Why Google Now Supports Certification & 3D Data in Merchant Listings

🧠 What’s New in 2025?

Google has expanded its support for structured data within merchant listings by introducing:

hasCertification – Add certifications (eco-labels, safety, regulatory) directly to product schema
certificationIdentification & certificationRating – Clarify certification IDs and performance levels
3DModel schema support – Display rich, interactive 3D product previews
Enhanced eligibility for AI-powered product experiences, including voice + visual search

These additions help sellers stand out in search results and meet new regulatory expectations, especially across the EU and US.

🚀 Why This Matters for SEO

Feature	Benefit
✅ Certification markup	Increases trust, visibility & click-throughs
✅ 3D product schema	Enhances AI Overviews and image-rich carousels
✅ Compliance metadata	Helps you meet Google’s transparency and labeling policies

🔗 See related:

🎯 What Certifications Can Be Added?

You can now mark up official certifications such as:

Energy labels (EU, BIS, ENERGY STAR)
Safety standards (FDA, ISI, FCC)
Sustainability badges (Fair Trade, FSC, Green Seal)
Performance ratings (CO₂ emission grades, efficiency tiers)

🧩 Overview of New Schema Properties

Property	Type	Description
`hasCertification`	`Certification`	Top-level product certification
`issuedBy`	`Organization`	Who issued the certificate
`certificationIdentification`	`Text`	ID or serial number
`certificationRating`	`Text`	Label rating (e.g., A+, 5 stars)
`subjectOf` → `3DModel`	`MediaObject`	Path to glTF/GLB 3D model of product

✅ Requirements to Qualify

To use these new structured data features:

The product must display the certification or model clearly on the page
Markup must follow Schema.org format exactly
The certification must come from a verifiable authority
The 3D model must use the glTF file format and be accessible at a direct URL

📦 What This Article Will Cover (Next Parts)

Full JSON-LD schema for certifications
EU energy label & CO₂ rating examples
Using subjectOf + 3DModel in structured data
Google validation using Rich Results Test
WordPress + Shopify integration methods

Adding Certification Metadata with JSON-LD Schema

✅ Basic Certification Markup with `hasCertification`

To declare that a product has an official certification, use the hasCertification property inside the Product schema. This signals trust and compliance to Google.

🔧 Example: Basic Certification Markup (JSON-LD)

jsonCopyEdit{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Product",
  "name": "EcoSmart Refrigerator 230L",
  "image": "https://kumarharshit.in/images/refrigerator.jpg",
  "description": "Energy-efficient refrigerator with A+++ EU energy label",
  "sku": "ECOFR230L",
  "hasCertification": {
    "@type": "Certification",
    "name": "EU Energy Label",
    "issuedBy": {
      "@type": "Organization",
      "name": "European Union Energy Directorate",
      "url": "https://europa.eu"
    }
  }
}

🆔 Add `certificationIdentification` (e.g., Serial or Reference ID)

Use certificationIdentification when your product includes a certificate number or ID.

🔧 Example:

jsonCopyEdit"hasCertification": {
  "@type": "Certification",
  "name": "EU Energy Label",
  "issuedBy": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "European Union Energy Directorate"
  },
  "certificationIdentification": "EU-ENERGY-2025-A+++"
}

⭐ Add `certificationRating` (e.g., A+++, Gold, Tier 1)

Use certificationRating to specify a ranked or graded value from the certifier.

🔧 Example:

jsonCopyEdit"certificationRating": "A+++"

You can include this alongside certificationIdentification.

📌 Full Certification Snippet with All Fields

jsonCopyEdit"hasCertification": {
  "@type": "Certification",
  "name": "EU Energy Label",
  "issuedBy": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "European Union Energy Directorate",
    "url": "https://europa.eu"
  },
  "certificationIdentification": "EU-ENERGY-2025-A+++",
  "certificationRating": "A+++"
}

🧠 You can apply this to any certifying authority: USDA Organic, BIS India, FDA Approved, ENERGY STAR, etc.

🛠 Validation Tip:

Use Google’s Rich Results Test to check your implementation.

Your output should show Product → hasCertification → Certification with nested values.

🔗 Related Reading:

Adding Multiple Certifications with Schema Markup

🧩 Can You Add More Than One Certification?

Yes — if your product qualifies for multiple certifications, Google supports marking them up using a JSON array inside the hasCertification field.

