Question: How do I improve my Google Image Search Results?

Ranking high in Google’s image search can increase your traffic considerably. This is especially true if you can rank in the top three for search results that show images above the organic search results.

There are much less variables to consider with image search than with organic search. Some of them are:

• File name
• Image Alt tags
• Image Title tags
• Size of the image
• Text around the image
• Title tag, meta tags, header tags, and the relevancy of the content on the page
• Links coming into the image
• Links coming into the page the image is on
• Authority or Page Rank of the page the image is on
• How old the image, page and site are

Try the following to improve your Google image search rankings:

1. Make your images large - Large images tend to rank higher than smaller images. I recommend making images you want to rank high in searches at least 10,000 square pixels. An image that is larger than 333 pixels wide by 334 pixels tall would work.I just did an image search for internet marketing and there were only two images with less than 10,000 square pixels on the first results page.

   Make sure to specify the width and the height of the image in your html.

2. Put your keywords in the file name - If you want your image to rank high for the term ‘internet marketing’, name it ‘internet-marketing.jpg‘.
3. Put your keywords in the Alt tags - This is probably the most obvious thing to do. Alt tags are designed to provide alternative text when images cannot be displayed. They should describe what the image is about.Example: <img src=”internet-marketing.jpg” width =”400? height =”400? alt=”Internet Marketing”>
4. Put your keywords in the image title tag - Many people don’t realize that there is a title tag associated with images. The text in the title tag is shown when the user mouses over the image. Put the same text in the title tag that you put in the Alt tag.Example: <img src =”internet-marketing.jpg” width =”400? height =”400? alt =”Internet Marketing ” title =”Internet Marketing “>
5. Put your keywords in the text close to the image - I recommend putting descriptive text that includes your keywords below each image that you want to rank high in image searches. This is just more information for Google to use in determining what your image is about.
6. Optimize your page for the keywords - Include the keywords in the title tags, meta tags, header tags and the body copy of your page. Keyword density of the page that the image is on is very important.
7. Create an image site map - I have just started testing this out, but I have high hopes for it. Create a page with text links to all the images on your site that you want to rank high in image searches. Use the appropriate keywords for your anchor text when linking to the images.An image site map is a great way to get links that come directly into your images and it lets the search engines know more about what the images are about.
8. Increase the authority of your web site - Images on pages with high Page Rank tend to rank higher in image searches. Build links into the page where the image is located and both your organic and image search rankings should improve.
9. Prevent the framing of your web site with javascript - You can stop Google from framing your web site by adding javascript code to your pages.The idea here is that when somebody clicks on the image thumbnail in the search results they will go directly to the page on your site where the image is located without seeing the Google frame that has a direct link to the image. You should get more page views by using this javascript. I’m not sure if Google will penalize your site for using such code.

I would love to hear of any other techniques that you have found successful for increasing your image search results.

UltraBar emulates the most powerful features of the Google toolbar and extends them to virtually any search engine on the web — and it’s free.

Just about everyone who downloads the Google toolbar finds it indispensable. But there are times when you want to use other search engines, and though there are other engine-specific toolbars available, they tend to clutter up your browser. As an alternative, you can customize Internet Explorer’s Search Assistant to query multiple engines, but you’re limited to a relatively small set of sites selected by Microsoft.

UltraBar is a simple search toolbar that solves this problem, by allowing you to add virtually any search engine to its menu. It makes no difference if it’s a major search engine, a music sharing service, a recipe site, or even your own internal intranet. If it’s a search tool, you can add it to your UltraBar menu.

UltraBar provides only the most commonly used features of the Google toolbar: Search, highlighting terms, and a “seek to terms” button which takes your cursor to each instance of your search terms on the page — very handy for finding what you’re looking for on long web pages. But in many cases, this simple functionality is more than enough to help you find what you’re looking for.

Unlike many “free” programs available today, UltraBar does not install spyware or adware on your system, either. UltraBar does not collect any information about you other than what is contained in their Web server log files, and only installs the components necessary to power UltraBar directly.

If you like the power of the Google toolbar and would like to extend it to other search engines on the web, give UltraBar a try. Requires Internet Explorer version 5.01 or higher and Windows 95 or higher.

