15 Image SEO Tips to Help Your Images Rank on Google!
Images bring sites to life, but when not optimized, they can bog down your site and hurt your rankings. Most webmasters insert pictures without thinking about how they influence SEO, page speed, and user experience. This makes it harder for search engines to find and rank them in Google Image Search.
Image optimization is not only making them look good; it’s making Google understand them. Optimized images increase website speed, improve SEO, and sometimes even drive additional traffic.
In this guide, we will share with you 15 Image SEO tips that you can use to rank your images better on Google. It just takes these few simple steps to help you make a big difference if you are running a blog, online store, or business website.
What is Image SEO?
Image SEO is the process of optimizing images so that search engines can understand them and rank them higher in Google Image Search. Since search engines can’t “see” images like humans do, they rely on file names, alt text, image size, and structured data to understand what an image is about.
Doing image SEO the right way helps search engines find, crawl, and rank your images accurately. It also improves your page speed, user experience, and accessibility while making your site more discoverable. You can utilize the best image optimization to leave a positive impact on traffic on your site, as it plays an integral role in on-page SEO.
Why is Optimizing Images Necessary?
Optimizing images on your website is crucial for several reasons:
- Faster Page Loading Time: Large, unoptimized images can slow down your site, leading to a poor user experience. Resizing and compressing images get your site to load faster.
- More User Interaction: Images enrich your content. Posts with pictures are seen 94% more than posts without pictures.
- Improved Memory Recall: Individuals recall things more clearly when information comes with images. This is referred to as the “picture superiority effect.”
- Higher Sharing in Social Media: The visual content is more shared on social media, giving you more exposure.
- Improved Search Engine Rankings: Properly optimized images can actually raise your site’s SEO, which makes it easier for people to locate you via search engines.
Adding properly optimized images not only makes your website look good but will scale up its performance and keep it visible online.
- Google uses several methods to understand images on websites:
- 📌 Alt Text (Alternative Text)
📝 A short description added to an image’s HTML. Helps search engines and visually impaired users understand the image. - 📌 File Names & Surrounding Text
📂 Naming your image descriptively (e.g., “sunset-beach.jpg” instead of “IMG1234.jpg”) and placing it near relevant text helps Google understand its context. - 📌 Metadata & Structured Data
📊 Google reads image titles, captions, and descriptions to index them correctly. Using Schema Markup can enhance this further. - 📌 Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
🔎 Google can detect and read text within images, like signs, book covers, and infographics. This helps in ranking images with embedded text. - 📌 AI-Powered Image Recognition
🤖 Google uses machine learning to recognize objects, scenes, and actions within images, even without any text description. - By combining these techniques, Google interprets images more accurately, improving how they appear in search results.
15 Actionable Tips to Optimize Images for SEO
Here are 15 simple ways to optimize images for SEO and improve your site’s performance. 🚀
1. Use High-Quality, Relevant Images
Images help people understand content quickly. If they are blurry or don’t match the topic, they won’t be useful. Google image SEO favors images that make content better and help users.
Why Good Images Matter?
✔ Grab Attention: People notice images before reading text.
✔ Make Reading Easier: Images break up text and make it simple to scan.
✔ Increase Engagement: Clear and relevant images keep people on your page longer.
How to Pick the Right Images?
🔹 Use your own images when you can. Photos, custom graphics, and infographics make your content stand out.
🔹 Make sure images match your content. A picture should explain or support what you’re saying.
🔹 Choose the right type of image for your needs:
- 📸 Photos – Great for showing products, people, or places.
- 📊 Charts & Graphs – Make numbers and data easy to understand.
- 🎨 Illustrations & Infographics – Explain ideas in a clear way.
- 🏷 Icons – Help guide users through your website.
- 🔍 Screenshots – Perfect for tutorials or step-by-step guides.
Check the below infographic image created by Outreach Monks:
Are Stock Images Okay?
If you use stock photos, pick ones that fit naturally. Avoid generic images that add no real value. Google prefers original and useful visuals, so whenever possible, create your own.
