How to add alt tags to images in wordpress

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You may already know why it’s important to add alt-tags to images in WordPress. But maybe you’re not sure how to add alt-tags to your images. RDD to the rescue!

Before we get started on how to use the WordPress editor to add alt-tags, let’s talk about how to craft good alt-tags.

Best Practices for Adding Alt-Tags to Images in WordPress

Alt-tags ensure your web content is accessible to everyone. So, you want them to be appropriately descriptive, but you don’t have to go overboard. Here are a few tips for crafting effective alt-tags.

  • Describe the image in specific yet succinct terms. To do this, look at the image and ask yourself how you’d describe it to someone over the phone in a sentence. 
  • Note the type of image. Don’t include, “This image is.” But use a descriptor like headshot, infographic, chart, or screenshot where it makes sense. 
  • Include text on the graphic. But don’t repeat it if you’ve also included it as a caption for the image. 
  • Skip descriptions for decorative images. If the image is there just to make the page look pretty, you can skip the alt-text. 
  • Don’t stuff the alt-text with keywords. Use keywords but don’t overdo it or you’ll get penalized by the algorithms.
  • Keep it brief. Your alt-text should be no longer than about 125 characters.  
  • Do not include hyphens or underscores between words. The filename should use hyphens or underscores between words. The alt-text should be written normally, with spaces between words. 

Example Image with File Name and Alt-Text 

Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash

We might name this file brunette-woman-works-remotely-on-laptop-at-outdoor-cafe
and make the alt-text “A brunette woman works remotely on a laptop at an outdoor cafe.” 

How to Add Alt-Tags to Images in WordPress

Okay, now that we know what our alt-tags should look like, let’s explain how to add them from the editor in your WordPress site. Let’s first look at how to add alt-text to an image as you add it to a page or post on your website. Then we’ll walk you through how to add alt-text to an image that already exists on a page or post on your WordPress website.

Adding Alt-Text When Adding an Image to a Page or Post

Add an image to a page or post by selecting “Add Media” (classic editor) or by adding an image block (Gutenberg editor), opening your media library. 

add media

Click on the image that you want to add to the page or post, and “Attachment Details” will appear on the right-hand side of the screen. Here you will see fields for adding alt-text, as well as a caption and a few other options. 

media library alt-text field

Type your succinct, image description into the alt-text field. Then click “Insert into Post” to add the image to your site. So easy!

Add Alt-Text to an Existing Image on Your Site 

Now if you have a bunch of images on your site already, you just need to go to those pages and posts and add the alt-text. 

In the classic editor, Open the page or post from your dashboard, navigate to the image, and click on it. When you do this, a control bar will appear above the image with options for aligning the image on the page, as well as an “edit” (the little pencil) control.  Click the “edit” option to open the image details. 

edit image on page

You’ll see all the same fields for the image as you did from the media library. Simply type in your description into the alt-text field and then click “Update” on the image details window, which will return you to the main editor. 

Repeat this process for any other images, and then click “Update” to save the new version that includes your image alt-tags. 

“adding alt-text” to existing image

In the block editor, you also open the page or post from your dashboard and click on the image. Only, instead of a new window popping up, the block details will appear on the right-hand side of your screen. Enter your description in the alt-tag field, and click the “Update” button on the top right. Repeat this process for additional image and you’re all set. 

At the End of the Day

It’s easy to include alt-tags for your images in WordPress. Doing so will not only help your SEO but will also allow you to make your website more accessible to all. 

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