How do image search engines work?

Search Engine Optimization For Image Heavy Site

• A client of mine has a website consisting of 10 pages or so which link to 20 PDFs or so. Each page is one screen-sized image, all the links are via an imagemap, and the text is displayed in the GIF. I know, I know, I know... They will not listen to me at all about how bad it is to do a website like that. What I want to know is, other than telling them to stop using imagemaps and all that, what can I do to have the pages better indexed by Google and other search engines. I'm not trying to fix the results or anything, I just want to know, within the limits of NO body text, what are my options so that the pages would be respected as if they were properly designed. I know Google only wants to send people to pages that are actually useful, and what not, while I don't like that this site is so graphic heavy, the information there is all very useful, it is just a hard headed client that is difficult.... I was thinking about 1) using a small (50 characters or less) alt tag for the main image on each page. 2) using alt tags for all the links. 3) creating a longdesc for each main image that would reproduce the body copy (500 charactors or less.) The pages already utilize unique titles for each page, metadata, etc. Do any of these things sound like they wouldn't work? Do any of these things sound like they would be viewed as trying to fix/spam Google and I shouldn't do them? Does Google even spider longdesc tags? I'd be glad to provide you with the URL of the site, however only via email or a private message as I don't want them finding out how bone headed I think they are.

• Answer:

  Hi Pwb503 ~ Google specifically explains about the use of graphics in its "Design and Content Guidelines", "Try to use text instead of images to display important names, content, or links. The Google crawler doesn't recognize text contained in images." - ://www.google.com/webmasters/guidelines.html They also advise, "Make sure that your TITLE and ALT tags are descriptive and accurate." - ://www.google.com/webmasters/guidelines.html That does not mean spamming those tags. The ALT tag is a benefit for accessibility reasons and should describe the image. If you start cramming it in an attempt to add content for a graphic page, it WILL be seen as attempts to 'game' or 'spam' the system. Use the ALT tags what they're for, accessibility reasons, and you'll stay out of trouble - use it to try to add text for Search Engine Optimization, and you will just end up in trouble. Since the links are also graphics, you'd best use the ALT tags for those to actually describe the link ... accessibility reasons again. The description metatag may or may not be used by some directories, so it should be about 250 characters to provide that 'blurb' that search engines use with the URL of a website in their results pages. Again, don't try to spam the system by loading up the description tag. The choices really are to add body text - VISIBLE body text, and if you don't, don't expect any search engine to pick up and rank your site well. An alternative would be to use the graphic as a background and put the text over it, but without seeing the actual graphic, it might be hard to do. Google DOES and CAN index pdf files. You have the correct information, and if your client won't cooperate, there really isn't much you can do without spamming the system, something I'm sure you don't want to do There is a lot of discussion about graphics and how they are not indexed in Webmaster World, - http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/ You might want to find all the pertinent information and show it to your client. Search terms ~ =============== The answer was formulated from bookmarked information used on a daily basis, and no search terms were used to provide the answer. Best of luck, Serenata Google Answers Researcher