By Wpexpert 
Image optimization is an important element in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategy on WordPress. Images not only make your website more attractive, but can also improve search rankings if optimized properly. In this article, we will show you how to optimize images for SEO on WordPress to improve page loading speed and attract more visits from search engines.
Step 1: Use the Optimal Image Format
Choosing the right image format can help reduce file size without sacrificing display quality. Popular formats include:
Popular Image Formats
- JPEG: Good for colorful images like photos, because JPEG has good compression without too much loss of quality.
- PNG: Suitable for images with few colors or a transparent background, but PNG file sizes are typically larger than JPEGs.
- WebP: A modern format that supports better compression than both JPEG and PNG, helping to reduce file size and increase page load speed.
Step 2: Compress Images Before Uploading
Image compression helps reduce file size without affecting image quality. This helps increase page loading speed and improve user experience, an important factor in SEO.
Image Compression Tools
- Tinypng.com: Online tool to easily compress PNG and JPEG images.
- Image: A WordPress plugin that allows you to compress and optimize images directly from the dashboard.
- Smush: Free WordPress plugin that compresses images without losing quality.
Use these tools to compress all images before uploading to WordPress to reduce file size and increase page loading speed.
Step 3: Name the Image File Description
Naming image files that contain relevant keywords not only helps you manage files more easily, but also helps search engines clearly understand the content of the image.
How to Name Image Files
- Use dashes (
-) between words to separate (e.g.:hinh-anh-toi-uu-seo.jpg). - Avoid using default filenames from the camera like
IMG1234.jpg. - Use keywords related to the article or product content in the file name.
This helps improve your website’s ranking on image search engines like Google Images.
Step 4: Add Alt Text to Images
Alt Text is an important element in image SEO. Alt Text helps search engines understand image content, thereby improving a website’s search rankings.
How to Write Effective Alt Text
- Clearly describe the content of the image in natural language.
- Add main keywords related to the article content.
- Avoid stuffing irrelevant keywords.
Alt Text not only helps improve SEO, but also helps users using browsers that support screen reading have a better experience.
Step 5: Use the Right Image Size
When uploading images, make sure that the image size is optimized for the area where it will be displayed on the website. Using images that are too large can slow down page loading speeds.
How to Set Image Size
- Use the correct image size for the display area (for example, the cover image doesn’t need to be too large if it’s only going to be small).
- Avoid using images larger than the display area to minimize loading capacity.
- Use image editing tools to resize before uploading.
Step 6: Create an Image Sitemap (Image Sitemap)
Creating an Image Sitemap helps search engines like Google easily crawl information about the images on your website. This helps improve your image’s appearance on Google Images.
How to Create Image Sitemap
- Use SEO plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to automatically create image diagrams.
- Make sure that all images on your site are included in the image map.
Effective Image Optimization Tips
- Always compress images before uploading: Use image compression tools to reduce file size without affecting quality.
- Using WebP: If possible, use WebP format to optimize page load speed.
- Check page loading speed: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to test page speed and optimize images if needed.
Optimize SEO images
Optimizing images for SEO on WordPress is an important part of improving page load speed and search rankings. By choosing the right format, compressing images, naming descriptive files, and adding alt text, you can improve site performance and attract more visits. Start optimizing your images today to improve SEO effectiveness and user experience!