Good images improve user experience and SEO. The better your images, the better your chances of ranking higher in Google Image Search and keeping visitors engaged.
2. Choose the Right Image Format
Picking the right image format helps your website load faster and improves image SEO optimization. Some formats reduce file size, while others keep images high quality. Choosing the right one depends on what the image is used for.
Best Image Formats & When to Use Them
✅ JPEG (JPG) – Best for photos
- Keeps good quality with a smaller file size.
- Ideal for blog posts, product photos, and general website images.
✅ PNG – Best for images with transparency
- Great for logos, graphics, and screenshots.
- Higher quality but larger file size than JPEG.
✅ WebP – Best for fast websites
- Smaller file size than JPEG and PNG while keeping great quality.
- Improves SEO image optimization by speeding up page load times.
✅ AVIF – Best for modern websites
- Even better compression and quality than WebP.
- Not supported on all browsers yet.
Which One Should You Use?
- JPEG – If you need small file sizes without losing much quality.
- PNG – If your image needs transparency or high detail.
- WebP – If you want SEO-friendly images that load faster.
- AVIF – If your website supports it and you want the best compression.
Source: 99designs
Using the right format makes sure Google Image SEO works in your favor, helping images load fast and rank better in search results.
3. Rename Image Files with Descriptive Keywords
Before uploading an image, rename the file with words that describe it. This helps Google understand what the image is about and improves image SEO.
Why It Matters?
If your image is named IMG_1234.jpg, search engines won’t know what’s in it. But a name like red-sports-car.jpg makes it clear. This helps your image appear in Google Image Search when people look for similar content.
How to Rename Images Correctly?
✔ Describe the Image Clearly – Use words that explain what’s in the image.
✔ Include Keywords Naturally – Add relevant SEO keywords without overstuffing.
✔ Use Hyphens (-) Instead of Spaces – Google reads fresh-apples.jpg better than fresh_apples.jpg.
✔ Keep It Short & Simple – Avoid long, complicated filenames.
Examples
❌ Bad: DSC_12345.jpg
✅ Good: golden-retriever-puppy.jpg
❌ Bad: image-final-edit.png
✅ Good: best-budget-laptop-2024.png
Naming your images properly boosts your SEO and helps them show up in Google Image Search more easily.
4. Write Meaningful Alt Text for Every Image
Alt text is a short description that tells search engines and users what an image is about. It helps Google understand your images and improves image SEO. It also assists visually impaired users and appears when an image doesn’t load properly due to server issues or slow connections.
How to Write Good Alt Text?
✔ Be clear and specific – Describe what’s in the image.
✔ Use keywords naturally – Avoid stuffing them in.
✔ Keep it short – A few words are enough.
✔ Skip unnecessary words – No need for “Image of…” or “Picture of…”.
Examples:
❌ Bad: alt=”image456″
✅ Good: alt=”black cat sitting on a wooden chair”
❌ Bad: alt=”SEO tips”
✅ Good: alt=”example of an SEO-friendly blog post layout
📌 If an image does not load, the alt text is displayed instead, allowing users to know what was supposed to be there. This maintains your content tidy even when images do not load.
Including alt text descriptions makes your website more search-friendly and accessible, as well as more user-friendly.
5. Resize Images Before Uploading
Uploading large images slows down a website. Slow sites frustrate visitors and hurt rankings on Google. That’s why resizing images before uploading is important.
Why Resizing Helps?
✔ Faster website – Smaller images load quickly.
✔ Better experience – Visitors don’t wait for images to load.
✔ SEO boost – Google favors fast-loading pages.
✔ Saves space – Reduces the strain on website storage.
How to Resize Images the Right Way?
📌 Match the display size – If your blog only needs images at 1200px width, avoid uploading a 5000px-wide image.
📌 Adjust dimensions – Banners, blog images, and product photos all require different sizes.
📌 Keep it clear – Reduce file size but maintain quality.
Best Tools for Resizing Images:
✅ Adobe Photoshop – For professional resizing.
✅ Canva – Free and simple for quick edits.
📌 Extra Tip:
Before publishing, check the image on desktop and mobile. The right-resized image helps you keep your site sharp on both devices.
