New Structured Data Types: Discussion Forum & Page Profile

Quoted from Google's blog page on November 27, 2023, Google announced the release of new structured data types: Profile Page and Discussion Forum. This markup is designed to add information from a first-person perspective on social media, forums, and community pages.

The Profile Page and Discussion Forum markups aim to provide more context and structure to content, helping search engines understand the accuracy and relevance of the information presented on these pages.

 

Profile Page Markup

The Profile Page markup is designed for individual or community websites to facilitate the sharing of first-person information. This structured data element helps search engines identify important details such as creator identity, profile picture, follower count, and popular content.

By implementing Profile Page markup, websites can enhance visibility and ensure a more comprehensive understanding of the content they present.

Here is an illustration shared by Google to depict how Profile Page markup is displayed in search results:

 

 

Discussion Forum Markup

Next is the Discussion Forum markup. Specifically designed to help search engines identify forum sites and discussions within them, the Discussion Forum markup adds valuable information for users.

This structured data allows search engines to categorize and understand the nature of content found in forums, ultimately improving the accuracy of search results overall.

Here is an illustrative view shared by Google regarding the Discussion Forum:

 

 

Monitoring Markup Through Google Search Console

To monitor the adoption of these new structured data types, Google provides support reports through the Google Search Console. Website owners and developers can access reports to track the performance and visibility of their Profile Page and Discussion Forum.

These reports can display various issues, warnings, and validity of items related to pages with markup schemes. Additionally, users can validate this type of structured data through Google's Rich Result Test.

 

Expected Benefits

Implementing Profile Page and Discussion Forum structured data can provide significant benefits for website owners and content creators. By providing additional context to search engines, websites can increase the likelihood of appearing in relevant search results.

Furthermore, implementing markup contributes to a more accurate representation of content and increased visibility in search engine rankings. Thus, your discussion forum pages and profiles will stand out more prominently in SERPs.

To learn how to implement Profile Page and Discussion Forum markup schemes, please follow the guides provided by Google.