When people talk about Shopify SEO, most conversations revolve around keywords, product descriptions, or backlinks. But one of the strongest, yet quietly powerful, ranking elements is often ignored: image ALT text.
When your Shopify store has dozens, if not hundreds, of product images without proper ALT texts, you are probably losing out on search visibility, image traffic, accessibility benefits, and even better conversions.
This guide explains everything you need to know about Image ALT text for Shopify SEO: what it is, why it’s important, how to add it correctly, and how to optimize without keyword stuffing.
What Is Image ALT Text (In Simple Terms)?
Alternative text is a written description of an image, and it has several important uses as follows.
- Helps search engines understand the image
- It improves accessibility for screen readers
- Displays when an image does not load
In Shopify, the ALT text is included in the product image, the collection image, and the blog image.
Rather than Google “seeing” the image, it reads the ALT text to know what that image represents.
Why Image ALT Text Matters for Shopify SEO
Many store owners take ALT text too lightly. Here is why it matters more than you think it does.
1. Helps Images Rank on Google Image Search
Google Image Search drives billions of visits per month. When your product images have optimized ALT texts, they can show up in the results for,
- Google Images
- Visual search results
- Shopping-related image carousels
In an e-commerce store, image traffic converts more compared to blog traffic because users are already viewing the products.
2. Strengthens Overall Page SEO
ALT text doesn’t work in isolation. It supports:
- Product page relevance
- Keyword context
- Semantic SEO signals
If your product page targets “black leather office bag,” and your images reinforce this with natural ALT text, Google has greater confidence about the page topic.
3. Improves Accessibility (And That Matters for SEO)
Screen readers use ALT text to describe images to visually impaired users.
Google has publically state that accessibility improvements often align with better SEO. Any stores that ignore ALT text are indirectly ignoring user experience.
4. Supports Faster Perceived Page Performance
If images don’t load properly or load slowly, the ALT attribute helps users understand the content of the images, which in turn improves the engagement metrics, helping SEO indirectly.
Many performance-oriented Shopify stores follow a pattern of good ALT-text practices combined with basic optimization tools.
Also Read:- How to Improve SEO on Shopify
Where ALT Text Should Be Added in Shopify
ALT text isn’t just for product images. You need to add it everywhere images appear.
Key areas of optimization:
- Product images
- Collection images
- Blog images
- Homepage banners
- Featured product sections
Every image that conveys meaning must have ALT text.
How to Add Image ALT Text in Shopify (Step-by-Step)
Adding ALT Text to Product Images
- Go to Shopify Admin
- Open Products
- Select a product
- Click on a product image
- Click “Add alt text.”
- Write a clear, descriptive sentence
- Save
Adding ALT Text to Collection Images
- Go to Products – Collections
- Open a collection
- Click the collection image
- Add ALT text
- Save changes
Adding ALT Text to Blog Images
- Open Online Store – Blog Posts
- Edit a blog
- Click on the image
- Add ALT text in the image settings
- Save
How to Write SEO-Friendly ALT Text
This is where most people go wrong.
The Golden Rule:
Describe the image naturally, as if explaining it to a human.
Good ALT Text Example:
“Black leather office bag with laptop compartment and gold zipper”
Bad ALT Text Example:
“office bag black leather bag best leather office bag buy office bag”
Google is very good at detecting keyword stuffing even in ALT attributes.
Best Practices for Optimizing Image ALT Text
1. Be Descriptive, Not Generic
Avoid:
- “product image”
- “Shopify image”
- “image1”
Instead, describe:
- Color
- Material
- Use case
- Visible features
2. Use Primary Keywords Naturally
If your page targets:
“wireless noise-cancelling headphones.”
A good ALT text would be:
“Wireless noise-cancelling headphones with over-ear design and padded cushions”
3. Don’t Repeat the Same ALT Text on Every Image
If a product has multiple images:
- Front view
- Side view
- Close-up
Each image should have unique ALT text.
4. Keep ALT Text Under 125 Characters
Screen readers usually stop reading after 125 characters. Short, clear descriptions work best.
5. Avoid Keyword Stuffing at All Costs
One keyword is enough, sometimes none at all if it doesn’t fit naturally.
Image ALT Text Examples for Shopify Products
Clothing Product:
“White cotton oversized t-shirt with round neck for men”
Skincare Product:
“Vitamin C serum bottle with dropper for glowing skin”
Furniture Product:
“Wooden dining table with four chairs in modern design”
These are simple, descriptive, and SEO-safe.
Common ALT Text Mistakes Shopify Stores Make
- Leaving ALT text blank
- Copy-pasting the same ALT text across all images
- Stuffing keywords aggressively
- Writing ALT text unrelated to the image
- Ignoring the blog and the collection images
Any of these mistakes can weaken your SEO signals.
ALT Text and Image File Names: Do Both Matter?
Yes, but ALT text is more important.
Best practice:
- Rename image files before uploading
- Example: black-leather-office-bag.jpg
- Add descriptive ALT text after uploading
Both together create a stronger SEO context.
Does ALT Text Directly Improve Rankings?
ALT text alone won’t skyrocket rankings, but it supports SEO in powerful ways:
- Improves image search visibility
- Strengthens topical relevance
- It enhances the accessibility signals.
- Boosts engagement metrics
SEO works best when many small optimizations work together.
Can Shopify Apps Help With ALT Text Optimization?
Manual addition of ALT text works for small stores. As your catalog grows, automation becomes helpful.
Others use SEO and performance tools that:
- Optimize images
- Generate ALT text suggestions
- Ensure images stay lightweight
- Improve page speed without sacrificing SEO
This is where performance-oriented tools such as Sonic Page Speed Boostercome in, helping images load quickly while preserving optimization.
Where to Add Real Images in This Blog
To make this blog look authentic and human-written, add real screenshots, not stock visuals.
Suggested image placements:
- Shopify product image editor with ALT text field
- Shopify blog editor image settings
- Example product page with multiple images
- Google Image Search result for a product
- PageSpeed Insights image-related metrics
These visuals increase trust and engagement.
Wrapping It Up
ALT text for your images can be important for helping search engines understand your products, increasing accessibility, and helping your SEO efforts without taking too much technical work.
When put into practice in a natural manner and with consistency, the use of ALT text can add strength to products, images, and engagement signals. It is also possible to put together a tight SEO picture through wise image management and optimization techniques.
So, if you aim to develop a Shopify store whose traffic grows organically and steadily, then it is no longer optional, but one of those essential requirements that will definitely pay off in due course.
About Gaurav Radadiya
I am co-founder of Adfinite, where we build eCommerce solutions for growth and efficiency. I build highly efficient automations for inventory management, order processing, logistics, returns management, product listing and marketing.