Resizing images before uploading keeps your site fast, user-friendly, and SEO-friendly.
6. Compress Images Without Losing Quality
Large photos slow down websites, which is bad for SEO rankings and annoying to users. Image compression decreases file size while keeping them neat and crisp.
How to Compress Images?
✅ Choose the right format – WebP and JPEG compress better than PNG.
✅ Use compression tools – Shrink images before uploading.
✅ Test image quality – Make sure it stays clear after compression.
Best Tools for Image Compression
📌 TinyPNG – Simple and effective for reducing image size.
📌 ImageOptim – Maintains quality while compressing images.
📌 ShortPixel – Great for WordPress users.
📌Make the image sizes between 200-300 KB. You wouldn’t want it to exceed 1MB as it would make your page run slowly. If so, compress or resize it first before uploading.
Optimized images keep your site fast, and a fast site keeps SEO intact!
7. Make Images Responsive for Mobile Users
Users access sites on a variety of devices — desktops, tablets, and smartphones. Without image resizing, images are distorted or too big or too small, and the site looks unprofessional.
Why Responsive Images Are Important
✔ Improves User Experience – Visitors don’t have to zoom in or scroll sideways.
✔ Speeds Up Loading Time – Smaller images load faster on mobile.
✔ Helps SEO – Google prefers mobile-friendly websites.
How to Ensure Images Are Mobile-Friendly
✅ Use the <srcset> attribute – It allows browsers to load the right image size for different screens.
✅ Apply “max-width: 100%” in CSS – This makes images adjust automatically to fit the screen.
✅ Use Modern Formats Like WebP – They load faster while maintaining quality.
Verify your site with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to determine whether or not images are loading properly. A mobile website is compelling and assists with rank improvement.
8. Enable Lazy Loading for Faster Page Speed
Web pages with many images take longer to load. This can frustrate visitors and even make them leave before the page fully appears. Lazy loading fixes this by loading images only when needed.
How Does Lazy Loading Work?
Rather than loading all the images simultaneously, lazy loading postpones image loading until the user scrolls down to them. This postpones the initial load time and makes the page seem faster.
Why Should You Use Lazy Loading?
✔ Speeds up your website – Visitors don’t have to wait for all images to load at once.
✔ Saves bandwidth – It only loads images that people actually see.
✔ Improves SEO – Google favors faster websites, which helps in rankings.
How to Enable Lazy Loading?
✅ Use the “loading=lazy” attribute – A simple way to apply lazy loading in modern browsers:
<img src=”example.jpg” alt=”example image” loading=”lazy”>
✅ Use a plugin – If your website runs on WordPress, plugins like Lazy Load by WP Rocket can automate the process.
For above-the-fold images (the first images on a page), load them normally to avoid blank spaces at the top.
9. Use an Image Sitemap for Better Indexing
Google can’t rank images if it doesn’t know they exist. If images are buried in scripts or galleries, search engines might miss them. An image sitemap solves this problem by telling Google exactly where your images are so they can be indexed and appear in search results.
What is an Image Sitemap?
An image sitemap is a file that lists all the images on your website and gives Google details about them. This makes it easier for search engines to find and display your images in Google Image Search.
Why is it Important?
✔ Helps Google find hidden images – Images inside carousels, pop-ups, or background elements may not be crawled.
✔ Improves image rankings – When Google properly indexes images, they have a better chance of showing up in search results.
✔ Boosts organic traffic – More indexed images mean more visibility and clicks.
How to Create an Image Sitemap?
✅ For WordPress Users: Use plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to generate an image sitemap automatically.
✅ Manual Method: If you don’t use a plugin, you can add image details to your existing XML sitemap like this:
<url>
<loc>https://yourwebsite.com/page-url/</loc>
<image:image>
<image:loc>https://yourwebsite.com/images/example.jpg</image:loc>
<image:title>Descriptive Image Title</image:title>
<image:caption>A short description of the image</image:caption>
</image:image>
</url>
After creating your image sitemap, submit it in Google Search Console under the Sitemaps section. This helps Google index your images faster and improves their chances of ranking.
