Schema.org Article markup uses structured data to clearly define key page details: title, author, publish date, update date, section, and article summary. When machines read these fields, they no longer need to infer from the layout which line is the title or when the article was published.
Implement using JSON-LD in the page head, ensuring field values match visible content. Set `headline` to the title, `datePublished` and `dateModified` to actual timestamps, `author` to the site's public attribution, and `mainEntityOfPage` to the current URL. Handle section pages and article pages separately.
A common mistake is having annotations that don't match the page, such as a publication date earlier than the actual one or a summary unrelated to the content. Such inconsistencies erode machine trust in the page, making them harder to troubleshoot and more problematic than not annotating at all. Always review after every update.
Validate using a structured data testing tool after launch to ensure no required fields are missing, no syntax errors exist, and multiple pages aren't sharing the same markup. Re-validate after template adjustments and record the results in the release process to prevent recurring issues.