I have a website with many images that have relevant alt tags focused on keywords. Despite the images being taken by us, I am having trouble locating them on search engines. Any thoughts on why this might be happening?
There are a few possible reasons why your website images aren’t appearing in Google Image Search, even with relevant alt tags.
1. Indexing Issues: Google’s crawlers may not be able to access your images properly. This could be due to:
- Website technical errors: Ensure your sitemap is up-to-date and that your robots.txt file isn’t blocking Google from crawling your image files.
- Slow loading times: If your website is slow to load, Google’s crawlers might not have enough time to index your images.
- Image file formats: Google might not index all image file formats. Ensure you’re using commonly accepted formats like JPG, PNG, or GIF.
2. Image Optimization: While relevant alt tags are crucial, other optimization steps can improve your images’ visibility in search results:
- File size: Large image files can slow down your website and make it harder for Google to index them. Optimize your images for smaller file sizes without sacrificing quality.
- Image descriptions: Go beyond alt tags. Add descriptive captions and image titles to provide more context to search engines.
3. Image Age: Google might prioritize indexing newer images. If your website is relatively new, it might take some time for your images to get indexed.
4. Google’s Algorithm: Google’s search algorithm is constantly evolving. Your images might be ranking lower due to factors like website authority, backlink profile, and overall user engagement.
5. Image Duplication: If your images are hosted on multiple websites or appear on other platforms, Google might consider them duplicates and prioritize the original source.
Troubleshooting:
- Check Google Search Console: This tool provides insights into how Google sees your website and can identify any indexing errors.
- Use a website speed test tool: Analyze your website’s loading speed and identify any bottlenecks.
- Submit your sitemap: Ensure your sitemap includes all your website’s images.
- Monitor your search console: See if any errors are related to image indexing.
Remember, getting images to show up in Google Image Search takes time and ongoing optimization. Be patient and keep experimenting to improve your image ranking.