We deal with images on daily basis. Images can be saved in different formats depending on the basic architecture of the image. Optimizing images is very important as Optimized Images:
- Load faster and hence a faster blog or website.
- It save precious resources like bandwidth, server data transfer.
- They are more easy to download and transfer because of less size.
- They are indexed better by search engines, more visitors.
There are number of simple and quick ways to optimize images for your blog or website. Combination of following steps should work wonders.
1. IMAGE FORMAT
Every image format is different and is used for specific type of images for optimized results. For example for logos, buttons, vector like defined structure – GIF format should be used. For usual images with true life colors – JPG format should be used. For better transparency & finish use PNG (rarely used).
Quick Tip, incase you cannot decide which format should be used for a specific image – save a specific image in 3 different formats JPG, GIF and PNG. Compare the resultant image size and clarity to make final decision.
2. IMAGE SIZE
Lesser the size of image, faster it will load. You can reduce size of image by reducing image resolution like reducing pic from (1024X768)px to (800X600)px, selecting appropriate image format (see step 1).
Quick Tip, if you have Adobe PhotoShop on your computer – while saving images instead of using file > Save option use file > Save for Web option. Save for web option provide you preview of image in different formats and quality levels for quick selection. You can also use Online Image Optimizer.
3. IMAGE NAME
You should always give a meaningful name to an image. For example Image of Microsoft logo is named as microsoft-logo.jpg is better than image.jpg
Quick Tip, always use dash while using multiple words in an image name like microsoft-logo.jpg Search engine also understand underscore, so you can also rename image like microsoft_logo.jpg
4. IMAGE DESCRIPTION
While posting images on a webpage make sure you add some unique description to all images. You can use ALT tag for this purpose like: <img src=”http://www.tothepc.com/microsoft-logo.jpg— alt=”â€Microsoft & Bill Gates” />
Quick Tip, besides the ALT tag you can also use TITLE tag for more decription like: <img title=”Bill gates launch new Microsoft Logo” src=”http://www.tothepc.com/microsoft-logo.jpg— alt=”â€Microsoft & Bill Gates” />Â
5. IMAGES NEAR TEXT
Try to place images in between text rather than in beginning or in the end. Images wrapped by text are better for search engine indexing and result in more visitors from image search.
Quick Tip, you can wrap text around image using online tool like CSS wrapper or use manual code discussed here.
Above are 5 basic ways to optimize images for web. Besides these, there are few more steps you can perform for better results. Make sure you turn ON image search option in Google webmaster tool.
Keep number on images on single page to bare minimum. You can use META tags to add description to images in gallery. In case you know any other way to optimize images please do share with us by adding a comment. Have fun & play with ‘optimized’ images!
