{"id":911273,"date":"2021-07-22T13:58:24","date_gmt":"2021-07-22T13:58:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/?p=911273"},"modified":"2026-01-06T06:48:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T06:48:02","slug":"image-seo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/es\/blog\/image-seo\/","title":{"rendered":"Image SEO \u2013 How to Optimize Images for Search in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When you think about SEO, chances are you focus on keywords, backlinks, or content length, but what about your images? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re uploading pictures straight from your camera roll or stock library without optimizing them, you\u2019re missing out on a big opportunity in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Images aren\u2019t just there to make a page look pretty; they play a key role in how fast your site loads, how accessible it is, and whether your content shows up in Google Images or not. And the good news? You don\u2019t need to be a developer to get this right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this post, I\u2019ll walk you through how to optimize images so that they not only look great but also bring in more search traffic. You\u2019ll see exactly what you can do, from choosing the right format to writing effective alt text, to make your images work harder for your SEO.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Entonces, sin m\u00e1s pre\u00e1mbulos, comencemos.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"youtube-container\"><div class=\"youtube-player\" data-id=\"QF8EZeRztNM\" data-image=\"exists\" data-controls=\"1\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Reproduce el video\"><div><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"youtube-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/QF8EZeRztNM\/maxresdefault.jpg\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" alt=\"9 Simple Image SEO Tips for More Organic Traffic\" role=\"presentation\"><div class=\"play-button\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><i class=\"icon-youtube\"><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<div id=\"toc\">\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#why-images-matter\">Why Are Images So Important?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#what-is-image-seo\">What is Image SEO?<\/a><\/li> \n<li><a href=\"#optimize-images\">How to Optimize Images for Search<\/a><\/li> \n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#image-file-names\">Name All Image Files Appropriately<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#alt-text-and-captions\">Use Descriptive Image Alt Text &amp; Captions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#image-dimensions-and-file-size\">Optimize Image Dimensions and File Size for Faster Load Times<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#image-sitemaps\">Create an Image Sitemap and Get Your Images Indexed Faster<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#use-a-cdn\">Use a Content Delivery Network to Serve Images<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#image-schema-markup\">Apply Suitable Schema Markup (for recipes, products, and videos)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#lazy-load\">Lazy Load Your Images<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#responsive\">Use Responsive Images<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#visual-search\">Optimize For Visual Search<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#test-image-seo\">Test and Monitor Image SEO Performance<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<li><a href=\"#faqs\">Preguntas frecuentes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#conclusion\">Image SEO \u2013 After Action Report &amp; Next Steps<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-images-matter\"><span class=\"number\">1<\/span>  Why Are Images So Important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Be honest, would you really want to read a long article without a single image? Probably not. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without visuals, even the best-written content can feel flat and forgettable. I\u2019ve noticed that when I add charts, graphics, or screenshots, my content instantly feels more engaging and easier to understand, and you\u2019ve likely experienced the same when reading other blogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Images do more than just break up text. They make your content more shareable, linkable, and persuasive. Think about it: would you rather share a plain wall of text or a post with visuals that tell the story at a glance?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Optimized images can bring in traffic from Google Images, improve your rankings by boosting engagement, and even help your site load faster when compressed correctly. Plus, alt text makes your content more accessible, which search engines also take into account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s why I recommend adding images wherever they make sense. Ask yourself, <em>What would I expect to see if I landed on this article?<\/em> For example, it might seem ironic to include images in a post about image SEO, but without them, you probably wouldn\u2019t stick around until the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/content-images-example.gif\" alt=\"Using Images in Content\" class=\"wp-image-911460\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-image-seo\"><span class=\"number\">2<\/span>  What is Image SEO?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Image SEO is the process of optimizing your visual content so that search engines can understand it, and so your readers actually enjoy it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you take the time to optimize images, you make your website faster, more accessible, and more visible in Google Images. That means more visitors can discover your content, not just through text search, but also through the images you use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a quick bit of context: back in 2018, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2018\/2\/15\/17017864\/google-removes-view-image-button-from-search-results\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google removed the <strong>View Image<\/strong><\/a> button from Google Image Search after a dispute with Getty Images. