Image problems that hurt you
The image issues we find most often in merchant CSVs:
Common Scenarios:
- Alt text missing or auto-filled with the SKU, so Google Images cannot understand the product.
- Generic file names like IMG_2048.jpg instead of black-wool-coat.jpg.
- HTTP URLs that browsers flag as insecure and some crawlers skip.
- Oversized originals referenced directly, slowing LCP on mobile.
Audit the whole catalog before import
ShopTools' image auditor loads every Image Src in your CSV, flags invalid URLs, non-HTTPS links and broken images, and exports a cleaned file.
Features:
- URL validation: Detects invalid, relative and broken image references.
- HTTPS enforcement: Upgrades http:// links to https:// automatically.
- Broken-image detection: Actually loads each URL to catch 404s before import.
Optimize in four steps
- Write descriptive alt text: primary keyword + material + color + variant, under ~125 characters.
- Rename files with hyphens, e.g. mens-black-wool-coat-m.jpg.
- Host on HTTPS (Shopify CDN or a proper image host) - never plain HTTP.
- Reference appropriately sized images (e.g. 800px-1200px for product pages, not the 4000px original).
Before and after
- Before: Alt: 12093 / File: IMG_2048.jpg After: Alt: Men's black wool coat / File: mens-black-wool-coat.jpg
- Before: http://old-host/img.png After: https://cdn.shopify.com/.../img_800w.png
When to run the audit
- Before any big import: Catch broken galleries before they hit the storefront.
- After migrations: Verify external image URLs survived the move.
- Catalog health checks: Monthly hygiene pass across the whole catalog.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Does alt text really affect rankings?
- Alt text does not directly boost product page rankings, but it powers Google Images visibility and is a documented best practice that also improves accessibility.
- How long should alt text be?
- Aim for 8-20 words that describe the product naturally. Skip keyword stuffing - include the primary keyword once.
- Does image size affect SEO?
- Yes, indirectly. Large images slow down LCP, which is a Core Web Vital ranking factor. Serve appropriately sized images.
- Can ShopTools check images without uploading my CSV?
- It loads the image URLs from your file in your browser session - the CSV itself never leaves your machine.