Martin Splitt (Developer Advocate, Webmaster Trends Analyst Team at Google) offered a deep insight into the often underestimated world of image optimization for SEO. His presentation was a successful blend of technical knowledge and practical tips.
Image compression and formats
Martin explained in detail the difference between raster and vector images and emphasized the importance of proper image compression. His succinct quote, "Compression = the art of throwing information away," highlighted the challenge of finding the right balance between image quality and file size. He elaborated on the differences between lossy and lossless compression and explained which method is most appropriate in which situations.
Importance of image attributes
"Src and alt are the absolute minimum!" Martin recommended resolving image sizes directly in the HTML and warned against overreliance on external libraries or CDNs. He also emphasized the importance of width and height specifications, oman phone number data especially in the context of lazy loading, to avoid layout shifts.
A key point of the lecture was the importance of context for images. "Images should belong in a context. Otherwise, what is the value of an image?" he explained. This statement underscores the importance of viewing images not merely as decorative elements, but as an integral part of the content.
Practical tips and quick wins
Martin concluded his presentation with a number of practical tips:
Always set the dimensions of images to minimize CLS
Experiment with different compression settings and formats to find the optimal balance between quality and file size
Be careful with lazy loading, especially with regard to the viewport, to ensure that important images are loaded in time
Try new image formats such as WebP and AVIF, which often offer better compression at the same quality
Martin recommended ImageMagick as a particularly useful tool for image editing and optimization .
Conclusion
SMX Advanced 24 once again demonstrated the dynamics and complexity of the SEO world. From the latest developments in AI-powered search to the increasing importance of user experience, the conference offered a comprehensive overview of current and future trends.
It will be exciting to see how these developments will impact our daily SEO work in the coming months.