SEO optimisation and A.I. based solution for ALT Text (images)?

[Digit_PaxMentis]

What would you advise for a print-on-demand shop.

Obviously we had been little bit sleepy, not to add the “Alt Text” of all images on each product page (370 products), collection pages (22) and blog articles (around 20).

What do you recommend ? We have connected the Google & Youtube App of Shopify, so we have integrated Google Analytics, Google Merchant Center (which can give us the integration to Google Shopping for free), Google Search Console, Google Ads and Google Tag manager (yet no tags written).

In Google Mechant Center we have corrected all hints (age, gender, image quality etc. …), so actually 4,040 product variants are indexed of 4,160 (some products like Digital Design are not allowed by Google).

Not clear what might be the right solution for adding now “ALT TEXT” to 1-2,000 images ?

We get the images mostly from other POD (Print-on-Demand) fulfillment services, e.g. Printify (as the biggest) and others, by automated import.

We have started since weeks to use Shopify’s A.I. Magic to clean the background, and create mockups, as following. Here we take the original images delivered by Printify with the models, and just create new backgrounds related to the theme of the print:

We also experiment at the moment to user other A.I. Tools we can create A.I. models and scenes with the original apparel types (T-Shirts, Sweatshirts etc. …), and then integrate the design image with an overlay. As done with this new LOTUS edition:

These newly created images then are being added manually to the relevant product page. In tendency we will get more this kind of promo images …

… w… which then also shall be used for PR campaigns on social media (Instagram, pinterest, x/Twitter, Reddit/RedditCommunity, TikTok):

Can you recommend an A.I. which understands the content of such images, in the context with the product info pages or blog articles ? - Even with Google’s Gemini its not possible to recognize persons, yet. Is this still a challenge for any A.I. ?

Tks in advance giving orientation !!

[EmmanuelFlossie]

Make sure you are aware that a lot of POD businesses get suspended from Google Merchant Center due to : https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6150127#:~:text=Unavailable%20promotions

And a suspension can happen at any time, even years after initial approval.

The only times I see PODs get approved is with thousands of reviews. Just giving you my FYI.

[Digit_PaxMentis]

Hello, Emmanuel F. - Thanks for the link. Yes, we know about this page (and use it as guide). And tks for the well wishing hint. In the relevant POD groups (facebook, forums etc. …) we are member we have noticed this tendency. Many of POD store owners are frustrated, and there is already the common understanding that generally every POD store wont be accepted by Google (Merchant Center). In my understanding a total nonsense … as we have at least till 2030 a potential growth rate of 20% annually in the POD market. Google would shoot into own knees if killing the SME market segment. So the question is: why are they doing it ? Google folks are pretty smart (with overavergae IQ) and they have always a reason to do what they do, otherwise maybe they are driven (subconsciously and) emotionally by affections like “blindfolded Google loyalty”, "greedyness for personal success (climbing up on Google’s career ladder). Who knows …

I assume that Google follows its own strategy (behind closed doors on highest management level) to dominate the markets, and to push now with its generative A.I. mainly own business interests to keep its position as giant, mainly by contracting big, big players, e.g. gigantic fashion brands like H&M, Zara etc. … who can spend millions and billions annually for google ads campaigns. Top 10 of the global fashion brands with revenues in 2023:

• Nike - $46.5 billion
• Adidas - $24 billion
• Louis Vuitton - $21.5 billion
• Zara - $21 billion
• H&M - $19.6 billion
• Uniqlo - $16.6 billion
• Chanel - $15.5 billion
• Hermès - $11.8 billion
• Gucci - $10.9 billion
• Cartier - $10.2 billion

I suppose Google is not interested in side-husslers, small businesses … not at all profitable. - The Google management likes to play their game with the “big ones”. Market concentration = market control. Very simple formula.

Even Google has been sued by US government, the EU, in Australia and in India, the payment of some billions fine are not really damaging them. They try so long they can till they get stopped.

And obviously its the American way of thinking and doing big bizz: “We take it all (alone)”.

As representative of “old Europe” we have seen this when Facebook came to Europe (E.g. Google EU headquarter same as FB headquarter was in my city, medic capital Hamburg in North Germany). Total ignorant, arrogant folks. Never possible to talk with somebody on phone or personally about any issues (e.g. copyright, IP, domain transfers etc. …).

These Silicon Valley giants have their own mentality, sadly. Sometimes it feels an own breed of humans when listening to them (seen lately at the Google Marketing congress in May 2024 in Dublin). - This habit and behaviour is far, far away from our European understanding of doing businesses, in fair partnership. -

Our young company is not a “side hussler”. We are a fully registered company since 1st January 2024 with legal status by government to do, what we do. With a background of more than 30 years Internet bizz. - We have different brands in different sectors of content creation (e.g. digital design, audio (for radio broadcasting), text writing for blogs). And I will not accept that Google with its unpredictable tactical damages or even destroys my business, brand value, customer relationships etc. … also Google has to follow international laws and practises of honest business procedures, as the law books clearly define it. The misuse by Google as monopolist is by far overstepping a “red line”.

[Coach_David]

Hi @Digit_PaxMentis ,

For efficient SEO optimization, especially for ALT text in images, implementing an AI-based solution can be beneficial. You can check out AltText.ai. I use it for several client sites and I’m impressed.

It can generate contextually appropriate alt text for your images on product, collection, and blog pages. While AI is still evolving in recognizing persons within images, a tool like this will simplify the process, saving you time while enhancing your site’s accessibility and search engine performance.

[JeffNaperAI]

From what I’ve seen on larger catalogs, the best workflow is something like: let AI generate initial alt text at scale, then spot check a sample and manually fix edge cases like very complex images or lifestyle shots where context really matters.

As long as the AI is focused on accessibility best practices, you get decent SEO side benefits without gaming the system.

On Shopify, people are using apps such as Naper AI’s Image Alt Text generator to do exactly this for all product and collection media instead of editing each image by hand.