10. Host Images on a Content Delivery Network (CDN)
If your site loads slowly, visitors won’t wait. Large images are one of the biggest offenders. A Content Delivery Network (CDN) helps to speed up images and improve site speed and user experience.
What is a CDN?
A CDN is a network of servers located in different parts of the world. Instead of loading images from one central server, a CDN stores copies on multiple servers. When someone visits your site, the images load from the closest server, reducing load times.
Source: Imagekit
Why Should You Use a CDN for Images?
✔ Faster Loading – Images load quickly, even for visitors far from your server.
✔ Better User Experience – Users don’t have to wait for images to appear.
✔ Less Strain on Your Server – A CDN reduces the load on your main hosting server.
✔ Better SEO – Google favors fast websites, so a CDN can help rankings.
How to Set Up a CDN for Images?
✅ Use a CDN service like Cloudflare, BunnyCDN, or KeyCDN to store and deliver your images.
✅ Check if your hosting provider offers a CDN – Many have built-in options.
✅ Use a WordPress plugin like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache to connect images to a CDN easily.
If your site gets visitors from different countries, a CDN is essential! It ensures images load fast everywhere, from the U.S. to Europe, Asia, or anywhere else.
11. Enable Browser Caching
When someone visits your website, their browser downloads all images, scripts, and other files to display the page. If this happens every time they visit, it slows things down. Browser caching fixes this by storing these files on their device, so they don’t have to be downloaded again.
Why Browser Caching Matters
✔ Faster Page Load Time – Images and other files don’t have to reload every time.
✔ Better User Experience – Visitors won’t leave because of slow pages.
✔ Lower Server Load – Your website handles fewer requests, making it run smoother.
✔ SEO Benefits – Google favors fast-loading sites, which can help your image SEO rankings.
How to Enable It?
✅ For WordPress: Use caching plugins like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache.
✅ For Other Websites: Modify the .htaccess file to set cache expiration times.
✅ Use a CDN: A Content Delivery Network (CDN) helps store and serve cached images faster.
✅ Set Expiry Periods:
- Images – Cache for 1 year (they rarely change).
- Scripts & Styles – Cache for a few weeks (updated more often).
Before caching images, optimize and compress them. Large images take up storage and slow down your site, even if they are cached.
12. Place Images Where They Make Sense
Adding images to your content isn’t enough—you need to place them wisely for the best impact. The right placement makes content more engaging and helps search engines understand your page better.
How to Do It Right
✔ Keep Images Close to Relevant Text – If an image supports a topic, put it right next to it so readers and search engines can connect the two.
✔ Use Images to Break Up Large Blocks of Text – Too much text can feel overwhelming. A well-placed image makes the page easier to read.
✔ Choose Meaningful Images – Every image should have a purpose. Avoid random stock photos that add no real value.
✔ Use Captions When Needed – If an image needs extra context, a short caption can help readers understand its purpose.
✔ Make Sure Images Display Correctly on Mobile – Test how images appear on different screen sizes so they don’t look too big or small.
Search engines pay attention to how images are used on a page. If an image looks disconnected from the content, it might not rank well. Always place images where they add value.
13. Add Structured Data for Better Image Visibility
Structured data helps Google understand images better and show them with extra details in search results. This can improve click-through rates and visibility, making your images more useful for searchers.
Why It Matters?
When structured data is added, images can appear with helpful information like:
✔ Product price and availability (for online stores)
✔ Cooking time and ingredients (for recipes)
✔ Article thumbnails (for blog posts and news)
How to Implement It?
1️⃣ Use Schema Markup to describe your images. Google supports different types:
- Product Schema – Adds pricing and availability to product images.
- Recipe Schema – Displays recipe details in Google Image Search.
- Article Schema – Highlights blog images in search results.
2️⃣ Add the generated schema code to your website’s HTML or use a plugin if on WordPress.
3️⃣ Test your structured data using Google’s Rich Results Test to ensure it’s working.
