How to Write Alt Text (With Real Examples)
Alt text is easy to write badly and easy to write well — you just need a template. Here are the 8 rules, followed by 15 real examples across product pages, blog posts, and infographics.
The 8 rules
Every good alt tag follows these:
- Describe what's visible, not what the image means to you.
- Under 125 characters.
- Include the target keyword once, only if natural.
- Never start with 'Image of' or 'Photo of'.
- Empty alt (alt="") for decorative images.
- One unique alt per image on the page.
- Match the tone of surrounding copy.
- Include text visible inside the image (headings, chart labels).
Product page examples
Product images should read like search queries. Good: 'Black leather Chelsea boot with elastic side panel'. Bad: 'boot'. Better still: 'Black leather Chelsea boot with elastic side panel on white background'.
Blog post examples
Editorial images should describe the scene. Good: 'Woman working on laptop at wooden desk near window'. Bad: 'remote work'. That's a topic, not a description.
Infographic examples
Never try to cram an infographic's data into alt text. Use a short summary + link to a longer transcript below the image: 'Chart showing US EV sales growth 2015–2025, described in detail below.'
Skip the writing entirely
AltPixel generates SEO-ready alt text for every image you upload — following all 8 rules automatically. Free tier is 5/day, no signup needed to convert images.
Frequently asked questions
Should alt text include my brand name?
Only when the brand is visible in the image (a product photo with a logo). Adding a brand to a stock illustration is keyword stuffing.
Can alt text be a full sentence?
Yes — as long as it's under 125 characters and describes the image. Complete sentences often read more naturally to screen-reader users.
What if the same image appears on multiple pages?
Same alt text is fine across pages. Just make sure it's unique per image on any single page.
Skip the manual work
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