The Basics of Structured Data and Schema Markup
Structured data, or schemas, are snippets of code it is important for webmasters to add to their websites to better help search engine crawlers understand the content of a website. This is done by encoding pieces of information and having them organized logically for the search engine to easily interpret. Schema markup is a standardized code that gives context to web content and allows search engines to better understand what the content is about.
Structured data gives webmasters the ability to better control and guide how content is found and understood on the web. The various types and formats of structured data all offer webmasters the opportunity to highlight certain aspects of their content and make it more adaptable to machines and devices. Microdata and RDFa are two widespread and popular types of structured data. Microdata is a simplified HTML markup language which uses the same vocabulary as standard HTML tags in order to provide information to the search engine crawlers. RDFa, or Resource Description Framework in attributes, is a more complicated type of markup language developed to provide search engines with more detailed information about the content. It works by creating separate namespaces for each type of information about the document or website.
In order for structured data to be effective on webpages and for SEO purposes, you have to have a setup that is conducive to the structured data being used. You first need to choose the correct structure for your web content to fit the appropriate structure of structured data. Additionally, it is important to set up your codes correctly in order for the structured data to be properly parsed by the search engine crawlers.
Once you have the structure of your web content set up, it is time to implement the specific form of structured data related to your web content. This can be done manually through adding codes to the head section of the web page or through automated systems such as Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper. After this step, your page is set up to be parsed by the search engine crawlers.
Using structured data and schema markup can be an effective way to make websites more accessible to search engines and improve their visibility in search results. It is important for website owners to understand the basics of structured data and schema markup so they can better optimize their page and make it attractive to search engine crawlers. Doing this can result in improved visibility, rankings, and more organic traffic to your site.
