How to Add Alt Text to Images in Buffer

You’re scheduling social media posts. Everything looks great. But there’s one thing you’re probably skipping — and it’s silently cutting you off from a massive slice of your audience.

Alt text.

Over 2.2 billion people worldwide live with some form of vision impairment, according to the World Health Organization. When your images have no alt text, screen readers can’t describe them. Those users get nothing. And that’s not just a missed audience — it’s a missed connection with people who could be your customers, followers, or advocates.

Here’s the good news: Buffer makes it easy to add alt text to images before you publish. Once you know where to look, it takes seconds.

This guide walks you through every step — on desktop, on mobile, and across every platform Buffer currently supports.

What Is Alt Text and Why Does It Matter

Alt text (short for alternative text) is a written description of an image. When a screen reader encounters an image, it reads the alt text aloud so the user understands what’s being shown.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Alt text also helps with SEO. Search engines can’t “see” images — they rely on alt text to understand and index visual content. That means every image without alt text is a missed indexing opportunity.

The numbers make this urgent. According to WebAIM’s 2025 Million analysis, 55.5% of homepages have no alternative text for images. And of those, 44% involve linked images — completely breaking navigation for screen reader users. On the legal side, 94.8% of websites still have at least one detectable accessibility failure, and ADA accessibility lawsuits continue to rise year over year.

This isn’t a niche concern. It’s a baseline expectation — and brands that get it right stand out.

Which Platforms Support Alt Text in Buffer

Before you start, it helps to know where alt text is actually available through Buffer’s composer.

Buffer currently supports alt text for static images on the following platforms:

• X (formerly Twitter)
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Pinterest
• Mastodon
• Bluesky

Each platform has its own character limits for alt text within Buffer. Here’s what you’re working with:

Buffer recommends keeping alt text under 200 characters to align with accessibility best practices — even where higher limits are technically allowed.

Note: Alt text cannot currently be added through Buffer for GIFs, Google Business Profile posts, or TikTok posts.

How to Add Alt Text to Images in Buffer (Desktop)

This is where most people work, so let’s start here.

Step 1: Open the Buffer Composer

Log into your Buffer account and click New Post to open the composer.

Step 2: Upload Your Image

Add the image you want to post. You can drag and drop it directly or use the image upload button.

Step 3: Click on the Uploaded Image

Once uploaded, click on the image inside the composer. This opens it in a larger view.

Step 4: Find the Alt Text Field

At the bottom of the enlarged image view, you’ll see a text input box. This is where you write your alt text.

Step 5: Write Your Description

Describe the image clearly and specifically. What’s in it? What’s happening? What context matters? Avoid starting with “Image of…” or “Photo of…” — screen readers already announce that. Just describe what’s visually there.

Good example: Two team members reviewing a chart on a laptop during a morning meeting.

Weak example: Photo of people working.

Step 6: Click Save

Once you’ve written your alt text, click Save. The description is now attached to that image for this post.

Step 7: Schedule or Publish

Finish setting up your post — caption, hashtags, schedule time — then hit publish or add to queue.

How to Add Alt Text to Images in Buffer (Mobile App)

The mobile flow is slightly different but just as straightforward.

Step 1: Open the Buffer App

Launch Buffer on your iOS or Android device.

Step 2: Create a New Post

Tap the compose button to start a new post.

Step 3: Attach Your Image

Add the image from your camera roll or files.

Step 4: Tap the Image

Once the image appears in the composer, tap it to open the image editing view.

Step 5: Add Your Alt Text

Look for the alt text input field. Write your description — keep it clear, specific, and under 200 characters.

Step 6: Save and Schedule

Save your alt text, then complete your post and schedule or publish.

Writing Alt Text That Actually Works

Adding alt text is one thing. Writing alt text that communicates well is another. There’s a skill to it.

Here are the principles that separate useful descriptions from placeholder ones:

Be specific, not generic. “A person smiling” tells a screen reader user almost nothing. “A woman in a blue blazer presenting to a group in a conference room” gives them context.

Include relevant text. If your image includes text — a headline, a quote, a statistic — include that text in your alt text. Users relying on screen readers need to hear it.

Match the intent of the image. An infographic on sales data needs its numbers described. A decorative background image might not need alt text at all (use an empty alt attribute in those cases).

Don’t stuff keywords. Alt text is for people, not search engine manipulation. Write naturally.

Keep it concise. The sweet spot for most images is one to two sentences. Long descriptions slow down the experience for screen reader users.

Common Alt Text Mistakes to Avoid

Knowing what not to do is just as important.

Skipping alt text entirely. This is the most common failure. According to WebAIM’s 2025 data, missing alt text is the second most prevalent accessibility error across the web, appearing on 55.5% of homepages.

Relying on auto-generated alt text. Platforms like Instagram use AI-generated alt text automatically. While it’s better than nothing, auto-generated descriptions often miss critical context. A human who knows what the image is meant to communicate will always write better alt text than an algorithm.

Being redundant. Don’t repeat what’s already said in your caption or surrounding copy. Alt text should complement your content, not duplicate it.

Writing for bots, not people. Alt text stuffed with keywords degrades the experience for visually impaired users and can look manipulative to search engines.

Alt Text and Your Social Media Strategy

Here’s a perspective shift worth making: alt text isn’t a compliance checkbox. It’s a reach multiplier.

More than 73% of disabled users abandon a website or content experience when it’s difficult to navigate, according to accessibility research. That’s not just a social good metric — it’s a direct audience-retention number.

When you consistently include alt text in your Buffer posts, you’re doing three things at once:

• Making your content accessible to users who rely on screen readers
• Increasing the likelihood your content is understood and indexed correctly by platform algorithms
• Demonstrating brand values that resonate with an audience that increasingly expects inclusivity from the brands they follow

Social media managers who treat accessibility as part of their content workflow — not an afterthought — build audiences that are broader, more loyal, and more engaged.

Conclusion

Adding alt text to images in Buffer is a small step with outsized impact. It takes seconds. It makes your content accessible to over two billion people living with vision impairments. And it signals to your audience — and to algorithms — that you’re serious about communicating clearly.

Open Buffer. Upload your image. Click on it. Write a real description. Click save.

That’s it.

Now you’re creating content that works for everyone — not just the people who can see the images you’re posting.

And if you want to take that same precision-first approach into your lead generation, SalesSo builds outbound systems designed to reach your exact buyers — at scale, with messaging that lands.