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Today we&#39;re launching some changes on Google Images to help connect users and useful websites. This will include removing the View Image button. The Visit button remains, so users can see images in the context of the webpages they&#39;re on. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/n76KUj4ioD\">pic.twitter.com\/n76KUj4ioD<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/searchliaison\/status\/964226180776845312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">February 15, 2018<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Why does that matter to you? Because ever since then, searchers are far more likely to click through to a website to view an image rather than just opening it directly. In fact, some websites reported a traffic boost of over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.searchenginejournal.com\/google-discover-case-study\/355124\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>30% from Google Images<\/strong> after that change<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The takeaway? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Image SEO isn\u2019t just a nice-to-have, it\u2019s an opportunity. If you optimize your images correctly, you can attract new visitors, improve engagement, and give your site an edge in search results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"optimize-images\"><span class=\"number\">3<\/span>  How to Optimize Images for Search<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So, let\u2019s get into the practical steps you can take to optimize your images and start driving more traffic from search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"image-file-names\"><span class=\"number\">3.1<\/span>  Name All Image Files Appropriately<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you upload an image, take a moment to give it a <a href=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/kb\/how-to-name-images-for-seo\/\">clear, descriptive name<\/a>. Google has said for years that filenames help them understand what an image is about. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><code>my-new-black-kitten.jpg<\/code> &#8211; Good<br><code>IMG00023.jpg<\/code> &#8211; Bad<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can see how the first one instantly gives context, while the second tells Google nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1784\" height=\"424\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/google-file-name-image-caption-advice.png\" alt=\"Google Title, Caption, File Name and Alt Text Guidelines for Images\" class=\"wp-image-911461\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One mistake I see often is when most of them copy images straight from Word or PowerPoint. That\u2019s how you end up with filenames like <code>word-image-1.jpg<\/code>, which doesn\u2019t help you or your readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though Google\u2019s AI can often recognize what\u2019s in an image, it\u2019s not perfect. If a clear photo of a cookie can still confuse the system, then giving your file a name like <code>chocolate-chip-cookie.jpg<\/code> is an easy way to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1646\" height=\"1066\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/google-vision-api-results.png\" alt=\"Google Vision API Example Test Results\" class=\"wp-image-911463\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t overdo it.<\/strong> Adding extra words just to squeeze in more keywords (<code>chocolate-chip-cookie-cookies-baking.jpg<\/code>) looks unnatural and won\u2019t help. Keep it simple, descriptive, and relevant. Try to use dashes and not special characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you hit upload, rename your image with a short phrase that describes what\u2019s actually in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"alt-text-and-captions\"><span class=\"number\">3.2<\/span>  Use Descriptive Image Alt Text &amp; Captions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Let us discuss in detail about alt text and image captions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are Alt Tags and Alt Text?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/es\/seo-glossary\/alt-text\/\">Alt text<\/a> (short for \u201calternative text\u201d) is a short description of an image. You don\u2019t usually see it on the page itself, but screen readers use it to describe images to visually impaired users, and search engines use it to better understand what\u2019s in the picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alt text gives both visitors and search engines context. If the image fails to load, visitors still know what should have been there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Matt Cutts discusses the alt attribute\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3NbuDpB_BTc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Google\u2019s official guidelines include an example of the HTML syntax for alt text,&nbsp;shown below:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><code>&lt;img src=&quot;puppy.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Dalmatian puppy playing fetch&quot;\/&gt;<\/code><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, Rank Math actually makes it possible to <a href=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/kb\/set-alt-and-title-attributes-for-images\/\">automate the alt text process<\/a>. Missing alt attributes can automatically be added using various different variables such as their file name (which as covered earlier should be manually set to be something suitable as well anyway), etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1966\" height=\"1014\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rank-math-image-seo.png\" alt=\"Add Missing Alt Attributes\" class=\"wp-image-911464\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And, Rank Math changes the image alt text value on the frontend of your website (i.e. without changing the value that\u2019s stored) so that if at a later date you wish to again alter the alt text and set something manually, this can be done.