How to add Alt Text to images in Squarespace Fluid Engine
Adding alt text to images is an essential step for building accessible, user-friendly, and search-optimized websites. Alt text, or alternative text, describes the content of an image and serves several important functions: it ensures that screen readers can convey image information to visually impaired users, improves your site’s visibility in search engine results, and acts as a fallback if an image fails to load. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to add alt text to images in Squarespace Fluid Engine, helping you create a website that is both inclusive and optimized for performance.
Why Alt text is added to images in Squarespace?
1. Accessibility:
Alt text helps visually impaired users who rely on screen readers to understand the content and function of images. The screen reader reads the alt text aloud, allowing users to access image information.
2. SEO (Search Engine Optimization):
Search engines cannot “see” images but can read alt text. Adding descriptive alt text improves a webpage’s search engine ranking and helps images appear in search results (e.g., Google Images).
3. Image loading fallback:
If an image fails to load (due to a broken link or slow connection), the alt text is displayed in place of the image, ensuring users still understand what was intended.
4. Context clarity:
It provides context or additional explanation for an image, especially for non-decorative or informative images, such as graphs, diagrams, or product photos.
How to add Alt Text to Images in Squarespace
Step 1:
Click the Edit option on the image you want to add alt text to.
Step 2:
Under the Content section of the pop-up menu, enter the alt text for the image in the 'Image Alt Text' box.
This is how you can add alt text to images in Squarespace 7.1
Best practices for writing effective image alt text:
Follow these guidelines to write clear, concise, and accessible alt text that improves both user experience and search engine visibility.
1. Be Descriptive and Specific
Describe the image accurately and concisely. Think about what a person would need to know if they couldn’t see the image.
Example:
Instead of: alt="camera"
Use: alt="Black DSLR camera with zoom lens mounted on a tripod"
2. Keep It Concise
Use one short sentence or phrase. Ideally, keep alt text under 125 characters, as screen readers may cut off longer text.
3. Avoid Redundancy
Do not use phrases like "image of" or "picture of", screen readers already announce that it's an image.
Bad: alt="Image of a woman holding a book"
Good: alt="Woman holding a book and smiling in a library"
4. Match the Image Purpose
If the image is decorative, mark it as such (in code or settings), or leave the alt text blank (alt=""). If it's functional or conveys information, describe its purpose or meaning.
5. Use Keywords (If Relevant)
For SEO, include relevant keywords naturally, but do not keyword-stuff.
Good SEO example:
alt="Modern wedding photography at sunset in Goa beach"
6. Avoid Repeating Nearby Text
If the same information is already provided in nearby text, avoid repeating it in the alt attribute.
7. Don’t Use File Names
Avoid using file names or generic labels like alt="image1.jpg" or alt="screenshot".
Adding alt text to images in Squarespace Fluid Engine is a simple but powerful step that enhances both accessibility and SEO. By following best practices - such as being descriptive, concise, and intentional - you ensure that all users, including those using screen readers, can engage fully with your website. Implementing thoughtful alt text not only supports inclusivity but also helps search engines better understand your content, which can lead to improved visibility and performance online.
