5 Easy Ways to Optimize Images for the Web
Creating visual content for the website is one of the best ways to capture the attention of the audience and improve engagement. If we specifically talk about images, they possess the power to break down text, create visual interest, and provide context and information to the readers. However, getting the best outcomes through images isn’t possible by simply uploading them to your website. If you don’t optimize images for the web, it can negatively impact the user experience and search engine rankings. In fact, studies show that even a single-second delay can bring a severe decline in the conversions of your website.
In order to prevent yourself from this nuisance and gain maximum benefits from the images, you should follow and implement strategies to optimize them. If you are wondering what needs to be done to optimize images for the web, then you have landed at the right spot. In this blog, we will let you know 5 easy ways that can be followed to execute this task efficiently. So let’s get started without any further delay!
1. Choose the Right File Type
The first and foremost step to take in the image optimization process is to bring your image in the right format. The file type is crucial because it can make a big difference in the quality and size of the image you upload over the web. There are three main image formats that can be used on your website, which include JPG, PNG, and GIF.
However, these file types have their own strengths and weaknesses, which make it crucial for you to understand your needs and choose the right one for your website. JPG is considered the best image format for the web due to its compact size and top-notch quality. If your images are in any other format, you can use the JPG converter to get this job done in a matter of seconds.
2. Resize Images
The next way you need to adapt in the process of optimizing images for the web is by resizing them. When an image is uploaded to the web, it could be too large to display due to excessive dimensions or file size. As a result, it can slow down its loading speed and negatively impact your website’s performance. That’s the reason you need to resize images before uploading them to your site.
You can carry out the image resizing process with the help of an online image resizer. This tool is made to help users easily change the dimensions of their images as per their requirements. You don’t need any technical knowledge to use an image resizer, as you can resize the dimensions of your images on your own without taking anyone’s assistance.
3. Compress Image Size
As we have mentioned before, image size can hugely impact the performance of your website, and it can be perceived as a make-or-break point that can even hurt your SEO rankings. If your website contains images that are large in size, it will end up taking ample time to load on the screens of its visitors. As a result, the user experience of your site will decline, which may lead to an increase in the bounce rate. The bounce rate refers to the number of visitors that leave your site right after opening it. It generally happens when a site takes too long to load.
You can save yourself from this nuisance by compressing the size of the images before uploading them. Image compression allows you to reduce the load on your website without hurting the quality of images. You can execute this task with the help of an online image compressor. This tool allows you to reduce image size to your desired compression level.
Moreover, If you need any specified image size you can try the dedicated tools presented by SmallSEOTools:
4. Optimize Image Alt Text
Optimizing image alt text is another useful way to follow in order to optimize images for the web. Alt text, or alternative text, is a description of an image that appears in place of the image if it cannot be displayed. Alt text is also used by search engines to understand the content of an image and improve website accessibility for visually impaired users.
To optimize image alt text, it’s important to write descriptive and relevant descriptions that accurately describe the content of an image. Alt text should be brief but descriptive; you should include relevant keywords that help search engines understand the context of your images.
5. Use Image CDN
The usage of image CDN (Content Delivery Network) is the last but not least effective way you can follow in the process of image optimization for the web. If your website uses image CDN, it can serve images from a network of servers located around the world. Consequently, it can improve the page load speed and reduce bandwidth usage. This technique works by automatically resizing and compressing the images on your site based on the devices and internet connection of its visitors.
Bottom Line
In the last analysis, optimizing images for the web is a crucial matter that you need to tackle strategically. If you fail to optimize images on your website, you may fall short of competitors in terms of providing optimal user experience and rankings over search engines. The 5 easy ways discussed above can be followed to optimize images for the web. You can utilize the tools mentioned alongside them to easily optimize images while preserving their quality.
