A small step with a big SEO payoff

Adding alt text to your Shopify images isn’t exactly the most exciting job on your list.

It’s one of those behind-the-scenes tasks that can feel a bit… meh.

But here’s the truth. If you care about getting found on Google (especially in Google Images), then alt text is not optional. It’s a quiet little SEO booster that improves your visibility, accessibility, and professionalism, all in one go.

And the best part? Once you get into the flow, it’s fast and painless.

Let’s break down how to add alt text in Shopify, why it matters, and how to do it right without sounding like a robot.


What is alt text, exactly?

Alt text (short for “alternative text”) is a short written description of an image. It serves two purposes:

  1. Accessibility – screen readers read alt text aloud to people using assistive devices. This makes your site more inclusive.

  2. SEO – Google can’t “see” images the way humans do. Alt text gives it context, which helps your products show up in search results.

Basically, alt text helps your products get seen and bought by more people.


How to write good alt text in Shopify

Let’s get this out of the way. Alt text is not a place to keyword-stuff.

Your goal is to describe what’s in the image, in a natural and helpful way. Imagine describing it to someone on the phone who can’t see it.

Here’s a simple formula:

What is it? + Key visual details + Optional keyword (if it fits naturally)

Examples:

❌ “screenshot123.jpg” – unhelpful and meaningless

❌ “wedding invitations modern elegant minimalist stylish UK buy now” – keyword soup

✅ “Flat lay of minimalist wedding invitation suite with gold foil accents” – natural, helpful, searchable

Aim for 5 to 15 words. Keep it short, specific, and clear.


How to add alt text to images in Shopify

There are a few ways to do this depending on the type of image. Here’s the breakdown.

✅ For product images:

  1. Go to Shopify Admin → Products
  2. Click on the product you want to edit
  3. Scroll to the Media section
  4. Click on the product image and add the ALT text where it says 'Alt text'
  5. Click Save

Do this for each product image. Yes, even the close-ups and the lifestyle shots.


✅ For collection images:

  1. Go to Products → Collections
  2. Choose the collection you want to edit
  3. Under the image, click Edit
  4. Click 'Edit ALT text'
  5. Add your alt text
  6. Click Done, then Save


✅ For pages and blog post images:

  1. Go to Online Store → Pages or Blog Posts
  2. Edit the post or page
  3. Click on the image and then click Edit
  4. Add your alt text in the “Image alt text” box
  5. Click Apply, then Save


Bonus: Bulk edit your alt text

If you’ve got a big store, you can speed things up using Shopify’s bulk editor.

  1. In your Products section, select multiple items
  2. Click Edit products
  3. In the editor, click 'Columns' and ensure 'Product media' is selected
  4. Now you can double-click on the images for each product, update the ALT text and move onto the next efficiently.

Just don’t let “bulk” mean “lazy”. Each image should have its own alt text that actually reflects what’s shown.


Should you use a Shopify app for alt text?

There are apps that auto-generate alt text based on your product titles or templates. They’re fine for speed, but they’re not perfect. Most don’t capture the nuances of your photos, which can make your alt text vague or repetitive.

If you do use an app, we recommend reviewing and manually adjusting the key product pages, bestsellers, and any images that could genuinely benefit your SEO (like flat lays or unique lifestyle shots).


Don’t skip this step

Alt text is one of those tiny tweaks that separates a DIY site from one that’s actually built for growth.

And if you’re selling online, SEO matters. The more you help Google understand your content, the easier it is for the right people to find you — whether they’re typing in keywords or browsing images on their lunch break.

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