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The same goes for image captions:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"761\" height=\"122\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/automate-image-captions.png\" alt=\"Add Missing Image Captions\" class=\"wp-image-911465\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Important Note:<\/strong> The added captions to the images are also added dynamically. That means Rank Math adds the caption to the images while the page loads, not before that. In other words, if you check your images from the WordPress media gallery, you will not find the captions added there, but you will find them on posts, pages, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"746\" height=\"112\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/image-caption-format.png\" alt=\"Image Caption Format\" class=\"wp-image-911466\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Simply choose your caption format, and let Rank Math do the heavy lifting&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also use our Content AI to generate alt text for your images in WordPress. When you upload an image to your Media Library, simply click the&nbsp;<strong>Generate Alt<\/strong>&nbsp;button next to the Alt Text field, and the AI will generate an alt text for you, as illustrated below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Generate-Alt-Text.gif\" alt=\"Generate Alt Text\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re a Rank Math PRO user, you can generate alt text bulk directly from your Media Library or Post\/Page Editor. For more details, refer to our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/kb\/generate-alt-text-with-content-ai\/\" data-type=\"ht_kb\" data-id=\"1320461\">using Content AI to generate alt text<\/a> for your images in WordPress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Optimize Image Alt Text (Alt Tags) for Better Image SEO<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Writing alt text doesn\u2019t have to be complicated. Just look at your image and describe it in a clear, specific way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Be relevant, accurate, and write for user accessibility (and SEO)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be descriptive and specific<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use keywords naturally if they fit, don\u2019t stuff them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re working with product photos, it\u2019s also smart to include details like model numbers or product IDs (e.g., <code>alt=\"Clogau Celebration Pendant 3SMP5\"<\/code>) because that\u2019s how many visitors search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1764\" height=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/product-serial-numbers-images.png\" alt=\"eCommerce Product Images\" class=\"wp-image-911467\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>So, let\u2019s run through some examples of the alt text we\u2019d use for a couple of images:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the more <em>decorative <\/em><strong>photographs<\/strong> you use in your content, our advice is always to consider their <strong><em>context<\/em><\/strong>. The image below is entirely and wholly random to this piece of content. For example, in the context of this post \u2013 this photo a member of our team took in London over a year ago has no real place apart from an example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, we might add it using the image file name <strong><em>London-eye-photograph-example.jpg <\/em><\/strong>and the alt text <strong><em>London Eye Photograph Example<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Simply because the observation wheel you see on the left is called the London Eye, and in the context of this article, it is an arbitrary photograph example. The potential for this to have an impact on the ranking of this post is not something you would be able to attribute, but it still forms a part of image SEO as we want to help make it easy for both the visually impaired as well as search engines to understand the content of images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/london-eye-photograph-example-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"London Eye\" class=\"wp-image-911499\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And last but not least, for <strong>screenshots<\/strong>, like this one we&#8217;re about to use in the next section of this post, we again try to be as helpful as possible in the context of why we inserted the image. This is a screenshot of the WordPress Block editor that demonstrates how to add a caption to an image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, we&#8217;d advise using the file name: <strong>add-image-captions-wordpress.jpg <\/strong>along with the alt text: <strong>How To Add Image Captions in WordPress<\/strong> since this is clearly indicative of what is being showcased in the image. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Adding Captions to Images on Your Website<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Captions appear directly under your images, and they are visible to readers. Google has said it uses captions along with surrounding text to understand the context of an image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1774\" height=\"974\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/how-to-add-image-captions.png\" alt=\"Adding Captions to Images WordPress\" class=\"wp-image-911468\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t need a caption for every photo, especially if it\u2019s decorative, but adding one can help when:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You\u2019re citing the source of an image.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You want to explain or highlight something in the picture.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You\u2019re showing a screenshot (e.g., \u201cHow to add captions in WordPress\u201d).