Image Alt Text in WordPress: SEO and Accessibility
Alt text (alternative text) is a short written description of an image. Screen readers read it aloud to visually impaired users, and search engines use it to understand what an image shows.
Writing good alt text is quick, and it benefits both accessibility and SEO at once.
What Makes Good Alt Text
- Describe what the image shows, concisely and clearly.
- Include relevant context, not just keywords.
- Skip phrases like 'image of' — it is implied.
- Keep it natural, not stuffed with search terms.
Decorative Images
Purely decorative images that add no information should have empty alt text, so screen readers skip them rather than reading out meaningless descriptions.
Where to Add It
In WordPress, the alt text field appears in the block settings and in the media library whenever you select an image. Filling it in takes seconds and pays off twice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is alt text the same as the caption?
No. A caption is visible to everyone on the page; alt text is for screen readers and search engines and is not normally seen.
Does alt text really help SEO?
It helps search engines understand and rank your images, and supports image search visibility.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.