How Do You Alt Text in Squarespace?

Adding alt text to images in Squarespace is a crucial step for improving accessibility and optimizing SEO on your website. Alt text (alternative text) serves as a textual description of an image for screen readers and search engines. Here's a detailed guide on how to add alt text in Squarespace:

Steps to Add Alt Text in Squarespace

Step 1: Log into Your Squarespace Account

1. Go to Squarespace.
2. Enter your login credentials to access your Squarespace dashboard.

Step 2: Navigate to the Relevant Page

1. In your Squarespace dashboard, click on the Pages menu on the left-hand side.
2. Select the page where you want to add or edit the image with alt text.

Step 3: Edit the Page

1. Click on the Edit button (usually represented by a pencil icon) to start editing the page content.

Step 4: Select the Image Block

1. Locate the image you want to add alt text to. Images in Squarespace are typically in an Image Block, Gallery Block, or Background Image.
2. Click on the image or the image block to open its settings.

Step 5: Add Alt Text

Depending on the type of image element:

1. Image Block
2. Click on the Design tab in the image settings panel.

3. Enter your alt text in the Filename field. Although it's not explicitly labeled as “alt text,” Squarespace uses the filename as the alt text.

4. Gallery Block

5. Open the gallery settings by clicking on the gallery block.
6. Click on each image within the gallery to edit its details.

7. Enter your alt text in the Filename field for each image.

8. Background Image

9. Click on the section containing the background image.
10. Go to Section settings > Background.
11. Since background images do not have a clear alt text field, you might need to add a caption or use CSS to provide additional context, or ensure the section has sufficient textual content that describes the image for accessibility purposes.

Best Practices for Writing Alt Text

1. Be Descriptive but Concise: Your alt text should accurately describe the content and function of the image in a brief manner.
2. Focus on the Purpose: Think about the main point of the image and its context on the page.
3. Avoid Using "Image of" or "Picture of": Screen readers typically announce images, so it's redundant to start with these phrases.
4. Include Keywords When Relevant: While maintaining readability, include relevant keywords where appropriate for SEO benefits.

Step 6: Save Your Changes

1. After adding the alt text, click on Apply or Save in the image settings panel.
2. Don’t forget to save the changes to the page itself by clicking on Done and then Save.

Considerations and Limitations

• Accessibility: Consistently using alt text ensures that your website is more accessible to users with visual impairments.
• SEO: Properly optimized alt text can contribute to better search engine rankings.
• Content Management: Ensure that all team members who edit the website are aware of and follow the best practices for alt text.

Adding alt text in Squarespace is a straightforward process, albeit with some specific steps depending on the type of image block you are working with. By adhering to best practices, you can significantly enhance the usability and SEO performance of your website.