Who this article is for: Plug in AI users who want to generate AI-powered alt text for individual product images to improve accessibility and SEO. What you will learn: |
Summary
Alt text is essential for SEO and accessibility. It helps search engines understand your images and allows visually impaired customers to better navigate your store.
Plug In AI’s AI generation tool simplifies creating descriptive, keyword-rich alt text for your product images, saving time while maintaining SEO best practices.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Navigate to the Product Optimization Page
From the main navigation menu, click Optimize.
This opens the “Optimize products” page, displaying all products in your store.
Step 2: Accessing the AI Generation Tools
Locate the product you want to optimize.
Click on the product to open its Optimize / SEO Scan page.
From the right-hand menu, select Image Issues and click Generate Alt Text, or scroll down to the image and click Generate Alt Text.
Step 3: Configuring the AI Generation Settings
A modal window will appear showing the current alt text (if any) and a character counter.
Configure the following settings for best results:
Language: Select the target language for your audience (e.g., English (UK)).
Tone of voice: Choose a style that matches your brand identity.
Target keyword: Enter the main keyword your customers would use to find this product. The AI will prioritize including it naturally.
Optional settings to click:
Describe image: AI describes the image in detail.
Include vendor name
Include product title
Include target keyword
Include specific tags
Overwrite existing alt texts: Check this if an alt text already exists; otherwise, the Generate button will not be active.
Step 4: Generating and Reviewing the Content
Click Generate.
Review the AI suggestion and make any manual edits if necessary.
If needed, click Generate again for a new variation.
Step 5: Saving and Publishing Your Changes
Once satisfied, click Done.
The new alt text will be applied to your live Shopify product page, updating what customers and search engines see.
Additional Notes
You can also generate alt text in bulk for multiple images at once using the Bulk Optimization feature. See our Bulk Optimization guide for step-by-step instructions.