Image SEO: Optimizing Picture File Names

I have been generating a lot of recent traffic through google images, flickr, etc. I’ve always been a believer in the ability for image search to compliment organic traffic. Here are a few tips that will help you capture some additional traffic through image optimization as well:

Basic SEO image techniques

The absolute most basic way to include your images into your organic SEO plan is to simply update/change the names of your images to include your targeted keywords, phrases and locations.

We’ve all seen images named with worthless file names like:

  • 54.jpg
  • 10007823.jpg
  • logo-picture-small.jpg
  • image4586.jpg
  • DC10000023.jpg
  • bathroom.jpg

Consider image names similar to the below:

  • plumber-fairfax-va-contact.jpg
  • vizslas-hungarian-pointers-adoption-mitzy.jpg
  • stereo-system-faqs-logo.jpg

Unorthodox Image Labeling

Yes, naming images like the above may not be natural. But to maximize every part of content for its maximum SEO benefit, you can use this technique for:

1. Logos – sure, you could put “company-name-logo.jpg” as the name of the image as most people do, but putting the logo image in the keyword format is a good move.

2. Web Graphics – Yes, even those parts of your website that have mundane names for establishing the look of your site are target for enhancement.  The boxes, bars, background titles can all be renamed to incorporate the naming scheme.

Take the first step

I’ll leave the optimization suggestions at that for now and follow up these suggestions with posts focused on “alt” tags and leveraging photo sites. In the meantime, make sure to give your website images anoverhaul!

Related posts:

  1. Top 10 SEO Copywriting & Search Engine Optimization Tips
  2. Using SEO In Your Web Design
  3. Top 10 SEO Tips For On-Site Optimization
  4. SEO Basics - Title Tags
  5. How To: Youtube SEO & Video Optimization

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