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Semalt Recommends Using Quality Structured Data to Get More Clicks


In September of 2019, Google released an aspect to its search engine that specializes in data sets. It gives us two things: a clear resource of essential data for those seeking to bolster their claims and another potential search engine optimization tactic. Whatever your target may be, we have a solution for you.

What is Structured Data?

Structured data is a format that Google prefers when searching for datasets. The dataset organization style is on schema.org, where you can go through a list of schemas to find a dataset style to fit your category. If this seems overwhelming, we will go into further details later. First, below is a list of terminology we will be using.
  • Schema – A category of properties that changes depending on the topic discussed. 
    • These include vents, creative works, products, and places.
  • Dataset – The information associated with the schema. 
    • Creative works will have an author, an editor, and an abstract.
  • Microdata – This is the tags used in HTML to describe the type of dataset.
    • The “Author” by itself is a potential tag
  • Marking up – When you apply the microdata to your dataset
  • ITEMSCOPE – The HTML tag for applying a schema
  • ITEMTYPE – The HTML tag for defining the type of schema
    • Itemtype=”http://schema.org/book”
  • ITEMPROP – The HTML tag for defining a property of the item.
    • Itemprop=”author”

If you know nothing about HTML, understand that the last three definitions are within the code. You will see them often when considering datasets and schemas. You do not need to understand HTML to understand this post.

If you do understand HTML, you will see these as the base of applying a schema to your code. Schemas will allow you to organize your content to be recognized by Google search engines as a dataset. This schema application will bring traffic to your website if handled correctly.

How Do I Use This Data on My Website?

We will return to applying your content as a dataset later in the blog. First, we come to utilizing this search engine as a resource for you to apply to your website. It is a lot easier to repurpose data that already exists than to create unique data.

When Do I Have to Worry About Copyright?

If you remember your college days, citing your sources was the key to using data to enhance your points. When it comes to content production, much of the same rules will apply as long as you provide them the credit. For example, I couldn’t tell you that I wrote an original story that is suspiciously familiar to a photocopy of the story IT by Steven King.

Google Dataset search includes a search feature that limits it by commercial use and non-commercial use. If your goal is to write a blog that is associated with a brand to make sales, this section will be necessary for you. If you are uncertain, feel free to reach out to the related blogger or company. They will appreciate your check-in, and it may open up another opportunity for you.

What Should I Search on Google Dataset?

What you should search will depend on your niche. Let’s say that you are trying to make a point on nonprofit CEOs. You may think that they get paid too much. So you search for charity work with little results. But taking advantage of “topic view” helps you narrow it down. Details are in the image below.
 
Let’s just say you want a table with a list of charities that do work in the UK. You may also sort the data by format. In this case, you choose the format option and select “table.” For this one, be especially aware of the usage where this applies.
 

Are There Any Other Resources When Using Google Dataset Search?

People who keep an eye on Google’s blog will the quickest access to information. You can also follow Semalt’s blog, who will be keeping a close eye on how this changes the SEO landscape. Google also has an FAQ. 

While Google has introduced an exciting element to its search engine landscape, Semalt’s goal remains to get you to the top of this landscape. In the next section, we will go through how you can apply your datasets to this search engine. Utilizing this structured data is a new opportunity for those who seek to increase their visibility and get more clicks.

How to Mark Up your Dataset Pages

To simplify things, we are going to provide a step-by-step process to help you with marking up your dataset pages. We will also provide you with a couple of resources that will help you on your way. Below is a list detailing what we will be going over. 
  1. Define your topic (schema).
  2. Be aware of what qualifies as a dataset.
  3. Research relevant and unique data.
  4. Produce the HTML needed.

Defining your Topic

 
Defining your schema is the first step in producing any data set. A list of Schemas is on schema.org. There can only be one page per schema. So you wouldn’t apply a front page to a schema, you would only involve a blog post.

For this, we will be using a local butchery. Upon conducting some research on the website, you’ve decided that you would like to rank as a local on your dataset. For example, let’s say that you hire someone to gather information on the cost of beef tenderloin in your town. By performing the research, you will be able to use this dataset for people who are looking for this in your area.