Structured data doesn’t guarantee special search results, but it increases the chances of your images standing out. If you want better Google Image SEO, structured data is a smart move.
14. Optimize Open Graph & Twitter Card Tags for Social Sharing
When people share your content on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, the way your images appear can affect engagement. If not set properly, social media platforms may randomly select an image, making your post look unprofessional or unattractive.
Why This Matters?
✔️ Helps control how your images and descriptions appear when shared.
✔️ Makes your posts look more appealing and clickable.
✔️ Boosts engagement by displaying the right image and text.
How to Set It Up?
🔹 For Facebook & LinkedIn: Use Open Graph (OG) tags to define your image, title, and description.
🔹 For Twitter: Use Twitter Card tags to ensure the right preview.
Here’s an example of what you can add to your webpage:
<meta property="og:image" content="https://yourwebsite.com/image.jpg">
<meta property="og:title" content="Your Page Title">
<meta property="og:description" content="A short and engaging description"><meta name=”twitter:image” content=”https://yourwebsite.com/image.jpg”>
<meta name=”twitter:title” content=”Your Page Title”>
<meta name=”twitter:description” content=”A short, catchy description”>
Use high-quality images that are properly sized:
✅ Facebook & LinkedIn: 1200×630 pixels
✅ Twitter: 1200×675 pixels
By optimizing these tags, you make sure your content looks great when shared, making it more likely to get clicks and engagement.
15. Check Image Performance Regularly
Images affect SEO, page speed, and user experience. If they aren’t optimized properly, they can slow down your website and hurt rankings. Regularly checking your images helps keep your site running smoothly.
Why It Matters
✅ Faster load times – Large or unoptimized images can slow down your website.
✅ Better Google indexing – If images aren’t indexed properly, they won’t appear in search results.
✅ Fixes broken images – Missing images make a site look unprofessional.
How to Check Image Performance?
📌 Google Search Console – See if Google is indexing your images.
📌 PageSpeed Insights – Find out if your images are slowing down your site.
📌 Screaming Frog SEO Spider – Detect broken images.
📌 Google Analytics – Track traffic from Google Images.
By monitoring and optimizing images, you keep your website fast, user-friendly, and SEO-ready.
Conclusion
Many websites struggle to rank their images on Google, not because they lack quality visuals, but because they overlook simple SEO fixes. A well-optimized image can do more than just look good—it can attract traffic, improve user experience, and even boost conversions.
By applying practical Image SEO techniques, like choosing the right format, compressing files, and using meaningful alt text, you make it easier for search engines and users to understand your content. These small but important changes add up, making your site faster, more accessible, and search-friendly.
Don’t let your images sit unnoticed. Optimize them, track their performance, and make them work for your website, not against it.
FAQs on Image SEO
Can Images Alone Improve My Website’s SEO?
No, but they help. Optimized images boost user experience, speed up your site, and increase visibility in Google Image Search. When combined with strong content and proper on-page SEO, they contribute to better rankings.
How Many Images Should I Use On A Page For SEO?
There’s no magic number, but only use images that add value to your content. Too many can slow down your site, while too few may make your page look plain. Balance is key—each image should serve a purpose.
Should I Rename My Old Image Files For SEO?
Yes, but be careful. If the images are already ranking, renaming them without updating URLs and reindexing can break links. For new images, always use descriptive filenames from the start.
Can I Just Copy And Use Images From Google?
No. Using copyrighted images without permission can lead to legal issues. Instead, create your own visuals or use royalty-free stock images with proper attribution.
Does Google Penalize Websites For Using Stock Images?
No, but original images perform better. Google won’t penalize you, but unique images help you stand out in search results. If using stock photos, opt for high-quality, less-common ones.
How Can I Track My Images’ SEO Performance?
Use tools like Google Search Console to check which images appear in search results. You can also use Google PageSpeed Insights to see if images are slowing your site down.
Can I Add Too Many Keywords In The Alt Text?
Yes, and that’s a bad practice. Alt text should describe the image naturally without stuffing keywords. Google can detect keyword stuffing and may ignore or even penalize your page.
Ekta Chauhan
