How I Add Alt Tags to Images in WordPress for SEO and Accessibility

​If you’ve ever uploaded images to your WordPress website and wondered, “Am I doing this correctly for SEO and accessibility?”, you’re not alone. I remember when I first started managing websites, I didn’t fully understand the importance of alt text. Over time, I realized that adding alt tags is one of the simplest ways to boost SEO, improve web accessibility, and help search engines understand my content.

Alt texts, also known as alt attributes, alt descriptions, or image alt tags, show up when an image doesn’t load and provide a textual description. Not only does this make your site more accessible for people using screen readers, but it also helps search engines like Google, Bing, and others understand your images and rank your content better.

Let’s break it down so you can add alt tags to your images effectively, whether you’re running a WordPress agency, managing a personal blog, or just exploring website optimization.

TLDR

If you want a quick overview: I usually add alt tags to images using three main methods: the WordPress Media Library, the Gutenberg editor, or editing HTML code directly. I also make sure my alt text is descriptive, concise, and relevant, avoiding unnecessary phrases like “an image of” while including keywords naturally. These steps improve SEO, accessibility, and user experience.

How I Add Alt Tags Using the WordPress Media Library

When I’m working with multiple images, I usually start with the Media Library. Here’s my process:

1. I log in to my WordPress dashboard and navigate to Media → Library.
2. I select the image I want to add an alt tag to or upload a new one.
3. In the Attachment Details panel, I find the Alternative Text field. This is where I type my descriptive alt text.
4. I include keywords that are relevant to the image naturally but make sure the text is clear and concise.
5. Finally, I click Save Changes, and the alt text is applied to the image.

Using the Media Library is especially handy when I’m working with multiple images at once because I can quickly scan through the library and make sure each image has the proper alt text.

How I Use the Gutenberg Editor to Add Alt Tags

Sometimes, I prefer adding alt tags directly while editing a page or post using the Gutenberg block editor. Here’s how I do it:

1. I open the page or post containing the image.
2. I select the image block and click the three dots menu → Show more settings.
3. On the right sidebar, I find the Alt Text (Alternative Text) field.
4. I type in my alt text, making sure it’s descriptive, concise, and under 125 characters so screen readers can read it properly.
5. Once I’m done, I click Update and then Publish to make the changes live.

I like this method because it allows me to contextualize the alt text according to the content of the page. For example, if I have an image in a WordPress SEO tutorial, I might write an alt tag like: “man researching WordPress SEO techniques.”

How I Add Alt Tags by Editing HTML Code

For more advanced control, I sometimes edit the HTML code directly. This is especially useful when working with custom themes or templates:

1. I open the page in the Gutenberg editor and click Code Editor from the three dots menu at the top right.
2. I locate the <img> tag corresponding to the image I want to update. It usually starts with <!-- wp:image.
3. I find the alt="" attribute and type my alt text between the quotation marks.
4. I click Update and Publish the page.

Editing code ensures that every image has exactly the alt text I want, which is critical when optimizing for SEO, accessibility, and user experience.

How I Write Effective Alt Text

Writing alt text is more than just filling a field. Over time, I’ve learned a few rules that make alt tags much more effective:

• Only add alt text when necessary. Decorative images or background images usually don’t need alt tags.
• Be specific, direct, and concise. I avoid overexplaining and stick to the main subject of the image.
• Use context from the content. For example, a stock image of a man looking at a computer screen in a WordPress SEO tutorial might have an alt tag like: “man researching WordPress SEO techniques.”
• Keep it under 125 characters to ensure screen readers can process it.
• Avoid phrases like “an image of” or “a screenshot of” because search engines already understand it’s an image.
• Include keywords naturally and sprinkle in semantic keywords where appropriate without stuffing.

In addition, I optimize images for web performance by choosing the right image format and compressing files, which helps website speed and SEO.

How I Check Whether Alt Text Was Successfully Added

Sometimes I want to verify that all my alt tags are in place. Here’s what I do:

1. I open the live page in my browser.
2. I right-click and select View Page Source.
3. I use Ctrl + F (or Command + F on Mac) to search for alt=".
4. This highlights all the alt text for images on the page, so I can quickly verify everything.

It’s a simple way to make sure none of my images are missing alt tags and that all text is descriptive and SEO-friendly.

Why Alt Tags Matter for Me (And You)

Alt tags are not just an SEO trick they’re essential for accessibility, user experience, and content understanding. Personally, I make sure every image I upload has proper alt text because it helps screen readers, search engines, and even users browsing with images turned off. If you’re running a WordPress site, using these alt text practices can help your site rank better, provide a better experience for users, and ensure your content is fully optimized.

To summarize, the three main methods I use to add alt tags in WordPress are: the Media Library, the Gutenberg editor, and editing HTML code. I write alt text that’s direct, descriptive, concise, and keyword-aware while avoiding unnecessary phrases. I always check my work to make sure it’s applied correctly and optimized for SEO and accessibility.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alt Tags

What is an Alt Tag?

An alt tag, short for alt attribute or alt text, is a description of an image on a webpage for users who can’t see it. It also helps search engines understand the image content and improves SEO.

What is the Purpose of an Alt Tag?

The purpose is to provide a textual description for visually impaired users or for images that don’t load. Alt tags help search engines understand context and improve page ranking and visibility.

What’s the Difference Between an Alt Tag and a Caption?

An alt tag is a short description for accessibility and SEO, while a caption is a longer text displayed under an image. Captions give extra context, whereas alt tags are primarily for accessibility and search engine understanding.