What is Image Alt Text?
Definition
Image alt text (alternative text) is an HTML attribute added to image tags (<img alt='description here'>) that provides a text-based description of an image. Alt text serves two critical purposes: accessibility (screen readers read alt text aloud for visually impaired users) and SEO (search engines use alt text to understand what an image depicts, making images discoverable via Google Image Search and other visual search channels). For Shopify stores, alt text is set per image in the product editor or via the Shopify Admin API.
Why Image Alt Text matters for Shopify stores
Most Shopify stores have empty or generic alt text on their product images — leaving a significant SEO channel untapped. Google Images drives 15–25% of traffic to visual product categories (jewelry, fashion, home decor, art). An image with descriptive alt text like 'dainty gold hoop earrings on white background' ranks in Google Image Search for that query. An image with no alt text (or alt='image1.jpg') is invisible to Google Image Search entirely. Alt text is also legally important: WCAG accessibility guidelines require meaningful alt text for all non-decorative images.
Shopify example
A home decor store has 300 product images, all with alt text = '' (empty). Google Image Search sends zero traffic. After Sauron generates alt text for every image ('ceramic terracotta vase set of three on oak shelf, boho living room styling'), Google Image Search begins returning these images for related queries. Monthly image search traffic grows to 400 visits from zero.
How Sauron handles Image Alt Text
Sauron's AI vision model reads each product image and generates descriptive alt text including product type, visual attributes (colour, material, style), and contextual setting — not just a reformatted product title. Bulk publish across your entire catalog in one operation.
See AI Image SEO & Social Images feature →Common mistakes
- ✕ Leaving alt text blank — the most common Shopify SEO mistake
- ✕ Using the file name as alt text ('IMG_3847.jpg') — descriptive and keyword-relevant
- ✕ Keyword-stuffing alt text ('gold ring gold jewelry gold necklace') — Google ignores over-optimised alt text
- ✕ Using identical alt text for all images of the same product — each image angle or lifestyle shot can have a unique description
- ✕ Writing alt text that describes the image file rather than the product ('photo of product on white background' vs 'sterling silver stacking rings set of three')
Questions about Image Alt Text
How do I add alt text to Shopify product images? +
In Shopify admin: go to Products → select a product → click on an image → select 'Edit Alt Text'. You can also use Sauron to generate and bulk-publish alt text across your entire catalog via the Shopify Admin API — far faster than editing one image at a time.
Does alt text directly affect my Shopify product page rankings? +
Alt text is not a primary ranking factor for your product page's position in standard Google Search results. Its primary SEO value is for Google Image Search ranking. However, it also contributes to your page's overall semantic content density, which is a minor positive signal.
Related terms
Automate your Shopify SEO
Understanding Image Alt Text is step one. Sauron handles the implementation — automatically, for your entire Shopify store.