How can you find image-related keywords?

To find image-related keywords, start with the image’s subject or the name of the product it shows. Expand your list using related suggestions from image search, then investigate further with a keyword planning tool. The goal is not to collect as many terms as possible, but to identify search queries that match the image’s content. The search steps below are drawn mainly from a 2017 article. Today’s interface may differ, and using these methods does not guarantee more traffic.

Identify the image’s subject, then compare similar terms

First, identify the image’s main subject, then look for search terms that are similar in meaning or more specific. A 2017 article on Neil Patel’s website used “content SEO” and “content optimization” as examples, noting that these similar terms produced different image search results at the time. This is a reminder to test more than one term when exploring keywords, but it does not mean that every pair of similar terms will reach different audiences.

• Write down the main objects, products, or subjects shown in the image.
• List similar terms to try when comparing search results.
• Keep terms that match the image’s content; do not use them simply because the search results appear popular.

Use related suggestions to explore more specific searches

If the image search interface you currently use offers related search suggestions, record them and consider whether they reflect uses, contexts, or other needs. The 2017 article used “car rental” as an example, expanding suggestions into long-tail keywords such as “prom car rental” and “vacation car rental.” These examples come from that article; entering the same query today may not produce the same suggestions.

Following the article’s method, you can then enter candidate terms into Google Keyword Planner to learn more. The original article described related suggestions as queries people actually use, but the supplied excerpts contain no search volume or competition data for individual terms. So just because a term appears in suggestions does not mean it deserves priority. If the image does not depict a particular context, do not add that context to the description merely to include a long-tail keyword.

Use the selected terms to describe images accurately

After exploring keywords, consider how to use them in image filenames and alt text. An October 2026 article from Yoast suggests including the full product name and product number in the alt text when an image shows a specific product. A term that helps people find what the image shows can also be included where appropriate. Filenames should describe the image’s content rather than simply string together candidate terms.

The 2017 article uses the term “LSI keywords.” Here, we draw only on its method for exploring related terms; we do not treat “LSI keywords” as a current search engine ranking rule. When organizing candidate terms, you can divide them into two groups: those that directly describe the image and those kept only for further research. Assess whether terms in the first group belong in the filename or alt text. Keep those in the second group for further checking rather than rushing to use them all.