SEO and Images
Two important SEO considerations for image files are the image alternate text and the image file name.
Image Alternate Text
The image alternate text tag serves three important functions:
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The alternate text is displayed on the page when an image does not load for whatever reason. For example, the web browser has been set to not load images.
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The alternate text is used by screen readers. Because the reader has no concept of the image, it relies on the alternate text tag to read the description of the image aloud.
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The alternate text tells search engines about the content of the image.
For these reasons, you should always provide alternate text for the images on your site. Well-written alternate text provides a meaningful description of the image’s content. For example, if the image is of men’s beige cargo shorts by a name brand manufacturer, the alternate text could be [Brand Name] Men’s Cargo Shorts-Beige. The img HTML element for this image appears as follows:
<img src="http://mysite.com/images/OL5755.mens-cargo-shorts-grey-front.jpg" alt="Name Brand Men's Cargo Shorts-Beige">
You can add alternate text to your item images on the item record.
To add alternate text for item images:
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Go to Lists > Web Site > Items.
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Click the Edit link for the item for which you need to add image alternate text.
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Select the Web Store subtab.
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The Associated Images subtab lists all image files associated with this item.
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Click the filename link. This opens the File Detail page.
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Click Edit.
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In the Alt Image Tag field, enter the alternate text for this image.
Note:It’s important to enter the text in the alt image tag field on the File Detail page rather than on the Inventory Item page. Alt image text entered on the Inventory Item page is truncated to 35 characters. Alt image text entered on the File Detail page is not truncated.
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Click Save.
Image File Names
SEO best practice for image file names states that the file name for an image should be descriptive and reflect the content of the image. It is easier for a search engine to index images on your site when you use descriptive file names. One important consideration for your item file names is that SuiteCommerce Advanced can automatically match your image files to your items when you prepend the image file name with the item identifier and an item id delimiter.
The item identifier can be any of the following:
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Display Name/Code
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UPC Code
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URL Component
You specify the identifier on the Images subtab of the Web Site Setup page at Commerce > Websites > Website List. Consider the following sample file name:
OL5755.mens-cargo-shorts-beige-front.jpg
The first part of the file name OL5755. is the UPC Code specified for the item, and the period is the delimiter. SuiteCommerce Advanced uses this identifier to know to which item this image should be attached. In this screenshot, you see the UPC field from the item record.
The last part of the file name is descriptive and gives you a good indication of what the picture is: Men’s cargo shorts, color beige, and the picture is of the front of the shorts. A search engine can determine this information about the image by analyzing the file name.
For more information about setting up images for SuiteCommerce Advanced Websites, see Item Images.