What Should I Know About Alt Text?

Conforming with accessibility guidelines is important in all areas of your business. You've likely heard a lot about ADA compliance for your website, but do you know how your property management software is making the online reservation process accessible?

One of the features ThinkReservations offers is the ability to easily add alt text to your booking engine images. If you're not familiar with alt text, don't worry! We've outlined what you need to know so you can feel confident you're providing a great experience for all of your guests from the moment they start to book.

What is alt text and why should I use it?

Alt text (alternative text) is used to describe an image on a webpage. Screen reader software applications then read the text aloud allowing people who unable to see images on their own to experience the webpage similarly to a person with normal vision.

Can you share an example of effective alt text?

Yes! It's important that your alt text allows your potential guests using screen readers to receive the same experience as those that can see the images. Think of alt text as a way to describe the details - not just a broad overview. Some quick tips:

1. Alt text should be 125 characters or less to avoid being cut off by screen readers.
2. Don't use alt text as a way to simply add a list of keywords. The goal is to communicate the details of the image.
3. It is not necessary to include "image of" or "picture of" in your alt text.

Let's look at some alt text examples for this image of berries.

Example 1: "Berries"

Sure, this is an image of berries, but there is more going on here. This is a poor use of alt text.

Example 2: "Fresh blueberries raspberries and blackberries on a white plate."

If you were to read this text without an image you would likely picture something similar to the photo shown here. We're also under the 125-character limit, so we don't need to worry that our description will be cut off. This is a much better use of alt text!

How do I add alt text to my images in ThinkReservations?

There are four places within your ThinkReservations account where you likely have images visible in the booking engine. You can now add alt text to these images to ensure screen readers can share the details with your potential guests. These images include your main business image, your room photos, your item photos, and your package photos. Below are the steps for accessing the settings for each:

1. Go to Settings -> Booking Engine. Add alt text for your business image and click Save.
2. Go to Settings -> Rooms. Click into your first room and scroll to the bottom of the page. Add alt text for each room image and click Save. Repeat for each room.
3. Go to Settings -> Items. For each item that is upsellable through the booking engine, click on the Photo link to the right. Add alt text and click Save.
4. Go to Settings -> Packages. For each package that is upsellable through the booking engine, click on the Photo link to the right. Add alt text and click Save.

Ready to learn more about the ways ThinkReservations is making it easy for you to grow your lodging business? We'd love to talk with you! Sign up for a free demo today!

We look forward to helping you discover new ways to grow your business!