Image SEO for Jewelry Websites | Enhance Online Visibility
A picture is worth a thousand words, but when it comes to a "Visually Sold Product" like jewelry and diamonds, it's worth a million words.
Recent research on the buyer's journey for online jewelry purchases found that up to 25% of jewelry buyers use Google Images search. This trend is largely driven by Google's "Product Image Snippet," which now appears in text search results.
Search Result Example
For instance, when searching for "diamond engagement rings in 18K rose gold," the results page not only shows text results but also displays an array of ring images under "Images for diamond engagement rings in 18K rose gold." Clicking on "More images" takes users directly to Google Image search. This is often where users begin their journey of selecting the perfect ring, starting with an image search.
So, how do you make your website image search-friendly?Start with some basic on-site techniques:
- Correct image alt tags
- Descriptive image file names
- Adding descriptive text within the page
- Submitting and regularly updating the image sitemap
There's plenty of information available on these basics, so I'll focus on some additional tips from TransPacific's team, specializing in Jewelry SEO:
1. Use Ready Extensions:
Creating numerous alt tags and file names manually can be cumbersome, requiring expert SEO work. Here are some tools that can help automate this process:
- Shopify: Bulk Image Edit by Hextom, SEO King.
- Magento: SEO Toolkit by Amasty, SEO Image Optimizer by Mirasvit.
- WooCommerce: SEO Image Optimizer by LittleBizzy, SEO Friendly Images by GeekLover.
Note that in the above extensions, Alt tagging is a part of the larger suit of Oher SEO tools However, manually optimizing each image remains the best practice.
2. URL Structure is Important:
The URL should be self-explanatory. During our research, we discovered that the page URL hosting the images plays a crucial role. For example, for a "Solitaire Yellow Gold Ring," the URL should clearly reflect this.
3. Schema.org Tags:
Adding schema tags helps search engines understand the context of your images. It's metadata about the image.
You can use the following tools to implement Schema.org tags:- Shopify: JSON-LD for SEO by Little Stream Software.
- Magento: Rich Snippets Suite by MageWorx.
- WooCommerce: Schema & Structured Data for WP & AMP by Magazine3.
Here's an example of a schema tag:
<script type="application/ld+json"><![CDATA[{
"@context": "http://schema.org",
"@type": "ImageObject",
"author": "TransPacific Software",
"contentLocation": "New York USA",
"contentUrl": "engagement-ring-diamond-yellow-gold.jpg",
"datePublished": "2018-01-25",
"description": "Beautiful engagement ring from ABC Jewelers studded with a round diamond in 18K yellow gold.",
"name": "Engagement Ring"
}
]]></script>
4. Post on Social Media:
Share your best images with page links on visually active social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. There is a strong correlation between social media activity and Google's page indexing, making this an important strategy for image SEO.
For automation and optimization, consider using:- Shopify: Outfy for social media marketing automation.
- Magento: Social Media Marketing by Aheadworks.
- WooCommerce: Social Media Auto Publish by XYZScripts.
5. Selecting the Right Image Format:
Choose image formats that are universally supported across browsers. Use JPEG for product photography, PNG for geometric forms, and GIF for animations. Consider next-gen formats like WebP, which offer superior compression and quality.
Tools for conversion:- Shopify: Image Optimizer by TinyIMG.
- Magento: Image Optimizer by Mirasvit.
- WooCommerce: Imagify by WP Media.
6. Images on CDN:
Many jewelry websites host images on Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) like Cloudflare or Akamai, which offer faster delivery and better user experiences. However, if not set up correctly, Google may view the media on CDN as duplicate content. Ensure your CDN supports canonical headers to avoid this issue. Check your CDN dashboard or consult with your developer.
7. Check for Broken Links:
Use tools like Screaming Frog to detect broken image links. There may be cases where images load from your local cache but not for users. Regular checks help maintain a smooth user experience.
8. Image Quality:
Opt for squarish product images with a white background. High-quality images tend to rank better in search results. Pay attention to the aspect ratio; if your images are resized, ensure the original aspect ratio is maintained to avoid distortion.
9. Optimize for Mobile:
With the rise in mobile shopping, ensure your images are optimized for mobile devices. Use responsive images and consider mobile-first indexing practices to improve visibility in mobile search results.
Tools to assist:- Shopify: Mobile SEO Booster
- Magento: Google Page Speed Optimizer by Amasty.
- WooCommerce: AMP for WP by AMP Project Contributors.
By following these tips, you can enhance your jewelry website's visibility in image search, attracting more potential buyers and boosting your online sales.
