A few days ago I found a great image online via a free non-attribution based photo site. Using the image I wanted to – as I always try and do – add some Alt text so it can be picked up by screen readers.

A complicated image, I thought I’d use the Chrome shortcut ‘Search image with Google’ to find its use previously. Published in over 50 places online, I worked my way through them, looking for where people had added the Alt text description.

I was, of course, ultimately disappointed since no-one had added the Alt text.

Alt text matters. As well as improving the SEO of your images, it’s simply inclusive practice to include it so screen readers can read the information about on-page images for the benefit of a the visually impaired.

Be better.