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Level 03 Lesson 03 of 3

URLs, Links and Images

Learn how readable URLs, descriptive internal links and accessible, efficient images help visitors navigate and understand a page.

Learning objectiveLearn how readable URLs, descriptive internal links and accessible, efficient images help visitors navigate and understand a page.

Estimated time9 min read

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Routes, signposts and scenery

Picture a page as part of a game world. URLs are addresses, internal links are the routes between places, and anchor text is the signpost describing the destination. Images are scenery with a job: they can explain, demonstrate or set context without blocking the journey.

URLs: readable addresses

For new pages, prefer short, descriptive paths with readable words and consistent formatting. Avoid unnecessary parameters where practical. A person should be able to make a reasonable guess about the destination.

Weak new address/page.php?id=8462&cat=7
Useful new address/guides/snake-plant-care/
Weak, repetitive address/plants/best-plants/best-plant-guide/
Concise address/guides/low-light-plants/

Internal links: useful routes

Connect genuinely related pages so people can continue their journey and search systems can crawl the site. Use descriptive anchor text, avoid excessive forced links and make sure important pages are not orphaned with no internal route leading to them.

Weak signpost

For our watering advice, click here.

Descriptive signpost

Read the beginner’s guide to watering houseplants.

Small internal-link map — arrows represent descriptive links
Houseplant guide topic hub
Low-light plantsWatering guidePet-safe plants

Text equivalent: the houseplant guide links to three relevant supporting pages; those pages should also offer sensible onward or return routes.

Images: useful visual context

  • Use descriptive file names where practical, such as snake-plant-yellow-leaf.webp.
  • Write concise alternative text for an informative image based on its purpose in context.
  • Use an empty alt="" for a purely decorative image so it can be ignored.
  • Set image width and height to reserve layout space.
  • Compress files and choose a suitable format without sacrificing needed quality.
  • Do not put essential text only inside an image; provide an accessible text equivalent.

Alternative-text examples

Weakalt="plant image SEO best plant"

Stuffed phrases do not explain the relevant information.

Useful in a symptom guidealt="Brown, crisp edges on a snake plant leaf"

The wording communicates the visible symptom relevant to the surrounding advice.

Decorative flourishalt=""

An empty value keeps meaningless scenery out of the accessible name.

Practical route audit

Related dictionary terms

URLInternal linkAnchor textAlt textImage SEOCrawlingIndexing

Level checkpoint / Mission review

Answer all three questions correctly, then complete the lesson. Retry any answer whenever you need.

Question 1 of 3What should you do with a valid, established URL?

Question 2 of 3Which internal-link text gives the clearest signpost?

Question 3 of 3What alt attribute is appropriate for a purely decorative flourish?

Complete all three questions to unlock lesson completion.

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