Image SEO Best Practices: Faster Loads, Better Rankings

Images drive engagement—but they also hurt performance if mismanaged. Use this checklist to make images fast, accessible, and ranking-friendly.

Published on 9/12/2025•10 min read

Responsive Images

Serve different sizes per breakpoint; define width/height to prevent CLS.
Use modern formats (WebP/AVIF) with sensible fallbacks.
Lazy-load below the fold; preload above-the-fold hero images.

Compression and Delivery

Target 60–80% compression; visually test for artifacts.
Use a CDN and enable caching; add Cache-Control headers.
Strip metadata where safe; keep color profiles if required.

Alt Text and Context

Describe the image’s purpose, not just objects; keep it concise and helpful.
Use relevant terms naturally; avoid stuffing keywords.
Include captions where they add clarity or credit.

Structured Data and Sitemaps

Include images in XML sitemaps with <image:image> entries.
Add schema where relevant (Product, Article) with image fields.
Ensure images are crawlable and not blocked by robots.

Summary

Image SEO blends performance and clarity. With responsive sizes, compression, descriptive alt text, and proper schema, you’ll improve CWV and search visibility—without sacrificing design.