FAQ Schema: How to Add FAQ Schema in WordPress for SEO

Learn how to add FAQ Schema in WordPress posts/pages for SEO. I will also be discussing, what is FAQ Schema, the benefits of using it for SEO, how to use FAQ Schema on a Website, and how you can add FAQPage schema to WordPress with/without a plugin.

Later in this guide, I’ll share how to write FAQs for better Click Through Rate (CTR).

The methods I’ll be sharing here can be applied to add FAQ Schema to HTML websites, sites based on other CMS like Drupal, Joomla, or any other website for that matter, and of course WordPress websites/blogs.

These days SEO is like hell competitive. You have to be updated with the latest SEO trends to stay at the top of the game.

Are you struggling to rank #1 in Google SERP? Do you want to improve your search ranking FASTER?

Well, in this article, I’ll show you how to improve your ranking instantly.

By the end of this article, you will learn how to add FAQ Schema to WordPress to improve your ranking in Search Engine Result Pages (SERP).

I will be using the following terms interchangeably throughout this guide.

• FAQ/FAQPage Schema
• FAQ/FAQPage Structured Data

So don’t be confused and bear with me.

What is FAQ Schema

FAQ schema or FAQPage schema is a type of structured data. Which can be used to make your web pages eligible for rich results in SERP.

Let’s see Google’s explanation of FAQ Page and the use of structured data for it.

A Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) page contains a list of questions and answers pertaining to a particular topic. Properly marked up FAQ pages may be eligible to have a rich result on Search and Markup Action for the Google Assistant, which can help your site reach the right users.

Examples of FAQ Rich Results in Google Search

Here are two examples showing FAQ Schema results in Google Search – desktop and mobile respectively.

FAQ Schema example – Desktop search result

FAQ Schema example – Mobile search result

Benefits of using FAQ Schema

The short answer is that you will get more clicks on your web pages in Search Engine Result Pages (SERPs). That means more traffic to your website.

Let’s see how.

Google not only uses structured data to rank the relevant content higher for a search query. But they also use structured data for special search result features like rich snippets in search engine results pages (SERP).

In May 2019 Google announced that they will start supporting structured data for FAQ.

Further, they explained that pages that are properly marked up for FAQ structured data will be eligible to feature as rich results on Google search.

By the design, a page eligible for FAQ rich results gets additional space below the regular search snippet in the form of FAQ tabs (expand –collapse) added using in-page markup. See the examples below.

More space on Google search results means more clicks on your link hence a better click-through rate.

Google’s Guidelines & Use Cases of FAQPage

Yes, there are Google’s guidelines that they ask you to follow so that your FAQ page becomes eligible for FAQ rich results.

Probably, your website is already following Google’s guidelines if you are doing something legit with your website. And your website is already ranking for some keywords on Google.

You can read Google’s guidelines on this official page.

Which Pages Perform Better with FAQ Schema

However, you can add FAQ page schema to any of your web pages (blog post/article) that follows Google guidelines.

That means you are free to use FAQPage Structure Data with a new or already published web page.

However, the web pages (blog posts/articles) that are already ranking in Google on page one but at lower positions like 3 to 10 may be, are likely to get better results (instead of faster results) with FAQ Schema.

Let’s see why.

Since the webpage is already ranking on page one for some queries, that means every single user who types that query in Google sees that webpage in SERP but they don’t click on lower results, right?

I mean sometimes they do, but the click-through rate (CTR) is definitely not that good for results at lower positions.

We can improve this click-through rate by getting the user’s attention.

FAQ rich results do exactly that. The users are more likely to pay attention to pages with FAQ rich results.

Because FAQ rich results are not only different from other results in appearance. But they also provide extra information (in the form of FAQs) about the query.

Therefore, first, you should start adding FAQ page schema to your blog posts/web pages which are already ranking in Google on page 1 for some keywords.

So that you can beat your competition easily by getting user attention with a differentiating appearance and interactive extra information (FAQ tabs).

Later in this guide, I will discuss, how to write FAQs correctly so that more users click your link in SERP.

The process of using FAQ Structured Data involves three major steps:

• Adding FAQ Schema to a webpage.
• Validating the webpage for FAQ Schema Correctness.
• Submitting the webpage for fresh Indexing (optional; recommended for already ranking webpages for faster results).
• Monitoring of FAQ Schema rich results. (Bonus tip)

Let’s start with the first step.

How to Add FAQ Schema to a Website

This method is suitable for all types of websites including HTML websites, Drupal & Joomla sites, WordPress blog/website, etc.

In this method, we will generate FAQ structure data using an in-page markup called JSON-LD recommended by Google. For this purpose, we will use a FAQ rich snippets generator tool.

