Beginner’s Guide: How to Use Rich Snippets in WordPress

I still remember the first time I saw a competitor’s search result decorated with shiny star ratings and an event date. My own plain blue link suddenly felt invisible, and I worried that getting those eye-catching results was far too technical for me.

That’s when I learned about rich snippets. They are the secret to making your content stand out in search results by showing extra details like reviews, prices, or even recipe times.

Here at WPBeginner, we use tools like All in One SEO to add this information, called schema markup, to our own articles. It’s surprisingly straightforward and is one of the best ways to earn more clicks from users.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the exact steps to add rich snippets to your WordPress site. We will cover both an easy plugin method and a manual approach for those who like to code.

Why Use Rich Snippets on Your WordPress Site?

Rich snippets use what’s called schema markup to provide extra information about your content to the search engines.

The search engine bots use this data to show additional information about your posts and pages in the search results.

This helps to make your posts and pages stand out more in the search results, which can improve your organic click through rate and help you increase your blog traffic.

Google search statistics prove this, reporting that rich results get 58 clicks for every 100 searches, outperforming regular search results.

It also helps you build authority in your niche, as your site becomes more visible in the search.

Rich snippets are not just for review sites or recipes. You can use rich snippets for events, products, people, how tos, videos, music, apps, articles, blog posts, and much more.

That being said, let’s show you how to add rich snippets to WordPress. Simply use the quick links below to jump straight to the method you want to use.

1. Adding Rich Snippets Using a WordPress Plugin
2. Adding Rich Snippets by Adding Code to WordPress
3. Frequently Asked Questions About Rich Snippets
4. Additional Resources

Method 1. Adding Rich Snippets Using a WordPress Plugin

The easiest way to add rich snippets to WordPress is by using the AIOSEO plugin. It’s the best WordPress SEO plugin in the market, used by over 3+ million websites. 

It helps you easily optimize your site for search engines without the need to hire an SEO expert. Plus, you can set up rich snippets on your site in a couple of clicks.

The first thing you need to do is install and activate the AIOSEO plugin. For more details, see our beginner’s guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon activation, you’ll immediately be taken to the AIOSEO setup wizard. You need to click the ‘Let’s Get Started’ button. 

If the setup wizard doesn’t immediately show up, then simply go to All in One SEO » Dashboard.

From here, you can click the ‘Launch the Setup Wizard’ button. This will walk you through the steps of setting up the plugin for your website. 

As you go through the setup wizard, you’ll need to activate the ‘Advanced Rich Snippets + Schema Markups’ addon.

Simply check the box so that it turns blue, then click the ‘Save and Continue’ button.

On the final screen, you need to enter your license key and then click the ‘Connect’ button.

You can find this information on your account page on the AIOSEO website. 

For more details, see our ultimate guide on how to set up AIOSEO for WordPress correctly.

After that, you can go to AIOSEO » Search Appearance in your WordPress admin panel, and then click on the ‘Content Types’ tab.

Then, you can set the schema markup type for your posts and pages.

Simply click the ‘Schema Markup’ menu option, then you can choose the schema type from the drop-down.

You will be able to see different content types that you can create with the plugin. The list includes:

• Course
• Product
• Recipe
• Software/App
• FAQ
• Web page
• Profile
• Article

Clicking on any content type will show you the fields that will be available.

These settings will be the default settings when you add a new blog post. However, you can change these on an individual post basis too.

Below the post schema markup, you can also control the default schema for your pages.

Simply select the ‘Schema Type’ from the drop-down. Then, you’ll have additional options for the schema type you select.

Once you’re finished making changes, click the ‘Save Changes’ button before you leave the page. 

Adding Rich Snippet Information to Your Posts and Pages

Now, you can add schema information to your individual posts and pages, so they’ll display unique rich snippets in the search results.

To do this, simply open up a blog post and scroll down below the post editor. Here you’ll see a meta box called ‘AIOSEO Settings’.

You need to click the ‘Schema’ tab and then click on the ‘Generate Schema’ button.

This will open up the Schema Catalog. Simply click the ‘Add Schema’ button next to the type of schema you want to add.

Now, there will be different fields available to fill out, based on the option you select. For example, the ‘Software’ schema type includes fields for the name, operating system, price, description, review, and more.

Once you’re finished, click the ‘Add Schema’ button. Don’t forget to click ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ on the post to save your changes as well.

Adding schema markup to individual WordPress pages is similar. You need to open up the page you want to edit and then scroll down to the ‘AIOSEO Settings’ meta box below the page editor.

Then, click the ‘Schema’ menu option, click the ‘Generate Schema’ button, and select your page schema type from the Schema Catalog.

Different options will appear depending on the type of schema you select. 

Just like above, when you’re finished, you need to click the ‘Add Schema’ button and hit ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ on the page to make your changes live. 

Adding rich snippet information won’t make a difference on the front end of your WordPress blog. However, you’ll be giving the search engine bots extra data to display with your posts and pages in the search results. 

