google image search
Google launches new image search ads
Jul
Google Images new design
Google rolled-out a new design for its image search product Google Images. It consists of a tiled layout with instant scrolling between pages and larger thumbnails.

The new design enables you to scroll up to a thousand images in one page. Larger thumbnail previews on the results page and the hover pane that appears when you mouse over a thumbnail reminds me of Bing's image search, as you can see below:

New "Image Search Ads"
Google has also launched a new type of ad format called “Image Search Ads” that allows advertisers to include text AND thumbnail images in ads, above regular image search results.

How to optimize your images for Google image search (part 4)?
Jun
We already gave you 3 tips on optimization in Google Image Search
Today, we explain you how to check if your job on optimization of images is working, which means to see how many images on your website are indexed by Google. Like this, you can easely monitore the results of your hard work!
Let's see how to do (very easy..)
You just need to go on Google Image Search and type in the search box: site:picturesofchina.org (picturesofchina.org needs to be replaced by your own url)
The site search operator will show you all (almost all, because actually Google will never show everything you want to know..) the images indexed by their servers. For example, here is a list of images indexed on Pictures of China.
How to optimize your images for Google image search (part 3)?
Jun
We have already given you two tips on how to optimize your images on Google Image Search, here is another one.
Make Your Image folder accessible to search engines
Be sure that your robots.txt file does not limit search engines from accessing your images files. As a matter of fact, this is very important if you want that your images got ranked on Google.
Moreover, if you want to improve your ranking in Google Image Search, you can also add a non javascript link (direct link) to the source of your picture.
Like this, Google will immediatly know where to find it.
If you are afraid someone could steal your image, then add a copyright on it, but do not protect the whole content of the directory, as you are sure Google will never find you...
How to optimize your images for Google image search (part 2)?
May
We already gave a tip on ranking your images on Google, here is the second one.
Chose the right name for your images
If your website talks about food, and if you use an image in an article (eg. the photo of a delicious salad), instead of using the original name of the file DSC100090508003.jpg, you should change it in caesar_salad_lunch_menu.jpg.
This, for two reasons:
- First, Google will rank your image in Google Images Search, which will create traffic on your website
- Second, Google is clever and understands that the image you use is related to your article, which will allow him to give your page a better ranking
More tips on Search Engine Optimization
How to optimize your images for Google image search?
May
One tip (more tips will come later) is to use the "Alt text" and "Title tag"
This is one of the most important part of image optimization and you should write a keyword or a phrase which is accurate and relevant to the image and to your webpage. The "alt text" should be inserted in the code for your image file as well as the title.
For example: <img src="filename.gif" alt="Write your alt text here" title="This is the title of your image"/>
Actually, the alt text will be used by the browser (and therefore by the search engine) to understand the content of your webpage and to know why you used an image.
Also vocal browsers (for disabled people) will read the alt text of your image
Basically, the alt text will be displayed if your image cannot be shown, and the title tag will appear when your mouse comes over the image.
