There are so many different Search Marketing people who are asking the same question and that is, ‘What is schema in SEO’ or ‘What is Schema in Digital Marketing? Well, if you want to have the answer to this question then you are in the right place.
In simple terms, you can understand schema as a semantic vocabulary of microdata or tags that site-owners can add to their HTML for optimizing the way Search Engines grasp your page in SERPs.
Actually, for better Search Engine Ranking, Google has introduced a new search snippet that is also named as Schema technique. It has the potential to catch the attention of all those who are related to the web world and digital marketing.
After all; Google is the leading search engine of the world.
Over 80% of online viewers resort to Google for any content search on the web.
That is why, seeing the significance of Schema in Google ranking, many SEO beginners and SEO experts are looking forward to knowing what is schema. Here we are to tell you more about this –
Introduction to the world of Schema
There is an evolution of the technology and with that evolution, there are some changes which are also being made in the format of the online businesses for achieving better results for sure.
One of the most amazing technologies that we have right now is the amazing voice search which is certainly one of the most important trends which are gaining a lot of popularity in the market share.
Not just that but RankBrain is very quickly becoming one of the most influential items in the core algorithms of Google. So, there is no doubt that people need to adapt their websites to the latest technologies so that they don’t lag behind in the race.
That is the reason why most online business owners want to make sure that you are able to provide a proper webpage in a context which can be a great help when it comes to improving the search visibility in the best way and increasing the results of SEO as well.
This is where Schema comes to help.
Now what is schema, you might wonder. Well, we are going to answer your questions right here.
What is Schema in SEO – The Definition
Schema is nothing but a micro-data that is being used to enhance the description of a webpage on the search engine. This will help the viewers to reach specific contents on the site of the webmasters.
It will help the viewers to search and find exactly what they intend to, and it will help the websites to get more traffic directly to their relevant pages and contents.
When we are talking about what is Schema Markup, there is just one thing that we have to say- It is found in Schema.org and it is a basic form of certain microdata.
This microdata is added easily to the webpage of any particular site and the amazing schema markup help in the creation of a perfect and enhanced description. This is the description which we know as the rich snippets in the best way.
These snippets tend to appear on the search results when the users tend to search the internet with related keywords.
There are so many different search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo and others that are currently using this amazing Schema Markup in order to make sure that their SEO is improved. So, that is all you need to know about what is Schema is SEO.
Understanding the importance of what is Schema is really important for the people because this is something that is going to make sure that the RankBrain and Hummingbird systems are able to have the best results for the particular websites.
The interpretation of the query which is made by the search engine is something that would be able to determine the quality that a particular search has in the first place. This is where Schema can be a great help and will be able to provide the context into some of the ambiguous webpages that are present.
Schema comes in really handy when tools like RankBrain are going to detect the actual content on your webpage and decide your ranking on the search engine.
What is Schema Markup in SEO?
Basically, Schema is one that will appear within the result displayed on the search result pages of Google.
The viewer will be able to search a website that is reflected in the result page. This might sound vague to some people, but in reality, it is not.
Sometimes people might be looking for certain contents for which they do not know the site’s URL.
For instance; if there is one site where people can watch random movies or albums uploaded by different people and have forgotten the URL, then their schema can come into play.
The viewer needs just to enter whatever part of the URL or site name they remember on the Google Search, and Google will come up with a host of search results. The first result will contain the schema technique for SEO, and it will give the searchers a direct link to the site they were looking for.
But the unique feature is that it will give them direct access to the content that is within sight with the only tag that it is necessary using schema.org markup language.
Searching by Item: What is schema in digital marketing?
Sometimes searchers may search the website of a provider company by items instead of going by the brands.
They can simply enter something like “Dell Inspiron” or the “Sony VAIO” and all the pages that contain information on these particular items will be displayed on the result pages of Sitelink search box on Google search result page. Here you really praise the work done by schema technique.
It is still not clear whether the AdWords paid search campaign would appear in the results provided, and some companies may try bidding on non-branded items so that their company prominently figures in the result pages.
Strategic Location- What is Schema in SEO
The search box is strategically located above the site links.
It also supports the auto-complete features, and if the user is able to use the accurate markup language, it will redirect them straight to the search pages of the brand.
Experts like MariyaMoeva, Neil Patel, and Kaylin Spitz believe that the website or brand which is looking to feature on the result page must be one of the schema.org websites around. They should have the potential action properties inherent for the schmea.org markup language.
Google has also confirmed this view, and according to the experts on the top search engine of the world, the users can resort to JSON-LD, RDFa, or microdata for ensuring this. For the benefit of the ultimate users, Google has also come up with a complete description on the developer site.
Brands on their part should remain aware of the redirect pages to their sites.
Enter Before You Enter- What is Schema Markup in SEO
What are the specific benefits of Schema?
One of the greatest benefits is that the user can enter before they enter the actual site viewing all that they desire to see on the site.
The best part of it is that the user will have to do nothing as everything required is already included in the plugin and all the processes would be automatic without the user having to bother about entering codes and anything else.
The convenience of Changing Code- Benefits of knowing What is Schema
One of the questions that would be nagging at the back of the mind of the user is how he or she could change the URL that is used for the Schema.
The process is simple and convenient. It is only required to enter a specific code in the functions PHP file. For the code details, one can visit the Google developer site.
It is also possible to disable the functionalities by use of code and the documentation of Google can be found online.
