Website traffic - coding photos

Hi everyone, I'm sorry if this is the wrong forum, but I've searched

the web and can't find answers.

 

I'm in the process of keywording my website and I just found out

that I can keyword individual photographs as well as the page

itself. But I'm uncertain about something.

 

I have the option of keywording photos in Photoshop, or adding

keyywords in HTML to the image after it has been imported into my

web design program (NetObjects Fusion MX). Since all photos have

been imported already, the latter option would be ideal for me (less

work).

 

I don't know which method is more effective, or if there is any

difference. Or should I do both to be the most effective?

 

If you can point me to a good site which could answer this question

for me, I would appreciate it! I've looked all over the web for this

specific issue but have found no comparisons.

 

Thanks and have a wonderful weekend!

Gloria

 

www.gloriahopkins.com

Most search engines only glance over keywords, as in general they can't be trusted. For thing

like Google image search, putting the caption inside the EXIF info may help, but I honestly

don't know.

 

The best way to drive traffic to your website long term is making clear html pages that

contain a good caption of the photo. Secondly, it also helps to name the photo properly, so

instead of "P0001234.jpg", go for "guy-falling-off-bike-into-pond.jpg", on an html page

with the file name (you guessed it) "guy-falling-off-bike-into-pond.html".

Wow, thanks a lot! And thanks for replying so fast! I'm here in the middle of a big update and that's going to change some things.

 

Man, this is great - thanks again!!

 

Gloria

Hi Gloria,<P>

 

I think Peter Krogh's <A HREF = http://www.thedambook.com> The DAM Book</a> is going to be a big help to you with this and other related issues.

I'm not sure what you mean by "keywording" photos. Can you explain? I only know of three ways on Web pages, through the name/label identifying on the Web page, the file name in the "src=" code, and through the "alt=" tag. I don't know which search engine uses (filename or alt tag). It's recommended you use an alt tag for Web page (blind) readers and folks turning images off. Some browsers use the alt tag for mouse over display. As of the work it depends how comfortable you are with html code. I've always found it easier to code direct than use a software package, and all it takes is a simple word editor.

Thanks, Scott. In my web design software, I am able to assign keywords to individual photos. For example, I select the photo, right-click to bring up the properties dialogue box, and enter keywords in the appropriate space.

 

Alternatively, in photoshop, under 'file' 'file info' you can assign to the file keywords, copyright info and all kinds of other goodies. I was just wondering which is the most effective way to do the keywording - what will search engines look for and see first. Thanks for all the tips on other ways to do it. They are very helpful as well.

 

And thanks to you Ellis - most helpful, as always! That looks like a fantastic book.

When you get some Web pages on-line, I'd like to see them because I like your work and I'd like to see how the keywords are embedded in the html code. I'm curious how either Photoshop or Web software does this because it sounds as if it's associating it with the image and not the html code, unless it's assigning it as metadata in the Web header (meta name="keywords") which search engines likely use to associate the Web page. One way to test it is to do two photos with each one and see what happens in the final Web page. I'm curious.

Hi again Scott: Here is a page with a Photoshop keyworded image on a blank, non keyworded page that I created this morning. I don't see the keywords I entered in photoshop. But, if you download the photo, click on 'file info' you should see everything I entered.

 

http://www.gloriahopkins.com/html/photoshop_test_page.html

 

I was reading PS help and I think this "file info" information, including keywords, exists so their internal browser can find, arrange, and categorize photos within Photoshop. I'm not sure it has anything to do with web search engines. I am digging deeper.

 

Glad you like my work, thanks :)

Gloria

Thanks, nice painting. I don't recall if you said you made your trip up here. Anyway, I don't see any keywords about the image in the Web code. Can I make some suggestions? Ok? First, trying use filenames that match the image and perhaps sequenced for your records. Using "pictureXX" won't help the image search engines or your accounting with Web stats unless you translate it to what you know. Second, use the alt="words inserted here" tag in the "<img" line for the image. It puts a label on the image for mouse over with some browsers and it complies with the ADA 508C rule and W3C standards. Third, use <meta name="keywords" "insert words here" in the header lines to describe the Web page. Search engines use the metadata to find and rank pages. Sometimes comment lines help when working with Web code where you can search for it in the code.

