Alt text is a short text alternative for an image. Screen readers can read it aloud. Depending on the email client, it may also appear when an image does not load. The useful wording depends on what the image does in the newsletter.
Informative, decorative, or linked?
For an informative image, describe the information readers need to understand. Give a purely decorative image empty alt text. If the image is the only content in a link, name the action or destination. Keep essential information in the newsletter copy as well.
Example of an image link
An image links to workshop registration. “Register for the workshop” describes its function more clearly than “Photo of people at a table”. If the same link already contains matching visible text beside the image, the image alt text can be empty. Also check the email with images turned off.
