Google on occasion tells you which method of technology they prefer over others. They did it with mobile, saying go responsive over other methods. They did it was schema markup solutions, saying JSON-LD is preferred over other methods. But using a preferred method does not give you any benefit in Google Search than a non-preferred method.

John said this at the 4:36 mark into the video. He said that while Google has said JSON-LD is Google’s preferred and recommended method for implementing schema, John said “that doesn’t mean that there’s any less value passed with with like the other types of markup.” “I wouldn’t say you need to do kind of Google’s preference,” he added.

Why does Google give a preference or recommendation? He said because if they do not, some won’t implement it at all. He said people won’t do anything if they do not give a recommendation.

Here is the video embedded in the right location:

Here is the transcript:

Dan Brickley from Google added a bit more on this:

Forum discussion at Twitter.