What it is
If key facts live only inside an image, text-based crawlers and AI cannot read them. Anything that matters needs to exist as real text. Key info embedded in graphics, not text. Googlebot reads text, not text-in-images; the info is invisible.
Why does important facts only in images matter for AI search?
Googlebot reads text, not text-in-images; the info is invisible.
How do you fix it?
Provide the facts as real HTML text.
How do you find it on your site?
- Find images carrying important text or data, charts, infographics, screenshots of specs.
- Check whether the same information exists as text on the page.
- Add the key facts as real text, with the image as support.
- Use alt text and captions as well, not instead.
Which ranking and citation factors does it touch?
Text-only crawlers and AI cannot extract facts trapped in images. Expressing them as text makes them indexable and quotable.
What is the impact?
Medium-high. Direct.
What is the evidence?
Express visual content in text; image text is invisible. Google Search Central, SEO Guide for Web Developers
Frequently asked questions about important facts only in images
What does "Important facts only in images" mean?
Key info embedded in graphics, not text.
How do you fix important facts only in images?
Provide the facts as real HTML text.