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Think of captions as an extra layer of clarity for both your readers and search engines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"image-dimensions-and-file-size\"><span class=\"number\">3.3<\/span>  Optimize Image Dimensions and File Size for Faster Load Times<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to image SEO, speed matters. Slow-loading pages hurt both your rankings and your visitors\u2019 patience. That\u2019s why you need to think about <strong>two different things<\/strong> when optimizing images:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Image dimensions<\/strong> (the width and height of the image)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>File size<\/strong> (how much space the image takes up in kilobytes\/megabytes)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get Your Image Dimensions Right<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Google <a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/search\/docs\/appearance\/google-discover\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">recommends using images that are at least <strong>1200px wide<\/strong><\/a> if you want them to appear in places like Google Discover. At the same time, you don\u2019t want to upload unnecessarily large images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1096\" height=\"538\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/image-settings-google.jpg\" alt=\"Google guidelines for images in Discover\" class=\"wp-image-1434715\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For example: if you upload a 2000px-wide image but only display it at 600px on your page, visitors will still download the huge file, wasting bandwidth and slowing your site. Instead, resize images to the maximum size they\u2019ll actually be displayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1432\" height=\"952\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/image-compression-before-and-after.png\" alt=\"Image Compression Before\/After Comparison\" class=\"wp-image-911469\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep File Sizes Small Without Losing Quality<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>As a rule of thumb, try to keep images <strong>under 70 KB<\/strong> whenever possible. That\u2019s usually the sweet spot between looking sharp and loading fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To reduce file size, there are several free and open-source tools you can use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/imagify.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Imagify<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tinypng.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TinyPNG<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/imageoptim.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ImageOptim<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For software you install and run locally on your computer, our go-to recommendation is ImageOptim (available for Mac only, so if you\u2019re a Linux or Windows user, here are some <a href=\"https:\/\/imageoptim.com\/versions.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">alternatives<\/a>). It\u2019s incredibly simple: just drag and drop your image, and it will optimize the file in its original location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1432\" height=\"984\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/imageoptim.png\" alt=\"ImageOptim Example Optimization Output\" class=\"wp-image-911470\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>ImageOptim also supports GIF optimization and allows you to customize the compression settings according to your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Does Google use EXIF data from pictures as a ranking factor?\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GMf6FmRus2M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One important setting to adjust is stripping EXIF data from your images. <em><strong>Google has stated that they may use EXIF data as a ranking factor for Google Images<\/strong><\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While stripping EXIF data can be useful for reducing file size, it\u2019s important to note that Google might use this information in some cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1679\" height=\"1161\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/imageoptim-settings.png\" alt=\"ImageOptim Settings\" class=\"wp-image-911471\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, in the long term, doing this manually is quite time-consuming. Even if it\u2019s only a couple of seconds per image, in a year, you\u2019ll spend hours locally organizing images and dragging them into these tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Simply put, when you\u2019re ready to automate the entire process, if you already use the leading content management system (WordPress), here are some really solid solutions. Most notably, <a href=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/project\/wp-smush-pro\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WP Smush<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/shortpixel.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ShortPixel<\/a> &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/imagify.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Imagify<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These plugins also help ensure that your site is serving scaled images (responsively), meaning that if you upload an image that\u2019s 1080px wide and someone views it on a mobile device that is evidently less than 1080px wide, it wouldn\u2019t load the full 1080px image (which is what would otherwise happen and waste bandwidth). Manually, this can be achieved using <strong><em>srcset<\/em><\/strong>. <a href=\"https:\/\/developer.mozilla.org\/en-US\/docs\/Learn\/HTML\/Multimedia_and_embedding\/Responsive_images\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more here.