Google has announced an update to the Rich Results Test tool that now allows you to validate structured data markup for paywalled content.
This new capability aims to help publishers properly mark subscription-based content on their sites.
The change comes as Google continues to refine how it handles indexing and displaying paywalled content in search results.
While Google wants to point users to relevant paywalled articles, it must also deter practices like “cloaking,” where sites show users different content than Google.
Structured data markup is one method publishers can use to clarify what content requires a paid subscription. This involves adding schema.org markup to indicate which sections of a page sit behind a paywall.
Adding Paywall Structured Data Markup
Per Google’s help documentation, publishers should add JSON-LD or microdata to tag each paywalled block with markup like:
<div class="paywall">This content requires a subscription.< /div>
The markup then specifies that div as being non-free access:
"hasPart": {
"@type": "WebPageElement",
"isAccessibleForFree": "False",
"cssSelector": ".paywall"
}
