In this tutorial, we’ll learn how to generate and add schema data without using a plugin. While schema data itself isn’t a direct ranking factor, having it appear in search results significantly increases the chances of your webpage getting more clicks compared to others.
What is Schema Markup?
Schema markup (Schema.org) is structured data that helps search engines understand the content of a page easily. This data include information like name, phone number, address, and more. Schema.org offers around 632 types of schema data, but Google supports about 32 formats. You can explore these supported formats in the Google Rich Snippet Gallery.
How to Create Schema Data?
Step 1: Visit a schema generator tool like TechnicalSEO’s Schema Markup Generator or use Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper.
Step 2: Choose the schema type that fits your content (e.g., Article, Product, Event).
Step 3: Fill in the relevant information related to the schema type.
Step 4: Once the schema is generated, copy the code provided.
Step 5: Use Google’s Rich Results Test Tool to check if the schema is eligible for rich results.
How to Use Schema Data in a WordPress Website Without a Plugin
Step 1: Login to your WordPress admin panel.
Step 2: Navigate to Posts > Add New > 3 Dots > Preferences
Step 3: In the popup, click on Panels. In the additional section, enable Custom Fields, then click Enable & Reload.
Step 4: Find the Custom Fields section. Tap on Enter New
Step 5: Under Name, type schema > Paste your schema code into the Value box > Click Add Custom Field.
If you want to add more schema, repeat this step.
Step 6: The schema data will now be added to that post. You can edit or remove it later if needed.
Step 7: Navigate to Appearance > Theme Editor > header.php.
Step 8: Paste the below code just above the <head> tag and click Update File.
Important: Always back up your site before making any changes to avoid issues.
<?php
$schema = get_post_meta(get_the_ID(), 'schema', true);
if(!empty($schema)) {
echo $schema;
}
?>To add schema to old posts, edit them (use the default editor if you’re using a page builder) and follow the procedures from Step 4.
Note: Step 7 and Step 8 is a one-time task; you don’t need to repeat it for every post.
FAQ
You can use Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool to check if a website has schema data. Visit the tool, Enter the website URL you want to check, and click Test URL.
No, schema data is not a direct ranking factor. However, it can help improve your Click-Through Rate (CTR) in search results. This is because search engines like Google display additional information about your site, such as ratings, reviews, and other details, alongside the title, URL, and meta description. This extra visibility can encourage more users to click on your link.
You should use all the relevant schema data on a page, but only if the information is available. For example, if your page includes a product, use product-related schema; if it contains an article, use article schema.
Schema data is formatted in JSON-LD (JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data), which is not designed for human users. It’s meant for search engines, helping them understand and index the content of the page more effectively. Therefore, it doesn’t appear on the page for visitors but is visible to search engine crawlers.
You can add schema data anywhere on the page, in the header, footer, or body. However, ensure that it’s placed on the correct page and reflects the relevant content. This helps search engines understand and display your data accurately.
Wrap Up
I hope this article would be useful for you to learn how to create & use schema data in a WordPress website without a plugin with this step-by-step tutorial. If you have any query make sure to drop them in the comment below.
