I'm using sprite images for icons that are linked, but no text associated. I'm wondering what you feel is the best method as it relates to SEO.

Here are a few examples of how the markup could be done:

**No Sprites, Just images. This would work, but with 50+ icons, it's not ideal to have each one a separate image**

```
<a href="#">
  <img src="icon1.gif" alt="SEO Text" />
</a>

```

**Sprites, Link with title attribute**

```
<a href="#" class="sprite icon1" title="SEO Text">&nbsp;</a>

```

**Sprites, Link with title attribute and/or indented anchor text (text-indent: -9999)**

```
<a href="#" class="sprite icon1" title="SEO Text">SEO Text</a> 

```

Or maybe something completely different?

Thank you!

EDIT:

Another option I found could be:

**Transparent image with alt text and using sprites**

```
<img src="transparent.gif" class="sprite icon1" alt="SEO Text" />

```