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How many images do you have on your website? If you’re like most people, you probably have dozens if not hundreds. And how much thought have you put into optimizing those images for SEO? If you’re like most people, the answer is probably “not a lot.”
But optimizing your images for SEO is important, and in this post we’re going to tell you why. We’ll also explain what image compression is and how it works, so that by the end of this post you’ll know everything you need to start optimizing your website’s images for better search engine visibility.
What is image compression?
Image compression is a process of reducing the file size of an image without compromising its quality. The goal is to make the image file smaller so that it takes up less space on a disk or server, and can be downloaded faster by users.
There are two main types of image compression: lossless and lossy. Lossless compression maintains the original quality of the image but results in only a small reduction in file size, while lossy compression significantly reduces both file size and quality.
How does image compression work?
Lossless compression works by reducing the amount of information in an image file without affecting its quality. This is done by removing redundant data or by using algorithms to reduce the file size without losing any important information.
Lossy compression, on the other hand, uses algorithms that remove information from the image that is not essential to its quality. This usually results in a much smaller file size, but at the cost of some loss of image quality.
Why is image compression important for SEO?
There are two main reasons why image compression is important for SEO: page speed and file size.
Page speed is important because it is one of the factors that search engines use to rank websites. The faster your website loads, the higher it will rank in search results. And since images can make a website load slower, compressing them can help improve your website’s page speed and ranking.
File size is also important for SEO because it affects page speed. The larger the file size of an image, the longer it will take to load. And as we mentioned before, page speed is a factor that search engines use to rank websites. So by reducing the file size of your images, you can help improve your website’s ranking in search results.
Conclusion
Image compression is a process of reducing the file size of an image without compromising its quality. There are two main types of image compression: lossless and lossy. Lossless compression maintains the original quality of the image but results in only a small reduction in file size, while lossy compression significantly reduces both file size and quality.
Image compression is important for SEO because it helps improve website page speed and ranking. By compressing your images, you can make your website load faster and improve its position in search results.
Jamie Fallon is an SEO expert who lives life to the maximum, redlining every day on a rollercoaster straight to the grave.
In an SEO career of almost ten years, he’s seen it all, he’s done it all, and he’s not impressed: from white text on a white background to today, when you can have robots paint or write for you like some kind of sick science fiction come true.
No matter what life throws at him, Jamie always manages to come out on top. He’s an expert at seeing the silver lining in every cloud and making the best of every situation. His positive attitude and unshakable faith in himself have seen him through tough times. For some people, success goes to their heads; but Jamie never forgets what got him to wherever he thinks he is.
When he’s not busy gaming the system, you can find him writing angry thinkpieces on how Google is ruining everything good about the internet, or hanging out with his wife (pictured).
