🔍 Why OTTO Suggests Alt-Text for Images You Can't See
If OTTO is recommending alt-text for an image that doesn't appear to be on your page, this may be caused by images that are present in the page's HTML source but are not visually prominent in the normal rendered view. This can include tracking pixels, placeholder assets, hidden section backgrounds, or template components injected by your CMS or funnel-builder platform.
OTTO scans the raw HTML of your page, not the rendered visual layout. This means it detects every <img> tag in the source, including images that may not be immediately visible to you when browsing the page.
This behaviour is intentional — OTTO flags all missing alt-text to ensure full accessibility and SEO compliance.
✅ How to Handle These Suggestions
You have two straightforward options when OTTO surfaces an alt-text suggestion for an image you cannot locate visually:
- Accept the suggestion. If the image exists in your source code, adding descriptive alt-text is still the correct SEO and accessibility practice. Review the suggested text and apply it if it is accurate.
- Dismiss the suggestion. If you have confirmed the image is a tracking pixel, a decorative placeholder, or an artifact with no meaningful content, you can dismiss the task within OTTO.
To inspect whether the image actually exists in your page source, right-click your page in a browser and select View Page Source, then search for the image file name or URL associated with the suggestion. This confirms the image is present even if invisible in the rendered view.
🗺️ Navigating to OTTO in the Platform
OTTO is accessible within the Search Atlas platform. Once there, you can view all active OTTO tasks, including alt-text suggestions, grouped by site and category. If you manage multiple sites, navigate between your projects within the platform to view their respective task queues.
📋 Understanding OTTO Deployments
When OTTO is deployed on a site, it audits the page source for accessibility and SEO issues — including missing alt-text on any image element it finds in the HTML. This includes images that may not be immediately visible in a standard browser view.
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.