Improved Search- Benefits of Schema
In essence; the step taken by Google is aimed at improving the search experience of the viewers and searchers on their site with this search within their search box displayed on the Google result pages.
The viewers can now directly query their search to the publisher sites by using the Sitelink Search box provided by Google, and they will be redirected immediately to the desired site.
Many publishers claim that the new method is working nicely, and in result, many visitors are directly linked to their sites. As one of the publisher remarks;
“The viewers are using my own search pages today, and this is a welcome diversion from what they were doing before. I really like it and thanks to Google Schema for this”.
Many other publishers share this view.
How Google Does It?
Naturally; the process is different from what it was in the past.
In the past, when some viewer keyed in the keywords or phrases in the search box of Google; they were given a host of search results by Google. But not now!
Instead, Google transfers the burden to the publisher concerned, and now the site commands the query for notifying the publishers to run these queries in their internal search processes.
Some people still have doubts about this and insist that no such transfer of responsibilities have yet been put in place by Google. But in any case; that is what Google says and perhaps intends to. Google is sending the notifications of new Schema functionalities via the Google Webmaster Tools and their message centre.
They are notifying the webmasters to make their sites ready to conform to the new search technologies introduced by Google. This is also an indication that Google is pretty serious about implementing the Schema system, or else there is no meaning of such notifications to webmasters. The message reads as follows;
Google Webmaster Tools
The message is followed by instructions on how to make the website ready to accept the Schema process.
How to Make Site Ready for Schema- What is Schema Beginner Guide
When Google systems identify a site as eligible to use the new Schema, they will notify the webmaster through the Google Webmaster Tool message center about it.
Indicating that the site is compatible and eligible to use the new feature, they will also ask them to take some steps to be in preparedness to accept the feature. Basic three steps are as follows.
1. Using a Google-specific and a compatible search engine is the first step;
2. Adding schema.org/SearchAction markup language for the purpose, and
3. Setting up a canonical URL for the site for compatibility.
Once these features are taken care of; the site will be ready to accept and use Schema feature.
For further help, a webmaster can visit the Google site.
An Evolution in Search Algorithm and its role in Schema
For sometimes, many users were looking forward to a bit of difference and innovation in the search algorithm and practices.
True, Google has come up with Panda and Penguin algorithms, but that was to make their results more qualitative according to their perception and not for giving any additional advantage or views to the users.
But the Schema technique for SEO is a completely new innovation and evolution in the process of search algorithm where the user will search a site within site.
Search results now give a new look with the inside contents of the site available with the site details on the result page.
This places the Google search box with a higher and more prominent position and the benefit for the viewers is that they dispense with the additional steps involved in first locating the site, then to be redirected to it and then again searching for content on that site.
The new process is much faster as the views will directly move to the site contents instead of the home page of the site concerned.
Many users carry out their search with the company or brand name, but in reality, they would be looking for something specific.
Earlier searches were providing a list of sites that may or may not contain relevant information or facts on the subject, but the present search leads directly to the relevant contents in the site and that is a great time and effort saving factor for the users.
Using Markup Language
It is the use of markup language, especially schema.org/SearchAction that will make the website of the webmaster compatible with the Schema feature.
For finding the markup also one can resort to Google search pages.
Besides the site should also have working search engine functionality and the markup feature combines “potential action” properties with the “search engine markups.” For this, the webmaster needs to use the best practices, and Google advises as follows-
1. The markup should be placed on the home page of the site concerned.
2. Webmaster need not repeat it on other pages on the site.
3. Either JSON-LD or microdata would be ideal for markup.
4. There should only be one URL specified for the target.
5. Multiple pattern targets are not presently supported though Google is working on them.
Site Configuration
It is natural that for using any feature, one would require site configuration and so it is for Schema. Google has the following suggestions to make in this regard.
1. URL link for the home page should be canonical.
2. Webmasters should prevent crawling of the search results with robots txt.
3. The server to which the site is linked must support UTF-8 character encoding systems.
4. For further clarification, the webmaster can visit the Google Webmaster Guideline page or resort to the Webmaster Help Forum.
Site-Specific Search Engine
Webmasters require using a site-specific search engine for being able to use the new Schema feature.
If they already have a working as well as the site-specific search engine, then they have to notify this to Google.
It will allow Google to appreciate that the webmaster concerned wants the second search box prominently appearing leading users straightaway to the relevant pages of the webmaster’s site. If the webmaster cannot use JSON-LD or microdata, Google recommended markups; they can also use RDFa for the purpose.
The second search option that is offered to the user is equivalent to using the site directly through any search.
Also, the site links search box is becoming robust with the passage of time and improvements made to it by the Google technical team. If more sites extend their support for it, then the users will have a much better experience in searching, Google insists.
With Google Schema, not only the people will be able to get the contents much easier, but also the sites will be accessed quicker. One can search for the contents just by putting the name of the site in the search box, and it involves an extra step that will save time and efforts for the users and will enhance traffic movement to the site.
If the search box is not displaying means, the user has not entered navigational queries as Google has set up the feature only for navigational purposes. So, now you have answers about what is schema in hand.
Wrapping it up!
So, now that you know what is schema in digital marketing, why don’t you go ahead and use it?
We are pretty sure that it is going to help you a lot when you want to increase the SEO for sure.
Enrolling in SEO Course can enable you to learn and master the concepts and practical implementation of what is schema.
