The SEO Mistake That’s Killing Your Rankings (And You Don’t Even Know It) - Alt Tags

Here’s the brutal truth no one talks about:

You could have the best-looking website on the internet, loaded with sexy design, top-tier copy, and stunning images — and still be getting crushed in Google search.

Why?

Because you’re probably ignoring one of the most overlooked SEO ranking factors of all: your alt tags.

If your site is packed with images and none of them have alt text, you’re not just leaving SEO juice on the table — you’re practically telling Google to ignore your page.

Wait — What Are Alt Tags and Why Do They Matter?

Let’s break it down.

An alt tag (or “alt attribute” or “alt text”) is a short description applied to an image on your website. Originally designed for screen readers to assist visually impaired users, it’s now absolutely essential for search engines too.

Alt tags tell Google what an image is about — and if you don’t use them, Google sees nothing.

Think about it. Search engines can’t “see” your images. They need alt tags to understand them. If you skip them? You’re invisible where it counts most.

Why Alt Tags = SEO Power

Here’s how alt tags impact your SEO directly:

  1. Boost Rankings: Google indexes your images and ranks your page higher when it knows what your visuals represent. No alt text? No indexing.
  2. Improve Accessibility: Google loves sites that are accessible. Alt tags make your site easier to navigate for screen readers — which boosts your trust signals.
  3. Drive Image Traffic: Ever seen traffic from Google Images? You’re missing out if your visuals aren’t optimised with alt tags.
  4. Faster Load Time Scanning: Alt tags help browsers render content more efficiently, especially if images fail to load — improving user experience and bounce rates.

What Happens If You Don’t Use Alt Tags?

Let’s get real.

Here’s what you’re risking when you leave your images bare:

  1. Lower search rankings — your content isn’t fully understood by search engines
  2. Missed keyword opportunities — images could be boosting topical relevance
  3. Wasted site equity — those high-quality images aren’t contributing to SEO at all
  4. Poor user experience — which impacts your bounce rate and conversion rates
  5. Compliance issues — sites without alt text fail accessibility standards (a legal risk)

This is why most websites that “look nice” still don’t rank. Design without SEO is just decoration.

How to Fix It — Fast

The good news?

This is one of the easiest SEO wins you can claim right now.

Here’s your 3-step game plan:

  • Audit Your Site

Use a tool like:

  1. WAVE Accessibility Tool
  2. W3C Validator
  3. Or even a Chrome extension image alt text checker

These will show you exactly which images are missing alt tags.

  • Write Descriptive Alt Text

Don’t keyword-stuff. Just describe the image clearly in under 100 characters.

Examples:

  1. “Electrician installing power points in Brisbane home”
  2. “Custom-designed eCommerce website on mobile and desktop”

Keep it simple. Keep it relevant. Keep it human.

  • Update Your Site

Go into your CMS (WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, whatever you’re using) and update each image. This alone can improve your SEO across the board — and even boost your rankings in image search.

Bonus Tip: Alt Tags = SEO You Can Control

Here’s what most agencies won’t tell you:

While backlinks, domain authority, and competition may be out of your hands — image alt tags are 100% within your control.

It’s a no-brainer.

In fact, the websites we optimise with proper alt tags see a measurable jump in keyword relevance and indexation — often within weeks.

Ready to Stop Losing Rankings Over Something This Simple?

We’ve helped hundreds of Aussie businesses fix the exact issue you’re facing. Our team at Crown Digital Marketing doesn’t just “do SEO” — we dominate it.

We don’t sell fairy dust. We deliver what works.

And yes, something as small as your alt tags could be the SEO multiplier your site has been missing.

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