Google has updated its documentation for ProfilePage structured data, a schema that various creators, including recipe bloggers, can use to become eligible for enhanced listings in search results.
What is ProfilePage Structured Data?
ProfilePage structured data is a Schema.org markup that Google uses for enhanced listings in search results. It is commonly associated with forum and discussion communities but can also be used for any profile page containing information about the author.
What Changed In The Official Documentation?
Google revised the opening paragraph to clarify how it is utilized in search results. The previous mention of “Perspectives” was removed and replaced with references to Forums, aligning with how Google Search categorizes them in the results.
The revised version of the paragraph is approximately 26% shorter but provides more precise information.
This is the original version (64 words):
“ProfilePage markup is designed for any site where creators (either people or organizations) share first-hand perspectives. It helps Google Search highlight information about the creator, such as their name or social handle, profile photo, follower count, or the popularity of their content. Google Search also makes use of this markup when disambiguating the creator, and in features such as Perspectives and Discussions and Forums.”
This is the revised version (47 words):
“ProfilePage markup is designed for any site where creators (either people or organizations) share first-hand perspectives. Adding this markup helps Google Search understand the creators that post in an online community, and show better content from that community in search results, including the Discussions and Forums feature.”
What’s ProfilePage Markup Good For?
The ProfilePage structured data markup can be applied to any profile page featuring a creator. It is not limited to communities and can make a profile page eligible for enhanced listing in search results.
This is what Google’s documentation states:
“Other structured data features can link to pages with ProfilePage markup too. For example, Article and Recipe structured data have authors…”
It appears that ProfilePage markup is underutilized in the recipe blogging space. For instance, the Serious Eats profile page for recipe writer J. Kenji López-Alt includes ProfilePage structured data markup, and Google seems to reward that with an enhanced listing for his profile page.
Screenshot Of Serious Eats ProfilePage Markup
Screenshot Of Rich Results For Profile Page
Another Screenshot
The above two screenshots show rich results for the profile pages of recipe authors who use ProfilePage structured data markup.
Read Google’s updated ProfilePage documentation:
Profile page (ProfilePage) structured data
Featured Image by Shutterstock/Krakenimages.com
