Why Structured Data Matters
Structured data (schema markup) helps AI systems:
- **Parse content accurately** - Machine-readable format
- **Extract facts confidently** - Reduces misinterpretation
- **Cite your content** - Structured answers are easier to quote
- **Display rich results** - Both in search and AI summaries
Google, Bing, and AI systems all benefit from proper schema markup.
Relevant Schema Types
Key schemas for GEO:
**FAQPage**
For FAQ content. Each question-answer pair is clearly marked.
**HowTo**
For instructional content. Steps are enumerated and described.
**Product**
For product pages. Includes pricing, availability, reviews.
**Organization**
For your company. Name, location, contact info.
**SoftwareApplication**
For software products. Features, pricing, requirements.
**Review/AggregateRating**
For social proof. Rating scores and review counts.
Implementation
Add structured data to your pages:
**JSON-LD (recommended)**
Add a script tag in your page head:
```html
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "FAQPage",
"mainEntity": [{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "What is VectorGap?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "VectorGap is..."
}
}]
}
</script>
```
**Testing**
Use Google's Rich Results Test to validate your markup.
Schema Types to Consider
Common schema types for GEO:
- FAQ schema for your question-answer content
- Product schema for pricing pages
- Organization schema from your company info
- Article schema for blog posts and guides
- HowTo schema for tutorials
Implement schema that matches your actual content structure.
Common Mistakes
**Avoid:**
- Schema that doesn't match visible content
- Missing required properties
- Outdated information in schema
- Overusing schema where not appropriate
**Best practice:**
Only add schema for content that genuinely fits the schema type. Don't force-fit content just for rich results.