choose a template to automatically generate alt text for all your images. You can use variables like {title} or {filename} to customize the alt text.
4. Click Save Settings to apply the changes.

3. Check for Duplicate Alt Text

Duplicate alt text can dilute the SEO value of your images. To fix this:

1. Utilize the Yoast SEO Plugin to find pictures that have redundant alt text.
2. Click on SEO > Then Search Appearance > Then Media.
3. Check the alt text of images flagged by Yoast and edit them to make each one unique and relevant.

4. Avoid Keyword Stuffing

Although you must put appropriate keywords into your alt text, stay away from keyword stuffing. Here’s how to find the ideal ratio:

• Keep the alt text short (around 125 characters) and descriptive.
• Include your keyword naturally without forcing it.
• Focus on describing what’s in the image rather than stuffing keywords.

5. Optimize Alt Text for Accessibility

To guarantee that every user may visit your website:

• Use simple language that accurately describes the image.
• Avoid using phrases like “image of” or “picture of” since screen readers already announce it as an image.
• Ensure the alt text conveys the function of the image, especially for links or buttons.

Bonus Tip: Use Tools to Audit Alt Text

To regularly check and fix alt text issues, consider using tools like Screaming Frog SEO Spider or Google Search Console. These tools can scan your site for images without alt text or with errors, making it easier to keep your site optimized.

Conclusion

Fixing images’ alt text issues in WordPress is essential for improving your site’s SEO, accessibility, and overall user experience. By following these steps, you can ensure that your images are not only visually appealing but also optimized for search engines and accessible to all users.

Recall that alt text offers you the chance to improve your content and reach a wider audience rather than merely meeting technical requirements. Take the time to review and update your alt text regularly to keep your WordPress site performing at its best.