Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Google’s Structured Data Support Changes in 2025
Google announced increased support for structured data in 2025, but paradoxically dropped support for seven existing markup types. Despite promises of “more structured data,” the reality is reduced structured data compatibility midway through the year. This shift has caused confusion and concern among SEO professionals tracking Google’s evolving guidelines.
Optimixed’s Overview: Google’s Unexpected Shift in Structured Data Support During 2025
Background and Promises
In December 2024, Google publicly declared it would enhance and expand support for structured data markup, aiming to improve search result relevance and rich snippet availability. Structured data is critical for helping search engines understand webpage content and enhance SERP features.
What Actually Happened
- While Google did add support for loyalty markup, it simultaneously dropped support for seven other structured data types in early 2025.
- This move directly contradicts the initial promise of “more structured data” support, causing frustration in the SEO community.
- The reduction in supported markups means fewer opportunities for websites to benefit from rich results using those deprecated schemas.
Implications for SEO and Website Owners
SEO practitioners must now reconsider their structured data strategies, ensuring they focus on supported markups and stay updated with Google’s evolving guidelines. This scenario highlights the unpredictable nature of Google’s updates, reinforcing the need for continuous monitoring and flexibility in SEO tactics.
