Common Image Optimization Mistakes

Copying Existing Photos – Prior to uploading an image that you may have acquired, be sure that you have the right to use them. Copyright laws will restrict usage in a number of cases.

Limiting Access to Image Files via robots.txt - Do not use your robots.txt to exclude your graphic images directory or limit search engine access to graphic-image files.

Avoid Javascript Links – avoid putting a 'click to see larger image' inside of a JavaScript link. When you do that, you are limiting search engines' access to that image file.

Avoid Burying You Image Folder within your site’s hierarchy – if you have an images folder you’ll want to ensure that it is accessible to the search engines. Just as with page content, if you images folder is buried 4 or 5 levels deep, the engines may not treat these images as authoritative and thus not rank your images as high as they could in the image search and universal results.

Image optimization will not only help you with the image vertical search results, but if optimized correctly can help improve visibility in the main search results of the major search engines. Image optimization should be a key component on your blended search strategy as it creates yet another interception point for your brand and your target audience.