As a small business owner, you know that "Accounting is the language of business." It’s how you measure health, growth, and success. But there is another language your business needs to speak fluently if you want to be found online: Structured Data.
At Fred Lundin CPA, we believe in blending sound business practices with the exponential impact of technology. Today, we’re breaking down a technical concept that can have a massive impact on your bottom line—and keeping it simple, just the way we like it.
What is Structured Data? (The Simple Version)
Imagine you hand a stranger a flyer for your business, but it’s written in a language they don't speak. They might understand the pictures, but they won't know your hours, your prices, or what you actually do.
Search engines like Google are that stranger. They are smart, but they sometimes struggle to understand the context of the text on your website.
Structured data (also called Schema Markup) is a standardized code you add to your website’s background. It acts as a translator. It explicitly tells Google: "This string of numbers is a phone number,""This 5-star graphic is a customer review," or "This text is a cooking recipe."
Why Should a Small Business Owner Care?
You might be thinking, "I’m an accountant/baker/retailer, not a coder. Why does this matter?"
Here is why: Visibility and Click-Through Rates.
When you use structured data, you aren't just ranking; you are dominating the visual space on the search results page. Here are three specific ways it helps your business grow:
1. Rich Snippets: The "Bling" of Search Results
Have you ever searched for a product and seen results that include a star rating, a price, or an "In Stock" label right in the Google list? Those are Rich Snippets, and they are powered by structured data.
Standard search results are boring blue links. Rich snippets pop off the screen. Studies show that users are significantly more likely to click on a result that shows extra information, even if it isn't in the #1 spot.
2. Winning Local SEO
For local businesses (like many of our clients in Chicago and beyond), structured data is non-negotiable.
By using LocalBusiness Schema, you ensure that Google Maps and local search results display your exact address, opening hours, and contact info correctly. It removes the guesswork for your customers. If someone asks Siri, "Find a CPA near me open now," structured data is often what helps Siri give the right answer.
3. Future-Proofing for Voice Search
More people are using voice assistants (Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri) to find businesses. These devices rely heavily on structured data to provide direct answers. If your data isn't structured, your business is effectively silent in the world of voice search.
How to Get Started
The good news is you don’t always need to be a computer engineer to implement this.
If you use Shopify or WordPress: There are often apps and plugins that can handle the heavy lifting for you.
If you have a custom site: You may need a developer to insert the code (JSON-LD) into your site’s header.
The Bottom Line
In the modern economy, your digital presence is just as important as your physical storefront or your financial statements. Structured data is a high-leverage tool that costs little to implement but pays dividends in traffic and customer trust.
At Fred Lundin CPA, we don’t just crunch numbers; we help you navigate the technology that drives those numbers up. If you are looking to streamline your business operations or need advice on integrating the right technology for growth, let’s talk.
Contact Fred Lundin CPA Today to see how we can help your business speak the right language.