Definition of Schema Markup & 6 steps to generate it for SEO

Definition of Schema Markup

Schema Markup, also known as structured data, is a form of code that helps search engines to better understand the content on a website and display it accurately in the search results. It provides a framework for organizing information into a structured format, making it easier for search engines to crawl, index, and display the content in a more effective way.

What is schema markup

Schema Markup is added to the HTML of a website and enables search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing to highlight the most important information on a web page. It helps the search engine to identify and classify web pages more accurately and quickly. By using schema markup, website owners can enhance their search engine optimization efforts and increase their visibility in search results.

32 types of Schema Markup

Schema.org provides a standard set of definitions and properties for describing different types of information on a website. Here are 32 different types of Schema Markup:

• Article
• BlogPosting
• NewsArticle
• Event
• Organization
• LocalBusiness
• Restaurant
• Product
• Review
• AggregateRating
• Recipe
• HowTo
• Video
• TVSeries
• Episode
• MusicAlbum
• MusicEvent
• MusicGroup
• Person
• Place
• PostalAddress
• GeoCoordinates
• ContactPoint
• WebPage
• AboutPage
• ContactPage
• FAQPage
• QAPage
• SearchResultsPage
• BreadcrumbList
• Carousel
• SitelinksSearchBox

These are just a few examples of the Schema Markup types available. Each type of markup is designed to help search engines better understand the content on your website and display it in a more user-friendly way.

Examples of Schema Markup

Schema Markup is a language used to represent data on web pages, which helps search engines better understand the information on a website. Below are some examples of Schema Markup:

Logo Markup

Logo Markup is a type of Schema Markup that allows businesses to display their logo in search results. With Logo Markup added to a webpage, search engines can recognize the image as a logo and display it alongside other information in search results. This can help the businesses with brand exposure, making them more recognizable for the general public.

Example of logo markup

Review Markup

Review Markup is a type of Schema Markup that allows businesses to display reviews on their webpage in search results. With Review Markup added to a webpage, search engines can recognize and display the reviews alongside other information in search results. This can help businesses attract more customers by displaying positive reviews.

Example of review markup

Sitelink Markup

Sitelink Markup is a type of Schema Markup that allows businesses to display links to specific pages on their website in search results. With Sitelink Markup added to a webpage, search engines can recognize and display the links alongside other information in search results. This can help users navigate to specific pages on a website more easily.

Example of sitelink markup

Product Markup

Product Markup is a type of Schema Markup that allows businesses to display product information in search results. With Product Markup added to a webpage, search engines can recognize the product information and display it alongside other information in search results. This can help businesses promote their products more effectively by displaying information such as product name, price, and availability out front.

Example of product markup

Local Business Markup

Local Business Markup is a type of Schema Markup that allows businesses to display information about their physical location in search results. With Local Business Markup added to a webpage, search engines can recognize the location information and display it alongside other information in search results. 

This can help businesses attract more customers by displaying information such as address, phone number, and business hours.

Example of local business markup

Is Schema Markup needed in SEO?

Yes, Schema Markup is needed in SEO. It is a code that helps search engines understand the content of a website and represent it better in search results. Schema markup can provide more than just rich snippets and can help with local SEO campaigns and Google Shopping campaigns. 

It is a valuable SEO asset that can improve the appearance and ranking of your website on search engine result pages (SERPs).

Schema markup and SEO

6 steps generate Schema Markup for SEO

Schema Markup can be a great tool to help search engines understand your content and display it properly in the search results. If you’re looking to generate Schema Markup for your website, here are the six steps to follow:

Step 1: Select data type

The first step in generating Schema Markup is to select the data type that you want to markup. There are many different data types available, including articles, products, events, and more. Selecting the right data type for your content is important because it will help search engines understand what your content is about.

Choose your data type

Step 2: Paste your URL

Once you’ve selected the data type, the next step is to paste the URL of the page you want to markup. This could be a blog post, product page, or any other type of page on your website that you want to optimize with Schema Markup.

Schema markup URL

Step 3: Start marking up your page

After you’ve pasted your URL, it’s time to start marking up your page. This involves adding Schema Markup code to your HTML. You can do this manually if you’re comfortable working with code, or you can use a tool like Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper to make the process easier.

Step 4: Generate HTML

Once you’ve added the Schema Markup code to your HTML, the next step is to generate the HTML code that you will add to your website. You can use a tool like Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool to check your code for errors and make sure that everything is working correctly.

Step 5: Add the Markup to your site

With the generated HTML code in hand, it’s time to add the Schema Markup to your website. You can do this by inserting the code directly into the HTML of your page, or with a plugin or extension if you’re using a content management system like WordPress or Shopify.

Step 6: Test your structured data

Finally, it’s important to test your structured data to make sure that it’s working correctly. You can use Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool to check your code for errors and see how your markup will appear in the search results. Testing your structured data is vital, because it ensures that search engines can understand your content and that your markup is having the desired impact on your SEO.

How to generate & test your Schema for HTML?

Generating and testing schema for HTML can help improve the structure and organization of a website’s content, making it easier for search engines to crawl and understand the site. There are various ways to generate and test schema for HTML, including:

JSON-LD (Javascript Object Notation for Linked Objects) 

JSON-LD is a script-based method for adding structured data to HTML. It allows website owners to embed structured data into their HTML using a JSON-based format. This method is recommended by Google and is relatively easy to implement, as the code is placed directly in the HTML code. To test JSON-LD, you can use Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool.

Microdata

Microdata is another way to add structured data to HTML, using HTML5 attributes. With Microdata, you can define your own custom schema or use an existing schema. This method involves placing specific HTML tags around the structured data. To test Microdata, you can also use Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool.

RDFa

RDFa is similar to Microdata in that it uses HTML5 attributes to embed structured data into HTML. However, RDFa can also be used with other markup languages such as XHTML and XML. This method allows website owners to express the relationship between data in a more precise way. To test RDFa, you can use Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool.

In summary, there are several ways to generate and test schema for HTML, including JSON-LD, Microdata, and RDFa. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, and website owners should choose the one that best suits their needs and level of technical expertise.

Regardless of the method chosen, testing the schema using Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool is essential to ensure that the structured data is correctly implemented and understood by search engines.

Read more: Being redirect too many times is a common error that you need to understand how to resolve.

Final Thoughts

In summary, Schema Markup is a structured framework or plan that helps search engines like Google better understand the content of a webpage. To generate Schema Markup for SEO, there are six key steps to follow, which include identifying the data type, selecting relevant schema types, mapping properties, optimizing the schema, testing it with the Schema Markup Validator, and implementing it on the website.

It is important to avoid common mistakes in implementation and regularly test and update the schema as needed. The SEO services offered by On Digitals can help you with all aspects regarding your website, including implementing effective schema markup. Contact On Digitals and let us help you grow your brand.