Most websites get alt text completely wrong—and they don’t even realize it.

Alt text (alternative text) is one of the simplest ranking factors Google still uses, yet most businesses either skip it, stuff keywords into it, or write descriptions that don’t help users or search engines.

This guide fixes that.

Below you’ll learn how to write SEO-friendly, accurate, human-focused alt text, plus over 100 real examples you can copy, adapt, and use immediately.

What Alt Text Actually Is (and Why It Matters)

Alt text is a written description of an image.
Its purposes are simple:

• Help search engines understand what the image is
• Help screen readers describe the image for accessibility
• Act as a fallback if the image can’t load
• Improve on-page SEO and keyword relevance

Google still uses alt text for:

• Ranking images in Google Images
• Understanding surrounding content
• Evaluating page relevance
• Assessing accessibility (a small but real ranking signal)

Alt text isn’t optional—it’s a low-effort, high-impact SEO booster.

The 5 Rules of Perfect Alt Text

Rule #1 — Describe the image accurately

Ask: If I couldn’t see this image, how would I explain it to someone else?

Rule #2 — Keep it short (8–14 words is ideal)

Long enough to be helpful, short enough not to ramble.

Rule #3 — Use keywords only when natural

Forced keywords = bad SEO.
Natural context = good SEO.

Rule #4 — Don’t start with “Image of…” or “Picture of…”

Screen readers already say that.

Rule #5 — Skip alt text for decorative images

If it adds no meaning (e.g., background shapes), use alt="".

What Good Alt Text Looks Like

Good alt text describes the content, action, and context in a natural way:

✔ “Detroit landscaper trimming a backyard tree in the summer”
✔ “Small business owner smiling behind a boutique counter”
✔ “Modern responsive website layout on a laptop and phone”

Bad alt text is vague or spammy:

✘ “landscaping detroit best business website”
✘ “photo of man working”
✘ “image123-final.jpg”

100+ SEO-Friendly Alt Text Examples (You Can Copy & Use)

Below are categorized alt text examples for every major industry, including your own niche.

Web Design & Development (Your Niche)

• “Developer writing HTML in VS Code on a dark theme”
• “Responsive website preview shown on laptop, tablet, and phone”
• “Before and after comparison of a redesigned business website”
• “Custom hand-coded website layout with clean white spacing”
• “Optimized image displayed in WebP format using WebReady.dev”
• “SEO report showing page speed improvements after redesign”
• “Minimalist website header with centered logo and navigation links”
• “Mobile menu expanding on a small smartphone screen”
• “Favicon preview grid with multiple icon sizes”
• “Detroit web designer reviewing site layout on a dual-monitor setup”

Local Businesses (Detroit / Metro Detroit)

• “Detroit barber cutting a client’s hair in a modern shop”
• “Macomb County landscaping crew mowing a suburban lawn”
• “Royal Oak café serving iced coffee on an outdoor patio”
• “Troy Michigan mechanic repairing a car engine”
• “Detroit skyline during sunset viewed from the riverfront”
• “Sterling Heights contractor installing new vinyl siding”
• “Warren MI cleaning service wiping down kitchen counters”
• “Clinton Township massage therapist preparing a treatment room”
• “Local Detroit boutique owner organizing clothing racks”
• “Home renovation before-and-after photo in Metro Detroit”

E-Commerce Examples

• “Black leather wallet displayed on a white background”
• “Model wearing a navy cotton t-shirt outdoors”
• “Product size chart showing men’s medium vs large measurements”
• “Hand applying skincare serum to the face”
• “Ceramic coffee mug with matte finish on wooden table”
• “Close-up of gold necklace with round pendant”
• “Running shoes positioned side-by-side on concrete floor”
• “Minimalist product packaging with soft pastel colors”
• “Eco-friendly household cleaner bottle with green label”
• “Pet collar with engraved name tag on small brown dog”

Service Businesses

• “Electrician installing LED lights in a living room ceiling”
• “Plumber repairing a leaking under-sink pipe”
• “Real estate agent handing keys to a new homeowner”
• “Wedding photographer capturing couple at outdoor venue”
• “HVAC technician servicing an outdoor AC unit”
• “Car detailer wiping dashboard with microfiber cloth”
• “Tutor helping student with math homework at the table”
• “Yoga instructor guiding class in a bright studio”
• “Handyman measuring door frame for new trim”
• “Professional cleaner vacuuming office hallway”

Restaurants & Food

• “Wood-fired pizza topped with basil and mozzarella”
• “Detroit-style deep dish pizza in cast iron pan”
• “Server pouring latte art into a ceramic mug”
• “Fresh sushi platter with salmon, tuna, and avocado rolls”
• “Burger with melted cheddar and crispy bacon on brioche bun”
• “Assorted pastries displayed behind bakery glass”
• “Iced coffee with cream swirls on wooden counter”
• “Fruit smoothie bowl topped with granola and berries”
• “Chef slicing vegetables on stainless steel cutting board”
• “Tacos with cilantro, lime, and grilled chicken filling”

Transportation, Trades & Industrial

• “Tow truck loading a broken-down car on Mound Road”
• “Construction crew pouring concrete foundation”
• “Semi truck driving down I-75 during sunset”
• “Welder cutting steel beams in workshop”
• “Forklift moving pallets in large warehouse”
• “Electric vehicle charging at public charger station”
• “Hand holding auto diagnostic scanner over engine bay”
• “Roofing team installing asphalt shingles”
• “Exterior painter applying white coat to home siding”
• “Machinist operating CNC machine in shop”

How to Write Alt Text for SEO (Without Keyword Stuffing)

To make alt text SEO-friendly:

1. Identify the main subject of the image
2. Identify the action or purpose
3. Add a location or keyword only if natural
4. Keep it human-readable

Examples of natural (good) keyword use:

• “Detroit web designer coding a responsive site on laptop”
• “Macomb County landscaping crew trimming backyard hedges”
• “Troy Michigan real estate agent photographing a new listing”

Examples of forced (bad) keyword stuffing:

• “best detroit web designer best web design detroit seo website”
• “macomb county landscaping detroit lawn services lawncare cheap”

Google penalizes unnatural patterns.

When to Use Empty Alt Text (alt="")

You should NOT write alt text for images that are:

• Decorative
• Background-only
• Spacing or divider elements
• Icons that also have visible labels
• Purely aesthetic shapes or patterns

Using alt="" correctly improves accessibility.

Quick Checklist Before You Publish

• Does the description match the image?
• Is it short and clear?
• Is the keyword natural and not forced?
• Is the image meaningful (if not, leave alt empty)?
• Does it help someone understand the content?

If yes → publish.

Final Thoughts

Alt text is one of the easiest SEO improvements any business or developer can make. It improves:

• Accessibility
• User experience
• Google rankings
• Image search visibility
• Clarity of your content

Do it consistently and your site gains an edge most websites overlook.

Want a faster, more SEO-optimized website?

At Lakeview Web Dev, we build lightning-fast, hand-coded websites that score high on SEO, accessibility, and user experience straight out of the box. Every image is optimized with:

• Proper alt text
• WebP conversion
• Responsive sizing
• Clean semantic markup

If you want a website that loads instantly, ranks higher, and converts better, visit:

👉 Lakeview-webdev.com