If you use Google as often as we do, you’ll notice that sometimes the information on your results page is… scarily accurate. The hours of a new restaurant in town or recent posts from your favorite news source seem to be magically pulled from the website and onto the top of the results page. Is Google reading your mind? No, they are just using Schema.
What is Schema, anyway?
Schema, also referred to as Structured Data Markup, is code that you can apply to the information on your website. This code assists search engines in identifying what all the elements of your site mean. If you write about the Rolling Stones on your blog, schema identifies that the Rolling Stones is a band, “Satisfaction” is a song, Mick Jagger is a band member, and all kinds of other information that humans use to make connections, but computers cannot always piece together.
Why is Schema important?
Search engines look at the information on your website, but they don’t know what it all means.
Does it get any better than this?
Yes! Schema is evolving and adapting to the way people use technology. Digital assistant devices like Google Home and Amazon Echo were among the most popular Christmas gifts of 2018. Between Siri and Cortana almost all smartphones are voice search capable, as well. Global research company Gartner predicts that a year from now, 30% of all web browsing will be done through voice search, which makes Schema more exciting than ever. The context that schema provides helps users find information using casual semantic phrasing like “How many deer live in Michigan?” or “Where can I buy cupcakes at 11 pm?”.
How Can I Get Schema on my Site?
Great question! Top of the List is one of the few SEO firms serving small to medium-sized companies that are invested in Schema markup. Google and other sites offer some tools and instructions on how to add Structured Data, but we recommend working with an SEO professional to implement Schema on your pages. Since Schema is time-consuming and can get complicated very quickly, experienced SEO specialists can get the best results for how your website will appear in search results.
About the Author
Mandie Allietta
Technical SEO Specialist IIMandie joined Top Of The List in 2018 and has a degree in Web Development. She lives in Grand Rapids, MI with her dog Winnie.