Rich Snippets, also known as “Rich Results” are normal search results with additional value-added data in it. For example, when you do google search for keyword ‘ Pain in teeth‘, you will get the result shown in the below-attached snapshot.
Rich Snippets in Google
In the above-attached snapshot, the highlighted part of the search results is actually a rich snippet.
Next, let us understand this with one more example.
When you search online for a cooking recipe, you will observe a small box (showing cooking recipes with review stars in it) at the top of the search result. This small box is actually a rich snippet appearing in Google.
If you are wondering how to add rich snippets to the website then this article will help you. Here in this post, I am going to share a complete guide on rich snippets.
But, before starting with it let us first understand the importance of rich snippets. The below points will tell why you should immediately start using rich snippets on your website or blog?
Why are Rich Snippets Important?
Rich Snippets are very important because it will provide you
- above the Fold Content. Your article will appear at the top of the search results.
- an opportunity to rank better in the search engine for all types of content.
- higher CTR (Click Through Rate). It means you will get more clicks on your article and thereby more traffic to your website or blog.
- a platform to highlight important data like Number of Comments, Likes, Price or Reviews, etc. to the users.
- an option to showcase the reliability of the data. For example, the blog post with more number of reviews and comments will be considered reliable than others.
In simple words, rich snippets will help you to highlight your website or blog in the search results. Please refer to the below-attached snapshot for more information.
The Star Reviews made rankxl website different from others.
How To Add Rich Snippets In Website?
The rich snippets will appear only when you add Schema Markup to your website or blog. By adding the schema you can easily structure the data for search engine.
In simple words, the schema markup is basically a guideline for the structuring of important data on your website or blog.
For more information, please refer the below article
But, it is also important to note that, simply adding Schema Markup or Structural Code to your website does not guaranteed rich snippets in the Google. It is up to Google whether to show it or not?
If you are under the assumption that Schema Markup is simply a piece of code that can be easily added to the website or blog then you are wrong.
Trust, adding Schema is not as simple as its saying.
In Google, there are more than a hundred of schema types and all these schemas can’t be enabled with one single piece of code.
Adding rich snippets to website involve complex coding. It is very difficult for a non-technical person to install it properly.
Next, this problem can be resolved by using any readyment plugin available online. For example,
If you are using WordPress then you can install Schema Plugin available free on WordPress site.
This plugin is easy to use and managed when compared to add schema code manually to your site. Next, in this kind of plugin, the various schema types can be enabled or disabled within a click.
So, all you need to do is simply install this plugin and sit back to allow Google to reindex your file.
Remember, Google will take some time (from one week to a month) to reindexed your site and show rich snippets for your website or blog. Sometimes, it also take more than one month to show rich snippets in the search results.
Now, a question may arise, What if I am not using WordPress or I don’t find my required schema type available in the plugin.
In such a case, you can follow the below step by step tutorial for adding rich snippets to the website easily.
How To Add Schema Markup Code Manually and Easily
Now, let us talk about how to add schema markup code on your website or blog. This can be done by following the steps given below.
P.S:’ This option will work best when you don’t find any plugin for adding schema or your plugin don’t have the required markup type. In both cases, the below method will work best for you.
Time needed: 30 minutes.
The below shortcut will help you to add a schema markup of any type manually to your website or blog.
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Structured Data Markup Helper
Go to the Structured Data Markup Helper site. Please note you need to be login to your Google account to access this site.
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Select Markup Type
Next, select the data type from the available option and paste your site URL or HTML source of the page you wish to add markup code.
Next, a workplace will open with a webpage of your pasted URL.
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Highlight and Select
Next, highlight and select the type of elements to be marked up on your loaded webpage.
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-Add Markup Elements
Keep adding all elements to your markup code and then click on ‘Create HTML’ button (given on the top right of the screen)
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Add HTML Code To Your Website Or Blog
That’s it. Now go into your website or blog and add the highlighted snippets in the appropriate spots. Please note, you only need to copy and paste the yellow highlighted code on your site.
Alternatively, you can download the entire code for the complete webpage and replace the same with your CMS or source code on your site.
In simple words, either you can copy and paste the highlighted code or copy and replace the entire code with source code.
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Visit the Structured Data Testing Tool
At last, check your webpage or HTML code in structured data testing tool for the error. If there is an error in the markup code then resolve it immediately with the appropriate action. But, don’t leave it open, this is because a markup code with an error will not appear in the search result.
Please note, you can’t use Question and Answer schema for non Question and Answer webpage. Every schema has its own importance and it needs to be studied before using it.
Disadvantage Of Using Schema Markup Code
The only disadvantage of using schema markup code is- Google is indirectly taking control over the information available on your site. The below snapshot will clarify everything.
Disadvantage Of Using Schema Markup Code
In the above snapshot, you can clearly observe that- If someone wants to know the current time in the USA then he or she does not need to visit your website. Now, Google is more than a simple search engine.
The Final Words
When it comes to boosting organic visit to your site, you can add schema markup to your site and enable rich snippet results in the search engine. Trust, the click-through rate of rich results is really good and hence it will increase traffic on your website or blog.
At last, please do not forget to share your feedback for this article with us. You can share your feedback in below comment box below or contact us directly using the ‘Contact Us‘ page.