This is useful for:

Products with regulatory + sustainability certifications
Tech devices with both regional and global trust marks
Food products with organic + fair trade + ISO labels

✅ Example: Two Certifications – Organic + Fair Trade

jsonCopyEdit"hasCertification": [
  {
    "@type": "Certification",
    "name": "USDA Organic",
    "issuedBy": {
      "@type": "Organization",
      "name": "US Department of Agriculture",
      "url": "https://www.usda.gov"
    },
    "certificationIdentification": "ORG-2025-88",
    "certificationRating": "Certified Organic"
  },
  {
    "@type": "Certification",
    "name": "Fair Trade Certified",
    "issuedBy": {
      "@type": "Organization",
      "name": "Fair Trade USA",
      "url": "https://www.fairtradecertified.org"
    },
    "certificationIdentification": "FT-3945-22"
  }
]

🧠 Each object in the array must be individually valid, with its own name and issuedBy.

🌍 Global Certification Examples by Industry

Industry	Certification Example	Provider
Food & Beverage	USDA Organic, India Organic, Non-GMO	USDA, APEDA, Non-GMO Project
Consumer Electronics	BIS Certified, ENERGY STAR	BIS India, ENERGY STAR USA
Furniture	FSC Certified, Green Seal	FSC International, Green Seal
Health & Supplements	FDA Approved, GMP Certified	FDA, NSF International
Fashion	GOTS (Organic Textile), OEKO-TEX	GOTS, OEKO-TEX Association

📌 Tips for Using Multiple Certifications

Always verify that all certifications are valid and issued by recognized organizations
Make sure each certification is mentioned in visible on-page content
Don’t use hasCertification for marketing claims (like “premium quality”) unless backed by a certifier

❌ Avoid using fake certifiers or made-up badges. Google may penalize schema abuse.

🧪 Testing with Multiple Certifications

Paste your full schema into Google Rich Results Test and look for:

No red errors under hasCertification
Each certification item appearing under the Product node
Matching labels visible on the live page (important!)

🔗 Related Reading:

Adding 3D Product Models Using Structured Data

📦 What Is the `3DModel` Schema?

Google now supports embedding 3D models of products using structured data. This allows users to interact with a 3D view directly in:

Google Search
Google Shopping
Mobile preview overlays
AR-integrated results

🧠 When to Use It

This is ideal for:

Electronics (e.g., smartphones, laptops)
Furniture (sofas, tables, beds)
Fashion (shoes, accessories)
Vehicles, home appliances, industrial items

✅ Basic 3D Model Markup

To include a 3D model, use the subjectOf property inside the Product schema, pointing to a 3DModel type.

🔧 JSON-LD Example:

jsonCopyEdit{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Product",
  "name": "Modern Wooden Coffee Table",
  "image": "https://kumarharshit.in/images/coffee-table.jpg",
  "description": "Compact wooden table with Scandinavian design and AR-enabled 3D view",
  "sku": "WDCT-1100",
  "subjectOf": {
    "@type": "3DModel",
    "name": "Wooden Coffee Table 3D Preview",
    "encoding": {
      "@type": "MediaObject",
      "contentUrl": "https://kumarharshit.in/3d-models/coffee-table.glb",
      "encodingFormat": "model/gltf-binary"
    }
  }
}

🧩 Required Fields for 3D Model Schema

Property	Description
`@type: 3DModel`	Declares the structured data as a 3D model
`name`	Optional title or label for the model
`encoding.contentUrl`	Direct URL to the `.glb` or `.gltf` file
`encoding.encodingFormat`	File type (must be `"model/gltf-binary"` for `.glb`)

🧠 Make sure your hosting supports direct access to .glb or .gltf files without authentication or redirects.

🎨 What Is glTF or GLB?

glTF (GL Transmission Format) is a royalty-free file format for 3D models
.glb is the binary version (faster, smaller)
Must be served via HTTPS from your domain

🔗 Learn more: glTF Format Overview

🧪 Validation Tips

Use Rich Results Test or Google’s Search Console to confirm your 3DModel is correctly attached to the Product.

You won’t see a 3D preview in the test — but you should see no errors and valid subjectOf → 3DModel.

🔗 Related Reading:

Testing, Validating & Debugging Structured Data (2025 Methods)

🛠️ Why Validation Is Critical

Structured data errors can:

Prevent your products from showing in rich results
Disqualify your listings from Shopping experiences
Lead to manual actions if schema abuse is detected

Google has tightened enforcement in 2025 to ensure certifications, models, and trust signals are legitimate.

✅ Primary Tools to Test Your Markup

Tool	Use
Rich Results Test	Validate JSON-LD, Microdata, or RDFa
Schema Markup Validator	Check schema.org compatibility
URL Inspection Tool in GSC	Ensure structured data is indexed and rendered

📌 Step-by-Step: Testing Certification Schema

Go to Rich Results Test
Paste either:
- Your live URL (preferred)
- Or your full JSON-LD snippet
Click “Test”
Review output:
- No red errors
- All fields (hasCertification, issuedBy, etc.) appear nested under Product
- Labels match what’s shown on the live page

🧪 Step-by-Step: Testing 3D Model Schema

Load a product page with your structured subjectOf → 3DModel markup
Paste URL into the Rich Results Test
Confirm:
- 3DModel is recognized under subjectOf
- contentUrl is accessible and direct
- Encoding format is "model/gltf-binary"

Google will not render the 3D preview but will validate the structure.

