Structured Data Mistakes & How to Fix Them in 2026

Structured data is code, most commonly written in JSON-LD format and added to a page’s HTML, that gives search engines explicit, machine-readable information about your content. Rather than relying on Google to interpret your page, structured data tells it directly: this is a product, this is its price, these are customer reviews, this event happens on this date.

The payoff is rich results. Instead of a plain blue link in Google search, a correctly marked-up page can display star ratings, pricing, stock availability, FAQ dropdowns, event dates, or how-to steps, directly in the search listing. These enhanced results attract significantly more attention and clicks than standard listings.

For Australian businesses competing in crowded markets, from Melbourne cafés to Sydney e-commerce brands to Brisbane service providers, that additional visibility can be a meaningful commercial advantage. But structured data only delivers those benefits when it’s implemented correctly. Errors, inconsistencies, or deliberate misuse don’t just cost you rich results. They can trigger Google penalties that suppress your entire site’s visibility.