Being present online has become much more important today than it ever used to be, mainly due to the explosive growth in mobile users. Web design has changed dramatically to suit these on-the-go consumers with responsive design—a game-changer that ensures your website looks and performs well on any device.
Today, websites are developed with mobile users in mind first. And in this new environment, every component of your PrestaShop e-commerce store—from how your content displays to how fast images load—must work seamlessly on mobile. This also means optimizing image content with proper SEO Alt Tags PrestaShop implementation is more important than ever for both usability and rankings.
Why SEO Alt Tags Are Critical in 2024
Alt tags, also known as “alternative text,” are HTML attributes added to image tags to describe the image content. Originally developed for accessibility (e.g., for users with screen readers), alt tags now play a pivotal role in search engine optimization.
Search engines can’t view images the way humans do—they rely on alt text to understand an image’s relevance. In e-commerce, where product images dominate the page, well-optimized alt tags help search engines index your site effectively, improve mobile SEO performance, and increase your chances of showing up in image search results.
Given that mobile users often rely on visual cues and image search when shopping online, correctly written and mobile-optimized alt tags are essential for your PrestaShop store’s visibility and responsiveness.
The Impact of Image Optimization on Mobile-First Indexing
Since Google now follows mobile-first indexing, your mobile site is the primary version evaluated for search rankings. This means every image—and its accompanying alt tag—on your mobile layout must be optimized.
An image-heavy store with poorly structured or missing alt tags can suffer in rankings, particularly when mobile loading speed and usability are factored into Google’s algorithm. Clean alt tags, paired with responsive images, offer a double benefit: they enhance both accessibility and searchability.
What Makes a Good Alt Tag?
A strong alt tag should:
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Clearly describe the image in fewer than 125 characters.
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Reflect the content of the image.
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Be unique and specific to each product or section.
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Include a relevant keyword only if it fits naturally.
For example:
Weak alt tag: image1.jpg
Strong alt tag: Close-up of handmade wooden wristwatch with leather strap
This concise description not only aids users but also tells search engines exactly what’s in the image.
PrestaShop and Alt Tags: How They Work
PrestaShop provides a basic interface to input alt text for each image during product creation or editing. However, many store owners overlook this field or leave it with the default name.
To manually set the alt tag for product images in PrestaShop:
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Go to Catalog > Products in the Admin Panel.
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Select the product you want to edit.
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Scroll to the Images section.
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Click on the image thumbnail to edit the “Caption” or “Alt” field.
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Save the changes.
Repeat this process for every product image, ensuring each one is uniquely and clearly described.
Best Practices for Using Alt Tags in Your PrestaShop Store
1. Use Natural Language
Avoid forcing keywords or stuffing multiple phrases. Alt tags should sound like natural descriptions. If your product is a blue ceramic bowl, don’t write “blue ceramic bowl buy online fast free shipping” as your alt tag. A better choice would be: “Top view of a handcrafted blue ceramic bowl.”
2. Avoid Redundancy
Do not repeat the same alt text across all images, especially if the images differ. Each alt tag should uniquely describe its respective image to avoid confusion and maximize SEO value.
3. Incorporate Keywords Sparingly
Use relevant keywords in your alt tags—but only when it fits naturally. One keyword per image is more than enough. If every image on a page contains the same keyword, it can appear spammy.
4. Describe the Image Function
If an image is clickable (e.g., a product image that leads to the product page), the alt tag should reflect what action the user can take or what purpose the image serves.
Example: “Click to view details of the organic cotton tote bag”
5. Keep It Concise
Alt tags should be short and specific. Anything longer than 125 characters may be cut off by screen readers and could dilute clarity.
6. Don’t Use “Image of…”
Search engines and screen readers already understand it’s an image. Phrases like “Picture of…” or “Image showing…” are unnecessary and reduce efficiency.
7. Use Descriptive Filenames
PrestaShop may also use the image filename as an SEO factor. Instead of uploading files named img123.jpg, rename them to something meaningful, such as black-suede-high-heels.jpg.
8. Combine Alt Tags with Fast-Loading Images
Compressed and optimized images improve mobile performance. When paired with meaningful alt tags, they boost both user experience and SEO ranking.
9. Test for Accessibility
Use screen reader tools or accessibility checkers to ensure your alt tags make sense when read aloud. This is especially helpful for users relying on assistive technology.
10. Audit Regularly
Make a habit of reviewing your image library to update outdated or missing alt tags. SEO is an ongoing process, and what works today may need adjusting tomorrow.
Alt Tags and Structured Data: A Combined Strategy
Alt tags are even more powerful when used alongside structured data (Schema). By tagging product images, prices, and availability with Schema markup, your product listings are more likely to appear with rich snippets in search results.
Structured data doesn’t replace alt text—it complements it. Together, they help search engines better understand and present your content, particularly in mobile SERPs where space is limited, and visuals dominate.
Looking Ahead: Visual Search and Future SEO
With visual search tools like Google Lens growing in popularity, image SEO is moving beyond alt tags alone. However, well-structured alt text remains foundational. It helps your images become discoverable in visual search and helps AI tools interpret the content of your site more accurately.
E-commerce will continue shifting toward visual-first interfaces, especially on mobile. Optimizing your image content now gives you a competitive edge.
Conclusion
Responsive design is no more a trend; it has become a need to navigate the modern mobile-first world. For users of PrestaShop, writing proper SEO Alt Tags PrestaShop ensures your store is not only accessible and user-friendly but also more likely to appear in search results. Optimizing alt tags with clear, concise, and relevant descriptions is a simple yet powerful way to boost visibility, improve accessibility, and enhance overall mobile performance. In a mobile-driven shopping environment, every image and its description counts.
