Structured data testing in Google


Testing priority of structured data in Google

This is part of a continuing test in structured data, rich snippets and Google Authorship.

The reason for this testing is to discover whether structured data and Google Authorship Tags compliment each and to test the priority Google gives when conflicts occur.

Test pages use a combination of Schema.org Microdata and Google Authorship Tags.

This section is testing whether conflicts occur when adding Authorship Tags to pages which display Aggregate Reviews.

Findings to date:
Products and Services are treated different


The 4 tests below were set up to see whether adding a Google Authorship Tag to a page that contains Aggregate ratings had any effect on the rich snippets Google Displays.

Test 1 shows a page for a product that has Aggregate Ratings, as expected this displays rating stars in the Structured Data Testing Tool.

Test 2 shows the exact same page but this time Google Authorship Tags are included, as expected the Authorship information is displayed when using the Structured Data Testing Tool but surprisingly the Ratings stars do not display.

After finding the anomaly I decided to replicate the tests using a Service instead of a Product.

Test 3 shows a page for a Profesional Service that has Aggregate Ratings, as expected this displays rating stars in the Structured Data Testing Tool.

Test 4 shows the exact same page but this time Google Authorship Tags are included, this time the Authorship information and Rating is displayed when using the Structured Data Testing Tool (unlike a Product page).

I also carried out tests on Restaurants, Local Business, Recipes and all displayed Authorship and Rating information as expected when using the Structured Data Testing Tool.

Conclusion:
Be careful when using Authorship on Product pages containg reviews and ratings.


Pages Used For This Testing

See test page 1 Product with an Aggregate Rating

See test page 2 Product with an Aggregate Rating and Author Tag

See test page 3 Service with an Aggregate Rating

See test page 4 Service with an Aggregate Rating and Author Tag





Note: Testing is carried out on static pages as I often find the exta coding created by CMS's can effect test pages.

Structured data testing by Terry Simmonds