Then we will add the generated FAQ schema code to the page for which FAQs have been written.

Step-by-step instructions to add FAQ schema to a website:

1. Go to this free tool.
2. Type your first question and then answer.
3. Click Add another FAQ to add another pair of questions & answers.
4. Then repeat steps 2 & 3 for every question and answer.
5. Add 3 or 4 relevant FAQs.
6. Copy the generated JSON-LD FAQ schema code by clicking Copy FAQ Schema.
7. Now go to the webpage where you want to add FAQ Schema.
8. Paste the code at the end of your article/web page in the footer of the page.
9. Finally, save changes and you’re done.

Now check your page using Google’s rich results test tool. And request fresh indexing in Google Search Console.

How to Add FAQ Schema in WordPress

You can easily use FAQ Schema in WordPress to improve click-through rate (CTR) in Google search. This method works well with both Classic Editor as well as Block Editor of WordPress.

Step-by-step process to add FAQ Schema in WordPress:

1. Go to WordPress dashboard > Plugins > Add new.
2. Install & activate this plugin.
3. It will enable a button in your WordPress Classic Editor and a new FAQ block in Block Editor.
4. Now go to a post/page to which you want to add FAQ schema.
5. Navigate to the bottom of the post/page content.
6. Add a heading (h2 or h3) named FAQs or Frequently Asked Questions.
7. Keep the cursor below the FAQ heading created.
8. Click the button (in Classic Editor) enabled by the plugin. Or click Add block button in Block Editor & search for faq
9. Add 3 or 4 Questions and their answers
10. Then click OK.
11. Finally, hit Update/Publish to save changes.

WordPress Classic Editor:

WordPress Block Editor:

Now validate the page using Google’s rich results test tool. And submit it for indexing in Google Search Console, if needed.

The above method explains how to add FAQ schema using a WordPress plugin.

Adding FAQ Schema in WordPress without a plugin

Yes, you can use FAQ schema in WordPress without using a plugin as well.

Follow the step-by-step procedure to add FAQ Schema in WordPress without a plugin.

1. Generate FAQ schema code as explained in the heading How to add FAQ schema to a website.
2. Go to the post or page in which you want to add FAQ schema.
3. Paste the generated FAQ Schema code below the post/page content. # (See below).
4. Click Update/Publish to save changes.
5. Now test the web page using rich results test tool.
6. Submit the web page for re-indexing.

# Pasting JSON-LD markup for FAQ schema

• WordPress users can paste the generated JSON-LD FAQ schema code using ‘Text Editor’ in Classic Editor.

• In block-editor, code can be pasted using ‘Custom HTML’ block.

FAQ Schema Structured Data WordPress Plugin(s): Other Options

The following are some good FAQPage Schema WordPress plugins you can use to add FAQ schema markup to WordPress.

i. Structured Content JSON-LD #WPSC

I have already explained how to use this plugin (here) to add FAQ rich snippets to a WordPress site.

ii. Yoast SEO

Yoast SEO plugin with Gutenberg/block editor.

If you’re using Yoast SEO plugin + Gutenberg/block editor, then you can use Yoast SEO plugin’s feature to add FAQPage structured data to WordPress posts/pages.

Yoast SEO plugin enables a block for FAQPage Schema in Block Editor of WordPress.

Followings are easy steps to add FAQPage Schema in WordPress using Yoast SEO plugin:

• Go to WordPress Dashboard.
• Open a post to edit by clicking Edit button or add a new post.
• Navigate the cursor to the end of the post content.
• Add a new heading (h2/h3) called General FAQs or Frequently Asked Questions.
• Keep the cursor below this newly created heading.
• Now Click Add block button, and type faq in block search.
• Under Yoast Structured Data Blocks, you’ll see FAQ.
• Click this FAQ block to add it below the recently created heading.
• Write the first FAQ, then click Add question to add more FAQs.
• Add 3 or 4 relevant FAQs and check the preview of the post.
• Finally, click Update/Publish to save the changes.

Now validate the blog post using rich result test tool. Finally, submit the post in Google Search Console for fresh Indexing.

iii. Rank Math SEO

Rank Math SEO plugin with Gutenberg/block editor.

You can add FAQ Schema to WordPress using Rank Math SEO plugin.

• Install and activate Rank Math SEO plugin.
• On post/page edit screen, the cursor to the end of the post content.
• Add a heading (h2/h3) called General FAQs or Frequently Asked Questions.
• Keep the cursor below this newly created heading.
• Click Add block button and type faq in block search.
• You’ll see FAQ by Rank Math block.
• Click FAQ by Rank Math block to add it.
• Write your first FAQ, then click Add New FAQ to add more FAQs.
• Add 3 or 4 relevant FAQs and check the preview of the post.
• Finally, click Update/Publish to save the changes.

iv. Schema & Structured Data for WP & AMP

This is another WordPress plugin that supports FAQ Rich Snippets Schema. Get this plugin here.

