Google has rolled out a new feature that allows websites to use metadata to link content to its author, making it easier for Google users to follow their favorite writers on the web, CNet reports.
The special authorship markup tag is a new HTML 5 feature that incorporates the author into the search results for their articles, which could potentially affect search ranking in the future.
Google engineer Othar Hansson wrote:
“We know that great content comes from great authors, and we’re looking closely at ways this markup could help us highlight authors and rank search results.”
Google has already worked with several Web sites to start the initiative with adoption from major media outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNET, Entertainment Weekly, The New Yorker and others. The company has also implemented the authorship tag in content hosted on YouTube and Blogger.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.