Joomla 5’s built-in Schema.org integration enables you to create structured data to enhance your site’s search engine visibility without needing third-party extensions or complex coding. This step-by-step guide will show you how to enable and configure the Schema.org plugin, then use the article editor’s Schema tab to add structured data based on your chosen schema type. Let’s get started by showing you an example of Rich Text Snippets in a Google search:
Note: Good soups, by the way!
Why Use Joomla 5’s Schema.org Features?
Structured data, based on Schema.org standards, helps search engines understand your content, potentially boosting rankings with rich snippets like star ratings or event details. Joomla 5’s core Schema.org plugins let you add this data to articles, supporting types like Article, BlogPosting, Person, Organization, and Custom. By configuring these settings, you can make your website more discoverable and engaging in search results. For example, did you see the screenshot above that shows 5-star ratings?
Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Schema.org and Adding Article Schema
Follow these steps to enable the Schema.org plugin and configure structured data in Joomla 5’s article editor. You’ll learn how to set up the plugin and add schema to an article using available types.
1. Log In to the Administrator Dashboard
Access your Joomla 5 Administrator Dashboard by navigating to yourwebsite.com/administrator and logging in with your credentials.
2. Enable the Schema.org Plugin
In the left sidebar navigation, go to System > Manage > Plugins.
Search for “Schema” to find the plugins related to Schema that you want to configure, and disable the ones you don't plan to use. This is done by clicking on the green checkmark:
The plugins will have a setting to choose what is allowed for it:
- Allowed Extensions: Select components like “Articles” to apply the schema to articles.
- Forbidden Extensions: Exclude components where the schema shouldn’t apply (e.g., Contacts).
For most of these, I would leave the configuration as-is unless you need it changed. Save changes by clicking Save & Close. This makes schema types available in the article editor.
For this tutorial, we will open and configure the System - Schema.org.
You will also notice that you can add social network URLs to your plugin configuration; this is considered optional. For your image setting:
Google’s guidelines for structured data images (which apply to schema.org data) are:
| Schema Type | Dimensions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Organization / Person | 112×112 min; 120×120+ preferred | Square logos or profile photos. I would go at least 300x300. |
| BlogPosting / Article | At least 1200×675 preferred | Landscape images are preferred for rich results. Min 800×200 for Google Discover. |
| Product | 500×500 or larger | It should clearly show the product, with no promotional overlays. A square is ideal. |
| Recipe | 1200×1200 or 1200×675 | High-quality food images help get into recipe carousels. |
| Event | 600×400+ | Used in event listings and carousels. |
| VideoObject | Thumbnail at least 1920×1080 | For YouTube or embedded videos; essential for rich video snippets. |
3. Open or Create an Article
In the left sidebar navigation, go to Content > Articles. Click an existing article’s title to edit it or click the green New button to create a new one.
4. Access the Schema Tab
In the article editor, locate the Schema tab. This tab lists available schema types: None, Article, BlogPosting, Person, Organization, and Custom. Select the type that matches your content (e.g., BlogPosting for a blog post, Organization for a company page). For mine, I selected Personal because my website is under my name.
5. Fill in Schema Fields
After selecting a schema type, fill in the fields that appear, which vary by type. For example:
- BlogPosting: Add Headline, Description, Image, and Author (Person or Organization).
- Organization or Person: Include Name, URL, and an optional image/Logo.
- Person: Include Name, Email, and an optional Image.
- Custom: Manually enter JSON-LD code for unique schema types not covered by defaults, like FAQPage or Recipe.
Use the link in the Schema tab to reference Schema.org’s field definitions for accuracy. Fill in all relevant fields to maximize SEO benefits.
6. Save and Test the Schema
Click Save & Close to apply the schema to your article. To verify it, view the page’s source code (right-click on the published page, select “View Page Source,” and search for application/ld+json) or use Google’s Rich Results Test (https://search.google.com/test/rich-results). Optionally, request re-indexing in Google Search Console to speed up search engine updates.
Enhancing SEO with RSSeo!
Joomla 5’s built-in schema tools are powerful, but for advanced features like automated sitemaps or keyword tracking, consider the extension that I use, which is the RSSeo! from RSJoomla. It simplifies structured data management and enhances SEO. Future tutorials will explore third-party SEO tools in detail.
Tips for Success
- Ensure images for Organization or Person schemas meet Google’s guidelines. See the table further up this page.
- Use the Custom schema type for unique JSON-LD, but validate it with Schema.org’s documentation to avoid errors.
- Enable only relevant schema plugins to avoid cluttering the Schema tab.
- Test schema markup regularly to ensure search engines process it correctly.
What’s Next?
With Joomla 5’s Schema.org plugin set up, you’re ready to optimize your articles with structured data! The next tutorial will guide you through enabling SEF URLs and troubleshooting common issues.
Continue to the Next Tutorial: The Joomla Media Manager