How do i get over my alt tage problems at a cateogry level?

[Towelsrus]

At present at a category level, our site does not incorporate images specific to the category you are in and therefore we do not have appropriate alt tags to suffice SEO requirements.It only covers categories you are navigating too.

e.g. http://www.towelsrus.co.uk/towels/catlist_fnct561.htm (no image placement available on page for that category, it only shows sub categories

Does anyone have any suggestions how we get over this? How big a deal is it to not have  image with appropriate keyword driven alt tag? Can you put more than 1 keyword phrase in a alt tag?

[deltasystems]

Sounds like the best solution is to alter the template & eCommerce system you are using to allow for that functionality. Anything else would be a hacky workaround that violates the 'Is this for search engines, or users?' rule.

Looks like you are running an ASP-based solution. I'll be of no help there