How-To Schema: A Depreciated Feature

Understanding the Deprecation

Google has officially announced the complete removal of How-To rich results from its search engine. This means that any How-To schema markup you’ve implemented on your website will no longer have any impact on your search rankings or visibility.

To know more about How-To Schema, we request you to go through this article: https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2023/08/howto-faq-changes

Why Was How-To Schema Depreciated?

Google’s primary aim is to simplify search results. The removal of How-To rich results is a step in that direction. While they offered valuable information, they were found to clutter the search results page.

Impact of Deprecation

• No Rich Results: Your website will no longer appear in How-To rich result boxes.
• No Search Benefits: Using How-To Schema will not provide any SEO advantages.
• Focus on Core Content: Prioritize creating high-quality, informative content that naturally answers user queries.

What to Do Now

1. Remove How-To Schema: If you have implemented How-To Schema on your website, it’s recommended to remove it to avoid unnecessary code.
2. Optimize for Regular Search: Concentrate on creating content that ranks well in standard search results.
3. Leverage Other Schema Types: Explore other Schema types like Article, FAQ, or Product to potentially enhance your search visibility.

Example: If you have a blog post titled “How to Make a Perfect Cake,” you should focus on optimizing the content for regular search results using relevant keywords and providing valuable information. Instead of using How-To Schema, you could potentially use Receipe Schema to highlight key details about the post.

Conclusion

While the deprecation of How-To Schema might be disappointing, it’s important to adapt to search engine changes. By focusing on creating high-quality content and utilizing other Schema types, you can still achieve strong search rankings and visibility.

Additional Tips

• Keep an eye on Google’s search updates and algorithm changes.
• Regularly audit your website’s Schema implementation.
• Prioritize user experience over Schema.

Would you like to know more about other Schema types or how to optimize your content for regular search results? We request you to go through this article: https://developers.google.com/search/updates