Image Optimization to Improve Local Search Marketing Campaigns

Kennebunk, Maine (PRWEB) August 26, 2013

Using images on a website, in blog posts, and even in pay per click advertisements is a great way to call attention to important information and even help direct people’s eyes where you want them to go. For businesses trying to improve their revenue through the use of effective local search marketing, images are beneficial. Images are beneficial online, because they help to give sites and pages a higher quality rating. They are also an additional place to slip in keywords, key phrases, and geographic location information without appearing to be web spam. However, many bloggers and businesses simply insert an image in order to break up text on a page or just add color. In a sense, this is right. Images on a website should be intuitive and work well with the text. Images are not just another marketing tool. However, My Local Leads can vouch for the usefulness of images in search engine optimization campaigns, as they have boosted customer results with them time and again. The following is a list of suggestions given to local businesses My Local Leads works with across the UD in order to enhance online reach and get the phone to ring.

One of the first rules of using images for a website or blog is to make sure that they can be used, legally speaking that is. Typically, this means companies will need to invest in stock images from a distributor who can grant rights. They can also take their own pictures and use those without worry. Just grabbing images from a random Google search or a website offering free images typically does not work. Without the proper rights to use an image, companies can easily find themselves in hot water, losing thousands upon thousands of dollars even for images that are simply used to help illustrate a free blog.

With modern technologies, such as the robust Wordpress website content management system, many have gotten comfortable in simply uploading images. The software then automatically resizes and gives a few options on how to modify the resized images. To save on bandwidth, take the time to resize these images first. This will also help the site run faster, because the server and users’ computers are not having to resize each of the images in order to view them. It is important to keep this in mind, as slower sites tend to have lower SEO rankings.

The image files loaded to the company website should have familiar names, usually including a keyword or key phrase. This will help for SEO purposes. At the same time, be sure to update the image meta tags including ALT, and Title, but also description and use a caption, if possible. This does not mean that the image should have multiple keywords listed all within that small space. Instead, focus only on one or two per an image. By trying to overload the image with meta tags, it will look spammy to search engines and thus lower the page rankings.

My Local Leads helps local business with search engine optimization, website design and development, mobile marketing, and more. They can help manage a local businesses online reputation and provide valuable insight when it comes to online lead generation and customer retention.

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