Structured data is a topic that gets a lot of attention, as well as how it can affect search engine optimization. Structured data markup is often discussed without describing how to approach it practically.
An in-depth look at how to identify opportunities, implement them on your website, and (hopefully) get indexed by Google.
The idea behind this piece is to help SEO’s get started with structured data which already know what it is but are unsure how to implement it. Do you recognize yourself in that description? Keep reading if that’s the case!
What are the benefits of structured data for SEO?
If you’re a search engine optimization, then structured data markup will most likely interest you because of its search features and rich results. To help your website stand out in the search engine results.
Here’s an example of a rich Site bulb result we generated using FAQ markup. Essentially, it doubles the shelf space we have on our page.
If you don’t appear in rich results in sectors like recruitment, you might have some serious competition issues.
Rich results dominate jobs SERP’s like the one below.
When structured data is used to create rich snippets on a page, it can stand out:
Structured data: what does it mean?
A structured dataset is a format that computers can understand that gives meaning to the content on your web page.
Structured data markup cannot be created without content.
We (as humans) can now quickly figure out what the content below is about without much assistance.
It is essential to remember that Google is essentially just a giant computer, and doesn’t possess the sophisticated brain necessary to interpret what all these texts and images mean. They’re getting pretty good at it (although, fair to say, they’re getting better). Structured data consists of this.
Taking Agile Management to the Next Level
A group of methodologies referred to as agile manifesto proposes alternatives to traditional project management methods. Software developers initially used these methodologies to adapt to market changes and improve efficiency, but a broader range of organizations later adopted them. Agile practice can benefit search engine optimization in competitive and volatile environments like this.
Our iMetaDex team appreciates Agile because it helps them keep track of step-by-step progress (workflow visualization) while seeing the bigger picture.
The Process
As opposed to what some agile software development might tell you, you have the option of implementing parts of Agile at your leisure. The agile manifesto should be tailored to the specific needs of teams and organizations.
Our biggest SEO challenges were overcome in the last two years by implementing these things. Choose what works best for you or try them all.
Limit on Work in Progress (WIP)
WIP refers to the number of tasks in progress at any given time. You use it to stay focused on what needs to be done.
Keeping your WIP limit is the best way to guarantee constant progress while handling multiple tasks simultaneously.
Keeping a WIP limit keeps us focused on what is essential every day, including small and repetitive tasks that are so common in SEO (and easily put off).
Task Prioritization
First, we think of the Pareto principle (the 80/20 Rule) when discussing prioritization.
It doesn’t have to be an exact 80/20 split here, but 80% of the benefit typically comes from 20% of the resources. If you look at your website, consider how many pages make up most of your page views and sessions; how many keywords are driving your organic traffic; how many referrals are generating your business; and even how many links are generating your SEO value. The majority of the value you create from your work comes from a small percentage of the tasks you perform.
By focusing on your 20%, prioritizing becomes clear. Understanding that is already half the battle when it comes to prioritization.
By We make sure nothing small but essential falls through the cracks and that we keep up with industry changes by being aware of the team’s capacity (WIP Limit), visualizing everything we work on (Task Board), and considering the potential damage vs. the benefits when prioritizing.
Meetings on a stand-up basis
Every morning, we meet for 10-15 minutes in front of the Tasks Board. Two of these meetings occur daily for me as a team manager: the search engine optimization meeting and the manager meeting for the entire company.
Meeting with the team:
The following three questions are also included with each team member’s morning updates:
- How did you spend your day yesterday?
- How are you spending your day?
- What is preventing you from performing your duties?
Due to the repeated nature of SEO tasks, this meeting provides an excellent opportunity for knowledge sharing among team members. It happens almost every day:
- In this task, team member A uses a third-party tool
- He offers to assist Team member A with the device because he knows how to use it from his previous job.
Time, energy, and money are saved with this simple routine.
Meeting of team managers:
Managers’ meetings are similar to team stand-up meetings in that each department’s tasks are discussed. It is primarily a chance to share any recent changes with all other groups.
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Taking the fast lane
Is there anything we can do when an urgent issue or a sudden opportunity arises? We have a fast lane to bypass the regular workflow for the company as a whole and each team individually.
In July, Google Webmaster Tools released the “International targeting” feature, which we used to take advantage of the fast lane.
Using this feature, we identified several repeating errors between two sites, highlighting hreflang errors. We immediately moved the task to development teams using the company’s fast lane.
All relevant departments must work together to complete the task in the fast lane. A lane like this must always be open for your department’s urgent needs if you managed SEO in 2014.
Constant but minor releases of MMFs
Consider a large project you have to complete. It might take months or even years to complete the entire project, so break it up into chunks instead of working on it all at once.
The first chunk should be reviewed quickly; conclusions should be drawn for the next round, and, if that’s ready, it should be delivered to the client.
An A MMF (Minimum Marketable Features) refers to these chunks in the Agile world. When you string a few together, it doesn’t take much to make an entire feature or product doesn’t take much. MMFs are the minor parts of the whole creation that, in and of themselves, can be considered suitable for release.
In addition to the benefit of continuous delivery, search engine optimization can make changes on the fly in this manner.
Meetings in round tables
The team holds a round table meeting when the specs are nearing completion so everyone can read them and share their thoughts. Every project we release is made possible by this simple interaction between my team members.
Before a product develops, a similar meeting is held at the company level, where all of its specifications are discussed. We would like to hear about ideas, improvements, and problems from the relevant people involved.
Tasks in progress
“Ongoing tasks” take up a significant amount of our day-to-day. Even though they don’t change often, they are still essential. I recommend carving out special time blocks for these tasks since they are time-consuming. As an example, here’s how we handle one:
Tracking rankings:
- If you are tracking hundreds or thousands of keywords, you must find the software that will give you the most comprehensive overview in the shortest amount of time. The significant changes in rankings cannot be missed if you check them individually.
- Often, a single section is affected, so our keywords must be arranged according to our teams. Currency names and keywords related to news are two examples. It helps us look for the cause of rankings changes in one site section.
Adaptability is the key to agile and SEO
To be Agile, you need to be able to adapt quickly. There’s more to agile than a methodology; it’s a way of thinking about and enabling work.
Within the SEO team, we have seen a noticeable improvement since our company implemented the Agile methodology. The results we deliver are better because we respond faster.
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