Google recently updated its image SEO best practices guide with new advice on maintaining consistent URLs when sharing images across your website.
Focus on Crawl Budget
The key update emphasizes the importance of using the same URL for images that appear on multiple pages within your site. Google suggests:
“Consistently reference the image with the same URL to optimize the site’s overall crawl budget. This allows Google to cache and reuse the image efficiently without redundant requests.”
By using identical image URLs, Google only needs to crawl and index the image once, saving time and resources for both Google and your website.
Significance of the Update
For website managers, this update addresses a critical resource allocation concern related to crawl budget limitations.
Crawl budget represents the maximum number of pages Google will scan on your site within a specific timeframe, underscoring the need for strategic utilization.
When the same image is linked with different URLs across your site, Google may redundantly crawl identical images, wasting resources.
Implementing the Advice
If your website features numerous images, follow these steps to ensure consistent URLs:
- Review how images are currently linked on your site
- Establish a standardized URL structure for all images
- Update website templates to incorporate consistent image URLs
- Consider utilizing a centralized image management system
- Monitor crawl stats in Google Search Console to track improvements
Future Implications
Google’s update aims to support websites in optimizing crawling efficiency as visual content becomes more prevalent.
For SEO practitioners, this serves as a reminder that image optimization goes beyond alt text, ensuring that images enhance search visibility without compromising site performance.
