RDFa rich snippets offer the best gains in terms of improving SERPs (search engine results pages) ranking, CTR (click-through rate) and all-around ROI (return on investment) for your web site.

For the search

Several benefits can be enjoyed in this arena by implementing RDFa technology;

Make more in-depth information available to the search engines to determine your page’s relevance to a search query;

Give the search engines more inter-relational data to tie your site’s content to more external data, via Linked Data;

Promote greater utilization of Web 3.0, or Semantic Web, capability.

Anything you do to help the search engines better understand the meaning of your content can only help with matching your pages to relevant search queries. The classification of data with this technology is a great way to do this.

For the CTR

When you utilize this technology, the search engines can then display the additional information provided to the users in the SERPs in the form of RDFa rich snippets. That means the users will have more information available to them in order to select the site that best meets their needs.

It also means that because the search engines can better match your page to the search query, your CTR will increase.

This technology can give you a significant advantage over competitors in your niche that aren’t yet utilizing RDFa.

For the conversions

Since the search engines will be serving up more relevant results to the users, and the users will have more information available to them in the snippets, you’ll not only achieve a higher CTR… you’ll also be receiving more targeted visitors.

Any experienced marketer knows that as users progress through the steps of finding, investigating and deciding upon a product or service, every positive experience makes them more comfortable with the process and more receptive to the conversion process.

Thus, it stands to reason that first finding highly descriptive results in the SERPs and then entering a site that truly meets their expectations will make users more receptive to the conversion from visitor to customer.

For the user

The stated reason for existence for the search engines is to assist the users in finding results relevant to their queries. Each success in that endeavor provides a higher quality user experience.

The users wish to find what they’re seeking with as little effort as possible, and each success in that endeavor also supports a higher quality user experience.

For the ROI

As webmasters and site owners, it is to our advantage to also contribute to the quality of the user experience, in every way we can. In turn, we get more targeted traffic, a higher click-through rate, and a greater return on our investment.

Now is the time to bring your web site up to speed by implementing RDFa technology. Make 2011 your banner year, as you simultaneously surge ahead of your competition and increase your profits.

Upgrade your web site now, to take advantage of RDFa rich snippets and Linked Data and become an integral part of the new Semantic Web. You can make your site a leader, rather than a follower.