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Should You Use Google Entity @id in Organization Schema?
I’ve been searching for guidance on this topic but haven’t come across any official documentation. Is it advisable to incorporate the Google entity @id in organization schema?
From what I understand, the Google entity @id serves as a unique identifier specific to the entity. It seems logical that using the @id in organization schema could assist Google in connecting the dots, potentially benefiting both Google and the entity.
Has anyone experimented with this, or am I missing something?
Update:
After further research, I found a recent article where John Mueller advised against using the Google entity @id in organization schema. His reasoning makes sense: the entity destination might change over time, so it’s not as reliable as I initially thought.
Additional Thoughts:
I stumbled upon an article that mentioned using the entity @id in the sameAs property. Upon reviewing schema.org, I couldn’t find @id listed as a property of the Organization type. While the code might technically validate, I suspect it might not achieve the desired effect. I was hoping to get a bit creative with this, but it seems unlikely to work. Does anyone have any insights?
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2 responses to “Should Google Entity @id Be Used in Organization Schema?”
Your question delves into a somewhat nuanced aspect of structured data and how it interacts with search engines, particularly Google. Let’s break this down:
Understanding Google Entity @id
The
@idin structured data is typically used to provide a unique identifier for a specific entity (such as a person, organization, product, etc.). This identifier can be a URL or another unique string that helps systems recognize and differentiate between entities. In some cases, Google might use an internally assigned identifier referred to as the “Google entity ID.” This is part of Google’s Knowledge Graph, intended to link and distinguish entities across its ecosystem.Using Google Entity @id in Organization Schema
Official Documentation and Best Practices
Currently, Schema.org sets the standard for structured data, and as of the latest updates, there isn’t a specific provision for a Google entity
@idwithin the standard Organization schema. While the@idcan technically be used to provide a distinguishing URL or string, there is limited documentation on the use of Google-specific IDs in this context.Potential Issues with Using Google Entity @id
Scope and Ownership: The
@ididentifier you might be considering from Google’s Knowledge Graph is typically internal. Unless Google explicitly suggests using it, incorporating it into your schema markup might not provide the benefits you’re hoping for.Permanence Concerns: As John Mueller has pointed out, these IDs might change over time. Relying on them could lead to future inconsistencies.
Schema Validation: While your markup might validate using
@id, it doesn’t necessarily mean that its presence will enhance your SEO or indexing. If not used as intended, it could potentially lead to confusion instead of clarity.Alternative Approaches
Using the
sameAsProperty:The
sameAsproperty is often recommended for relating your entity to specific URLs that describe the same topic or entity, such as social media profiles or reference URLs on the web.Example:
“`json
{
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “Organization”,
“name”: “Example Organization”,
“url”: “https://www.example.com”,
“sameAs”: [
“https://www.facebook.com/example”,
“https://www.linkedin.com/company/example”
// Consider excluding direct Google entity IDs here
]
}
It’s great to see this discussion about the use of Google Entity @id in organization schema! While it’s understandable to think that incorporating the @id could enhance the relationship mapping for search engines, John Mueller’s advice highlights an important consideration regarding the stability of these identifiers.
One additional point to consider is the context of the schema markup. If the primary goal is to help search engines understand the organization and its connections better, focusing on more stable, consistent identifiers—like your organization’s official website or social media profiles in the `sameAs` property—might yield more reliable results.
Also, while @id isn’t officially recognized as part of the Organization schema in schema.org, it’s crucial to keep an eye on evolving standards and best practices within schema markup. Schema.org frequently updates its guidelines, and innovative uses of properties can sometimes influence future recommendations.
If any participants here have further insights or real-world experiences with variations in schema data or those using different entity identifiers, sharing those could enrich our understanding even more. Let’s keep the conversation going!