Anyone working on optimizing their website knows how important it is to optimize images. But do you know if you’re using the right types of image files across your site? Below, we’ll explain the differences between the three major image file types and when it’s best to use which.
Main features:
JPEG’s use of compression is great for most webpages because it reduces page load time – which is a search engine ranking factor. Use JPEG files for real-life photos (digital cameras save their images as JPEGs by default), as well as images that contain lots of color and light/dark shading.
Main features:
Since GIFs use a limited color range, their file sizes are small and do not require compression. However, this means they are not great for displaying details. Use GIFs for simple images with few colors, small icons, and of course, animations.
Main features:
Because they display so much detail and use lossless compression, PNG files tend to be large. They are best used for logos that use transparency and fading effects, or for other complex images. Just be aware that the larger file will take longer to load.
Once you’ve decided which image file types to use, you can improve their SEO performance by optimizing the metadata for the images. For better results, create an image sitemap to help search engines index the images on your website.