&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"image-sitemaps\"><span class=\"number\">3.4<\/span>  Create an Image Sitemap and Get Your Images Indexed Faster<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want your images to show up in Google Images, you need to make sure search engines can actually find them. That\u2019s where an image sitemap comes in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like a regular sitemap helps Google discover and crawl your website pages, an image sitemap tells Google more about the images on your site. By including image details and URLs, you make it easier for search engines to index them, which can boost your chances of getting traffic from Google Images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are the tags that you can use in image sitemaps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td>Tag<\/td><td>Required<\/td><td>Descripci\u00f3n<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>&lt;image:image&gt;<\/td><td>S\u00ed<\/td><td>Encloses all information about a single page. Each <strong><em>&lt;url&gt;<\/em><\/strong> tag can contain up to 1,000 <strong><em>&lt;image:image&gt;<\/em><\/strong> etiquetas&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>&lt;image:loc&gt;<\/td><td>S\u00ed<\/td><td>The URL of the image. In some cases, the image URL may not be on the same domain as your main website. This is perfectly fine as long as both domains are verified in the Google Search Console. If, for example, you use a content delivery network such as Google Sites to host your images, make sure that the hosting site is verified in GSC. <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure your <code>robots.txt<\/code> file doesn\u2019t block Google from crawling any images you want indexed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re using WordPress with Rank Math SEO, you don\u2019t have to worry much. Rank Math automatically adds your images to your <a href=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/kb\/configure-sitemaps\/#images-in-sitemaps\">sitemap based on your settings<\/a>, which saves you the hassle of doing it manually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"takeaway yellow\"><strong>Nota: <\/strong>Images used as CSS backgrounds (e.g., in <code>&lt;div&gt;<\/code> elements with <code>background-image<\/code>) are not included in the sitemap, as Google and other search engines do not index them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"use-a-cdn\"><span class=\"number\">3.5<\/span>  Use a Content Delivery Network to Serve Images<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When someone visits your site, all the content is pulled from your server. If your server is far from the visitor, loading times increase, especially for images. That\u2019s where a <a href=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/es\/seo-glossary\/content-delivery-network\/\">Red de entrega de contenido (CDN)<\/a> helps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A CDN is a group of servers located around the world. Instead of loading images from your main server every time, the CDN delivers them from the server closest to your visitor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, if your site is hosted in London but someone visits from Australia, the images won\u2019t load all the way from London. Instead, they\u2019ll load from a nearby CDN server in Australia. This makes your site faster and gives visitors a smoother experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1070\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cdn-visualization.gif\" alt=\"Content Delivery Network Visualization\" class=\"wp-image-911473\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There are tons of options out there, notably:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cloudflare<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Amazon CloudFront<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Google Cloud CDN<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Personally, I recommend starting with <strong>Cloudflare<\/strong>. It\u2019s beginner-friendly, has a free plan, and doesn\u2019t create messy URLs. That\u2019s important because Google recommends keeping your image URLs consistent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1337\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cloudflare-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Cloudflare\" class=\"wp-image-1587147\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s best to serve images from your own domain or subdomain rather than switching URLs every time you change CDN providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news? Cloudflare makes this easy. Since it also acts as a DNS provider, your image URLs stay the same, which means you don\u2019t have to worry about broken links or losing SEO value when optimizing your images with a CDN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"image-schema-markup\"><span class=\"number\">3.6<\/span>  Apply Suitable Schema Markup (for recipes, products, and videos)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve covered <a href=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/blog\/schema-markup\/\">marcado Schema<\/a> extensively in previous articles on our blog, but a quick recap &amp; for those unfamiliar, Schema is what makes search results like this possible:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1834\" height=\"1132\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/recipe-schema-markup.png\" alt=\"Recipe Schema Rich Snippet\" class=\"wp-image-911475\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>But what does this have to do with image SEO? