Why Image Optimization is Crucial for Your Website
In today’s fast-paced world, people don’t have much time to consume data. As a content curator, it’s your job to maximize throughput by expressing more with fewer words. One way to achieve this is by using images in your posts and articles. Images serve as visual stimuli for a call-to-action, enhance the connection between the writer and reader, and convey more through less. However, images take up around 63% of the bandwidth used by modern websites, so it’s crucial to optimize them for speed. In this article, we’ll provide you with ten easy image optimization tips to avoid common problems faced by the modern web.
1. Resize Images with Large Dimensions
Suppose you need a 150×150 pixel photo on your site’s “Team” page. Usually, you’ll use a 5MP headshot, edit it a bit, and upload it. However, some folks directly upload the actual 5MP image, wasting both their and their visitor’s bandwidth. Always resize (downsize) the image to the required dimensions and then upload it. You can use free online tools like ImageResize.org to quickly resize and optimize your images.
2. Use the Correct Image Format
The format used for the image plays a vital role. Use PNG for vector graphics and computer-generated images such as clip art, and use JPEG for photographs or images with a variety of colors.
3. Use Progressive JPEGs
Progressive JPEGs compose the image with multiple layers, which gradually increases in quality, ultimately giving you a lossless view. All major image resizers allow you to save images as Progressive JPEG.
4. Enable Lazy Load
Lazy-Loading is an excellent resource-saving technique where an image is loaded only when the visitor scrolls down to the view-frame of the image. Lazy Loading saves bandwidth at both ends and improves load time! You can use Lazy Loading in WordPress with the BJ Lazy Load Plugin.
5. Add a CDN
Using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) will serve the image from a server that is physically closest to the visitor’s location. When you have considerable traffic, you should set up a CDN with WordPress to lower your load time and gain overall performance. A great option is the Publitio Offload Media plugin, which allows you to store your media files on the Publitio cloud-based media manager.
6. Declare the ‘alt’ Attribute
The ‘alt’ attribute describes the image for the search engine. The text you enter in this field will be displayed to the user in case the image cannot be loaded. You should always try to include your site’s keywords in your images’ alt tag.
7. Optimize and Compress Images
Optimized images are 40% lighter than normal images. This improves load-time and saves bandwidth. We would recommend WPSmush.it to optimize your images. Kraken.io is also a great online option for compressing images in a jiffy.
8. Responsive Images
Even if your site is responsive, that doesn’t mean your images are. That means the header image you use for a 22″ desktop screen is also served to a 5″ iPhone. A well-coded theme will serve the “Medium” sized version of the image, thereby saving bandwidth. The Picturefill.WP plugin will replace image tags with a new
9. Image Captions
Captions aren’t always necessary, although in some cases, it is required – such as screenshots in a tutorial. Captioning images helps readers understand the topic better while boosting your SEO.
10. Image Filename
Think about the filename from a search engine’s point of view. Use the same text as you would in the ‘title’ tag of the image. Also, try to include your keywords that are most relevant to your site.
Conclusion
Image SEO is critically important for any website – old or new. Folks who implement image SEO properly stand to gain a significant amount of organic traffic in the long run. By following these ten easy image optimization tips, you can avoid common problems faced by the modern web and improve your website’s performance.
