Google Images in Normal Search

[terran]

If you search for the term, "Crappie". Listed 4th is a row of images. These kinds of images always seem to grab my attention above the actual search results-- or at least they do for a moment.

These images seem to be in order of google images rankings. I may try to take a swing at ranking for these images. Is there anything else I should know before I start? I can't seem to find any guidance on the topic.

Thanks

[EGOL]

I get lots of image search traffic.  Lots.

I code my image something like this....

  (file name and alt describe the image in simple terms)

The most important factor, IMO, is a kickass image that lots of people like enough to click.

[NakulGoyal]

I agree with Egol's comment. That's the way to go. Optimized Filename, Anchor Text and any surrounding text...think of trying to describe the image in 3-4 words. It works wonders. And if people share your image or the page the image sits on, it helps. Also, I have not seen a clear evidence of Images XML Sitemap helping or not helping, but it can't hurt to do an XML Sitemap of Images/URLs along with their captions/titles if you can.

<urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9" <="" span="">xmlns:image="http://www.google.com/schemas/sitemap-image/1.1">
  
    <loc>http://example.com/sample.html</loc>
    image:image</image:image>
        image:lochttp://example.com/image.jpg</image:loc></urlset>

http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2010/04/adding-images-to-your-sitemaps.html