# Labels in your site's code that tell Google what your business is

> Your business details, services, reviews and FAQs are labelled in the code in a format Google and AI assistants read, so they understand your business. Included on every plan.

- Source: https://nerdsharks.com/features/structured-data
- Publisher: Nerdsharks (Exeter, Devon, UK)
- Updated: 2026-09-27

Schema markup, also called structured data, is a set of labels added to your website's code that visitors never see but search engines read. A person can tell that "01234 567890" on your page is your phone number; a computer finds it much easier when it is labelled as one. On every Nerdsharks site we mark up your business as a LocalBusiness with its name, address, phone number, opening hours and service area, and we label your services, customer reviews and frequently asked questions using the shared vocabulary from Schema.org. That helps Google, Bing and AI assistants understand exactly who you are, what you do and where.

## How it works

1. **Your business details, labelled** - Name, address, phone number, opening hours, service area and links to your profiles are marked up as a LocalBusiness, using the Schema.org standard search engines share.
2. **Services, reviews and FAQs too** - Each service page, your genuine customer reviews and your frequently asked questions are labelled so search engines can tell what each part of the page is.
3. **Kept in step with the page** - The labels are generated from the same content as the visible page, so when you change your hours or add a service, the markup changes with it.
4. **Checked against Google's tools** - We test the markup with Google's own validation tools so it is read correctly and does not contain errors that would get it ignored.

## Why it matters

- **Understood by search engines** - Clear labels remove guesswork about your phone number, area and services, which helps Google match you with the right local searches.
- **Ready for AI assistants** - Tools like ChatGPT and Google's AI answers read structured information too. Clear markup makes your details easier for them to pick up accurately.
- **A chance of richer results** - Structured data makes your pages eligible for extra features in search results where Google offers them. Google decides when to show them, but without markup you are not in the running.

## Questions

### What is schema markup?

Schema markup is code added to your website that labels information, such as your business name, phone number, services and reviews, in a standard format search engines understand. Visitors do not see it, but Google, Bing and AI assistants read it.

### Will schema markup get me star ratings in Google?

Not necessarily. Google decides which rich results to show and has limited review stars for businesses marking up their own reviews. The markup still helps search engines understand your business, which is the main point.

### Does schema markup help with AI search?

It helps. AI assistants and AI search features pull information from websites, and clearly labelled details are easier for them to read correctly. It works alongside clear, well-written pages rather than replacing them.

### Do I need to do anything to add schema markup?

No, we add and maintain the structured data as part of building your site. When your details change, the markup is updated along with the page.