Table of contents

• 1. Access image options
• 2. Click on the ‘Alt-text’ option
• 3. Add Alt-text to Notion
• 4. Confirm that the alt text was added
• Best practices for writing Notion Alt Text
• 1. Make it descriptive but succinct
• 2. Add your primary and secondary keywords
• FAQs
• Should I name my image files before uploading to Notion?
• What’s the difference between alt text and captions in Notion?

Let’s break these steps down in more detail.

If you’re using Notion to publish online - whether a blog, portfolio, or full website - SEO might be one of the primary concerns.

Alt text may seem like a small detail, but it plays a meaningful role in SEO. It helps your images show up in Google search, improves visibility in AI-driven overviews, and contributes to how well your content is understood by large language models and traditional crawlers alike.

Done right, it can even lead to more backlinks and a stronger overall content presence.

Here’s how to add alt-text in Notion:

1. Access image options

Hover over the image you want to edit. A three-dot icon will appear in the top-right corner.

Click it to access all built-in image settings.

2. Click on the ‘Alt-text’ option

A new overlay will appear where you can enter your alt text.

3. Add Alt-text to Notion

Enter your alt-text in the overlay that appears on clicking ‘Alt-text’ from the image options.

Press Return or click outside the field to save it.

4. Confirm that the alt text was added

Once saved, you’ll see a small ‘ALT’ badge appear in the bottom-right corner of your Notion image.

Best practices for writing Notion Alt Text

1. Make it descriptive but succinct

The primary role of alt text is to help visually impaired users understand what an image conveys. It also shows up in place of the image when it fails to load - due to poor connectivity or technical errors.

This makes it imperative to write alt text that’s clear and descriptive, without turning it into a paragraph. Your image should naturally support the content, and your alt text should back that up with helpful context.

Think of it this way:

Would this caption make sense if the image didn’t load at all?

2. Add your primary and secondary keywords

While alt text is primarily a user-experience feature, it’s also what search engines read to understand your image.

By adding relevant keywords naturally, you give search engines more context - signaling that your visuals are just as aligned with the topic as your written content. That means better chances of showing up across all search engines - LLM or traditional.

FAQs

Should I name my image files before uploading to Notion?

Absolutely. Your image file name is another opportunity to include keywords. While users won’t see it, search engines often will.

You can’t rename an image once it’s uploaded, so make sure to give it a clean and relevant filename beforehand.

What’s the difference between alt text and captions in Notion?

Notion alt text is hidden and only appears when the image fails to load. Captions, on the other hand, are always visible and appear directly under the image.

The caption field also appears right away when you hover over an image - unlike alt text, which is tucked into the image settings.

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