Renaming Images
Benefits to Renaming Images
According to Google’s image publishing guidelines, “...a filename that is meaningless and consists of a series of numbers or other unrelated information is also meaningless to Google.” Yet, a well-named photo -- coupled with a
descriptive alt tag -- can rank in an image search and add additional optimization to help the entire page rank higher.
Google Aside...
- Naming folders and files in a consistent, logical and predictable way means that images can be located, identified and retrieved by yourself, Hibu colleagues, or the client, as quickly and easily as possible.
- Ideally, the image file name describes, at a glance, what the image is and where it's located, making it easier to browse files more effectively and efficiently.
Image File Naming Best Practices
Search engines can index image files (PNGs, JPGs, SVGs, GIFs, etc) . For less competitive searches the image file, if named correctly, could reach the first page of Google in a blended search result.
When naming an image file follow these best practices:
- use-lowercase-and-dashes-instead-of-spaces-periods-or-slashes
- Files should be named consistently
- File names should be short but descriptive
- Do not include Co, Inc, Corp, Ltd, LLC, etc.
- Do not include special characters or spaces in a file name (i.e. $,#,!,+, ' etc.)
- Replace an ampersand in a business name with -and-
- Jimi & Stevie's Guitar Shop
- jimi-and-stevies-guitar-shop-logo.jpg
- Add a number at end of file name when adding two or more of the same file type (i.e. gallery images). Start numbering with -01 rather than -1 as this will sequence the files in order when sorting by name after the tenth file is added. Pls note, the number does not need represent the sequential order of how the images are ordered/displayed on the page.
- jimi-and-stevies-guitar-shop-gallery-01.jpg
- jimi-and-stevies-guitar-shop-gallery-02.jpg
- jimi-and-stevies-guitar-shop-gallery-03.jpg
- jimi-and-stevies-guitar-shop-gallery-04.jpg
- jimi-and-stevies-guitar-shop-gallery-05.jpg
- Note, if images are used several times throughout the site (homepage, gallery, video splash, etc.), it is not necessary to create multiple versions to accommodate the different naming conventions.
Image Naming Conventions
At the core, all client supplied or Hibu added image files (PNGs, JPGs, SVGs, GIFs, etc.), icons, SVGs, favicon, etc., will include name of business, type of file, and page and / or number if applicable.
Note:
- The numbers do not need to represent the order of the images
- Check spelling
- Page = page name (navigation label)
| FIle Type / Purpose | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hero | name-of-business-hero-page | joes-pizza-hero-home |
| joes-pizza-hero-menu | ||
| joes-pizza-hero-gallery | ||
| joes-pizza-hero-about | ||
| joes-pizza-hero-contact | ||
| Slider | name-of-business-hero-slider-page-## | mikes-roofing-hero-slider-01 |
| mikes-roofing-hero-slider-02 | ||
| mikes-roofing-hero-slider-03 | ||
| Gallery | name-of-business-gallery-## | rachels-nail-factory-gallery-01 |
| rachels-nail-factory-gallery-02 | ||
| rachels-nail-factory-gallery-03 | ||
| rachels-nail-factory-gallery-04 | ||
| rachels-nail-factory-gallery-05 | ||
| Client logo | name-of-business-logo | goldbergs-furniture-logo |
| Other logos / icons | name-of-business-logo-name-of-manufacturer | kenny-and-son-builders-logo-bbb |
| kenny-and-son-builders-logo-angies-list-2019 | ||
| kenny-and-son-builders-logo-angies-list-2020 | ||
| kenny-and-son-builders-logo-homeadvisor | ||
| kenny-and-son-builders-logo-gaf | ||
| kenny-and-son-builders-logo-owens-corning | ||
| kenny-and-son-builders-logo-anchor-core | ||
| Favicon | name-of-business-favicon | murrays-pub-favicon |
| Video splash | name-of-business-video (when using same image) | oaks-tree-service-video |
| name-of-business-video-pg (when using different image) | hartmans-kitchen-video-home | |
| hartmans-kitchen-video-breakfast-menu | ||
| hartmans-kitchen-video-lunch-menu | ||
| hartmans-kitchen-video-dinner-menu | ||
| hartmans-kitchen-video-dinner-menu |
| FIle Type / Purpose | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Team photo | name-of-business-name-of-team-member | santino-giovani-law-trey-anastasio |
| santino-giovani-law-jon-fishman | ||
| santino-giovani-law-mike-gordon | ||
| santino-giovani-law-page-mcconnell | ||
| Body / content image | name-of-business-content-page-## | bills-plumbing-content-home-01 |
| bills-plumbing-content-home-02 | ||
| bills-plumbing-content-home-03 | ||
| bills-plumbing-content-water-heater-01 | ||
| bills-plumbing-content-water-heater-02 | ||
| bills-plumbing-content-water-heater-03 | ||
| bills-plumbing-content-emergency-service-01 | ||
| Callout images / icons | name-of-business-callout-page-## | cartys-craft-shop-callout-home-01 |
| cartys-craft-shop-callout-home-02 | ||
| cartys-craft-shop-callout-home-03 | ||
| cartys-craft-shop-callout-model-trains-01 | ||
| cartys-craft-shop-callout-art-supplies-01 | ||
| cartys-craft-shop-callout-floral-01 | ||
| cartys-craft-shop-callout-yarn-01 | ||
| cartys-craft-shop-callout-fabric-01 | ||
| Menu images / icons (only one menu) | name-of-business-menu-## | windsor-diner-menu-01 |
| windsor-diner-menu-02 | ||
| windsor-diner-menu-03 | ||
| windsor-diner-menu-04 | ||
| Menu images / icons (multiple-menus) | name-of-business-menu-menu-name-## | ronnies-deli-menu-breakfast-01 |
| ronnies-deli-menu-breakfast-02 | ||
| ronnies-deli-menu-breakfast-03 | ||
| ronnies-deli-menu-lunch-01 | ||
| ronnies-deli-menu-lunch-02 | ||
| ronnies-deli-menu-lunch-03 |