Yes and no.
Alt text, short for "alternative text", is a ranking factor for Google Image Search, but it is not a ranking factor for regular Google Search. This means that if you want your images to appear in Google image results, then you do need to craft descriptive, non-spammy "alt text".
However, "alt text" does not have a direct impact on your rankings in regular Google Search results. Instead, it is treated like normal page text. This means that it can still be helpful for your rankings, but it is not a separately considered ranking factor.
Why is alt text important?
Even though alt text is not a direct ranking factor for regular Google Search results, it is still important for a number of reasons:
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Accessibility: Alt text helps people who are blind or have low vision to understand the content of your images. This makes your website more accessible and inclusive.
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SEO: Alt text can help your images rank in Google Image Search. This can be a valuable way to drive traffic to your website.
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User experience: Alt text can improve the user experience of your website. For example, if an image fails to load, the alt text will be displayed instead. This can help users to understand the content of the page even if the image is not available.
How to write good alt text
When writing alt text, it is important to be descriptive and accurate. The alt text should describe the image in a way that is helpful to both people and search engines.
Here are some tips for writing good alt text:
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Be specific: Avoid using generic alt text like "image" or "photo." Instead, describe the image in a way that is specific and informative. For example, instead of "image of a mouse," you could use the alt text "a mouse sitting on a sofa."
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Use keywords: You can use relevant keywords in your alt text, but avoid keyword stuffing. The alt text should still be natural and readable.
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Be accurate: The alt text should accurately represent the image. Avoid using misleading or false information.
Conclusion
"Alt text" is an important part of any website. It can help to improve the user experience, make your website more accessible, and boost your SEO. Even though alt text is not a direct ranking factor for regular Google Search, it is still important to write detailed and accurate "alt text" for all of your images.