alt tags in linked image

[zan_d]

my compay's website uses alot of gif text as headers. with basically no text links.

if an image has a keyphrase as alt text, and is inside an <a tag, will this count?

[netguy]

zan_d... definately. While there is much controversy about how much benefit, I recently found a way to confirm this (by accident)...

I was checking some keywords for a particular site, and noticed my primary site on page 1, then a highlighted listing which drew my attention on page 2 of the SERPs.

It was a completely different site of mine, and after looking at the code, I realized I had used a photograph from the other site and had forgotten to change the Alt attribute.

There was No Other reference to the keyword on the page whatsoever, other than a large JPG with the keyword in the Alt attribute - so that's proof enough for me that it is at least 'part' of the algo.

Steve

[zan_d]

well yes i understand the value as simple text
but i'm asking about wether or not it will help with linking.
and if not, what else i can do.
i've tried to convice them to ditch the images in favor of styled heading tags but no go.

[johannes]

As far as I know alt text don't count as link text.

And I can't figure out what to do. Besides cloaking.