What Is Schema Markup and Why Is It Important for SEO?

What is Schema in SEO?

Schema markup is a set of tags (called microdata or structured data) that you can include within your web page’s code to provide search engines with more information about its content, context, and significance.

This additional layer of information helps search engines understand the nuances of your content, such as the relationships between different parts of data and their relevance to search queries.

As a result, schema can enhance how your pages are indexed and displayed in search results, making them more likely to stand out and attract relevant traffic.

Let’s talk a little more about the benefits of schema.

2. Structured Markup Makes SERPs Listings More Visible

The information that schema tags provide allows search engines to enhance your search listings and display them as rich snippets. 

Many schema types like ratings, reviews, breadcrumbs, FAQ and other markups help visitors notice a listing, even if it ranks further down on a page. They also often provide social proof that helps convince searchers to choose a particular search result over others.

This listing, for example, uses schema to display star ratings and a number of reviews.

This works to increase SERP real estate, and also increase organic click-through rate.

A Quick Client Success Story

One of our clients used our platform to find opportunities to add the FAQ schema to their pages. Since the implementation of this first wave of schema, they have seen a 50% increase in click-through rate. 

This view in Rank Intelligence shows you where an FAQ schema is appearing in the SERP for your tracked keywords. If you toggle the “Has” to “Does Not Have” in the Ranking URL features, you can discover pages where an FAQ schema is triggered, but you don’t have it set up (or aren’t appearing).

This is a great way to find opportunities to both prove authority and capture more space on the SERP.

(A view of Rank Intelligence on the seoClarity platform.)

Tip: If you keep the toggle as “Has” you can find keywords that have the FAQ markup that you can use to show off to your executives to prove the value of your work. For example, tell them to Google X keyword, and you know they will see the company ranking high, and with a lot of real estate space because of the fancy FAQ drop-downs.

3. Adding Schema Markup Helps Increase Rankings

As previously stated, helping google better understand the content on your pages increases your chances of ranking for more relevant phrases. 

When search engines can clearly grasp what your content is about, they are more likely to deem it a relevant result for specific searches, thus improving your visibility in search engine result pages (SERPs).

Our clients that have implemented schema on their sites have boosted their rankings – a lot. On average, we’ve seen a gain of about two to three positions in the Google search results.

4. Schema Can Improve ROI

Schema markup can significantly boost your return on investment (ROI) by making your search results more attractive and informative, thereby drawing in consumers who are closer to making a purchase decision.

For example, implementing structured markup like star ratings not only showcases product quality at a glance but also builds consumer trust and confidence. This enhanced display in search results can increase click-through rates, leading potential customers directly to your offerings.

Other detailed schema types such as price, availability, and reviewer information also provide critical decision-making details that can persuade a shopper to choose your result over competitors.

 By effectively using schema to highlight key selling points and unique attributes of your products or services, you can attract higher-quality leads and increase conversion rates, ultimately improving your overall ROI.

Where Can the Structured Data Appear in SERPs?

Here are some of the most common ones:

1. Contact information in the Knowledge Panel:

Below, we’ll explain JSON-LD, RDFa, and Microdata.

#1. JSON-LD

JSON-LD is the best (and preferred!) method for structured data because it can be quickly edited and, as code gets deprecated, it’s easy to adapt.

The code is a snippet that gets added within the <script> tag in the page head or body on the backend code of a website.

In order to implement, developers need to either:

1.  Copy and paste the code snippet onto the backend code of the page (not ideal, especially on enterprise sites).
2. Have their development team create a JavaScript code that they will execute across entire page types, and output the code into the same format.

The code can also be added utilizing Google Tag Manager as a work-around for internal teams who do not have dedicated development resources at their disposal.

Keep in mind that Google does not recommend the utilization of Google Tag Manager, mostly due to the fact that it utilizes JavaScript to render as opposed to appearing within the static HTML code. But for some companies it’s the only manageable option and there are workarounds designed to force the JavaScript onto the page in the required HTML format.

#2. RDFa

RDFa is an HTML5 extension that allows webmasters to mark up content elements like People, Places, Events, Recipes or Reviews with HTML tag attributes.

Each of those elements corresponds to the user-visible content that a webmaster wants to describe for search engines.

RDFa is most commonly used when marking up content that resides within the <head> and <body> elements of a webpage.

This method is not recommended because RDFa is difficult to test and, since it is wrapped around your site’s HTML, it is difficult to update and change rapidly.

The markup needs to be reconfigured each time you make any content or development changes on your site.

Method #3. Microdata

Microdata is an open-community HTML specification used to nest structured data within the HTML content. Like RDFa, it uses HTML tag attributes to name the properties you want to expose as structured data.

However, unlike RDFa, webmasters often use it to describe elements within the page’s content.

Microdata has the same limitations as does RDFa. The biggest issue with the markup is that it can easily induce errors when items are moved or rearranged on a site.

Again, JSON is the preferred method.

JSON-LD content will not be affected by layout changes (unless you modify the content, of course). You can move items around and any changes to the page structure won’t affect the schema markup.

This one benefit alone helped our clients retain their rankings despite errors in site layout and content.

Recommended Reading: Schema Markup Generator: Build Structured Data Without Developers

For example, one of our client’s development teams accidentally removed content from their core landing pages. Luckily, the JSON-LD markup kept their site from losing rankings until the team realized and resolved this mistake.

But what makes JSON schema so powerful?

For one, your schema information is independent of your page content. This makes schema inclusion on your page extremely easy and effortless.

JSON-LD includes all the rich snippet information in a small piece of JavaScript code and includes it anywhere on the site. This means that it doesn’t interfere with any existing code on the site. It’s also why you can freely amend your layout, without compromising the markup.

• Schema information is in the structured data but not in the user-visible text. For example, star ratings are implemented to show only in the SERPs but not for a user on the page. 
• Applying item properties to an entire list of items. When implemented correctly, each attribute should be applied individually to every list item. 
• Applying schema to misleading content. One example of this is using the wrong item for the product name. Commonly, companies use the product name schema tag for the manufacturer’s name or the selling company. 
• Review ratings showing an average rating of all items on a page. Each item should show their own unique rating. 
• Applying the same markup site-wide, whereas it should appear on specific pages only.

Final Thoughts on Moving to JSON-LD

It’s worth mentioning some of the challenges you might face when implementing JSON-LD.

For example, when you remove the current markup on any site, you might experience a temporary decrease in rankings. This is a result of Google and other search engines re-indexing your new content.

To avoid this, you could theoretically use both JSON and existing markups during the switch.

I wouldn’t recommend this as a long-term solution, but it will help retain rankings over 2-3 weeks while you implement the change fully.

When you should NOT move to JSON-LD

If you’ve already implemented the schema.org markup, it works without any major errors, and you do not change the site’s content too often, then we’d recommend you stick with this solution.

The temporary loss of rankings and traffic might not warrant the change.

Finally, if you need guidance with implementing schema, reach out to our Client Success team, who are available to discuss best practices with you and your team.

Note: We also offer Professional Services to companies who need help with implementation of the markup on their sites.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in December 2017 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.