Structured Data
Definition
Structured Data is machine-readable formatting that explicitly declares information about your content, expertise, and authority to AI systems. Rather than requiring AI to infer meaning from text, structured data provides direct, unambiguous entity definitions.
Structured data acts as a translation layer between human content and machine understanding. It declares what entities exist, what attributes they have, and how they relate—information that AI systems need but cannot reliably extract from unstructured content alone.
Why This Matters
AI systems make higher-confidence recommendations when they have explicit, structured information. Unstructured content requires inference; structured data provides certainty. This certainty translates to higher recommendation probability and greater accuracy.
Common Misconceptions
Structured data is only for technical SEO.
While SEO uses structured data for rich snippets, its primary value for GEO is enabling AI comprehension. The benefits extend far beyond search result appearance.
Good content does not need structured data.
Good content needs structured data most. Quality expertise deserves accurate AI representation. Without structured data, AI must guess at meaning—and may guess wrong.
Structured data implementation is set-and-forget.
Structured data should evolve with your expertise. New credentials, services, and achievements should be incorporated. Regular audits ensure accuracy and completeness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of structured data matter most for expert visibility?
Person and Organization schemas establish identity. Service and Product schemas define offerings. Article and FAQPage schemas demonstrate expertise. DefinedTerm schemas clarify domain vocabulary.
How much structured data is enough?
Comprehensiveness matters more than minimums. Every important entity, relationship, and attribute that defines your expertise should have structured data representation.
Can I implement structured data without a developer?
Yes. Many website platforms have built-in or plugin-based schema tools. Manual JSON-LD creation requires learning the format but not programming skills. GEO-specific tools simplify implementation further.