Google Updated The Video Structured Data Guidelines

In an effort to enhance user experience and search result relevance, Google has introduced new recommendations for structured data related to video-rich results. These recommendations specifically pertain to the date and time of video publication, aiming to deliver more precise and informative search experiences.

Key Updates

The primary focus of this update is on the "VideoObject" structured data type, a critical component in Google's toolkit for displaying various rich results. These results can be found in Google Search, Google Discover, video search results, and Google image search results, catering to a diverse range of user interests.

One of the most significant changes in the structured data video recommendations is the inclusion of the publication date and time. This data is now a requirement by Google to assist users in understanding the timing of the video content they encounter.

Previously, Google only mentioned the "Date" in its guidelines before the update:

"Date

The date the video was first published, in ISO 8601 format."

Now, Google has updated it to:

"DateTime

The date and time the video was first published, in ISO 8601 format.

We recommend that you provide timezone information; otherwise, we will default to the timezone used by Googlebot.”

Additionally, the "Expires Date" section has also been updated. Previously, Google only mentioned "expires Date," but in this update, Google includes "expires DateTime."

This update is complemented by Google's recommendation:

“If applicable, the date [and time] after which the video will no longer be available, in ISO 8601 format. Don’t supply this information if your video does not expire.

[We recommend that you provide timezone information; otherwise, we will default to the timezone used by Googlebot]”

Google's recommendations serve as guidance for webmasters seeking their videos to be featured in Google's rich results.

To implement these requirements, Google suggests the use of the "DateType" structured data type. This ensures the accurate delivery of the video's publication date to search engines, resulting in more precise search outcomes and informed user experiences.

Significance of Changes in Structured Video Data

Google emphasizes that while disregarding these recommended structured data guidelines will not have severe consequences, there are impacts to consider. 

Videos without timestamp information will reference the timezone used by Googlebot, potentially providing users with less accurate information about when a video was published and leading to misunderstandings.

It's essential to remember that adhering to Google's structured data recommendations is a best practice for presenting data to search engines as expected. By following these guidelines, web and video owners contribute to the overall integrity and quality of the Internet information ecosystem.