Key Summary
Search engines can’t “see” the information hidden in your images. If your pricing tables, service details, or product descriptions exist only as visuals, you’re making it harder for Google to understand what your business offers. Instead, hardcode key information into your site’s text to make it crawlable, searchable, and rankable.
The Hidden Problem with Image-Based Information
One of the most common SEO mistakes we see is when businesses upload images that contain essential information - like service pricing, product specs, or even business hours - instead of writing that information directly into the site’s HTML. While it may look great visually, it’s invisible to search engines.
Search engines read code, not images. So when your pricing table is just a picture, Google can’t tell what you charge, what services you offer, or how your products differ from competitors. That means you miss out on ranking for valuable search terms like “affordable web design services” or “HVAC maintenance pricing.”
Why Text-Based Content Wins Every Time
When you include key information in real text, you’re giving search engines the data they need to understand your business. Text allows Google to connect your site to relevant searches, display snippets in results, and even feature your answers in rich results or voice search.
Here’s what you should always write in text instead of embedding into an image:
- Pricing tables and service breakdowns
- Product specifications or descriptions
- Contact information or business hours
- FAQs and testimonials
- Any content you want to rank for
How to Fix It
Audit your site and look for any images that contain text-based information. Then, recreate that content as HTML or paragraph text. You can still keep the visual design - just layer real, indexable text on top or below the image. If your website uses WordPress or another CMS, most builders let you combine design and SEO-friendly formatting easily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t Google read text in images?
While Google is improving image recognition, it still can’t reliably extract or rank text within images. SEO depends on readable code, not visuals, so relying on images for content limits your visibility.
What’s the best way to show pricing for SEO?
List your prices in a clear, written format using tables or bullet points in HTML. You can also add structured data (schema markup) to help Google display your pricing in search results.
Can I still use images for design?
Absolutely. Images are great for user experience and visual appeal. Just make sure that any critical information - pricing, service names, product details - exists as text somewhere on the page.
How does this affect accessibility?
Text-based information isn’t just good for SEO. It also improves accessibility for users with screen readers or slow internet connections, ensuring everyone can access your content.
Does alt text help with this problem?
Alt text is useful for describing images, but it’s not a replacement for real, written content. Think of it as a supplement, not a solution.
