Structured data or rich data is data filled with information, which helps Google to easily understand what it is going to find on your website page. This data is in a J-SON format and there are different examples of use cases;

• Identify a product (e-commerce site)
• Define content such as a blog post
• Define your organization's business
• Highlighting customer reviews

Why inject structured data on my site?

You know my point of view. Google's algorithm is logical. Adding structured data to your site, allows Google to understand the content of your site faster. And how does Google say thank you?

• Rich Snippet results
• Better SEO positions
• + budget crawl
• Etc...

If you are engaging in an SEO strategy with a little "technical" structured data or schema.org is an essential markup to integrate.

How to learn to use structured data?

Theory and practice. You will find everything

2.1 Google, the best free resource

Presented with videos or clear documentation with examples, Google makes your life easy! Dive into the documentation to easily understand the theoretical part of rich data.

Link to Google documentation

2.2 Schema.org

The rich data bible (schema.org).

I find the content less educational than the official Google documentation, but you will find on this website many use cases and applications for different types of data.

Overview of a page on the schema.org website

Link to schema.org

2.3 Using an automatic generation tool

Let's get to work! Two options are available to you;

1. Create your data by writing your entire J-SON file
2. Use a tool to facilitate this writing (semi-automatic 🔫): link to Merkle Schema Generator

Bonus: test with this tool the good functioning of your structured data

It's normal, when you first test, to make mistakes! Just... (even if Google says not to penalize errors on enriched data) check your schema file before integrating it to your website!

Google offers a free analysis tool, take advantage of it!

Conclusion!

You now know what structured data is, also called rich data or schema.org. You also know that they make life easier for Google's robots and therefore have a positive impact on the SEO of your website.

It is advisable to use a tool, to help you, in the writing of these data. And finally, it is important to test your file before integrating the data in your website!