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How to Add Schema Markup to Your Website

Learn how to add structured data to your website so Google and AI search engines can better understand your business.

SetForgetGrow Team · · 7 min read
seotechnicalschema

Schema markup (also called structured data) is code you add to your website that helps search engines understand your business better. When implemented correctly, it can improve how your business appears in search results.

What is Schema Markup?

Schema markup is a type of microdata that creates an enhanced description for search engines. When Google crawls your website, it can read this structured data and display it in rich snippets.

For local businesses, this means:

  • Your business hours appear directly in Google
  • Your phone number shows up prominently
  • Customer ratings display in search results
  • Your address and location are clearly marked

Why It Matters for Local Businesses

Most local business owners don’t know about schema markup. That’s actually good news for you—it means implementing it gives you a competitive advantage.

Here’s what happens when you add schema markup:

  1. Better visibility - Your listing stands out in search results
  2. More trust - Rich snippets with ratings build credibility
  3. Higher click-through rates - Enhanced listings get more clicks
  4. AI compatibility - ChatGPT and other AI can better understand and recommend your business

Basic LocalBusiness Schema Example

Here’s a simple example of LocalBusiness schema markup:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "LocalBusiness",
  "name": "Your Business Name",
  "image": "https://yourbusiness.com/logo.jpg",
  "telephone": "+1-555-123-4567",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "123 Main Street",
    "addressLocality": "Your City",
    "addressRegion": "CA",
    "postalCode": "12345",
    "addressCountry": "US"
  },
  "openingHours": "Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00",
  "priceRange": "$$"
}

This code tells Google exactly what your business is, where it’s located, when it’s open, and how to contact you.

How to Add Schema to Your Website

If you’re comfortable with code, here’s how to add it:

  1. Create your schema markup using the example above
  2. Customize it with your business information
  3. Add it to your website’s <head> section or in a <script type="application/ld+json"> tag
  4. Test it with Google’s Rich Results Test tool

Here’s how it looks in HTML:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>Your Business Name</title>
  <script type="application/ld+json">
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "LocalBusiness",
    "name": "Your Business Name"
  }
  </script>
</head>
<body>
  <!-- Your website content -->
</body>
</html>

Testing Your Schema

After adding schema markup, you need to test it:

  1. Go to Rich Results Test
  2. Enter your website URL
  3. Check for errors or warnings
  4. Fix any issues that appear

Google will show you exactly how your rich snippet will look in search results.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are the most common errors we see:

  • Missing required fields - Each schema type has required properties
  • Incorrect formatting - JSON must be properly formatted
  • Outdated information - Schema should match your actual business info
  • Using the wrong type - Use LocalBusiness or a more specific type like Restaurant

We Handle This For You

Schema markup is technical, and it’s easy to make mistakes. At SetForgetGrow, we implement proper schema markup on every website we build.

We make sure:

  • Your schema is correctly formatted
  • All required fields are included
  • Information stays up-to-date
  • Everything validates properly
  • You get maximum SEO benefit

You focus on your business. We handle the technical stuff that helps customers find you.