What is Structured Data?

Structured data — usually implemented as JSON-LD using schema.org vocabulary — is machine-readable markup embedded in a web page that explicitly labels what the content is: an organization, a service, a FAQ, a product, a person. It lets search and AI engines understand meaning rather than infer it, and underpins rich results and reliable AI citations.

In plain terms

Structured Data (Schema Markup), explained.

A human reads a page and infers 'this is an agency, founded by this person, offering these services.' Structured data states those facts unambiguously: Organization, founder, Service, FAQPage. Engines reward that certainty with rich results, knowledge panel data and more confident citation.

For GEO specifically, the high-value types are Organization (entity identity), Service, FAQPage (question-matched answers), DefinedTerm (glossaries) and BreadcrumbList — each one mapping directly to how engines assemble answers.

Why it matters

Removes ambiguity — engines cite what they're certain about.
FAQPage and DefinedTerm markup match the question-answer shape of AI queries.
One consistent entity graph across every page compounds trust.

SEO services

Common questions

Asked and answered.

Does structured data directly improve rankings?

It's not a ranking factor by itself, but it enables rich results, clarifies relevance and strengthens entity understanding — all of which improve real-world visibility in both search and AI answers.

JSON-LD or microdata?

JSON-LD — it's Google's recommended format, lives in one script block, and is far easier to maintain and validate.

Related terms
Entity Optimization AI Citation llms.txt

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