Method 2. Adding Rich Snippets by Adding Code to WordPress

Another way to add rich snippets to WordPress is by adding code to WordPress. If you haven’t done this before, then see our guide on how to copy and paste code in WordPress.

Structured data can be written in a few formats, like Microdata, RDFa, and JSON-LD. While they all work, JSON-LD is Google’s recommended format.

It’s often the easiest and safest for beginners because you can add it as a single block of code (usually in your site’s header) without having to edit your post’s visible HTML directly.

For example, imagine you have a simple About Me page. To add structured data using JSON-LD, you would add a special script to your page. It doesn’t change how your page looks, but it gives search engines all the key information in a format they understand.

Here’s what a JSON-LD script for a person might look like. You would typically add this using a plugin that lets you insert code into your site’s header.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "name": "John Smith",
  "jobTitle": "Support Technician",
  "image": "https://www.example.com/johnsmith.jpg",
  "url": "https://www.example.com",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "101 Washington Avenue",
    "addressLocality": "Eagleton",
    "addressRegion": "IN",
    "postalCode": "46818"
  },
  "email": "johnsmith@example.com",
  "telephone": "+1-425-123-4567"
}
</script>

For each content type, there are some special properties that need to be defined.

Schema.org is the organization that helps maintain the standard for different content types. You will find extensive documentation with examples for each schema content type on their website.

Here is another example for a recipe post. As you can see, the JSON-LD script contains all the key details like the recipe name, author, cook time, and ingredients in a structured way.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org/",
  "@type": "Recipe",
  "name": "Mom's World Famous Banana Bread",
  "author": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "John Smith"
  },
  "image": "https://example.com/bananabread.jpg",
  "description": "This classic banana bread recipe comes from my mom -- the walnuts add a nice texture and flavor.",
  "prepTime": "PT15M",
  "cookTime": "PT1H",
  "recipeYield": "1 loaf",
  "recipeIngredient": [
    "3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed",
    "1 egg",
    "3/4 cup of sugar"
  ],
  "recipeInstructions": {
    "@type": "HowToSection",
    "name": "Instructions",
    "itemListElement": [
      {
        "@type": "HowToStep",
        "text": "Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix in the ingredients in a bowl. Add the flour last."
      },
      {
        "@type": "HowToStep",
        "text": "Pour the mixture into a loaf pan and bake for one hour."
      }
    ]
  }
}
</script>

If you are manually adding rich snippets into your WordPress posts, then you will need to manually add HTML to WordPress. For more details, see our beginner’s guide on how to edit HTML in WordPress code editor.

You may also need to refer to Google’s Developer resource on structured data to understand which properties are required for each content type.

Testing Your Schema Markup for Rich Snippets

Whether you used a plugin or added code manually, it’s a great idea to test your setup to make sure Google can read it correctly. Google provides two free tools for this, each with a different purpose.

1. Check Eligibility with the Rich Results Test

This is the most important tool for most users. It checks if your page is eligible for the special visual enhancements (rich results) that Google can display in search results.

To use it, head over to the Rich Results Test tool. Enter the URL of your post or page and click ‘Test URL’.

The tool will analyze your page and tell you which rich result types it found and whether they are valid. This is the best way to confirm that your recipe, review, or FAQ schema is working correctly!

2. Validate Your Code with the Schema Markup Validator

This is a more technical tool that checks if your schema code is written correctly according to the official Schema.org standards. It validates all types of schema, not just the ones that create rich results.

You can find it by going to the Schema Markup Validator. Just like before, enter your URL and click ‘Run Test’.

The validator will show you all the schema it found on the page and point out any errors or warnings in the code itself.

Your goal here is to see ‘0 Errors’ to ensure your code is perfectly clean.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rich Snippets

We know that learning about schema markup and rich snippets can bring up a few questions. Below are answers to some of the most common ones we hear from our readers.

1. What are rich snippets in WordPress?

Rich snippets are visually enhanced search results that show extra information pulled from your website’s structured data (schema markup). This can include star ratings, prices, cooking times, or event dates, making your listing more attractive and informative to users.

2. How long does it take for rich snippets to appear in search results?

There is no exact timeframe. After you add schema markup, search engines like Google need to recrawl your site to discover the changes. This can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on your site’s crawl frequency.

3. Does adding schema markup guarantee I will get rich snippets?

No, it does not. While adding correct schema markup makes your site eligible for rich snippets, Google makes the final decision on whether to display them. They may choose not to show them based on search query, device, location, or overall content quality.

4. What is the best way to add rich snippets: a plugin or manual code?

For the vast majority of WordPress users, using a plugin like All in One SEO is the best method. It’s much easier, safer, and eliminates the risk of making coding errors that could break your site.

The manual code method is only recommended for advanced users who are comfortable editing theme files and writing HTML.

Additional Resources

Now that you know how to add rich snippets, you may find these other guides helpful for improving your site’s SEO and user experience:

• Best Schema Markup Plugins for WordPress – Our expert picks of the top plugins to help you add different types of schema to your site.
• How to Add a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Section in WordPress – Learn how to create an FAQ section and add the corresponding schema to win rich snippets.

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