⚠️ Common Errors & How to Fix Them

Error	Fix
Missing `issuedBy` in certification	Add the full `Organization` node
Invalid JSON format	Use a JSON validator
Incorrect encoding format for 3D model	Must be `"model/gltf-binary"`
Certification not found on the page	Ensure text appears visibly in HTML
URL blocked by robots.txt	Check `/robots.txt` and meta tags

🧠 Bonus Tip: Use Google Search Console (GSC)

After deploying changes:

Go to URL Inspection in GSC
Enter the product page URL
Click “Test Live URL”
Confirm that:
- Structured data is present
- Page is crawlable and indexed
- No render-blocking issues

🔗 Related: Using GSC & Analytics for SEO

🔗 Related Reading:

Platform-Specific Implementation (WordPress, WooCommerce, Shopify, Custom)

🌐 WordPress (with or without WooCommerce)

WordPress doesn’t support 2025 certification or 3D schema by default. You’ll need to add custom JSON-LD manually or use schema-enabled plugins with support for <script type="application/ld+json">.

✅ Method 1: Manual JSON-LD Insertion

Edit the single product template (single-product.php or via Elementor/Block Editor).
Add this inside the <head> section or use a plugin like Header Footer Code Manager.
Paste your full schema, e.g.:

htmlCopyEdit<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Product",
  "name": "Wooden Chair - FSC Certified",
  "hasCertification": {
    "@type": "Certification",
    "name": "FSC Certified",
    "issuedBy": {
      "@type": "Organization",
      "name": "Forest Stewardship Council"
    }
  }
}
</script>

🧠 Match structured content with visible on-page content to avoid schema mismatch warnings.

🛍 WooCommerce Users

Use a plugin like:

✅ Rank Math Pro (supports custom schema templates)
✅ Schema & Structured Data for WP (allows product-level custom fields)
❌ Yoast SEO (doesn’t currently support hasCertification or 3DModel)

You can define dynamic templates with variables like:

jsonCopyEdit"@type": "Product",
"name": "%%post_title%%",
"hasCertification": {
  "@type": "Certification",
  "name": "%%cf_cert_name%%",
  "issuedBy": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "%%cf_cert_issuer%%"
  }
}

Add custom fields for cert_name, cert_issuer, etc.

🛒 Shopify

Shopify restricts direct code edits on some plans, but you can still inject schema in two ways:

✅ Method 1: Edit `product.liquid` or `main-product.liquid`

Insert full JSON-LD into the <head> tag or just above </body>:

htmlCopyEdit<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Product",
  "name": "{{ product.title }}",
  "hasCertification": {
    "@type": "Certification",
    "name": "ENERGY STAR",
    "issuedBy": {
      "@type": "Organization",
      "name": "ENERGY STAR Program"
    }
  }
}
</script>

Shopify’s Liquid tags (like {{ product.title }}) help auto-fill schema for each item.

❗ Important Shopify Notes:

Shopify’s native schema blocks don’t support hasCertification or 3DModel — so you must add custom scripts
Use content_for_header or theme file customization
Ensure 3D model files (.glb) are uploaded to Files and are publicly accessible

👨‍💻 Custom Platforms

If you use a custom-built CMS or eCommerce framework:

Inject JSON-LD via backend templating logic
Use variables to populate dynamic content like SKU, cert ID, glb file paths
Store certifications in the database (e.g., as part of product metadata)

Make sure:

Your JSON-LD is dynamically populated per product
subjectOf → 3DModel → encoding.contentUrl points to a static file URL, ideally on a CDN or /assets directory

📌 Summary Table

Platform	Supported?	Method
WordPress	✅	Custom JSON-LD or Rank Math templates
WooCommerce	✅	Plugins with schema templating support
Shopify	✅ (manually)	Inject into theme files with Liquid
Custom	✅	Server-side injection of schema templates

🔗 Related Reading:

Final SEO Checklist for Certifications & 3D Schema Compliance

✅ Certification Markup SEO Checklist

Use this checklist to ensure your certification data is implemented correctly and is eligible for enhanced results:

Task	Status
Certification is issued by a recognized organization
`hasCertification` schema includes `@type: Certification`
Includes `name`, `issuedBy`, and optional `certificationIdentification`
Certificate badge is visible on the page (near product title/description)
JSON-LD schema is properly nested within Product
Schema passes Rich Results Test with no critical errors
No use of fake or unverifiable certifications