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Schema markup helps search engines understand the content on your pages, and it can directly improve how your images appear in search results. When you add the right Schema, Google can display special badges on your images in Google Image Search, especially on mobile. These badges make your images stand out and tell users exactly what type of content they\u2019ll find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what these look like:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"316\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/schema-image-search.gif\" alt=\"Image SEO Schema Snippet\" class=\"wp-image-911478\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/search\/blog\/2017\/08\/badges-on-image-search-help-users-find\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more about Badges in Image Search here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Right now, Google supports badges for recipes, videos, products, and animated images (GIFs). If your content fits one of these categories, here\u2019s how you can make your images eligible:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/blog\/recipe-schema-wordpress\/\">Esquema de recetas<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Add this to recipe pages so your images can show a recipe badge.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/kb\/add-video-schema-to-existing-posts\/\">Esquema de v\u00eddeo<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Use this on pages with video content to help Google display a video badge.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/kb\/product-schema\/\">Esquema del producto<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Apply this to product pages so images can include product information in search.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>By applying the right Schema, you\u2019re giving Google the context it needs to highlight your images and attract more clicks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lazy-load\"><span class=\"number\">3.7<\/span>  Lazy Load Your Images<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a lot of images and long content on your site, lazy loading can make a big difference. Instead of loading every single image when someone first opens your page, lazy loading only shows images when they\u2019re about to come into view as the user scrolls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This approach makes the communication between your site and the server much more efficient. As a result, your pages load faster, visitors aren\u2019t left waiting, and you give them a smoother browsing experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s the best part: if you\u2019re running WordPress 5.4 or newer, lazy loading is already enabled by default for your images. That means you don\u2019t have to install a separate plugin just to get the basic benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if you want to take it further and apply lazy loading to other elements like <strong>iframes, videos, or background images<\/strong>, then a plugin such as <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-rocket.me\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WP Rocket<\/a><\/strong> can help. It\u2019s no surprise that&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/es\/future-of-search\/\">89% of respondents use a performance optimization tool<\/a><\/strong>, with&nbsp;<strong>WP Rocket being the top choice, trusted by 56%<\/strong>, as per our survey report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1952\" height=\"1192\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/lazyload-wp-rocket.jpeg\" alt=\"Lazy Load in WP Rocket\" class=\"wp-image-1587050\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"responsive\"><span class=\"number\">3.8<\/span>  Use Responsive Images<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Using responsive images ensures that your site looks good and loads fast across different devices. On a desktop, a larger, higher-resolution image can be displayed for clarity. On mobile, the same image can be shown in a smaller or zoomed-in version, so it doesn\u2019t slow the page down with unnecessary file size. This balance improves both user experience and page load speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Desktop-Version.jpg\" alt=\"Responsive design example\" class=\"wp-image-1587048\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re using WordPress, the good news is you don\u2019t have to do much. <strong>WordPress automatically generates different image sizes when you upload a picture and serves the right one depending on the device. <\/strong>That means your images are responsive by default.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, it\u2019s useful to understand what\u2019s happening behind the scenes. Responsive images typically use the <strong><code>srcset<\/code><\/strong> y <strong><code>sizes<\/code><\/strong> attributes in HTML. These let browsers decide which version of your image to load based on screen width. For example, a phone might load a 400px-wide image, while a desktop screen loads a 1200px-wide version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are a few extra steps you can take:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Upload images at sensible dimensions<\/strong>: Don\u2019t upload a 4000px-wide photo if your site\u2019s content area is only 1200px wide.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Test your site speed<\/strong>: Use Google\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/pagespeed.web.dev\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Informaci\u00f3n de PageSpeed<\/a> to see how your images affect performance. It will also suggest if your images need better optimization.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Check how images appear on devices<\/strong>: Preview your site on mobile, tablet, and desktop to make sure your responsive images load properly and aren\u2019t blurry or stretched.