How to Validate FAQPage Schema

You need to validate a webpage after adding FAQ Schema, to check whether FAQ Schema is added correctly.

You can use Google’s rich results test tool to validate FAQ schema correctness on a webpage:

1. Go to rich results tool link here.
2. Enter the URL of your webpage to which FAQ schema is added.
3. Click Test URL.
4. If you have added FAQ Schema correctly, the tool will show that “Page is eligible for rich results”.
5. You can also notice FAQ Schema under Detected Items.

Since FAQ Schema is added correctly to the webpage, now the next step is to submit the webpage to Google Search Console for fresh indexing.

Submit the web page in Google Search Console

I prefer to utilize this step for already ranking blog posts/articles ONLY. And let the new blog post index by itself.

At the beginning of this guide, I told you that you can improve your ranking instantly.

It’s time to see that in action.

Once you added FAQ Structured data to a web page (blog post/page) that is already ranking in Google.

Now it’s time to tell Google that you have made changes to that web page. And to do that:

• You need to go to Google Search Console of the website.
• Click URL Inspection and enter URL of the web page and hit enter.
• And finally, click Request Indexing.
• Upon completing the process, a message will be flashed stating ‘Indexing Requested’.

The time taken to index the submitted URL depends on the number of index requests in the queue. Generally, it takes up to 30 minutes or so.

Once your webpage is indexed, you should start seeing your webpage with FAQs in SERPs.

How to Write FAQs for better Click Through Rate (CTR)

Writing FAQs is the tricky part of FAQ rich results. The FAQ-rich results are like a double-edged sword.

Because if not all, at least some users will decide to click or not-to-click the link based on the information provided in FAQs.

For example, if the user finds that information in FAQs, is NOT relevant to his query, he is less likely to click the link, right?

Therefore, you should write the FAQs carefully.

Consider FAQPage Structured Data as an opportunity that allow you to convince the user to click your link, by sharing the extra information (in form of FAQs) about your page in context with query of the user.

Writing good FAQs can depend on various factors like the type of website, the content of web page, and so on.

However, there are a few basic points (do’s and don’ts) that you should consider while writing FAQs for a webpage.

• Add only relevant FAQs.
• Keep it simple, short, and accurate.
• Write FAQs to convince the user to click your link. But make sure that the content of FAQs follows Google’s guidelines.
• Don’t add too much information to FAQs. Because sometimes too much information is boring. Also, if the user gets the answer to his query in FAQ itself, he is not going to click the link.
• Add only 3 or 4 FAQs; now you know that providing too much information is not a good idea.
• Don’t add FAQs just for the sake of adding them. If you don’t have convincing and relevant FAQs to write, avoid writing FAQs at all.
• Write interesting and thought-provoking answers.
• Avoid using jargon and acronyms (short forms).
• Don’t expose such information (in FAQ) with which the user can decide not-to-click the link. Let’s take a simple example.

For example –

I hope that clears my point.

Which Questions should I cover in FAQs?

You can cover relevant questions from People also ask a section of Google for your web page topic or its synonym. Google shows People also ask section for several queries.

You can also get questions around your topic using tools like answerthepublic and alsoasked.

How many FAQs I can add using FAQ Schema?

Google’s guidelines do not say anything about it. But I have seen up to 10 FAQs in FAQ rich results on Google.

However, at first, Google shows only two or four FAQ tabs (expand- collapse) below the regular snippet.

So if you add more than four FAQs, the fourth tab will Show more. And when the user clicks on show more rest of the FAQs will show up.

Monitoring FAQ Schema Rich Results

Once you are done adding FAQ Schema markup to your website, the next step is to keep an eye on this newly added structured data.

The rich result status report (in Google Console) is very useful for monitoring valid pages, errors or warnings, etc.

This official Google Search Central video explains how to use Search Console to monitor Schema Rich Results.

Conclusion

SEO is definitely a great weapon in the armor of small marketers and bloggers. The beauty of SEO is that you can drive a lot of traffic to your website without spending a single dollar on ads.

Search engines like Google change their algorithm many times in a year therefore SEO is also a rapidly changing field.

To take advantage of SEO you have to be updated with the latest techniques and tools.

I hope you find this guide helpful in adding FAQ schema to WordPress and non-WordPress websites. And now you’re able to add FAQ Schema WordPress.

What other techniques or hacks do you use to boost your organic traffic?

Have any queries regarding this topic shoot them via the comments below I will be happy to help.

Cheers!

General FAQs