There’s an often-overlooked feature on Instagram that can enhance the accessibility and discoverability of your posts: alt text. If you haven’t used it yet, you should consider using it. This post from MiniTool MovieMaker, a Windows video maker, will explain what alt text on Instagram is, why it’s important, and how to use it effectively.
What Is Alt Text on Instagram?
Alt text, which stands for alternative text, is a brief and descriptive text that conveys the content of an image. It is often displayed when an image loads slowly or fails to load. So, viewers will be able to read your alt text instead of seeing the photo.
This feature is particularly helpful for Instagram users with visual impairments or other disabilities. They can use a screen recorder to listen to text descriptions of on-screen images. Otherwise, without alt text on Instagram, such users might not understand what your image is about.
Why Instagram Alt Text Matters?
Firstly, Instagram alt text is crucial as it increases the accessibility of your posts on the platform. As we mentioned earlier, by adding alt text to your posts, you can ensure that users with visual impairments and other disabilities can access your content and have a seamless experience.
Besides improving accessibility, adding alt text can help boost the performance of your Instagram posts by improving your SEO (search engine optimization). Alt text that includes relevant keywords can help Instagram’s algorithm identify your post as relevant, making it more likely to be recommended to relevant users. Therefore, writing descriptive alt text with relevant keywords can help increase the reach of your posts and attract more followers.
How to Add Alt Text to Instagram Posts?
You can add alt text to your Instagram posts either before or after publishing them.
Add Alt Text to New Posts:
To add alt text to new posts, follow these steps:
- Launch the Instagram app on your phone and tap the plus icon at the bottom bar to create a new post.
- Select the photo you’d like to post and tap on Next.
- On the page where you can add captions, scroll down to Advanced Settings and tap it.
- Tap the Write alt text option and enter your text in the box.
- Tap on Done (iPhone) or the checkmark icon (Android) to save your alt text.
- Finally, tap Share to publish your post.
Add Alt Text to Existing Posts:
To add alt text to existing posts, do the following steps:
- Go to the post you want to add alt text to and tap the three-dot menu above the post.
- Select Edit and tap the Edit Alt Text link in the bottom-right corner of the image.
- Type the description of the image in the text box and tap Done or the checkmark icon to save the edit.
- Tap Done again to finish editing your post.
Tips on How to Write Great Alt Text for Instagram?
Writing great alt text for Instagram is not difficult, but it requires some practice. Here are some tips to help you learn how to use alt text on Instagram effectively:
- Try to summarize the main idea and details of your image or video in a clear and concise way.
- If your post is related to a topic, niche, or trend, use relevant keywords and hashtags in your alt text to help your post rank higher in search results.
- Do not repeat the same words or information that you’ve already used in your caption, hashtags, or location.
- Avoid using filler words like “image of”, “picture of”, or “photo of” that do not add any value to your alt text.
- Keep it short and brief by using simple and easy-to-understand words or phrases.
- Make sure your alt text is free of spelling and grammatical errors that could confuse or mislead your audience.
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Conclusion
Alt text on Instagram is a powerful tool that can make your content more accessible and discoverable. By taking a few extra moments to add descriptive alt text to your posts, you can reach a wider audience and ensure that everyone can enjoy your content.