UltraBar
http://www.ultrabar.com/

Search Headlines

NOTE: Article links often change. In case of a bad link, use the publication’s search facility, which most have, and search for the headline.

Out with the old - In with the new. There comes a time in the life span of every small business Web site when one must consider the pros and cons of a redesign – or at least a design update. A lot of times, the nature of small business is to worry about getting the day-to-day tasks done without having time to track Web site trends ensuring your site has the most advanced features. However, the Internet and consequently any technology related to it is constantly evolving, and if you don’t update your site to address dynamic trends and usability issues – your competitors will out-convert your outdated site.

Knowing When to Redesign

How do I know when I need a new design? Consider how long it has been since anyone worked extensively on your site. I always recommend my clients have regular updates along with the introduction of new trends – and a complete overhaul about every three to four years if possible. What state is your Web site in right now? Are you using graphical or JavaScript navigation? Are the photo styles and resolutions outdated and grainy? What sort of SEO benefit does your current site lack? Consider any “wish list” items you have for your site and understand a redesign can make those wishes become reality.

CSS Navigation

With the increasing popularity and Search Engine support for CSS navigation, using anything less could hinder your chances of maintaining market share. CSS enables the search engine spiders to access and crawl your Web site with greater ease and thoroughness. I’ve actually seen this change alone make some positive ranking improvements.

Professional Photography

Consider adding updated and sharp professional photographs to your Web site. Good photography is worth the money, as this can sometimes be the only sales “voice” you have. People are converting based on what they “see” on your site, and text can be limited in convincing them, whereas professional photography can succeed with a glance.

Strong Call to Action

Web site shoppers are fickle and have short attention spans – it’s important to tell them exactly what you sell and how to buy it. “Book online today!” and “Buy Music Online!” are great calls to action that can double as links leading to your shopping cart or booking engine. Be sure you are putting this information near the top of the page, above the fold. If you rely on phone calls to convert your potential clients – put that phone number at the top of your page – in large type. Don’t make the visitor hunt to find out how to buy from you, make it easy and crystal clear.

Location and Maps

Consider dedicating an entire page to finding your location, providing directions from various points in the area. A great interactive map such as those found at Google Maps or CommunityWalk could help your online shoppers find your location easily and without hassle. Text directions written with bullet points can help direct visitors unfamiliar with your area to your doorstep – increasing visitor/user satisfaction.

Headers, Logos and Colors

Your Web site logo and color scheme should reflect the ambience and intended experience you have for your guests/shoppers/clients. Professional Web sites with great color schemes and appealing headers and logos will sell more products than sites with “cartoon-like” logos and outdated and clashing color schemes. For example – the hot trends in colors these days are pink and tan or turquoise and brown, but in a year, the next hot colors could be black and yellow. Conveying a current and trendy Web site can tell your visitors you are up to date and conscious of their current online experience.

Formatted Information

It’s important to keep formatted information consistent. Consider the shopper’s point of view when designing pages that feature your products. As the user moves from page to page, can s/he find the color, size, price, and other important information consistently in the same place? The human eye is trained to look at a particular point on a Web page quite quickly – if online guests have to hunt around from page to page to find pricing – they’re going to get frustrated quickly and search for a Web site that delivers a better user experience.

Finding a Designer to Fit Your Needs

Let’s face it, there are a lot of designers out there – and honestly, there are a lot of bad ones. Make a list of the most important requirements you have for your Web site design and then ask for proposals from a variety of sources. Talk to a competitor you might be friendly with; ask the Chamber of Commerce who they recommend; find some local businesses with Web sites you like and ask them who did the design. Once you’ve compiled a list of prospects, it’s time to convey to them what you’d like to achieve. It’s important to remember - these people know design – so let them help you down the best path to a Web site that makes you happy.

The list above provides a framework for what you should look for in a site redesign, but it isn’t the “be all end all” of redesign checklists. Be flexible, consider what you’d like, and listen to the designer’s suggestions – the end product will be something you’ll be proud of, that your customers will enjoy using, and best of all – profitable!