How to Fix: Alt text descriptive

Alt text descriptive is an important SEO check in the Image SEO category. This is a high-priority SEO issue that should be addressed soon. It has a significant impact on your SEO performance.

Alt text is where accessibility and SEO turn out to be the same discipline wearing two hats. The alt attribute is read aloud by screen readers to people who cannot see the image, and it is the primary way a search engine understands what an image depicts. Both audiences want the same thing: an accurate, specific description. The check is not asking whether alt text exists — plenty of sites auto-fill it with a filename — it is asking whether it actually describes the image.

What this check is really testing

Whether your images carry meaningful, descriptive alt text rather than empty attributes, filenames like IMG_4471.jpg, or keyword-stuffed noise. Good alt text describes what is in the image, in plain language, in the context of the page. Purely decorative images are the exception — they should carry an empty alt="" so screen readers skip them, and knowing that distinction is part of doing this properly.

Why this matters for SEO and accessibility

• Descriptive alt text is a WCAG requirement for non-decorative images and a baseline accessibility obligation.
• It is how search engines index your images and rank them in Google Images, a real traffic source for many sites.
• It gives crawlers context about the surrounding page content, reinforcing topical relevance.
• It provides a graceful fallback when an image fails to load, so the meaning survives.

How to check it

1. Run the SEO Roadmap audit to see which images are missing or have poor alt text.
2. Spot-check the media library and inline images for empty or filename-style alt attributes.
3. Use browser dev tools or an accessibility extension to flag images with missing alt.
4. Read a few aloud as a screen reader would — do they actually describe the image?

How to fix it in WordPress

Difficulty Level: EASY – This fix is straightforward and can typically be completed by anyone with basic WordPress knowledge.

Estimated Time: varies

Step 1: Write real descriptions

In the media library or the block editor’s image settings, write alt text that describes the image in context. “Blue running shoe with white sole, side view” beats “shoe” and beats an empty field. Keep it natural and concise — a sentence, not a keyword list. For a product photo, describe the product as a shopper would recognise it.

Step 2: Mark decorative images empty

Purely decorative images — dividers, background flourishes — should have alt="" so assistive technology skips them rather than announcing clutter. Do not describe an image that carries no information.

Step 3: Handle the backlog and future uploads

Prioritise the images on your highest-traffic and commercial pages first. For WooCommerce catalogues with hundreds of products, a bulk alt-text tool can help, but review the output — auto-generated descriptions still need a human eye. Make writing alt text part of your standard publishing checklist so the backlog never rebuilds.

Step 4: Verify

1. Clear your cache, then re-check the updated images in dev tools or an accessibility checker.
2. Re-run the SEO Roadmap audit to confirm the issue is resolved.
3. Watch the Images report in Google Search Console over time for improved indexing.

Recommended Tools & Plugins

• Yoast SEO – Comprehensive SEO plugin with built-in checks
• Rank Math – Feature-rich SEO plugin with detailed analysis
• Google Search Console – Free tool to monitor your site’s search presence
• SEO Roadmap – Complete SEO audit and action plan tool

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Leaving alt text as the raw filename, like DSC_0012.jpg.
• Stuffing keywords into alt text instead of describing the image.
• Describing decorative images that should carry alt="" and be skipped.
• Confusing the alt attribute with the image title or caption — they serve different jobs.

Need More Help?

If you’re still having trouble, consider consulting a WordPress developer or accessibility specialist, reviewing the WCAG guidance on text alternatives, and running a complete site audit with SEO Roadmap for a prioritized action plan.

This guide is part of the SEO Roadmap knowledge base – your complete resource for WordPress SEO optimization.