In its continuous efforts to improve website owners' ability to optimize product experiences in search results, Google has made significant updates to the Search Console reports. The existing Product structured data report has been replaced with two new reports: the Merchant listings report and the Product snippets report.
These reports, now grouped under the new Shopping section in the Search Console navigation bar, provide website owners with detailed insights into structured data issues, errors, warnings, and valid pages. This article will delve into the features and functionalities of these reports, highlighting their relevance to different types of web pages.
The New Merchant Listings Report
The Merchant listings report focuses on structured data issues related to free listing experiences in search results. This report is specifically relevant to pages that sell products directly. By identifying and addressing structured data errors, website owners can ensure that their product listings appear prominently in search results, attracting potential customers.
One notable improvement is that the Merchant listings report covers a wider range of schema.org structured data properties and types associated with the Product type. This expansion accommodates advanced use cases, such as apparel sizing and energy efficiency ratings. By incorporating these additional properties and types, website owners can provide more comprehensive and accurate product information, enhancing the overall shopping experience for users.
The Product Snippets Report
The Product snippets report replaces the previous Product structured data report and focuses on structured data issues specific to product snippets in search results. This report is relevant to web pages that share product review information or aggregate product data from multiple sites. It is worth noting that pages selling products can also include product reviews, making this report essential for a broader range of web pages.
With the separation of merchant listing validations into a dedicated report, the Product snippets report now reflects adjustments to accommodate this change. It retains the history of prior validation errors, allowing website owners to track their progress in resolving issues and ensuring that their product snippets are displayed accurately in search results.
Integration with the Rich Result Test Tool
The changes in reporting within Search Console have also been reflected in the Rich Result Test tool. This tool helps website owners preview and validate structured data markup, ensuring that it meets Google's guidelines for rich results. With the updated reports in Search Console, website owners can utilize the Rich Result Test tool to further validate their structured data and address any errors or warnings.
Determining the Appropriate Report for Your Website
The choice of which report to use within the enhanced Search Console depends on the nature of your website and the type of content you offer. Here are some guidelines to help you determine the appropriate report to utilize:
For Merchants with an Online Store:
If you run an online store and sell products directly through your website, the primary report to focus on is the Merchant listings report. This report specifically caters to pages that sell products. By checking the merchant listings report, you can identify any structured data issues related to the free listing experiences in search results. This ensures that your product listings are accurately displayed and easily discoverable by potential customers.
If You Publish Product Reviews or Aggregate Product Data:
If your website publishes product reviews or aggregates product information from various sources, it is essential to pay attention to the Product snippets report. This report replaces the previous Product structured data report and is designed to address structured data issues specific to product snippets in search results. It encompasses pages that share product review information or aggregate product data from multiple sites.
NOTE: Even if you sell products on your website, if you also include product reviews, it is recommended to check both the Merchant listings report and the Product snippets report to ensure a comprehensive review of your structured data.
For Websites without Online Sales:
If your website does not involve direct online sales but still incorporates pages with Product structured data, the primary report to consult is the Product snippets report. Even if you don't sell products through your website, if you include product-related content or publish pages with structured data, checking the Product snippets report will help you identify and resolve any structured data issues specific to product snippets in search results.
Final Words
In conclusion, Google's introduction of the Merchant listings report and the Product snippets report in the enhanced Search Console provides website owners with valuable insights into structured data issues and helps optimize product experiences in search results. These reports, along with integration with the Rich Result Test tool, empower website owners to enhance visibility, accuracy, and the overall shopping experience for users.
SO, WHERE DO YOU FIND THIS PARTNER?
Well, aren’t we glad you asked! We at DigiCom are obsessive data-driven marketers pulling from multi-disciplinary strategies to unlock scale. We buy media across all platforms and placements and provide creative solutions alongside content creation, and conversion rate optimizations. We pride ourselves on your successes and will stop at nothing to help you grow.
Comments