Knowing the many benefits of using the Create plugin, you probably want to use it as much as possible! Perhaps you're thinking about using Create in your new post, but you also want to make sure it's the right fit.
In this article, we will help you understand the intended use of Recipe, How-To, and List cards so you can decide whether you should use Create in your post and which is the right type of card!
Why Does This All Matter?
The simple answer to this question is because of SEO!
Create outputs Schema, also known as structured data, which tells Google information about your content. For example, if you use a Recipe card in your post, you are essentially telling Google "this is a recipe."
You want to make sure the content within the card accurately matches the description. Otherwise, you risk the possibility of "confusing" Google, which none of us want!
Recipe Cards
Schema Type: Recipe (see this type broken down here on Schema.org).
If it's teaching the reader how to make food, use a Recipe card!
Recipes are a list of ingredients, instructions, and other key information all about making an edible food item or dish.
This one is admittedly pretty straightforward, but you would use this card type for edible recipes for which you have instructions and ingredients. You also want to fill in as many of the additional requested fields as you can. These include Prep and Cook Time, Nutrition, and more.
When would I NOT want to use a Recipe card?
If the subject of the content is not an edible food item.
If it's stepped instructions but not food, use a How-To!
If you don't have instructions, ingredients, or other requested information that would help a user make the recipe.
For example, if you were writing a post on the history of Spanish Paella, but not teaching readers how to make it, you would not want to use a recipe card.
For more information on using Recipe cards, including how to make one, see this article.
How-To Cards
Schema Type: How-To (see this type broken down here on Schema.org).
If it's stepped instructions but not food, use a How-To card!
How-Tos are instructions offered in a sequence of steps that help a reader achieve the desired result.
You can use this card type for any set of stepped instructions as long as the results are not edible food items.
Some theoretical examples of How-Tos might be:
How to Make Your Own Soap for Beginners
How to Grow Basil on Your Windowsill
How to Teach Your Dog to Sit
When would I NOT want to use a How-To card?
If the instructions result in creating an edible food item.
If it's food, use a Recipe card!
If you don't have any stepped instructions to provide to readers.
For example, a post called "How to Make Your Own Soap for Beginners" could have a How-To card because there is a clear sequence of steps to achieve the desired result.
In contrast, for a post called "5 Common Mistakes of Novice Soap Makers," you would not use a How-To card because there are no stepped instructions.
For more information on using How-To cards, see this article.
List Cards
Schema Type: ItemList (see this type broken down here on Schema.org).
If it's a list of links, use a List card!
Lists are used for lists of links. You can use Lists for many things, but each item must have a link!
You also need to have a title, a description, and an image for each item. (For many links, images can scrape automatically from the link, but sometimes you may need to provide your own.)
Some common uses for List cards are:
Internal roundups
Lists of Affiliate links
Gift guides
Shopping lists
When would I NOT want to use a List card?
If you don't have links for your List items.
For example, a list of quotes with no links would likely be better as an HTML list.
For more information on using List cards, see this article.