XSitePro Website Design Software Message Board

Hi all,

Does anyone know how to add an image name (alt tag) into a header panel?

I've just discovered that any time you have words in a header panel as part of picture it cannot be found by the search engines.
For example the website, which I produced with the 'XHeader' program, contains the business name and short description - http://barefeetweddings.com.au/

If I run my cursor over any words in the header panel they cannot be selected, as opposed to doing the same over any of the wordage in the main panel below.

Apparently, search engines cannot read the wordage in this header as they are within a picture. But if an image name or keywords are added it can be.

Any advice/feeback would be appreciated. Thanks.

Kelvin

The Header Panel has a field for the alt tag, or you can add the header as an image in Page Layout > Header Panel > Advanced Header > Designer and add the alt tag to the image there. If you want the most SEO-friendly solution (but not the most aesthetic solution, as text added to an image is much crisper and cleaner, and you can use any font you want, as opposed to having to use a Web-safe font), you can also remove the text from the header image, add the header as a background image and use the Advanced Header > Designer view to type text over the header image. Make sure the text is Web-safe, like Verdana, Arial, Georgia, etc.

_________________
Andrea Wilson

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Hi Andrea,

Thanks again for your assistance.

However, I'm still confused as to where to locate the 'field for the alt tag' for the Header Panel.

I've also tried looking at Page Layout > Header Panel > Advanced Header > Designer - but all it shows is a 'Widget' for visitor information and I'm unsure how to add the existing header in this area.

Looks like I'm missing something here in both methods.

Both methods are probably quite clear to most people but I just don't understand where to locate and place the alt tags.

I might need to see the template you are using. Sounds like there's something in the Advanced Header section already. The alt field for a header that is in the background of the Header Panel is right under where you add the header to the drop down box. Click on "Basic Header" and you will see the field there.

_________________
Andrea Wilson

1. Custom XSitePro Templates. XSitePro Consulting and Training. FREE TIPS!

2. Off-the-Shelf XSitePro Templates! Versatile designs. Easy to manage and maintain!

3. AllWebMenus Pro and XSitePro Work Perfectly Together! NEW!

Hi Andrea,

I located the alt field area in the 'Basic Header' section. Entered a title but it doesn't seem to have accepted the title addition.
After I entered the title in the 'Basic Header' area I saved and republished but the title doesn't show on the republished site.
I cleared my cache but still no difference.
The template I'm using is located in the 'Graphical 1' template' area and the title is 'Graphical 021' - medical themed template.
I changed the panel in the header area using the 'XHeader' program and replaced that part of the default panel.
Thanks.

In that template, your header image is actually in the Info Bar. Since it's a background image (nav.jpg), you can't add an alt tag. When you use the "Basic Header" option in the Header Panel, the image isn't a true background image. That's why you can add the alt tag. However, in the Info Bar, the Background Image there is a true background image, so you can't add an alt tag. If you didn't want to add text over top of the nav.jpg image, you could add it to the table in the Designer view as a foreground (regular) image and add the alt tag to it.

_________________
Andrea Wilson

1. Custom XSitePro Templates. XSitePro Consulting and Training. FREE TIPS!

2. Off-the-Shelf XSitePro Templates! Versatile designs. Easy to manage and maintain!

3. AllWebMenus Pro and XSitePro Work Perfectly Together! NEW!

Thanks again Andrea,
I think I have found a another solution to achieve search engine trawling by adding my keywords to the first image on the Home page as the alt tag.
Hope this may work.

The alt tag on one image won't make or break your SEO anyway, Kelvin. It's your content that will make or break your site.

http://www.andreawilson.com/content-not-enough/

_________________
Andrea Wilson

1. Custom XSitePro Templates. XSitePro Consulting and Training. FREE TIPS!

2. Off-the-Shelf XSitePro Templates! Versatile designs. Easy to manage and maintain!

3. AllWebMenus Pro and XSitePro Work Perfectly Together! NEW!

Point taken. Thanks again for the great advice and comments