Google looks for ALT tags?

Google and ALT tags

[grandmasterapu]

I'm a newbie and have enjoyed reading the forums for quite some time. I've read conflicting info--does Google consider keywords in ALT tags to pictures that are NOT links?

Thanks

[DerekH]

It certainly does.
Alt Text is supposed to be a textual representation of an image for those who use such devices as speaking browsers. As such, the Alt Text is page content in just the same was as the image is content.

Google will certainly offer Alt Text, bolded in a snippet, if that's a relevant match for your search.

Besides, it's extremely good practice for accessibility reasons, to use Alt Text the way it was intended.

Then, you'll have an accessible site that's properly indexed.
DerekH

[grandmasterapu]

Thanks for the reply. Does ALT tag keywords add to the keyword density of a page?

[jonknee]

Alt tags will also get you into Google Images.

Furthermore, if your site is on Google News like mine is, you have a better chance of being on one of the main pages, with your story photo being used with your site name under it.

Alt tags are great!

[Hagstrom]

In my experience, Google does not consider alt-text for un-linked images.

This is easy to show, by taking an un-linked image (maybe on your own site) and search for the alt-text.

And Google will not present the alt-text of un-linked images either.

You can test this by searching for text that surround your un-linked image - and then watch the Google snippets.

[zgb999]

I think it is about the same as with meta keywords. Google uses them but gives them no great value. If you are looking for a word that is only in the meta keywords those pages don't show up in SERPS (unless there are off-page links with that keyword).

IMHO Google uses Alt tags without link text but doesn't give is much value.

[g1smd]

The alt attribute is important for images that are links, but otherwise that attribute is not so important for search engines.

Every image should have some sort of alt attribute text, as the text of that is used by screen readers for disabled surfers, and for people with non-visual browsers, or where image loading is switched off, or the image fails to load.