Structured data is essential to improve the understanding of your pages by search engines and to optimize their display in search results. They help clarify page content and better target user queries.
Use Google's Rich Results Test Tool.
This tool, accessible via Google Developers, allows you to verify that Google correctly interprets the structured data on your site. Here's how to use it effectively:
- Access the tool: Go to the Google Rich Results Testing Tool page.
- Enter your URL or HTML code: You can directly test a page by inserting the URL or copying the HTML code into the tool.
- Analysis of results: The tool will display the detected structured data and errors and give you an overview of how Google interprets your page.
Use the Schema.org markup validation tool.
For more technical verification that complies with universal standards, the Validator.schema.org tool is recommended. It supports different structured data formats, like JSON-LD, microdata, or RDFa.
- Go to Validator.schema.org and open the online tool.
- Enter your page data: You can copy and paste the code or enter the URL of the page to test.
- Review the results: The tool will show you if your markup is structured correctly and alert you to potential errors.
Integration with the Google Search Console
Google Search Console complements these tools by providing automatic alerts about errors in your structured data. Here's how to effectively integrate this tool into your process:
- Set up the Search Console: Make sure your site is set up and verified in the Google Search Console.
- Monitor issues: Check the Improvements section regularly to track issues reported by Google and act quickly to fix them.
Tips for an Effective Structured Data Strategy
To maximize the impact of your structured data:
- Test before deployment: Before releasing major changes to your site, use these tools to test the new structured data and fix errors before they affect your SEO.
- Follow developments in standards: Schema.org standards and SEO best practices are evolving; stay informed and adjust your data accordingly.
- Ensure data accuracy: Your structured data should accurately reflect the content of your page to avoid penalties for misleading information.