Common Schema Errors

Introduction

Structured Data Errors are one of the most common technical SEO issues that website owners encounter. These errors can cause Google to incorrectly interpret your structured data or not display Rich Snippets. In this comprehensive guide, you'll learn how to identify, fix, and avoid the most common schema errors.

What are Structured Data Errors?

Structured Data Errors occur when implemented schema markups don't comply with official Schema.org specifications or contain syntax errors. These errors can have various impacts:

Prevention of Rich Snippet display
Incorrect interpretation of data by search engines
Negative impact on search engine optimization
Loss of valuable SERP features

Most Common Schema Errors and Solutions

1. JSON-LD Syntax Errors

JSON-LD is the preferred method for structured data, but also prone to syntax errors.

Common Problems:

Missing commas between objects
Invalid quotation marks
Incorrect nesting of objects
Missing closing brackets

Solution:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Article",
  "headline": "Article Title",
  "author": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Author Name"
  },
  "datePublished": "2025-01-15"
}

2. Wrong Schema.org Types

Using incorrect or outdated Schema.org types is a common error.

Wrong Type

Correct Type

Description

WebPage

Article

For blog articles and news content

Organization

LocalBusiness

For local businesses

Product

Service

For services instead of products

3. Missing Required Properties

Many schema types require specific mandatory properties that are often forgotten.

Article Schema - Required Properties:

@type: "Article"
headline: Article title
author: Author information
datePublished: Publication date

Organization Schema - Required Properties:

@type: "Organization"
name: Company name
url: Website URL

4. Invalid Date Formats

Date specifications must be in ISO 8601 format.

Correct Formats:

Full date: 2025-01-15
Date with time: 2025-01-15T14:30:00+01:00
Year only: 2025
Year and month: 2025-01

Wrong Formats:

15.01.2025 (German format)
January 15, 2025 (English spelling)
15/01/2025 (American format)

5. Duplicate Content in Schema

Duplicate schema markups on the same page can lead to conflicts.

Problems:

Multiple Organization schemas
Duplicate Article markups
Conflicting LocalBusiness data

Solution:

Only one schema per type per page
Use @id for unique identification
Consolidate related schemas

Schema Validation and Testing

Google Rich Results Test

The Google Rich Results Test is the most important tool for validating structured data.

Usage:

Enter URL or code snippet
Run test
Analyze errors and warnings
Make corrections

Schema.org Validator

The official Schema.org validator checks compliance with Schema.org specifications.

Features:

Syntax validation
Type checking
Required properties check
Detailed error messages

Browser Developer Tools

Modern browsers offer integrated tools for schema validation.

Chrome DevTools:

Press F12
Open Console tab
Activate schema validation
Display errors in console

Common Error Categories

Syntax Errors

Syntax errors are the most common cause of schema problems.

Syntax Error Checklist:

All quotation marks correctly set
Commas between objects present
Brackets properly nested
No typos in property names
JSON format maintained

Semantic Errors

Semantic errors concern the meaning and logic of data.

Common semantic errors:

Wrong data types (String instead of Number)
Invalid values for enumerations
Logical contradictions in data
Missing relationships between objects

Structural Errors

Structural errors concern the organization and hierarchy of schema data.

Examples:

Incorrect nesting of objects
Missing parent containers
Inconsistent naming conventions
Illogical grouping of properties

Best Practices for Error Prevention

1. Schema Design Before Implementation

Plan your schema structure before technical implementation.

Steps:

Identify content type
Choose appropriate Schema.org type
Define required properties
Set optional properties
Plan relationships between objects

2. Consistent Naming Conventions

Use uniform naming conventions for all schema properties.

Rules:

camelCase for property names
Use descriptive names
Consistency across all pages
Document conventions

3. Regular Validation

Conduct regular schema validations.

Schedule:

Weekly: Automated tests
Monthly: Manual review
On changes: Immediate validation
Quarterly: Complete schema audit

4. Documentation and Versioning

Document all schema implementations and versions.

Documentation should include:

Schema type and purpose
Implemented properties
Change history
Test results
Known issues

Monitoring and Alerting

Automated Monitoring Tools

Use automated tools for continuous monitoring.

Recommended Tools:

Google Search Console
Schema.org Validator API
Custom Monitoring Scripts
Third-Party SEO Tools

Alert Configuration

Set up alerts for critical schema errors.

Alert Criteria:

New schema errors
Increased error rate
Critical required properties missing
Rich Snippet loss

Error Resolution Workflow

1. Identify Errors