By Shad Super in Questions —

What Steps Should You Follow to Test New Web Pages With the Rich Results Test Tool Before They Go Live?

Summary

Testing new web pages with the Rich Results Test tool before they go live involves validating your structured data to ensure eligibility for rich results in Google's search engine. This process includes several key steps: accessing the Rich Results Test tool, inputting the URL or code snippet, analyzing the results, and troubleshooting any issues identified. These steps are crucial for enhancing your web pages’ visibility and performance in search results.

Accessing the Rich Results Test Tool

To begin testing your new web pages, access the Rich Results Test tool by visiting the following URL: Rich Results Test. This tool is provided by Google to help webmasters and SEO specialists ensure their structured data is properly implemented and understood by Google.

Inputting the URL or Code Snippet

Testing URL

For testing a live URL, simply copy and paste the web page's URL into the input box and click on the "Test URL" button. This method checks the live page hosted on the server.

Testing Code Snippet

Alternatively, you can test a code snippet by copying the HTML code of your webpage, pasting it into the “Code snippet” tab, and clicking on the "Test Code" button. This method is useful for testing pages that are not yet live.

Analyzing the Results

Overview

Once the test is complete, the tool will display whether your page is eligible for rich results. It will highlight any errors or warnings related to the structured data on your page.

Structured Data Validity

Review the detailed information to see all the structured data types detected by the tool. Ensure that all required properties are filled and that there are no errors. For example, if you are tagging products, make sure elements such as "name", "price", and "availability" are correctly structured.

Troubleshooting Issues

Fixing Errors

If errors are identified, follow the specific recommendations provided by the tool. Errors typically need to be resolved to ensure the page is eligible for rich results. You can refer to Google's Structured Data Documentation for detailed guidelines on how to properly implement structured data.

Addressing Warnings

Warnings indicate optional elements that can improve your structured data but are not critical for eligibility. While you may wish to address them for completeness, they do not necessarily prevent your page from being eligible for rich results.

Specific Examples and Best Practices

Product Pages

For a product page, ensure that you use the <script type="application/ld+json"> syntax to embed JSON-LD formatted structured data. Specify all required attributes such as:

  • name: The product name
  • image: URL of the product image
  • description: A description of the product
  • sku: The product's SKU
  • offers: The offer details including price and availability

Refer to Google's comprehensive guide on Product Structured Data for more details.

Article Pages

For article pages, include structured data elements such as:

  • headline: The title of the article
  • image: URL of the featured image
  • datePublished: The publication date
  • author: The author’s name

More information can be found in Google's Article Structured Data Guide.

References