The Overlooked Growth Hack for SaaS Companies
Think SEO is all about keywords and backlinks? Think again. If you’re not optimizing alt text and anchor text, you’re leaving money—and search rankings—on the table. These two elements don’t just help search engines understand your content; they make your website more accessible, navigable, and engaging for users.
In this guide, we’ll break down why alt text and anchor text matter, how they can supercharge your SaaS company’s SEO, and the best practices for implementation.
Let’s get started.
What Is Alt Text? (And Why It’s a Secret SEO Weapon)
Alt text (short for alternative text) is the written description of an image within your website’s HTML. Its primary function? Ensuring accessibility for visually impaired users and providing SEO benefits by helping search engines understand your images.
Why Alt Text Matters:
- Improves Accessibility: Screen readers use alt text to describe images to visually impaired users.
- Boosts Image SEO: Search engines can’t see images—they rely on alt text to determine relevance.
- Enhances User Experience: If an image fails to load, alt text tells users what they’re missing.
Best Practices for Alt Text:
✔ Be Descriptive but Concise: Instead of “dog,” use “Golden Retriever playing in the park.”
✔ Use Keywords Naturally: Include relevant SEO terms, but avoid keyword stuffing.
✔ Skip ‘Image of’ or ‘Picture of’: Screen readers already identify it as an image.
✔ Omit Alt Text for Decorative Images: Use alt=”” to prevent unnecessary distractions for screen readers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
❌ Leaving Alt Text Blank: You’re missing both SEO and accessibility benefits.
❌ Keyword Stuffing: “Best SaaS software tools SaaS management SaaS platform” = BAD SEO.
❌ Generic Descriptions: “Picture of a graph” is useless—describe what the graph shows.
What Is Anchor Text? (And How It Impacts SEO)
Anchor text is the clickable, hyperlinked text within a webpage that leads users to another page. It helps both users and search engines understand the context of the linked content.
Why Anchor Text Matters:
- Improves Site Navigation: Helps users find relevant content faster.
- Boosts SEO Ranking: Google uses anchor text to understand the relevance of linked pages.
- Increases Click-Through Rates: Well-crafted anchor text encourages engagement.
Best Practices for Anchor Text:
✔ Be Descriptive & Specific: Instead of “click here,” use “Read our SaaS growth guide.”
✔ Use Natural Language: Make it flow naturally within the sentence.
✔ Match User Intent: If linking to pricing, say “Compare SaaS pricing models.”
✔ Diversify Your Anchor Text: Use variations to avoid over-optimization.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
❌ Using Generic Phrases: “Click here” and “Read more” waste SEO potential.
❌ Over-Optimizing with Exact Match Keywords: Google penalizes forced keyword stuffing.
❌ Linking to Irrelevant Content: Misleading anchor text frustrates users and hurts rankings.
Advanced Strategies: Combining Alt Text & Anchor Text for Maximum Impact
Tip 1: Optimize Internal Links with Strategic Anchor Text
- Link from blog posts to product pages using descriptive, keyword-rich anchor text.
- Example: “Our SaaS onboarding guide shows you how to retain new users.”
Tip 2: Use Alt Text to Improve Internal Linking
- Link images using relevant anchor text in the alt tag.
- Example: <a href=”/pricing”><img src=”pricing-chart.jpg” alt=”SaaS pricing comparison chart”></a>
Tip 3: Use Alt Text & Anchor Text for Image Links
- When linking images, describe the destination in both alt text and anchor text.
- Example: <a href=”/case-studies”><img src=”growth-chart.jpg” alt=”SaaS growth case study”></a>
Tools & Resources for Alt Text & Anchor Text Optimization
- Google Lighthouse – Runs accessibility & SEO audits, flagging missing alt text.
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider – Identifies weak anchor text and missing alt attributes.
- Yoast SEO Plugin – Guides you in optimizing alt text and anchor text for WordPress.
- WAVE Accessibility Checker – Ensures compliance with accessibility standards.
- Google Analytics – Tracks how well your links perform and where users click.
Final Thoughts: Your Next Steps
Alt text and anchor text might seem like small details, but they have outsized impacts on SEO, user experience, and accessibility. SaaS companies that leverage them correctly improve search rankings, enhance accessibility, and create a smoother user experience.
Your action plan:
✅ Audit your website for missing or weak alt text.
✅ Optimize anchor text in internal and external links.
✅ Use SEO tools to track improvements in rankings and user engagement.
Your competitors might be overlooking these simple yet powerful optimizations. Now’s your chance to get ahead.
Let’s start making your SaaS website more search-friendly, user-friendly, and accessible—starting today.
Written by: Tony Zayas, Chief Revenue Officer
In my role as Chief Revenue Officer at Insivia, I am at the forefront of driving transformation and results for SaaS and technology companies. I lead strategic marketing and business development initiatives, helping businesses overcome plateaus and achieve significant growth. My journey has led me to collaborate with leading businesses and apply my knowledge to revolutionize industries.