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Consider modern formats<\/strong>: Pair responsive images with WebP or AVIF formats for even smaller file sizes without losing quality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"visual-search\"><span class=\"number\">3.9<\/span>  Optimize for Visual Search<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Visual search is becoming a major SEO trend, thanks to tools like <strong>Google Lens<\/strong> and other <a href=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/blog\/best-ai-search-engines\/\">AI-driven search engines<\/a>. Instead of typing a query, visitors can now snap a picture of an object and instantly get related results. That means your images aren\u2019t just visuals anymore, they\u2019re searchable assets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1162\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/visual-search.jpg\" alt=\"Visual Search\" class=\"wp-image-1587053\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Optimizing for Google Lens or visual search is easier than you think. If you follow the image optimization tips I\u2019ve shared for WordPress, you\u2019ll already be well on your way to showing up in visual search results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"number\">3.10<\/span>  Test and Monitor Image SEO Performance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"test-image-seo\">Once you\u2019ve optimized your images, the job isn\u2019t finished. Image SEO isn\u2019t something you do once and never look at again; you need to test, monitor, and adjust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"test-image-seo\">You can start with tools like <strong>Google <a href=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/es\/seo-glossary\/pagespeed-insights\/\">Informaci\u00f3n de PageSpeed<\/a><\/strong> o <strong>Lighthouse<\/strong> to check how your images affect page load speed. These tools will point out if your images are too large, if they could be compressed further, or if lazy loading is working as expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1298\" src=\"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image-test-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Informaci\u00f3n de PageSpeed\" class=\"wp-image-1587057\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"test-image-seo\">By checking these reports regularly, you can spot problems before they hurt your rankings. For example, if your clicks from image search suddenly drop, you\u2019ll know it\u2019s time to recheck file names, alt text, or structured data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faqs\"><span class=\"number\">4<\/span>  Preguntas frecuentes<\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list\">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1767681751949\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Does image file size affect SEO?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Yes. Large image files slow down page load speed. Compress images without losing quality to improve performance and Core Web Vitals.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1767681861554\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Should I include images in my XML Sitemaps?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Yes, including images in your XML sitemap helps search engines discover them and improves the chance they appear in image search results.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1767681924645\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Should I optimize thumbnails?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Yes. Thumbnails appear in listings and previews, making them small and optimized speeds up page load and enhances user experience.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1767682007617\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">How often should I revisit image SEO?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Review image optimization whenever you upload new media, update templates, or notice performance issues. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"conclusion\"><span class=\"number\">5<\/span>  Image SEO \u2013\u00a0After Action Report &amp; Next Steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Image SEO takes some effort, but as you\u2019ve seen, it\u2019s one of the most rewarding ways to boost your site\u2019s visibility. In this post, I\u2019ve walked you through the most important steps you can take to make your images work harder for search and for your visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, what we covered here is only the beginning. How effective your image SEO is will also depend on the images you choose to use. Here are two simple but powerful guidelines I recommend you keep in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Skip generic stock photos<\/strong> \u2013 They rarely add value and can make your site feel less authentic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Choose images that serve your visitors<\/strong> \u2013 Every picture should help someone who lands on your page, whether by clarifying an idea, showing a product, or making the content more engaging.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Now it\u2019s your turn. Take these steps, start applying them to your own site, and see the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you have more questions about image SEO that you\u2019d like me to cover, feel free and let me know by <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rankmathseo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>tuiteando @rankmathseo.<\/strong><\/a> \ud83d\udcac<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you think about SEO, chances are you focus on keywords, backlinks, or content length, but what about your images? If you\u2019re uploading pictures straight from your camera roll or stock library without optimizing them, you\u2019re missing out on a big opportunity in 2026. Images aren\u2019t just there to make a page look pretty; they [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":1379871,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-911273","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-technical-seo"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/911273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=911273"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/911273\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1678645,"href":"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/911273\/revisions\/1678645"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1379871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=911273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=911273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rankmath.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=911273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}