What is Schema Markup? (+6 Easy Types to Use for Your Small Business)

If you’re not comfortable choosing your own schema and implementing the code yourself, don’t hesitate to work with a seasoned SEO strategist or web developer to get schema markup implemented on your web pages.
But if the cost of hiring those services is holding you back, you can implement this powerful SEO optimization on your own.

Schema.org website estimates that only about 10 million web pages utilize schema. In the vast landscape of the internet, that’s a pretty small percentage.

For example, a searcher that types “indoor garden,” into the search bar is likely looking for a product that will allow them to garden indoors.

What are the SEO benefits of Schema markup?

That means if your web pages are not appearing in rich results yet, you’re missing out on tons of opportunities to stand out against your competition.
For example, see the first page of the SERPs for the keyword phrase, “target.”

Average CTR for rich results is 58% compared to 41% for non-rich results. For some rich result types, CTR can jump as high as 87%
  • Improved Targeting: If you are trying to get users to book events, buy products, or make bookings, rich results can help you reach audiences who are looking to do so
  • Brand Awareness: Appearing at the top of the and in more prominent real estate can help your brand gain more recognition
  • Get a CTA from Google: Some rich results come with CTAs like “Call,” or “Get Now,” which can help drive clicks and conversions.
  • Types of Schema markups and when to use them

    Help users (and search engines) understand your website architecture
    The organization schema combines essential information about your business or organization into a knowledge panel that appears in the right side of the search results.

    30 different types of rich results. Here are some of the most common that you’ve likely seen populate in your Google searches:
    • Article
    • Breadcrumb
    • Event
    • FAQ
    • How-to
    • JobPosting
    • Logo
    • Product
    • Q&A
    • Review Snippet
    • Video

    About one-third of Google’s search results include rich results. Rich results not only look more enticing in the SERPs, they more quickly provide users with the exact information they’re looking for.
    Because the majority of local searches happen on mobile devices, it’s important to help improve your appearances in Google Map Pack.
    Review snippets will display those yellow stars alongside how many reviews your product, local business, or software product has received.

    Schema markup examples: 6 powerful schema types for small businesses

    With products, jobs, and events schemas, and, as of earlier this year, education sites, Google doesn’t appear to be slowing down with rich results anytime soon.
    The breadcrumbs schema helps search engines know how the web pages on your site interrelate. If you have a lot of content on your site, the breadcrumbs schema is a must-have.

    1. Organization schema markup

    But many hesitate to work on the backend of their websites. They know that schema is important, but forgo adding the markup to their pages (or default to plugins) without really understanding what schema is and how it can help generate more organic traffic.
    Google knows when a user is searching for a local offering and will rank local businesses at the top of the results accordingly.
    The above tool uses JSON-LD markup, so all you have to do is copy and paste the markup into the heading of your web page.

    reputation management—by helping to direct users to the information you want them to focus on and understand about your business.

    2. Local business Schema markup

    If you have content on your web page that fits with one of the below schema types, your brand could likely benefit from adding the corresponding schema markup to the page.
    Get more appointments and bookings
    Improve brand identity and awareness

    local business schema makes it easy for Google to find and display key information about your business like hours of operation, address, phone numbers, as well as display your reviews.

    Within the local business schema markup, you can add an action schema with your result, like “Book an appointment,” or “Make a reservation.”
    For any digital marketer who wants to elevate their SEO performance, taking the time to add schema.org markup to their web pages can help those pages appear in rich results, which are more clickable and desirable to users.
    After you’ve deployed your web page with the new schema, copy and paste the url into the tool.

    3. Breadcrumbs Schema markup

    If the page is not eligible, you’ll see this:
    The primary value proposition of Schema markup is that it enables your web pages to appear in rich results, or more prominent SERP placements.

    Almost 90% of buyers look to reviews before purchasing a product. So if you have good reviews, there’s no reason not to display them.

    But no business needs to add every schema type to their website. Your specific industry and the type of content on your website will influence what schema markups will be most beneficial for your brand.

    SearchAtlas software suite

    Adding schema to your website will be worth the value it brings in the long term: More visibility, more clicks, and more converting traffic.
    Some of the information displayed in rich results for local businesses is pulled from your Google My Business listing, so make sure your business has properly set up and claimed your listing.

    rich results test.

    Simply select which schema type you want, add the required attributes prompted by the tool, and you will see the tool generate your code.
    Across the board, there are some essential schema types that pretty much every small to midsize business should add to improve their SEO performance, brand visibility, and conversion rates.

    google search console page schema eligibility checker

    This knowledge panel will show up for search queries that include your brand name.

    google search console saying page not eligible for rich results

    Improve your SEO, CTR, and reputation with Schema markup

    Google will notify you whether or not the page is eligible for rich results, which results it’s eligible for, and whether or not there are any warnings on the page.
    So those digital marketers who take the time to add schema to their pages have even more opportunities to outrank and outperform their competitors in search.
    Then, I recommended adding the schema markup to your home page, about page, and contact page.