Alt text, or alternative text, is an essential feature on Instagram that provides descriptive text for images. Often overlooked, it’s an easy-to-implement tool that can significantly improve accessibility, engagement, and discoverability on the platform.
As more users embrace digital accessibility, content creators and businesses alike must consider how their Instagram posts reach a wider audience. This blog will walk you through how to write effective alt text for Instagram posts and explain why it's an important part of your overall social media strategy.
How to Write Alt Text on Instagram
Writing alt text on Instagram is simple but can have a huge impact on both accessibility and discoverability. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write alt text for your posts:
Step 1: Upload Your Photo or Video
To start, create a new post by selecting the image or video you want to share. The process of adding alt text begins when you start the upload.
Step 2: Tap "More Options"
Once you've selected your image and written your caption, scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap on “More options”. This section is where you’ll find the option to add your alt text.
Step 3: Write Your Alt Text
Scroll down until you see the “Write Alt Text” section at the very bottom. Once you click it, you’ll have a text box where you can enter a description of your image. Make sure to focus on the key elements of the image that convey its main idea.
Step 4: Save and Share
Once you’ve written your alt text, tap “Done” to save your changes. You can now share your post, knowing that you’ve made it more accessible to everyone, including users with visual impairments.
If you’ve already posted something and forgot to add alt text, don't worry! You can always go back and edit the alt text later. Simply open your post, tap the three dots in the upper-right corner, select “Edit,” and then tap “Edit Alt Text.”
What Should Alt Text Look Like
Creating effective alt text is an art in itself. Alt text should be clear, concise, and descriptive, helping users who can’t see your image to understand what’s happening. Here’s a deeper look into what good alt text should look like:
Be Clear and Descriptive
Alt text should give a clear, accurate description of what’s in the image. Think of it like you're painting a picture with words. For instance, if you’re sharing an image of a person enjoying coffee at sunrise, a good alt text might be: “A person holding a coffee cup while watching the orange and pink sunrise on a beach.” This tells the user exactly what’s happening in the image.
Keep It Concise
While alt text should be descriptive, brevity is important too. Instagram allows up to 1000 characters for alt text, but the most effective alt text is around 100-150 characters. Focus on the most important visual elements and avoid unnecessary details. For example, “A smiling woman in a blue jacket holding a cup of coffee on a rainy day” is clear and concise.
Avoid Redundancy
Don’t repeat information that's already mentioned in the caption or elsewhere. If your post’s caption explains what the image is about, don’t use the same wording in the alt text. Instead, offer additional context that the caption doesn't cover. For example, if your caption says, "Coffee with a view," the alt text might describe the location or the mood of the scene.
Use Relevant Keywords
Just like with SEO for websites, keywords in your alt text can make your posts more discoverable. Instagram uses these keywords to understand the content of your posts and categorize them. If your post is about a summer vacation, consider using keywords like “beach,” “sunset,” “vacation,” or “summer fun.”
However, don't overstuff your alt text with keywords. It should still read naturally and provide useful context for visually impaired users.
Describe Text in Images
If your image contains text (like a quote, flyer, or promotion), make sure to include that text in your alt description. For instance, if your image features a quote by a famous author, your alt text should read, “Quote by Maya Angelou: ‘We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.’” This ensures that the message in the image is accessible to all.
Why is Alt Text Important?
Alt text serves multiple purposes, making it crucial for Instagram users to adopt this practice regularly. Here’s why it’s important:
1. Accessibility
Alt text is fundamentally about accessibility. It helps users with visual impairments or blindness understand what’s in an image by reading the description aloud through screen readers. Globally, an estimated 2.2 billion people experience some form of vision impairment. By adding alt text, you’re making sure that your content is accessible to a significant portion of the population.
Social media platforms, including Instagram, are increasingly focusing on improving accessibility. By including alt text, you're supporting an inclusive digital environment and showing your audience that you care about making your content available to everyone, regardless of their abilities.
2. SEO and Discoverability
Alt text also improves your post’s SEO, making it easier for Instagram’s algorithm to identify your content. When you include relevant keywords, Instagram can categorize and index your post more effectively, which could improve its visibility in search results or users’ feeds. It’s an easy way to make your content more discoverable, especially if your posts cover trending topics or use hashtags that increase reach.
Since Instagram uses alt text to understand the context of an image, the more descriptive and relevant your alt text is, the better your chances of appearing on the Explore page or in front of a broader audience.
3. Increased Engagement
By adding alt text to your posts, you're improving engagement potential. Posts that are more accessible are likely to get more attention, especially from users who rely on screen readers or other assistive technology. Engaging a wider audience can lead to higher likes, comments, shares, and saves—signals that Instagram’s algorithm considers when determining what to show to users.
Moreover, when people engage with your content, they’re more likely to share it with others, amplifying your reach. Accessibility can, therefore, play a role in fostering a deeper connection with your audience.
4. Social Responsibility
Adding alt text is not just a technical strategy; it’s a matter of social responsibility. Making sure your content is accessible shows that your brand values inclusivity and diversity. In an era where social responsibility is increasingly important to consumers, providing alt text can be a simple yet powerful way to align your brand with these values. By embracing accessibility, you’re promoting an equitable digital space for everyone, which can have positive long-term effects on your brand's reputation.
5. Better User Experience
When users can understand your content without needing to physically see the images, they have a better overall experience on your page. Alt text enhances the user experience by providing context and helping users connect with your content more meaningfully.
Conclusion
Alt text is more than just a feature—it’s a vital part of your Instagram strategy. Not only does it help make your posts more accessible, but it can also improve your post’s discoverability, SEO, and overall engagement. The beauty of alt text is that it’s easy to use, doesn’t require a lot of extra time, and can have significant long-term benefits for both your content and your audience.
By adding alt text to all your Instagram posts, you’re making sure that your content is inclusive, discoverable, and optimized for engagement. Whether you’re a brand, business, or influencer, making alt text a regular part of your posting process is a simple but effective way to foster a more accessible and inclusive social media presence.
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