How Does This Help Me?

This effort will increase web traffic and give your website a boost as a trusted source of information. You can also use this information in future advertisements. You could say that you have the most inexpensive beef tenderloin when compared to the next 100 blocks in your city. Be sure to respect others in the process of applying this information.

Be Aware of What Qualifies As A Dataset

 

The best way that one can find about what qualifies as a dataset is by searching. Google’s development FAQ also has a few examples, but we will want to expand upon the list. One example I do want to focus on is the “anything that looks like a dataset.” Google’s search tool is incredibly powerful as long as you can handle datasets.

Taking our previous example, we can sort the “best beef prices in the city” document that we produced and apply it to an excel table, a built-in website table, a .pdf, a .xml, a .docx, and a few others that can be read by google’s AI. You can even use an appropriate image. Bar graphs and line graphs are both easily handled by Excel.

How Does This Help Me?

Datasets will appreciate information that comes through cleanly and professionally. If your website is optimized to produce this sort of table and dataset, Google will utilize that information to enhance the search inquiry. Also, visitors can have a variety of learning styles. Producing free content in a variety of media formats will help the reader understand your point.

Researching Unique and Relevant Data

The key to SEO and datasets are producing something unique content that covers keywords in a specific niche. The same applies when it comes to schemas and datasets. By creating something with a familiar format, it makes things easier for readers to consume. Unique data is what will keep them around.

For the butcher shop, he may have to call around or go to a couple of websites to provide the data. Data needs to be measurable and sourced. In this case, it is as easy as looking around and calling as needed. If you are seeking people’s opinion of your business, give them a scale from one to five. You can also just use public reviews on Google, but data isn’t always that easy to gather.

How Does This Help Me?

This information helps you fill out your dataset. However, alternative uses include improvement of the business and awareness of issues. If you perform the reviews, only to find out that you lack in an area, it is an opportunity for improvement. You may need to change your topic if you wish to fill out a dataset.

Produce the HTML Needed

  

Producing HTML is a technically involved process that can take a great deal of time. The bullets we stated above are likely confusing if you have no experience with HTML or programming language. You may wish to hire some new talent to aid you.

Talent like this is on freelancing websites. Famous examples of this can include Toptal, Upwork, and Freelancer.com. Try and get someone who has had experience in the field before. If they haven’t up marked a dataset previously, they may not know what they are doing. If they do know what they are doing, review your target schema’s ITEMPROPs so that you can review the HTML with some knowledge.

Many freelancers will also bring a fresh perspective to your company. Be sure to hold to your company’s vision. Moreover, freelancers may mess with your SEO. Be sure to consult Semalt if you have any questions about what we suggest about applying a dataset to your website.

Is a Dataset Worth Putting on my Page?

The answer to this question depends on your overall goal. Creating a website, or blog, based around informational pieces and articles that contain unique datasets takes a great deal of work. Small businesses may end up investing a great deal above their plans. The level of time, effort, and money this can take can be overwhelming. 

However, creating an information base around your business that has regular links to your website is key to a solid blog strategy. Applying this information as a dataset increases your credibility. Google’s Database Search has been growing the clickthrough rate of several academic research groups as a result of this. Putting your content alongside this gives you an instant boost.

A Case Study of Google’s Dataset Engine

You may be thinking that this is built better for academic groups and statistics-based websites. However, a Japanese company named Rakuten used this service to promote Rakuten Recipies. The use of structured data increased their web traffic by 270 percent.

This strategy doesn’t always lead back to finding yourself in the dataset search engine. Sometimes it leads you to be among the featured snippets. Featured snippets are something that we will discuss in detail in another blog.

How Will Structured Data Help Me Get to The Google Top?

For most companies, structured data is a way to enhance your SEO by utilizing pre-existing datasets and formats. For others who can investigate large amounts of data, it is an opportunity. By performing research and being aware of how your website fits into this web, you give yourself the best opportunity. Through a discussion with Semalt, we will see if your website will be appropriate to use this to get to the Google top.