✅ 3D Model Markup SEO Checklist

Ensure your 3D schema is working with this step-by-step list:

Task	Status
3D model file is in `.glb` or `.gltf` format
File is publicly accessible on HTTPS
JSON-LD includes `subjectOf → 3DModel → encoding → contentUrl`
`encodingFormat` is `"model/gltf-binary"`
Linked on the same page as the product
Schema validates via Rich Results Test
No file redirections or blocked resources

🔗 Related Guide: Image License Metadata SEO

🧠 Bonus Tips for Higher Visibility

Use clean, SEO-optimized URLs (see URL Structure Guide)
Avoid excessive parameters or session IDs in product URLs
Use Product, Offer, hasCertification, aggregateRating, and subjectOf together for richer results
Add gtin, mpn, or isbn to support Google Manufacturer Center data
Pair with image metadata (EXIF, IPTC) for better image visibility in Shopping and Google Lens

🔗 Internal Linking Strategy

Integrate schema-enhanced product pages into your site’s internal linking system:

Link from category hubs using exact match anchor text
Include in seasonal landing pages (e.g., “Eco-Friendly Home Appliances 2025”)
Add internal links from top blog posts and FAQs
Use breadcrumb navigation with structured data support

📌 Related Reading:

📚 Additional Tools & References

Tool	Purpose
Rich Results Test	Validate schema & preview supported formats
Schema Markup Validator	Check for syntax compliance
JSONLint	Clean and verify JSON structure
Google Search Console	Test live URLs and indexing status

Meet Harshit Kumar: India’s Most Famous SEO Specialist & Freelancer

How to Add Certification & 3D Model Structured Data for Merchant Listings

Why Google Now Supports Certification & 3D Data in Merchant Listings

🧠 What’s New in 2025?

🚀 Why This Matters for SEO

🎯 What Certifications Can Be Added?

🧩 Overview of New Schema Properties

✅ Requirements to Qualify

📦 What This Article Will Cover (Next Parts)

Adding Certification Metadata with JSON-LD Schema

✅ Basic Certification Markup with hasCertification

🔧 Example: Basic Certification Markup (JSON-LD)

🆔 Add certificationIdentification (e.g., Serial or Reference ID)

🔧 Example:

⭐ Add certificationRating (e.g., A+++, Gold, Tier 1)

🔧 Example:

📌 Full Certification Snippet with All Fields

🛠 Validation Tip:

Adding Multiple Certifications with Schema Markup

🧩 Can You Add More Than One Certification?

✅ Example: Two Certifications – Organic + Fair Trade

🌍 Global Certification Examples by Industry

📌 Tips for Using Multiple Certifications

🧪 Testing with Multiple Certifications

Adding 3D Product Models Using Structured Data

📦 What Is the 3DModel Schema?

🧠 When to Use It

✅ Basic 3D Model Markup

🔧 JSON-LD Example:

🧩 Required Fields for 3D Model Schema

🎨 What Is glTF or GLB?

🧪 Validation Tips

🔗 Related Reading:

Testing, Validating & Debugging Structured Data (2025 Methods)

🛠️ Why Validation Is Critical

✅ Primary Tools to Test Your Markup

📌 Step-by-Step: Testing Certification Schema

🧪 Step-by-Step: Testing 3D Model Schema

⚠️ Common Errors & How to Fix Them

🧠 Bonus Tip: Use Google Search Console (GSC)

🔗 Related Reading:

Platform-Specific Implementation (WordPress, WooCommerce, Shopify, Custom)

🌐 WordPress (with or without WooCommerce)

✅ Method 1: Manual JSON-LD Insertion

🛍 WooCommerce Users

🛒 Shopify

✅ Method 1: Edit product.liquid or main-product.liquid

❗ Important Shopify Notes:

👨‍💻 Custom Platforms

📌 Summary Table

Final SEO Checklist for Certifications & 3D Schema Compliance

✅ Certification Markup SEO Checklist

✅ 3D Model Markup SEO Checklist

🧠 Bonus Tips for Higher Visibility

🔗 Internal Linking Strategy

📚 Additional Tools & References

Related Posts

SEO URL Structure Guide 2025 – Best Practices for Clean, Crawlable & Rankable URLs

Google Trends SEO Guide 2025: How to Find Real-Time Insights & Boost Organic Growth

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✅ Basic Certification Markup with `hasCertification`

🆔 Add `certificationIdentification` (e.g., Serial or Reference ID)

⭐ Add `certificationRating` (e.g., A+++, Gold, Tier 1)

📦 What Is the `3DModel` Schema?

✅ Method 1: Edit `product.liquid` or `main-product.liquid`