 

Thanks for the Web page. It's interesting to see how Web page developement software packages write things. I was always a nuts and bolts Web developer working directly with the files with a Unix line editor (vi) or from script-generated Web pages and insert files. Do you use the on-line Web page check programs? They're excellent for W3C standards and continuity.

 

Just some thoughts for the day. The Mountain is out and clear too. Sorry, couldn't resist since I see it from my window.

Ah, you know Mt. Rainier! Awesome. I did that painting for my boyfriend�s birthday. He�s seriously considering climbing it and I am trying to encourage him in whatever small ways that I can. I told him to put the painting in a place where he can see it every day :-)

 

I didn�t know that you were aware of my relocation to the west. I apologize if I have forgotten some past dialogue! Good Lord � that�s baaaad ... and I�m sorry.

 

Gas prices are prohibitive and the �roadtrip� is a luxury, hence, I must pick a spot to live and just go. No wandering around for me-at least until they make hybrid RVs! Yea!

 

Thanks for the extra tips on coding. I�ve read them but I�m going to have to wait until the morning to put them to practice. Too much Sunday brunch � and all that goes with it :-)

 

Thanks again! You�re awesome,

Xoxoxoxo

Gloria

Sorta' off-topic. "Seriously considering" climbing Mt. Rainier? You have to decide one way or the other. It's a hard climb, and it's mostly a mental exercise if you succeed. You have to be fit, but past a certain level, it's the ability of your body to work at high altitudes (eg. above Camp Muir) and your mental state. The range of people who have summitted is wide in age, fitness and skills and the range of those not succeeding is equally as wide. Anyway, if he goes there are rules (see NPS Web site http://www.nps.gov/mora under activities and climbing), and you have to make a reservation. Unless you're experienced you should make a reservaiton with a guide service (RMI is the largest at http://www.rmiguide.com/ but there a other smaller and individual guide services). There also several excellent book on the subject. Good luck.

Your concern is touching. Thanks for that. I'm concerned too, very much so, but trying to be encouraging.

 

He's pretty experienced. He has only four "fourteeners" in Colorado left to climb - I think he's been doing this about seven years. He climbs with a very elite group of climbers there in Colorado (one is going to K2 - one did Everest), so I'm sure he's learned a lot from their practices, and he is very tough physically.

 

Seriously considering it is a good term because there are serious things to consider. He has to find the right guide(s), and really, from what I've heard, you have to take the time to learn to climb that particular mountain. I've heard it can be pretty dangerous if you don't know it. There's, like you said, the mental element, time of year, and a dozen other things to consider.

 

I appreciate your help, and your concern.

 

Have a great day!

Gloria

If you want Google images to find your pics, keywords should be part of the jpg filename, alt ext etc. Text near your images, page titles and filenames of a hosting page can also have an impact.

 

I have sold rights to several images which were found through Google Images.

 

"Boston Aerial" is an image search which currently brings up my pic in the no.1 spot.

 

"hawk eating squirrel" is another, on PHOTO.net mind you, which comes up No. 1 and has sold.

 

Many photographers make the mistake of worrying to much about the aesthetics of their Web pages and are less concerned with making their images easy-to-be-found. People don't buy your web pages. The might buy rights to your images if they can find them.

 

Descriptive text is very important, on pages, around the image, alt text, and in filenames, probably more important than any exif keywords.

 

Once you place relevant text with images, give Google Images a few months to "place" them.

 

Some photo buyers might search the Web, not images. Make sure the pages describe your pictures.

 

A search for "aerial photographs massachusetts" brings up my page at the top because of the text, not exif keywords.

 

Good Luck, Jim

 

http://www.saugus.net/Photos/

Another thing I forgot to include. When making links to large versions of your pictures, make descriptive text be the link, not just the thumbnail.

 

Some of the rambling content I added to this page:

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00F2Gz

 

if applied, might help bring you more traffic.

 

Jim

You might consider adding contact info to a border around your pictures.

 

People might be more inclined to contact you about usage or print purchase if the picture shows how to reach you...

...Like this one:

 

http://www.saugus.net/Photos/images/flume_brook_new_hampshire.jpg

J.

as a web designer, i cant think of any way google would be able to reach the EXIF info in a

jpg. i think what you're looking for is what the others have said- use descriptive info in the

ALT tags.

 

not only does google use this info, but it provides info for blind people when they surf the

web. they use web readers to read the content of a web page, and if no text has been entered

into the ALT tag, they may not get the full effect of the page.