Structured data for a small business website: what it does and how to check it

A page can say that a business is a restaurant, show an address and list opening hours. Structured data labels those details in code so a system can recognise what each value represents.

It supports the page's explanation. It does not replace the information a visitor needs or establish that the information is true.

What does the code look like?

JSON-LD is a common format. A block might identify a Restaurant and give its name, address and telephone number using Schema.org properties. The values should describe the real business and agree with the visible page.

An illustrative example is a restaurant whose contact page says it opens Tuesday to Saturday. If the structured data still says Monday to Friday, the website contains conflicting information. The useful correction is to establish the real hours and update both representations.

Which markup should you use?

Choose the type that describes the page or business accurately, then check the requirements of the service you want to support. A local business, a product and an editorial article are different subjects. Adding more types indiscriminately does not improve the explanation.

Google's structured data policies require markup to represent the page content accurately. Valid code and eligibility for a specific search feature are different questions. Not every Schema.org type is used by every search service.

Does FAQ markup guarantee an expanded search result?

No. A useful questions-and-answers section can help a visitor directly, but the availability of a particular search feature depends on the search service's requirements. Do not add an ordinary business FAQ on the assumption that every answer will appear as an expanded Google result.

The same distinction applies to AI answers. There is no universal schema flag that makes every assistant recommend a business.

How can you check the implementation?

The Schema Markup Validator checks the vocabulary and syntax. Google's Rich Results Test checks supported Google result types. Use the appropriate tool for the question you are investigating.

Then read the values yourself. A validator can accept a well-formed but wrong telephone number. A working implementation needs correct facts as well as correct syntax.

Who should maintain it?

The person changing business information needs to know where the markup comes from. A CMS plugin may generate it from settings; a developer may have written it into a template. Avoid several tools generating conflicting versions.

Include structured data in the same update process as hours, addresses, services and prices. If Reeve Consult implements it for you, the handover should explain what was added, where it is maintained and how to check a later change.