3.11 Structure metadata for machine readability
Include the required metadata and structured microdata to increase the visibility and findability of resources.
Criteria
- Required elements: Machine-testable
Include the required title element, plus any beneficial optional HTML head elements. - Meta tags: Machine-testable
Include necessary meta tag references that are commonly recognized and used by user agents such as search engines. Follow recognized standards and vocabularies such as Friend of a Friend (FOAF) or RDFa. - Structured data: Machine-testable
Use microdata, structured data (e.g., Schema.org), or microformats in content where a widely used structured data format exists.- GPF – General Policy Framework (PDF) – 1.9 – Strategy (Interoperable Technologies)
- How to get a Knowledge Panel for your brand, even without Wikipedia
- Introduction to structured data markup in Google Search
- Microformats
- Open Graph Protocol
- Provide a site name to Google Search
- Structured Data
- The digital butterfly effect: Sustainable websites and SEO
Benefits
- Economic
Improving metadata can make it easier for search engines, social networks, or other platforms to present your content appropriately. This can lead to better search engine visibility, more users, and potentially better conversion. - Performance
Providing third-party tools and search engines with the information they need can direct people more quickly to the content they need. - Transparency
Metadata ensures clients find the correct content fast. If users only require something basic, such as contact details, they may not even have to view the content directly – saving bandwidth.
GRI
- Materials: Medium
- Energy: Medium
- Water: Medium
- Emissions: Medium