Let’s be real—when you’re running a Shopify store, you’ve got a lot on your plate. Between managing products, updating your storefront, answering customer inquiries, and keeping an eye on sales, it’s easy to overlook the small stuff.
But here’s the thing: sometimes, it’s the small stuff—like adding alt text to your images—that makes a huge difference.
In this guide, I’m going to walk you through what alt text is, why it matters for SEO and accessibility, and most importantly, how to add it properly in your Shopify store. I’ll even share some tools that can help you automate the boring bits, because time is money, right?
What Is Alt Text, Really?
Alt text (short for alternative text) is a short description of an image that’s added to your website’s code. It does two main things:
- It tells search engines what the image is about—since Google can’t see your images, it reads the alt text to figure out if your image is relevant to a search query.
- It helps people who are visually impaired understand what’s on your site by giving screen readers something to describe.
So yeah—alt text isn’t just some nerdy SEO trick. It’s also about creating a better, more inclusive shopping experience.
Why Alt Text Is Crucial for Shopify SEO
Still not convinced it’s worth your time? Let’s break down exactly why alt text matters:
- Improves search rankings: Optimized images help your product pages rank higher in Google Image Search, which can drive more traffic to your store.
- Boosts visibility for long-tail keywords: You can target niche search terms right in your image descriptions.
- Enhances accessibility: People using screen readers rely on alt text to understand visual content. Good alt text makes your store more usable and trustworthy.
- Future-proofs your store: Google is only getting smarter about user experience signals. Alt text is part of that.
How to Add Alt Text to Your Shopify Store (Step-by-Step)
For Product Images
- Go to your Shopify Admin Panel.
- Click on Products and select the product you want to edit.
- Scroll to the Media section and click on the image.
- A preview will pop up—click Add alt text.
- Type in a short but descriptive sentence about the image.
- Click Save.
That’s it! You just leveled up your SEO.
For Theme Images (Home Page, Sliders, etc.)
- In Shopify, go to Online Store > Themes.
- Click Customize next to your live theme.
- Click the section where the image lives (like a hero banner or featured collection).
- Click the image block, then look for the Alt text field.
- Write your description and click Save.
Pro tip: Sometimes you’ll need to check if your theme supports alt text for certain images. If you don’t see the option, you might need a quick theme tweak or help from a Shopify dev.
What Does Good Alt Text Look Like?
Here’s the golden rule: write like you’re explaining the image to someone who can’t see it.
Good Example:
“Brown leather crossbody bag with gold buckle on white background.”
Bad Example:
“Bag” or “Image1234.jpg”
You see the difference, right? The good version is clear, specific, and gives context. The bad version says nothing useful to a user or search engine.
Alt Text Writing Tips (That Actually Work)
Here are some quick tips to make your alt text hit the mark:
1. Describe what’s in the image
Don’t just say “shoe”—say “white running shoe with blue accents.”
2. Keep it short and sweet
Aim for 100-125 characters. Long alt text gets cut off by screen readers.
3. Use your keywords—but naturally
Don’t just stuff “buy running shoes” in every image. Use keywords where it makes sense.
4. Avoid repeating the same alt text
If you have 10 photos of the same item from different angles, describe each one slightly differently.
5. Don’t say “image of” or “photo of”
Screen readers already know it’s an image—just get to the good stuff.
Automate It (Because You’ve Got Better Things to Do)
Okay, so if you’re thinking, “This is great and all, but I have hundreds of products,” I hear you.
The good news? You don’t have to do it all by hand. There are some awesome Shopify apps that will help you add alt text in bulk—and even keep it updated.
Best Alt Text Automation Apps for Shopify
Alt Text by Hextom (Alt Text SEO Optimizer)
Automatically generates and updates alt text based on templates. You can set rules like “Product title + brand + color.”
Cost: Free plan available; paid starts at $4.99/month
SEO Image Optimizer by Booster Apps
Does more than just alt text—also compresses images. Great if you want an all-in-one image SEO solution.
Cost: Free basic plan, pro features from $24.99/month
Image Optimizer & Compression by TinyIMG
Fast, clean interface. Lets you bulk optimize images and alt text. Allows manual edits as well, if you want control.
Cost: Free plan; premium starts around $2.49/month
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even with good intentions, it’s easy to mess this up. Here are a few things to watch out for:
Stuffing keywords
Google sees through it. Keep it real.
Leaving default alt text like “IMG_3482”
That’s lazy, and it’s doing zero for your SEO.
Copy-pasting the same alt text everywhere
Each image should tell its own little story.
Forgetting about accessibility
SEO is important, but you’re also helping real people navigate your store. Don’t cut corners.
Is It Worth the Effort?
Absolutely. Think of alt text as one of those high-impact, low-effort wins for your store. A few extra minutes per product can improve your visibility on Google, boost accessibility, and create a better user experience.
Plus, once you’ve got your workflow or automation tool in place, it becomes second nature.
Final Thoughts
Alt text might seem like a small detail, but in e-commerce, small details matter. Especially when they help customers find your products and enjoy your site—no matter how they’re browsing.
If you haven’t already, start adding descriptive, keyword-smart alt text to your images today. Whether you do it manually, or automate it with an app, you’ll be making a meaningful improvement to your Shopify store’s SEO and accessibility.
And that’s a win for you and your customers.
