As digital competition rises in Kenya, images are no longer just decoration they’re powerful tools to attract customers through search. Whether you’re in fashion, real estate, cars, or e-commerce, optimizing your images for search engines can help you reach more people, especially with the growing use of Google Lens and other visual search tools.
Here’s what you need to know to get your images working harder for your business.
1. ALT Text: Tell Search Engines What the Image Shows
Search engines can’t “see” your images—they rely on text descriptions. That’s where ALT text (alternative text) comes in.
ALT text is the short sentence or phrase that explains what an image is about. When you add ALT text to your images, it helps Google understand them and match them with relevant searches.
📌 Example: If you run a car hire business in Nairobi and you post a photo of a Toyota Prado, your ALT text should be something like:
“Black Toyota Prado 4×4 for Rent in Nairobi”
This helps your image appear in Google Images when someone searches for Prado rentals in Nairobi.
2. File Names Matter More Than You Think
Most people upload images with names like IMG_8733.jpg. This tells Google nothing.
Instead, use descriptive file names with keywords that describe the image. If your image is of a red dress for sale in Nairobi, rename it to:
red-dress-nairobi-fashion.jpg before uploading.
This adds another keyword layer that helps search engines categorize and rank your content.
3. Compress Your Images – Speed = SEO
Slow-loading pages hurt your ranking in Google. One major reason websites load slowly is large image files.
To avoid this:
- Resize images to fit your website (don’t upload 4000px-wide images if your website only displays 800px).
- Use image compressors like TinyJPG or ImageCompressor.com to reduce file size without losing quality.
A fast-loading site keeps visitors happy and improves your SEO score especially on mobile.
4. Add Location-Based Keywords for Local Search
If your business serves a local area (e.g., car rental in Westlands, boutique in Kiambu), include location keywords in your image file names and ALT text.
Examples:
- File name: toyota-vanguard-nairobi-rental.jpg
- ALT text: “Toyota Vanguard SUV for rent in Westlands, Nairobi”
This increases your chance of showing up in Google Image results when users search for services near them.
5. Structured Data Helps Google Understand Context (Without Code)
Structured data is a way to give Google more info about what your images are showing. While this is normally done with code, many WordPress plugins (like Yoast or RankMath) handle this automatically. What matters is that your product or listing pages include images, titles, and short descriptions that match the keywords your audience is searching for. This helps your images appear in rich results like image carousels or product previews on Google.
6. Why Google Lens & Visual Search Matter in Kenya
People now use their phone cameras to search. For example, someone can snap a photo of a dress, a car, or a house and search for similar items using Google Lens.
If your images are optimized, your business can show up in these visual results even if the user didn’t type a word.
This trend is especially useful for:
- Clothing stores: Matching styles.
- Car listings: Showing models and pricing.
- Real estate: Helping clients spot properties that look like what they want.
Image SEO isn’t just for tech experts it’s something every Kenyan business can apply right now. With just a few adjustments like adding descriptive text, using better file names, compressing images, and adding location keywords, your photos can become a powerful traffic driver for your website.
As more people use visual search tools like Google Lens, your optimized images could be the reason a new customer finds you before your competitors.
Need Help Setting Up Image SEO?
Let Onfrey guide you from setting up to optimizing your visuals for search.
Visit us: www.onfrey.com
Email: [email protected]
Call: +254 768 644 458
Get a consultation today and start converting views into sales!