Why image optimization is important for SEO in 2024: tips to improve your website

04 November, 2024

Image optimization is an important component of technical SEO that helps improve page load speed, search engine rankings, and the overall user experience.
In this article, you will learn how to optimize images on your websiteto maximize their impact on SEO.

The impact of image optimization on SEO

Image optimization is a significant aspect of SEO that affects several key parameters:

Page loading speed. Compressed and optimized images reduce the overall page size, which allows for faster website loading. Google and other search engines give preference to websites with fast loading speeds.
Reduce bounce rate. The faster the images load, the less likely users are to leave the site due to long waiting times.
Ranking in Google Images. Search engines take into account the presence of high-quality images with filled in alt tags. This increases the chances of getting into the image results, which can bring additional traffic.
Improved mobile optimization. Adapted images improve the mobile user experience, which is a critical factor for mobile indexing.

Basic methods of image optimization

1. Compress images without losing quality

Compressing images allows you to reduce their size without significant loss of quality, which significantly speeds up page loading. It is recommended to use tools such as TinyPNG or ImageOptim to help reduce the weight of images before uploading them to your website.

2. Choose the right format

Different formats are suitable for different types of images. For example, JPEG is suitable for photos, while PNG is suitable for graphics with transparent backgrounds. The new WebP format allows you to reduce the weight of images even further while maintaining high quality.

3. Using the Alt attribute

The Alt attribute is important for SEO because it helps search engines understand the content of images. Fill in alt tags with descriptive phrases and keywords to improve SEO and ensure accessibility for the visually impaired.

4. Responsive images

Responsive images automatically adjust to the user’s screen size. This greatly improves loading speeds on mobile devices and contributes to better mobile optimization. Use the srcset attribute to load the appropriate image size depending on the screen.

5. Application of Lazy Loading

Lazy loading allows you to load images only when they are in the user’s view. This is especially useful for pages with a lot of media, as it reduces the initial loading time.

6. Optimize the image file name

The file name can affect SEO as it is also indexed by search engines. Use descriptive, simple filenames that indicate the content of the image, for example, “optymizatsiya-zobrazhen-seo.jpg” instead of “IMG_1234.jpg”. This will help you rank better in image search.

7. Using structured data

Structured data helps search engines recognize page content, including images.
Adding Schema markup for images can help you get enriched results in the SERPs that will improve your site’s visibility.
For example, in articles, you can apply Schema Markup to content-related images, increasing the chances of the image appearing in Google’s search results.

Tools for image optimization or how to optimize images on your website

PageSpeed Insights is a tool from Google that provides analysis of page loading speed and recommendations for image optimization.
TinyPNG is a service for compressing PNG and JPEG without losing quality.
ImageOptim is a Mac application that allows you to compress images without losing quality.
Collection of modules for website optimization from ARTEX group – sets of tools for improving SEO, including modules for optimizing images and speeding up website loading.

Recommendations for improving results

Follow these tips to achieve the best image optimization results:

Use PageSpeed Insights to regularly check your loading speed and get image recommendations.
Use adaptive image formats such as WebP, which provide high quality with lower file weight.
Don’t forget about Alt tags for each image – this will help not only SEO but also accessibility.
Compress all images before uploading, especially for sites with a large number of media files.
Check mobile image optimization to ensure that your images load equally fast on all devices.

HTTP/3 vs HTTP/2: Key Advantages of the New Protocol for the Modern Web

07 October, 2024

HTTP/3 HTTP/2: the main advantages of a new protocol for the modern web

Each year, the demands for speed , stability , and security in web connections increase, as modern users expect instant page loading and secure data transmission. The HTTP protocol , which serves as the foundation for data transmission on the internet, also continues to evolve to meet these requirements. For a long time, HTTP/2 was considered the best standard for fast loading of web resources, but with the introduction of HTTP/3, the industry has gained a new tool to enhance web page performance.
HTTP/3 is the next stage in the evolution of the HTTP protocol, based on the QUIC protocol developed by Google. This new standard was created to overcome the limitations of HTTP/2, such as delays caused by connection issues and instability during data transmission in unstable networks. In this article, we’ll discuss the main advantages of HTTP/3 over HTTP/2 and explain why switching to the new protocol is becoming a beneficial solution for most modern web resources.

Image from: https://www.cloudpanel.io/blog/http3-vs-http2/

What are HTTP/2 and HTTP/3?

HTTP/2

HTTP/2 was a significant step forward compared to HTTP/1.1. It solved a number of problems from the previous version, enabling faster data transmission and reduced delays through multiplexing. One of the main advantages of HTTP/2 is multiplexing — the ability to send multiple requests and receive responses simultaneously over a single TCP connection. However, the TCP protocol that HTTP/2 relies on has several limitations, especially in cases of unstable connections .

HTTP/3

HTTP/3 is based on the QUIC protocol, developed to enhance speed and reliability, even in conditions of high latency or network instability. QUIC uses UDP, allowing faster connection setup and resilience to disconnections, reducing delays and improving the overall performance of websites . Instead of re-establishing the connection in case of packet loss, as TCP does, HTTP/3 continues to operate, reducing load times and ensuring an uninterrupted user experience.

Key Advantages of HTTP/3 over HTTP/2

Increased Load Speed

One of the biggest advantages of HTTP/3 is its significant reduction of latency, thanks to QUIC. The QUIC protocol uses faster connections over UDP, which helps avoid the traditional delays typical of TCP. This is especially important for mobile users , as during network switching (e.g., from Wi-Fi to mobile data), HTTP/3 remains stable and doesn’t require re-establishing the connection.

Connection Optimization

HTTP/3 helps avoid the problem known as head-of-line blocking — a situation where a delay in one packet halts the entire data transmission in the stream. This was a major limitation of HTTP/2, as TCP connections couldn’t bypass this issue, significantly slowing down loading . QUIC allows packets to be transmitted independently, making the connection more stable and allowing for faster information loading.

Enhanced Security

One of the defining characteristics of HTTP/3 is protocol-level encryption . QUIC has built-in encryption, which makes the protocol more secure and reliable. While HTTP/2 also supports encryption, HTTP/3 integrates it directly into the connection structure, enhancing protection against attacks and speeding up performance. Learn more about the QUIC protocol on the official IETF website.

Performance on Mobile Devices

HTTP/3 performs better with low-stability networks , such as mobile ones. Thanks to QUIC, this protocol avoids interruptions during network switching, keeping the connection active, which is especially important for smartphone users who often connect to different networks.

Support for Concurrent Connections

HTTP/3 can handle multiple concurrent connections without losing efficiency, ensuring even data distribution and stable operation. This is important for modern websites that use a large number of resources and multimedia elements, as it reduces the risk of delays. Find more information about HTTP/3 on MDN.

Should You Switch to the New Protocol?

With the advantages HTTP/3 offers in terms of speed and stability, this protocol is becoming beneficial for most modern websites, especially those focused on large volumes of users or media content . Companies that have already adopted HTTP/3, such as Google, Facebook, and Cloudflare, report reduced latency and improved service performance, especially in mobile networks.

Conclusion

HTTP/3 offers significant benefits over HTTP/2 thanks to increased speed, stability, and connection security, making it appealing for modern web resources. Switching to HTTP/3 can greatly improve the user experience, especially on mobile devices and high-traffic sites . It’s expected that HTTP/3 will become the new standard for most websites in the future, providing even faster and more secure connections.
If you’re interested in ensuring fast loading of your site and improving its position in search engines, read our articles in the SEO section and learn more about the importance of website speed optimization.

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