Schema markup is a powerful tool that can help search engines understand the content on your website and how it relates to certain topics or categories. This tool is essential for any DIY SEO strategy, and should always be considered when creating SEO campaigns. By using schema markup, you can give search engines more information about your pages, which can help them display your website more prominently in search results. In this article, we will be discussing the basics of schema markup, different types of schema, how to write markup using the JSON format, and the best practices for creating your perfect schema. We will also be sharing my tips on how to test your markup for errors or warnings and make sure it is valid. This article is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their website’s visibility and performance in search results.

 

What is SEO schema markup?

Schema markup is a form of structured data that helps search engines understand the content on your website and how it relates to certain topics or categories. By using markup, you can give search engines more information about your pages, which can help them display your website more prominently in search results. This can ultimately improve your search engine rankings and drive more traffic to your website. 

 

What types of schema markup are there?

There are loads of different types of schema, each with its specific use case. Some common types include:

 

• Local Business Schema: Information about a physical business location, such as the address, phone number, and hours of operation.
• Article Schema: Information about an article, such as the headline, author, and publication date.
• Product Schema: Information about a product, such as price, availability, and reviews.
• Event Schema: Information about an event, such as the date, location, and ticket price.
• Person Schema: Information about a person, such as their name, job title, and contact information.
• Organization Schema: Information about an organization, such as the name, address, and contact information.

 

These are just a few examples of the many types of schema that are available. In general, schema markup aims to provide search engines with as much information as possible about the content on your website, so that they can display that content more prominently in search results.

 

 

How do I write schema markup?

Some schema formats can get pretty confusing, but writing schema using the JSON-LD format is relatively straightforward. Here’s a general overview of the process:

 

1. Identify the type of markup you want to use. This will determine the properties and values that you need to include in your markup. 
2. Create a JSON-LD script. This is the format that we use, and it consists of a set of key-value pairs. 
3. Define the context for your markup. This is typically done by adding a “@context” property to your JSON-LD script and setting its value to “http://schema.org“. 
4. Define the type of your markup. This is done by adding a “@type” property to your JSON-LD script and setting its value to the appropriate type of markup (e.g. “Organization”, “Article”, etc.). 
5. Add properties and values to your markup. These will vary depending on the type of markup you’re using, but they will typically include information like the name, address, and contact information for an organization, or the headline, author, and publication date for an article. 
6. Test your markup. Once you’ve written your markup, it’s a good idea to test it to make sure that it’s valid and that it provides all the information that you want to convey to search engines. 
7. Put the JSON-LD script in the head section of your HTML page.

 

Note that there are several online tools available that can help you generate schema markup in the JSON-LD format, such as Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper and the JSON-LD Generator. These tools can save you time and ensure that your markup is written correctly.

 

How can I test that my schema markup is valid?

I always recommend using one of the structured data testing tools provided by the search engines like Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool. These tools allow you to enter a URL or paste in your markup code, and then run a test to see if any errors or warnings are found in your code.

 

Additionally, you can use the Rich Results Test provided by Google Search Console, it will help you to see how your page will look in the search result, and it will also help you to validate your markup.

 

 

Keep in mind that even if your markup passes the structured data testing tools, it doesn’t guarantee that it will be eligible for rich results, but it’s a good starting point to identify and fix any errors or issues that might be preventing your markup from being eligible for rich results.

 

Testing your schema is a crucial step to make sure that it is written correctly and that it provides all the information that you want to convey to search engines. Using the tools provided by them is always the best way to do it.

 

What are the best practices for creating schema markup?

The following are our 5 best practices for creating the perfect schema:

 

Use the right type of schema:

Make sure you’re using the correct type of schema markup for your content. There are many different types of markup available, so choose the one that best fits your content.

 

Be specific and accurate:

Provide as much specific and accurate information as possible. The more information you provide, the better search engines will be able to understand and display your content.

 

Keep it simple:

Keep your markup simple and easy to understand. Avoid using unnecessary properties or values, and make sure that your markup is easy to read and understand.

 

Use the correct format:

Use the JSON-LD format for your markup. This format is preferred by search engines and is easy to understand and implement.

 

Test your markup:

Use structured data testing tools provided by search engines to test your markup for errors or warnings. This will help you identify any issues that might be preventing your markup from being eligible for rich results.

 

By following these best practices, you’ll be able to create schema markup that is accurate, easy to understand, and search engine-friendly, which can help improve your website’s visibility and performance in search results.

 

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you to understand the basics of schema markup, its different types, how to write it using the JSON format, and the best practices to create it. Schema markup is a powerful tool that can help improve your website’s visibility and performance in search results. It is important to remember that testing your markup for errors or warnings and making sure it is valid is an essential step in the process. We encourage you to use structured data testing tools to ensure your markup is error-free and eligible for rich results. If you follow these steps, you will be on your way to creating schema markup that will help boost your website’s SEO and drive more traffic to your site. 

 

If you want to learn more about how we can help you with your schema, or other Content Marketing Services, give our team a call. We’d love to chat with you!