Alternative text and image filenames are often placed in one 'image SEO' task. That makes the work sound simple, but the two fields solve different problems. Alternative text describes what the image communicates. A filename identifies the asset. Writing both with the same keyword template produces weak descriptions and messy files.
Write alternative text for someone who cannot see the image
Shopify describes alt text as a brief description used when media cannot load and by assistive technology for customers with visual impairments. It recommends keeping the text concise and descriptive.
Describe the product and the visual detail that matters in context. 'Black leather ankle boot, side view with silver buckle' is useful. 'Boot shoes black leather buy online' is not.
- Describe the specific image, not the whole product page
- Skip decorative details that add no meaning
- Do not repeat the same sentence across every angle
- Leave purely decorative imagery empty when appropriate
Use filenames to keep assets understandable
A filename should help the team recognize the asset without opening it. Replace camera-style names with a stable convention that includes the product and view, while preserving the correct extension.
Renaming a file is an asset-management task. It does not replace alt text, and a readable filename is not a guarantee of search performance.
Separate the two review queues
Review missing or duplicated alt text as one queue and unclear filenames as another. Show current and proposed values for each image so a broad image task does not become an opaque mass update.
CataBatch keeps these as separate tools because the approval question is different: 'Does this describe the image?' versus 'Does this identify the file?'
Sample the result on real products
Check a product with a single hero image, one with several angles and one with detail shots. Read the alt text without looking at the image. If it does not help you understand what changes between images, revise the rule.
Three product images, three different descriptions
- Audit missing ALT descriptions separately from unclear filenames. Select a representative product that has a front view, rear view and a detail shot.
- Describe what is genuinely visible in each image; do not repeat the product title and keywords in every ALT field. Keep ALT concise and appropriate to the context.
- Review proposed changes per image. If renaming a hosted file or URL handle, verify which actual asset and links change; do not assume the media URL can be safely rewritten in place.
Good and bad ALT and filename examples
| Image | Weak / incorrect | Useful proposed text |
|---|---|---|
| Front view, blue linen shirt | shirt blue shirt online cheap | Blue linen shirt, front view with button collar |
| Button detail close-up | Blue shirt, same generic ALT | Close-up of blue linen weave and white buttons |
| Filename | IMG_1042.jpg | blue-linen-shirt-button-detail.jpg (proposed filename only) |
How much time might a 300-image review take?
Suppose editing one image individually takes 1.5 minutes: 300 images × 1.5 = 450 minutes. A hypothetical ALT-only batch might take 30 minutes auditing, 90 writing accurate descriptions, 60 reviewing and 30 verifying = 210 minutes. The difference of 240 minutes is illustrative, not measured savings. Filenames, duplicates, broken image links and approvals may add time; test a real sample before quoting any result.
ALT text supports accessibility; filenames provide only a lightweight search signal. Neither guarantees rankings or implies bulk file rename will preserve old URLs.
| Scenario | Illustrative minutes |
|---|---|
| Individual ALT edits | 450 min |
| Hypothetical reviewed ALT batch | 210 min |
| Arithmetic difference | 240 min |
