Google Data Highlighter Now Supports Local Business Markup

[Daniel C Berman]

The Google Data Highlighter now supports tags relating to schema.org/LocalBusiness schema.

Data Highlighter - Local Businesses - Webmaster Tools Help

Anybody gotten to experiment with it yet for this?

 

[Linda Buquet]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing Daniel. I've not heard of anyone using it yet. Would love to see what it looks like.

 

[Eric Marshall]

I tried it out yesterday. The highlighter is pretty cool and it was very easy to use. However, I didn't really know what the data that I was marking up would be used for or what to expect after marking it up.

 

[Linda Buquet]

Thanks Eric! Let us know if anything new shows up in search.

I did a little research last night and need to do a little more this AM then will share some links, more details and image of what it looks like. Working on a post now.

 

[Eric Marshall]

Andrew Shotland also did a write-up yesterday (with screenshots, instructions, etc.)

How To Use Google's Local Business Data Highlighter...So Far - Local SEO Guide

 

[Linda Buquet]

Thanks Eric, I was going to post that article too.

Here is additional info and references about the Data Highlighter for local.

1st of all, here is what it looks like for events which is the only type that was supported until just recently.

Data Highlighter for Events

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Here are help docs for the LOCAL Data Highlighter: Data Highlighter - Local Businesses - Help

Here is general info about how it works: About Data Highlighter - Webmaster Tools Help

Here is the Markup Helper Tool that actually marks up the data for you.

In addition to the link Eric posted, here's a new article just posted at SearchEngineLand: Google?s Data Highlighter Now Supports Movies, TV, Articles, Products, Local Biz & Apps

Since this is so new, I've not seen anything that looks like Data Highlighter markup showing up in the SERPs yet for local. BUT I did see something new and VERY interesting that "could' be. Not sure. Doing a separate post about that and then will circle back and add link here.

What do you guys think? Could be an exciting new way to make clients stand out that most competitors won't know about yet?

 

[Linda Buquet]

Here is example of how it might look for a local listing.

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And Target Local show you exactly how to do it.

Google add Local Businesses to the Data Highlighter in Webmaster Tools ? Target Local

 

[Linda Buquet]

Google also added another similar but different mark up tool.

The Structured Data Markup Helper

Here's how! Tag a page with the Structured Data Markup Helper

Here is the official announcement about both tools from Google: Getting started with structured data

From Search Engine Land: Google Adds Structured Data Markup Helper Tool

Mike mentioned it too: Google + Local Updates

 

[rossicone]

Hi Linda!

I was wondering if you have heard anymore about Google's Data Highlighter since May? I know there has been a lot of talk about how we should be using schema over hcard now for marking up our sites. I am curious to where Google's Data Highlighter comes into play with this?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Linda Buquet]

Sorry Rachel, have not looked into it any more and have not seen any posts about it since then.

 

[Linda Buquet]

Here's a good post from Mike Wilton, one of our members.

Why Google's Data Highlighter Shouldn't Be Used As a Replacement For Structured Markup | Mike Wilton's Internet Marketing Blog