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hCard

hCard was a microformat standard in the SEO world, primarily used for creating structured data. While it was designed more for search engines than people, it helped Google better understand web page information. However, hCard usage has been phased out in favor of Schema markup.

hCard vs. Schema

hCard is no longer a particularly effective tool for implementing structured data. It was replaced by Schema in 2011.

hCard Usage

hCard was an extractable piece of information embedded in a web page’s HTML. It functioned as a digital business card, allowing website visitors to view and save contact details directly to their address book.

Essentially, hCard was an exact representation of the vCard in XHTML format. It converted contact information into semantically correct HTML, RSS, Atom, or any arbitrary XML file.

hCard Format and Local Search

The hCard microformat is a powerful tool for geo-targeting your business. When added to your website’s HTML, it communicates your business’s exact location to search engines, boosting your credibility for local search rankings and visibility on local maps.

A key advantage of using hCard is its ability to establish your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) information. This includes your full business name, address, postal or zip code, and a landline telephone number.

For those who aren’t coding experts, there are many user-friendly, free sites that can generate hCard code for you. Simply enter your basic business information (like your address and name), click the ‘build it’ button, and you’re done.

One of the best tools we’ve found is the hCard creator on microformats.org. As of 2023, it remains a reliable resource for creating hCard codes effortlessly.

Ensure Your hCard Format is Error-Free

It’s essential to validate your hCard coding to avoid errors. Utilize the W3C Validator for a thorough check: W3C Validator

For additional details on hCard and vCard usage for geo-targeting, explore: hCard and vCard Information

Why hCard Was Phased Out

While hCard offered a convenient way to embed contact information, there were limitations that led to its decline:

Limited Scope: hCard primarily focused on basic contact details like name, address, and phone number. Schema.org, on the other hand, offers a much wider vocabulary for structured data, encompassing various entities like events, products, reviews, and more.
Technical Challenges: hCard relied on microformats, a simpler approach to embedding data. Schema.org employs multiple syntaxes (Microdata, JSON-LD, RDFa) that provide more flexibility and better integration with modern web development practices.
Search Engine Adoption: Search engines like Google actively support and promote Schema.org. This broader industry backing ensures Schema stays current with evolving search engine needs.

Alternatives to hCard

Schema.org, as mentioned earlier, is the recommended approach for structured data markup today. It offers various benefits:

Rich Snippets: Schema markup can lead to rich snippets displayed in search results, making your content more visually appealing and informative for users. This can potentially improve click-through rates.
Improved Search Ranking: While not a direct ranking factor, structured data can help search engines understand your content better, potentially leading to a slight ranking boost.
Voice Search Optimization: Schema markup can improve your website’s visibility in voice search results, where search engines rely heavily on structured data to understand user intent.

There are many online tools and resources available to help you implement Schema.org markup on your website.

Additional Information

Google Search Central:

Structured Data: Google’s Search Central resource offers a guide to implementing structured data, including Schema.org markup.

Microformats Wiki:

The Microformats Wiki contains the official hCard specification. This source confirms hCard is still technically recognized by Google, but Schema is the preferred method.

Grizzly:

This article from a reputable SEO blog discusses Schema vs. hCard and highlights the advantages of Schema.org

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