Does Using Other Pages’ Images on Your Website Hurt SEO?

Copying and pasting images is a quick way to source visuals for your site. However, does using other pages’ images in your website hurt SEO?

Anything you do on your website has the potential to help or hurt search engine optimization, including the visuals you use. In fact, images affect three of the four pillars of SEO (technical SEO, content, and on-page SEO), impacting your online visibility, traffic, and engagement.

Find out how duplicate images can affect your search rankings. Also, learn some best practices for using images on your domain.

When Does Using Other Page’s Images in Your Website Hurt SEO? 

Using existing images from another website or even your own website can hurt SEO when you don’t follow best practices. Another page’s image can hurt your SEO if:

• You don’t have permission to use it.
• You haven’t optimized the image for the page.
• The image is irrelevant to the surrounding context. 

For instance, receiving a takedown notice for the unauthorized use of other pages’ images on your website can hurt SEO. You’ll have to remove the content, which could negatively impact your site’s quality or its search engine visibility. 

If you receive multiple takedown notices, Google may decide to penalize you for trying to manipulate rankings. It will drop your site in search engine results or remove your domain from results altogether.

Repetitive or poorly optimized content creates a poor user experience. Bad UX ultimately harms key SEO metrics and leads to lower search engine rankings. 

Can I Use Images From Other Websites on My Website? 

You can only use images from other websites if you have permission. Once you have the owner’s consent, follow their terms of use. 

Always assume that each file has copyright protection, even if it doesn’t have the copyright symbol. Keep in mind that many images have embedded metadata that proves ownership, so ignorance isn’t an excuse for “borrowing” an image.

The simplest way to get permission is to ask for it from the owner. In many cases, the publishers are eager to have others use their content with proper attribution. A quick request can ensure you can use other pages’ images on your website without hurting SEO.

On the other hand, you can go to sites that have large libraries of free photos. Common examples are Pexels, Pixabay, Canva, and Unsplash. You can also get stock photos with a paid subscription to sites such as Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and iStock.

Are Duplicate Images Bad for SEO? 

Duplicate images are not necessarily bad for SEO as long as you follow best practices and don’t overuse them. If you don’t apply those best practices, search engine bots could perceive your site as having duplicate content, which hurts your rankings. 

Whenever practical, use original images on your site. However, what’s most important to Google is how relevant the image is to your content, not how unique it is.

SEO Best Practices for Using Duplicate Images

You may have to reuse certain images throughout your site. A common example is retail businesses that sell the same product or similar products on various pages. If that describes you, how can you use other pages’ images on your website and not hurt SEO?

Use pictures in different contexts within unique content that fits the purpose of each page. Give each file a descriptive name that matches that context. You should also use different alt attributes to distinguish the image’s intent for each page. 

If possible, alter the image to fit the context. You could use tools to adjust the colors or backgrounds for further customization. Tailoring each image ensures that Google doesn’t consider the page duplicate content. It also creates a better user experience.

A Use Case for Having Duplicate Images on Your Site

Imagine you own a business that sells kitchen appliances. You may use the same image of a steaming cup of coffee next to a coffee maker to sell a line of those machines. Each model has different features, which lets you target unique keywords. Even though the image is the same, you handle it in two possible ways:

Example 1

You create a page for a compact model that targets the keyword “best coffee maker for small spaces.” This page has content about choosing a coffee maker for small areas, such as dorm rooms or offices. It also has unique features of the model, reviews, and customer testimonials. 

On this page, you use the image with the file name “coffee_maker_small.png.” The alt text is “A hot cup of coffee sits next to a compact coffee maker in a small office space.” You use AI tools to adjust the color of the coffee maker or change the background to an office.

Example 2

You create another page for a model with extra programmable features that targets the keyword “programmable coffee maker.” You describe why someone would choose a programmable coffee maker and list the model’s features and testimonials.

The image file name is “coffee_maker_programmable.png,” and the alt text is “A smart programmable coffee maker sits on a counter next to a hot cup of coffee.” You edit the background to feature a large kitchen space. 

Taking these steps lets you use another page’s image on your website without hurting SEO.

Does Page Layout Affect SEO?

Yes, page layout can affect SEO. Even when the URL structure and content stay the same, an adjustment to a page’s layout can help or harm its rankings. 

Google Search Advocate John Mueller confirmed this fact during a Google Office Hours hangout. Therefore, you should optimize any change to a page’s layout or images for SEO purposes. 

In particular, ensure that any images you add or update permit fluid navigation and optimal performance of the page and your site. Web crawlers flag any issues in these areas and will downgrade your site in rankings. Using too many images and not having valuable content can hurt your rankings, too. 

On the other hand, customized images that complement your brand support SEO. They indicate fresh and authentic content that crawlers and users appreciate.

Protect Your SEO Strategy and Reuse Images Responsibly

Your site’s images are an aspect of on-page SEO you can’t afford to ignore. However, you also have to manage a whole range of other tasks that contribute to elevating your rankings. 

Do you want to start seeing data-driven results from your SEO strategy? Contact our team at BKA Content. We make sure that reusing images from other pages doesn’t hurt your SEO, and we manage any other SEO tasks you need. Let’s boost your visibility today!