Alt Text: Good for SEO, Essential for Accessibility
Writing good alt text for images and why it matters for both search engines and accessibility.
Alt text (short for ‘alternative text’) is a written description of what’s in an image. It serves two critical purposes: accessibility (people using screen readers), and search engine optimization (Google Images, SEO). Writing good alt text takes 15 seconds and makes a huge difference.
Why Alt Text Matters: Two Reasons
1. Accessibility (Screen Readers)
Some of your visitors are visually impaired and use screen readers — software that reads web pages aloud. When they visit your site, the screen reader reads the alt text for every image. Without alt text, they hear nothing. With good alt text, they understand context. This is a legal accessibility requirement in many countries.
2. Google Image Search & SEO
Google can’t ‘see’ images the way humans do. It reads alt text to understand what an image contains. Good alt text helps your images rank in Google Images (a real source of traffic for local sports leagues) and helps Google understand your page’s context.
The Formula for Good Alt Text
Think of alt text as answering three questions: What? (what’s in the image), Who? (who or what is it), and Context? (when or where).
Example: ‘U12 girls soccer team celebrating at championship game, Spring 2026, Lakewood Youth League.’
This is specific, descriptive, and gives Google and screen reader users full context.
What Bad Alt Text Looks Like
‘image1.jpg’ or ‘photo.jpg’ — The file name, not a description.’photo’ or ‘image’ — Too vague.’click here’ — Doesn’t describe the image.Empty — No alt text at all.
The Rule: Every Image Needs Updated Alt Text
When you upload a new image, WordPress automatically assigns alt text (usually the file name). You must change this. When you swap an old image for a new one in BeaverBuilder, make sure the alt text matches the new image, not the old one. If you inherit a page with outdated images, fix the alt text.
How to Edit Alt Text in BeaverBuilder
Click on the image in BeaverBuilder.Look for an ‘Edit Image’ button or icon (usually a pencil).Find the ‘Alt Text’ field.Write a clear, descriptive alt text using the formula above.Save.
💡 Tip: Google Images is a real source of traffic for local sports leagues. Parents search for ‘soccer teams near me’ and click on images. Good alt text helps your team photos show up in those searches.
