How to Avoid #SadStructuredData

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In order to really maximize your content in Google search results, you should be taking advantage of structured data.

If you’re curious about why structured data is important, the simple explanation is without it, Google can’t really distinguish if your event is an event, a blog post, a press release, or a general article. That means those cool event dates/times which automatically show up in search results won’t happen if you have #SadStructuredData (there’s a super detailed explanation in an ArtsHacker article I wrote in 2015).

I published an article yesterday at ArtsHacker that walks you through how to use one of the newest tools in their kit to help make sure they are recognizing your events as events: the Structured Data Testing Tool.

Even if you aren’t a programmer, it’s a great way to make sure your site content is marked up correctly. If not, you can try using Google’s Data Highlighter tool to correct manually or reach out to your developer.

Is Google Reading Your Data Correctly? Find Out with This Handy Tool

About Drew McManus

"I hear that every time you show up to work with an orchestra, people get fired." Those were the first words out of an executive's mouth after her board chair introduced us. That executive is now a dear colleague and friend but the day that consulting contract began with her orchestra, she was convinced I was a hatchet-man brought in by the board to clean house.

I understand where the trepidation comes from as a great deal of my consulting and technology provider work for arts organizations involves due diligence, separating fact from fiction, interpreting spin, as well as performance review and oversight. So yes, sometimes that work results in one or two individuals "aggressively embracing career change" but far more often than not, it reinforces and clarifies exactly what works and why.

In short, it doesn't matter if you know where all the bodies are buried if you can't keep your own clients out of the ground, and I'm fortunate enough to say that for more than 15 years, I've done exactly that for groups of all budget size from Qatar to Kathmandu.

For fun, I write a daily blog about the orchestra business, provide a platform for arts insiders to speak their mind, keep track of what people in this business get paid, help write a satirical cartoon about orchestra life, hack the arts, and love a good coffee drink.

View all posts by Drew McManus | Website

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