Most businesses are aware of schema markup and its potential benefits. However, many don’t know there are different types of schema markup, each with its own specific purpose. In this article, we’ll take a look at the four most common types of schema markup and how you can use them to improve your website’s SEO.
What is schema markup?
Schema markup is a code that you can add to your website to help search engines understand your content better. This code is usually in the form of JSON-LD, which stands for JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data, however we do discuss other types available. Schema markup is used to give structure to data so that search engines can easily read and interpret it.
What are Rich Snippets?
Rich Snippets are schema markups that provide additional information about your content in the search results. This extra information is designed to give users a better idea of your content before they click on it.
Rich Snippets can include things like:
-The author of an article
-The star rating of a product
-The price of a product
-The number of reviews for a product
Why is schema important?
Schema markup is important because it helps search engines understand your content better. By adding schema markup to your website, you’re effectively giving search engines a road map of your website’s content. This makes it easier for them to index your content and display it in the search results.
How can schema markup improve my SEO?
There are two main ways that schema markup can improve your website’s SEO:
1. Rich Snippets can make your content more visible and clickable in the search results, which can lead to more traffic to your website.
2. Schema markup can help search engines understand your content better, which can lead to better rankings for your pages.
Main Schema Encoding Types
1. Microdata
Microdata is a form of schema markup that allows you to add additional information to your website’s HTML code. This information can then be used by search engines to provide more relevant results for users. For example, if you have a website about cars, you could use microdata to mark up each car’s make, model, and year. This would allow search engines to display this information in the search results, making it easier for users to find the right car for their needs.
2. RDFa
RDFa is a schema markup language that allows you to add Rich Snippets to your website. Rich Snippets are pieces of information that appear in the search results alongside your website’s listing. They can include things like your site’s rating, reviews, and pricing information. Adding Rich Snippets to your website can help it stand out from the competition and attract more clicks.
3. JSON-LD
JSON-LD is a schema markup format that is designed for use with JavaScript. It allows you to add schema markup to your website without having to modify the HTML code. This can be helpful if you’re using a content management system that doesn’t allow you to modify the HTML code. JSON-LD is also a good choice if you want to avoid adding extra code to your website’s pages.
4. Microformats
Microformats are a schema markup format that is designed for use with HTML. They allow you to add additional information to your website’s code without having to modify the structure of the page. Microformats are often used to add contact information, event information, and product information to websites.
What are the most common types of schema markup?
Organisation schema markup
Organisation Schema Markup is probably the most common schema markup used by businesses. It allows you to add information about your business, such as its name, address, and contact information. This schema markup can be used to improve your website’s SEO by making it easier for search engines to find and index your site.
Review schema markup
Review Schema Markup is schema markup that allows you to add customer reviews to your website. This schema markup can be used to improve your website’s SEO by making it easier for search engines to find and index your site. Review schema markup can also be used to improve your website’s click-through rate by making it more likely that users will click on your listing in the search results.
Article schema markup
Article schema markup is used to provide additional information about an article in the search results. This information can include things like the author, publication date, and star rating.
Product schema markup
Product schema markup is used to provide additional information about a product in the search results and generally designed for use with eCommerce websites. It allows you to add information about products that are sold on your website and can include things like the price, star rating, and number of reviews. Product schema markup can help your products stand out in the search results and get more clicks.
Local business schema markup
Local business schema markup is used to provide additional information about a local business in the search results. This information can include things like the address, phone number, and opening hours.
Event schema markup
Event schema markup is used to provide additional information about an event in the search results. This information can include things like the date, location, and ticket price.
Person schema markup
Schema Person Markup is schema markup that allows you to add information about people to your website.
Breadcrumbs schema markup
Breadcrumbs Markup is schema markup that allows you to add breadcrumbs to your website. Breadcrumbs are links that allow users to navigate back to the previous page.
FAQ schema markup
FAQ schema markup is schema markup that allows you to add a list of frequently asked questions to your website.
Video schema markup
Video Schema Markup is schema markup that allows you to add information about videos to your website.
Image schema markup
Image Schema Markup is schema markup that allows you to add information about images to your website.
Recipe schema markup
Recipe Schema Markup is schema markup that allows you to add information about recipes to your website.
Schema markup can be a helpful way to improve your website’s SEO. By adding schema markup to your website, you can make it easier for search engines to understand your content and provide more relevant results for users.
Testing your schema markup
Remember that once you have created the schema markup you need to test it to ensure that it is working correctly. You can use the Google Structured Data Testing Tool to test your schema markup. This tool will allow you to see how your schema markup will appear in the search results and help you to troubleshoot any errors that may be present.
Felicity Jane Digital SEO Can Help
If you’re not sure which schema markup to use, or if you’re having trouble implementing schema markup on your website, contact a qualified SEO professional for help.
Schema markup can be a powerful tool to improve your website’s SEO. If you’re not using schema markup, you should start today. If you’re not sure where to start, our team at Felicity Jane Digital can help. We specialize in schema markup and can help you get started with using it to improve your website’s SEO. Contact Felicity Jane Digital today to learn more.
