{"id":8819,"date":"2017-10-12T19:05:38","date_gmt":"2017-10-12T13:35:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/email.uplers.com\/blogs\/?p=8819"},"modified":"2023-03-07T16:11:51","modified_gmt":"2023-03-07T10:41:51","slug":"dos-and-donts-alt-text-in-emails","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/email.uplers.com\/blog\/dos-and-donts-alt-text-in-emails\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Dos and Don\u2019ts of Alt-text in Emails"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Many email marketers turn their backs on HTML email templates <\/a>because of this reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But you know what?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every cloud has a silver lining! And this cloud is no exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re talking about Alt text, also known as alternative text or Alt tag that\u2019s displayed in place of the blocked image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alt text is not just \u2018plain text\u2019; it gives you a huge playground of words and creativity to apply in your email marketing strategy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have a look at this email. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Could you figure out what the email wants to convey?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The obvious answer is a resounding No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, consider this email by Jack Spade<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Jack-Spade-email\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The elaborate alternative text gives a complete idea of what the images could be about!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s what Alt text in emails are for!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, here are some great image Alt text best practices for all those marketers who wish to use images in their custom email marketing templates<\/a>, but are reluctant to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Keep it succinct<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One or two sentences are more than enough in your HTML email Alt text. It should be meaningful and enticing enough for the subscribers to view the image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crate&Barrel<\/strong> has used a short email Alt text for each individual section supported by a clear description of their offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right from the subject line to the content and Alt text, everything is in sync with the email purpose that encourages the subscriber to view the images or click through the CTAs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Crate-and-Barrel-alt-txt\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Proper punctuation is a must<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Use proper punctuation for your screen readers to know where to take a pause and read your content better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carnival Cruise Line<\/strong> takes the punctuation rule quite seriously. Each image has a distinct Alt text that makes it very easy for the subscriber to know what the image would be about. They sure have studied Alt text best practices thoroughly! (grin)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Include the text that is present in the image<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Include the exact phrase that appears in the image to make the email message obvious. The safe bet is to also have important information in the Alt text, that doesn\u2019t appear in the image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GAP <\/strong>includes the most noteworthy part from the image in their Alt text to grab the subscriber\u2019s attention on the discount offer even when the images are turned off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Gap<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Don\u2019t \u2018COPY and PASTE\u2019 image captions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most important alt text for images best practices is accessibility. Screen readers and display read the captions even for blocked images. Your Alt text should offer additional information that\u2019s not conveyed through the caption. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Count on context<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Just like your image and content should be relevant to each other, your Alt text also should consider context. You should contemplate on the information the reader is likely to get from the surrounding content and then write an Alt text that goes with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Topman <\/strong>includes straightforward Alt text and makes the email purpose clear in the first glimpse itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Topman-email\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. Quotes are not needed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s get a bit technical now! When you use Alt attribute in the HTML code of your email campaign, it uses double quotes to define the beginning and end of your Alt text. If you use quotes again, it will lead to broken HTML.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Distinguish the decorative images<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Write \u2018Decorative image\u2019 as Alt text if the image is just for email ornamentation. That would enable quicker email scanning for the subscriber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Test<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are certain email clients that don\u2019t show Alt text if it crosses the image width or if the image is linked. It is strongly recommended that you send out test emails across various email clients and check the Alt text by disabling the images. Create mobile responsive email templates<\/a> with Alt text clearly visible even on smaller screens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Style it a little<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Make your Alt text more artistic by adding colors and style to the font. However, system fonts would be the safest as they will render in all devices and email clients. You can even change the weight and size of the fancy font to make it classier for your audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh! That also reminds me of adding chocolate syrup to my plain vanilla ice-cream! (wink)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Innovate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your subscribers are always looking for something new in emails. Pixel art<\/a> is one such innovative idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out the pixel art used as creative alt text in the Mother\u2019s Day email sent by Bendon Lingerie<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"pixel<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Chubbies <\/strong>uses another creative idea for using Alt text. All their images begin with the Alt text \u201cdownload images, bud\u201d followed by relevant text displayed in different ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the following email, the word \u201cParty\u201d has been written in several different ways that match the Independence Day theme. Quite interesting, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chubbies-email\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Wrapping Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no need to disown images just because of the injustice imposed by the email clients. Use the best practices of Alt text as described and your subscribers will still love your emails regardless of the image blocking issue.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Alt text is an important element from email accessibility point of view. Learn more about it through this blog.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8824,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[381,10],"tags":[791,794,793,790,792],"class_list":["post-8819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-email-design","category-email-marketing","tag-alt-text-best-practices","tag-alt-text-in-email-marketing","tag-alt-text-in-emails","tag-creative-alt-text","tag-dos-and-donts-of-alt-text-in-emails"],"yoast_head":"\n10 Best Practices for using Alt-text in Emails<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are you bogged down by the issue of blocked images in emails? 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