The short answer
Most SEO plugins add basic schema automatically: Yoast and Rank Math output Organization or Person, WebSite and Article for posts. Fill in the site representation settings, then add page-specific schema (LocalBusiness, FAQ, Course) with Rank Math’s Schema tab or a JSON-LD snippet from a schema generator pasted through a header code plugin. Test each page in Google’s Rich Results Test and watch Search Console’s Enhancements reports.
Before you start
By the end of this SOP
The site’s organization details are correct, key pages have the right schema type, and tests show no errors.
- Time
- 20–40 minutes
- You’ll need
- WordPress admin access, an SEO plugin, and optionally the free schema markup generator.
- Who does this
- The person managing on-page SEO.
About this SOP: why it matters, where and when
Why it matters: Correct schema helps search engines understand your business and content, can unlock rich results, and makes your details easier for AI search to quote.
Where: Your SEO plugin’s settings, the page editor, a header-and-footer code plugin, and search.google.com/test/rich-results.
When: When setting up a site, and when adding new page types such as FAQs, events or products.
Stage 1
Set the site-wide basics
- 1
Yoast: Yoast SEO → Settings → Site representation. Choose Organization, add the name and logo, and list the social profiles.
- 2
Rank Math: Rank Math → Titles & Meta → Local SEO (turn on the Local SEO module in the dashboard first). Fill in business type, name, logo, address, phone and opening hours.
- 3
All in One SEO and SEOPress have similar Knowledge Graph or Local Business settings.
- 4
Use exactly the same name, address and phone as your Google Business Profile.
Stage 2
Add page-specific schema
- 1
Blog posts: check the plugin sets Article or BlogPosting, with a named author (not “admin”) and a featured image.
- 2
Rank Math: edit the page → Schema tab → Schema Generator → choose a type such as FAQ, Course or Local Business, fill the fields and save.
- 3
For anything the plugin doesn’t cover, create JSON-LD with the free schema markup generator, then add it to that page with a plugin like WPCode (Header & Footer → page-specific snippet).
Tip
Only mark up what is visible on the page. Fake reviews or hidden FAQs break Google’s rules.
- 4
Avoid two plugins adding the same schema. If your theme or a page builder also adds it, switch one off.
Stage 3
Test and monitor
- 1
Paste the page URL into Google’s Rich Results Test. Fix anything marked as an error; warnings about optional fields can wait.
- 2
For schema types Google doesn’t show as rich results, check the code at validator.schema.org.
- 3
In Search Console, open the Enhancements section (for example Breadcrumbs, Products, Review snippets) and fix new errors as they appear.
Practice & check
Now do it for real
Reading is not doing. Open your own account and complete this task before you move on.
Practice task (5 min)
Add LocalBusiness schema to a test site’s contact page with the free generator, paste it through a header plugin, and pass the Rich Results Test.
Prove it
Two questions. Get both right and this SOP is done.
Common questions
Does Yoast add schema automatically?
Yes. Yoast outputs a schema graph with WebSite, Organization or Person, WebPage and Article for posts. You mainly need to fill in the site representation settings correctly.
Can schema hurt SEO?
Wrong or misleading schema can lead to rich results being removed, and in serious cases a manual action. Correct schema doesn’t hurt.
Do I need a plugin to add schema?
No. You can paste JSON-LD into the page’s HTML. Plugins just make it easier to manage across many pages.
Done. That’s a real skill, not a certificate.
Next: SOP 318 — Find and Fix Broken Links and Redirect Chains →
Want to do this on real client budgets, with a mentor checking your work? That’s Level 2 at Unlearn. See the Digital Marketing track