Image optimization for an online store
LightSEO · Content
Image optimization for an online store
Images in a store are both the main reason for a slow website and an underrated source of traffic from image search.
File size
How to keep the website fast
Compress before uploading. Nobody needs a camera photo of several megabytes in the catalog.
Use modern formats. They deliver the same quality at a much smaller file size.
Different sizes for different places. A catalog thumbnail should load a small image, never the full-size photo.
Lazy loading. Images below the fold load as the user scrolls.
Search
How to get traffic from images
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Alt text
A description of what the image shows. Use a natural phrase and skip keyword lists.
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File name
"corner-sofa-gray.jpg" is better than "IMG_20240517.jpg".
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Image sitemap
For stores with a large catalog, it helps get photos indexed.
In practice
What has the biggest impact
Compression is the quickest win. It often cuts page weight in half in an hour of work.
Alt is basic hygiene. It is needed both for accessibility and for understanding the page content.
Is your website slow because of heavy photos?
We'll optimize your catalog images without quality loss and set up lazy loading.
