What it is
Alt text (alternative text) is a written description of an image that lives in the image's HTML code. Screen readers read it aloud for visually impaired users. It also shows as a text fallback if an image fails to load — and Google reads it to understand what an image is.
Why it matters
Alt text is where accessibility and SEO collide. Good alt text makes your site usable for screen reader users and tells Google what your images depict — which can help your pages rank for relevant searches and your images show up in Google Image Search.
The mistake most people make
Keyword-stuffing alt text for SEO purposes. "best-web-designer-chicago-affordable-web-design-agency" as alt text is not a description — it's spam. Write it for a person who can't see the image. That's the whole point.
Want help with this?
Knowing what Alt Text means is useful. Having someone implement it correctly for your business is better. Let's have a real conversation — no pitch, no menu.