The Role of Structured Data Markup in SERP Rankings

Structured data is an organised format to provide information about a page. It helps search engines like Google to understand the content of the page and gather information to improve your business search result listings. It is coded directly to page’s HTML markup.

Google uses these structured data and generates rich snippets. These snippets are small pieces of information that appear in search results. It is basically the extra information provided along with the main information. Like the search for a particular coffee shop in the area will not only list its name but also show details of its location, hours, pricing and ratings etc.

Most structured data searches use schema.org vocabulary, but the documentation on developers.Google.com is recommended for Google search behaviour.

While creating these mark-ups, you must include all the properties for an object to make it suitable for an appearance in Google search. You can test your structured data using the Structured Data Testing tool during its progress, and the Search Console Structured Data report after deployment, to assess the fitness of your pages

Structured Data Markup Helper by Google is one of the most beneficial free tools to help you get going with the structured data. Not only this markup tool enhances the Google’s understanding of your page, but this content may also be incorporated into knowledge graph panels to increase your business’s reach online.

Google’s official stance says that it does not use markup for the ranking purposes currently. But a study conducted by Searchmetrics.com showed that “domains having schema integrated do in fact rank great by an average of 4 positions when compared to domains without them.” So, it can be said that sites with embedded Schema tags are better optimized than sites without Schema tags. If your site is ranked four positions higher than your competitor, this could mean a higher sale prospect and in turn a higher revenue over the competitor.

Though schema is currently not a ranking factor, clearly there may be some impact of having structured markup data. It might be due to actual Google’s algorithm or an overall effect of a better-optimised site. Although Schema doesn’t imply an increased ranking directly, it is a good practice overall. It also does convey that you should put in efforts to add schema markup your page.

Having snippets in your site’s result implies that you are going to take up better space in SERPs than your competitors. This can greatly increase your click-through rate. An increase in traffic because of a better CTR will have an impact on your SERP rankings. If you have Rich snippets in the search results can directly turn into conversion, as the users already have enough information to purchase your product/service before they even land on your website.

So structured data will help you communicate to search engines what your content is about and that is beneficial for you, the visitor as well as Google. The ability to effectively use structured data into the page does impact indirectly the site’s ranking in search engines. Therefore embedding structured markup data into the page is highly recommended.

12 Ways to Keep Your Data & Identity Safe Online

How to Boost Your Digital Security for Peace of Mind

From the recent Facebook data breach to compromised customer data at huge companies like FedEx and Delta, personal security is more relevant than ever.

In fact, it might even seem that our data is under attack!

While you can’t always prevent data security issues, here are 12 ways to help you protect yourself in this fast-moving digital age:

1. Stop sending sensitive information digitally.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but many people email tax documents to their accountant, or text a password to a family member in a pinch.

2. Beware of public Wi-Fi.

Anything you send in a coffee shop or airport can be intercepted by someone on the same network. Consider using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when you’re out and about.

3. Secure your texts.

Whether you use a free app like WhatsApp or a paid Android or iOS solution, there are lots of end-to-end encryption options, ensuring only you and the recipient see messages.

4. Stay up to date.

If you don’t, you could be at risk for malware, viruses and cybercrime attacks. Make sure your operating system and software are updated – many devices do this automatically.

5. Worry less about wireless.

Secure your wireless network with a password so nobody can jump onto your Wi-Fi network and steal info.

6. Be cautious of clever email scammers.

Today’s phishing emails can have links that lead to realistic-looking websites. Never give out passwords or other sensitive info by email, text or phone unless you’re sure that you’re talking to the actual organization.

7. Lock down your laptop.

Make sure your laptop requires a password when it boots up. That way, if it gets stolen or prying eyes try to access your device, they’ll be stopped before they start.

8. Wipe out data.

If it’s time for a new laptop or smartphone, make sure your data isn’t hanging around. Once you’ve backed up any data you need, use a software program to permanently erase your hard drive.

9. Choose security questions wisely.

Avoid using common words in your passwords. Period. Google estimated someone would have a 19.7% success rate answering “pizza” to “What’s your favourite food? Customize questions or pick harder ones to guess.

10. Avoid sites that aren’t https.

Https stands for “hypertext transfer protocol with secure socket layer” (otherwise known as having a SSL certificate.) Sites without an “s” on the end are not secure if you are being asked to make a purchase or submit private/sensitive data that could get intercepted.

11. Pay attention to privacy settings.

Choose who can see the content you post on sites like Facebook and Instagram, and who can view your profile.

Opt for the highest level of privacy possible but be aware that some settings will prevent potential clients from seeing your posts, so find a happy balance that won’t sacrifice your social media marketing efforts!

12. Back up your data.

If your device gets stolen or compromised, what happens to that work report or your niece’s baby photos? Schedule automatic backups through your operating system or a cloud service.

While even the biggest and brightest companies can be hacked or otherwise attacked, these online security tips can help you reduce some of the risks.

Also, if you’re hiring a web professional developer to help with your business, make sure they’re well-aware of current security issues. We build websites with our clients’ safety in mind and perform regular security updates for ongoing peace of mind.

Exit mobile version