How to avoid SE spamming on site without text?

[egidius]

Hello everyone,

I have a photography site without real (body) text on it because (almost) all the text is imbedded in graphics (for esthetic reasons).
And I am afraid that when I choose appropriate keywords and titles for my pages, the SE's will see it as spamming because they can't find these words on my site (because they are inside the graphics).

Is there a workaround?

Thanks in advance

Egidius

[Birdman]

Use alt tags for all your images. They will pick it up. I agree text created as an image is more pleasing to the eye, but it can hurt your ranks. Tough decision, huh?

[makemetop]

>choose appropriate keywords and titles for my pages..

Certainly putting appropriate keywords in your title will not be seen as spam, nor if you add them to a description tag. The keyword tag is not really taken into consideration by any main SE (except INKTOMI - and then marginally) - so shouldn't come into the equation. However, I (personally) would not put any content into a keywords tag unless it were reflected on the page - or in the title and description. You can add information to alt tags for your images - but (bottom line) you have to work out a balance between something aesthetically pleasing and pleasing to search engine spiders. Having graphical images containing text is not the best way to do it - so don't expect great rankings if you are in any form of competitive area. I would strongly urge you to put visible text on the page if you want to improve rankings.

[glengara]

If adding text is out, you could also consider using a title tag with your Alts.

[egidius]

With "alt tags" and "using a title tag with your Alts" you all mean the text visitors see while the images are downloading?

[trillianjedi]

With "alt tags" and "using a title tag with your Alts" you all mean the text visitors see while the images are downloading?

Yes.

I think they also show in the "mouse-over" hint?

TJ

[Harley_m]

Its good to bare in mind the possible marketing routes of the site - and how that will make any difference to how you have to design it...

a photography site will never be getting the SE traffic other sites in other sectors might be - simply because its a truly enormously competitive area of the web - so i wouldnt worry too much about body text - make it look good, add decent alt tags and titles - and concentrate on getting people there...

good luck!

Harley