Loading ...A terrifying monster is rampaging through the streets of the internet. See the terrorised citizens dart from site to site, seeking shelter. Sense the panic of lone wanderers as they run through the dark, trying to escape. Feel the horror as you download a page on your site which, line by line, reveals that one thing all site owners fear and dread… Aaah! Imagezilla!
This scenario is perhaps a little dramatic, but as time goes by the propensity for sites to use far too large images isn’t going away. Images have always been a problem on the net, and they are becoming more so. Don’t let your site become victim to them.
The image problem
Images can present various problems for a site’s search engine optimisation. If there are too many images on a page, there is not enough room for words, which are the mainstay of SEO. You can discuss this with us at SEO Consult Australia. Search engine optimisation experts frequently fall into tussles with site owners who are too attached to their pictures. Another issue that comes up for SEO is the file size of images.
The main problem area is when an image is simply too large, hence Imagezilla. Designers who are in love with visuals have a tendency to place a huge image on the screen, leaving a tiny amount of space for some text to explain the image. This works for print and magazines, but not for a computer screen. The image simply doesn’t tell the internet user enough about the site.
The size problem
If your images shouldn’t be too big, then what is the right size? Most people are able to spot the right size instinctively. Our eyes are taught about the right balance for images and text in what we see every day. Newspapers are a good thing to look at when you’re uncertain, as are successful sites in your industry.
Basically, you want your image to balance out the text, not the other way around. On a page where an article takes up 10 inches, the image should take up less than a third of the visible space.
It’s important to note that while images can present problems for your SEO, it doesn’t mean you should avoid them. An image can really add to a page, and draw the reader further in. Images are great for breaking up text. The area in which site owners run into problems is where images are used for their own sake, rather than to serve the text.
The download problem
One reason to avoid huge images is more practical than anything. Download time. If your site features gigantic images, your load time is going to suffer. This is going to annoy internet users and search engines alike. The search engines track download times in order to avoid promoting sites that are going to irritate searchers. Keeping your image file size down is a good way to stay speedy.
For the sake of the health and welfare of your site, think carefully about your images. Don’t let Imagezilla run rampant.
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Tags: Search Engine Optimisation, SEO, SEO Consult
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