How to optimize images for SEO in HubSpot?

@jacey.lubowitz 

Optimizing images for SEO in HubSpot can help improve your site's load time, search visibility, and user experience. Here are some steps to effectively optimize your images for SEO within the HubSpot platform:

1. Choose the Right Format: Use JPEG for photographs and complex images with lots of colors. Use PNG for images that require transparency or have simple colors. Use SVG for icons and logos as they are vector-based and scalable.
2. Compress Images: Use tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim to reduce file sizes without compromising quality before uploading them to HubSpot. HubSpot also offers an image compression feature, but manually compressing images can ensure maximum efficiency.
3. Use Descriptive Filenames: Rename your image files to include relevant keywords before uploading them. For example, instead of "IMG1234.jpg," use "blue-running-shoes.jpg."
4. Add Alt Text: Provide clear and descriptive alt text to allow search engines to understand the content of the image. Include relevant keywords naturally, but avoid keyword stuffing.
5. Incorporate Captions: While captions might not directly impact SEO, they can enhance the user experience, which indirectly contributes to better engagement and ranking.
6. Scale Images to Fit: Resize images to display at their intended size within the webpage to avoid unnecessary loading of larger images. HubSpot allows you to specify different image sizes for different devices, optimizing for both desktop and mobile.
7. Use HubSpot’s Image Editor: Use HubSpot’s built-in image editor to crop, resize, and adjust images before placing them in your content.
8. Optimize for Mobile: Ensure that images are responsive and adapt well to all screen sizes. HubSpot’s CMS typically handles responsive design, but always double-check your images.
9. Leverage Lazy Loading: Enable lazy loading for images to defer the loading of non-visible images until a user scrolls near them, improving initial page load times.
10. Organize Your Image File Manager: Keep your HubSpot file manager organized by creating folders and using consistent naming conventions. This improves content management and retrieval efficiency.
11. Monitor Image Performance: Use HubSpot’s analytics tools to monitor the performance of your webpages and adjust your image optimization strategies as needed based on data insights.
12. Leverage Structured Data: If applicable, use Schema markup for images to provide additional context to search engines about the image content.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your images are optimized for both user experience and SEO, helping to improve your site's overall performance in search results.