Google has announced today the inclusion of more detailed course information via a new set of recommendations to provide course structured data to Google. Publishers will now be able to include supplemental course information on Google Search with detailed information such as pricing, educational level, ratings, and course length. This data will now appear in the course info rich result, a new carousel feature in Google search helping your audience discover your courses and compare them with others, helping them make an informed decision.
Previously supported course list markup called “Course” could provide structured data such as name, description, and publisher. This course list rich result will still be supported, and you should not expect your traffic to take a hit if you decide not to use the new course info markup.
How Can I Test if My Site’s Course Rich Results Are Correct?
You can monitor and fix your structured data with the new course info Rich result report in Search console, or via the Rich result test tool provided by Google. These tools can confirm whether you markup is valid and able to be included in the new carousel feature.
Course Details Structured Data Example
Here is an example showing an example of a single all-in-one page including course details:
<html>
<head>
<title>History and Philosophy of Science Courses</title>
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "ItemList",
"itemListElement": [
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 1,
"item": {
"@type": "Course",
"url":"https://www.example.com/courses#hps",
"name": "History and Philosophy of Science",
"description": "This is an introductory HPS course laying out the basics.",
"provider": {
"@type": "Organization",
"name": "University of Philosophy - Example",
"sameAs": "https://www.example.com"
}
}
},
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 2,
"item": {
"@type": "Course",
"url":"https://www.example.com/courses#intermediate-hps",
"name": "Intermediate History and Philosophy of Science",
"description": "This is a HPS course that builds on the basics learned in the Introduction course.",
"provider": {
"@type": "Organization",
"name": "University of Philosophy - Example",
"sameAs": "https://www.example.com"
}
}
},
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 3,
"item": {
"@type": "Course",
"url":"https://www.example.com/courses#advanced-cs",
"name": "Advanced History and Philosophy of Science",
"description": "This HPS course covers advanced philosophy of science principles.",
"provider": {
"@type": "Organization",
"name": "University of Philosophy - Wittgenstein",
"sameAs": "https://www.example.com"
}
}
}
]
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
</body>
</html>Guidelines To Be Eligible To Appear in a Course List
Utilize the Course markup exclusively for educational content meeting the specified criteria for a course: a structured curriculum comprising lectures, lessons, or modules within a specific subject and/or topic. A course must explicitly aim for educational outcomes, encompassing knowledge and/or skill development in a particular subject and/or topic. It should be guided by one or more instructors overseeing a group of enrolled students. Events open to the general public, like “Earth Day,” and singular brief instructional videos such as a two-minute “How to Make a Paper Airplane” clip do not qualify as courses. If your college or university courses are not optimized for Google Search our Higher Education SEO Services can help.
Technical Guidelines for Courses
- Markup a minimum of three courses, whether on distinct detail pages or consolidated on an all-in-one page.
- Incorporate Carousel markup into either a summary page or an all-in-one page.
- Ensure each course includes valid name and provider properties.
Enhance the visibility of your courses on Google Search by implementing structured data in your course lists. Include essential details such as the course name, the provider, and a brief description. If you need assistance in setting up the structured data, consider consulting with an experienced web developer for expert guidance.
