SEO for images 'could benefit marketing efforts'

23rd July 2008

Making sure images and videos are optimised for search engines could provide a significant boost to a company's online marketing efforts.

This is according to advice offered by Chrysi Philalithes of Search Insider, who said that making it simpler for internet users to find rich media could help a certain picture or clip to go viral.

She pointed to statistics suggesting that 15 per cent of all Google search queries take place via its image search function for evidence of the growing popularity of online pictures.

"Search engines can't 'read' still images and understand what they are about, so you need to ensure that you are tagging and optimising your images and your video assets appropriately," Ms Philalithes stated.

According to comments from Google co-founder Sergey Brin reported by internetnews.com, blended search results have proved particularly popular among web users in the last three months, the executive said at a conference call last week.