Content-Type Schemas

Why It Matters for AI Visibility

How We Score It

How to Improve

• 1

  Add HowTo schema for tutorial and guide content

  If your page contains step-by-step instructions, add HowTo schema with `name` and `step` fields (an array of HowToStep objects). Include optional fields like `totalTime` and `tool` for a stronger score. This makes your tutorial directly extractable by ChatGPT and Perplexity when users ask "how to" questions.

• 2

  Add Product schema for e-commerce pages

  Any page with pricing, "add to cart" buttons, or product descriptions needs Product schema. Include the required `name` field plus `offers` (with price and availability), `image`, and `aggregateRating`. Without this, AI engines see product signals but cannot extract structured product data.

• 3

  Add Recipe schema for food content

  Pages with ingredient lists and cooking instructions should have Recipe schema with `name` and `recipeIngredient` as required fields. Add `cookTime`, `prepTime`, and `recipeInstructions` for full coverage. Google AI Overviews use Recipe schema to populate rich recipe cards directly in search results.

• 4

  Add VideoObject schema for embedded video

  If your page embeds YouTube, Vimeo, or native `<video>` elements, add VideoObject schema with `name`, `uploadDate`, and `thumbnailUrl`. Include a `transcript` field for maximum AI extractability -- transcripts let AI engines index and quote your video content as text.

• 5

  Audit page content against existing schema types

  The analyzer detects content signals and checks for matching schema. If your page has product signals but no Product schema, you receive a 2-point penalty per missing type. Run your page through the analyzer, check which content types were detected, and ensure every detected type has corresponding structured data.

Before & After

Page titled "How to Set Up Docker" with step-by-step instructions.
No HowTo schema present. Content signals detected, schema missing.
Score: penalty applied for detected but unmatched content type.

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "HowTo",
  "name": "How to Set Up Docker",
  "step": [
    {"@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Install Docker Desktop from docker.com"},
    {"@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Run docker --version to verify installation"},
    {"@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Pull your first image with docker pull nginx"}
  ],
  "totalTime": "PT15M"
}

Page shows "$29.99/month", "Add to Cart" button, product features.
No Product schema. Analyzer detects product signals, applies penalty.

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Product",
  "name": "Acme Pro Plan",
  "description": "Professional project management for teams",
  "image": "https://example.com/product.jpg",
  "offers": {
    "@type": "Offer",
    "price": "29.99",
    "priceCurrency": "USD",
    "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock"
  }
}

Code Examples

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "HowTo",
  "name": "How to Set Up Docker",
  "step": [
    {"@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Install Docker Desktop"},
    {"@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Verify installation"},
    {"@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Pull your first image"}
  ]
}

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Recipe",
  "name": "Classic Banana Bread",
  "recipeIngredient": ["3 bananas", "1/3 cup butter", "1 cup sugar"],
  "recipeInstructions": "Preheat oven to 350F. Mash bananas...",
  "cookTime": "PT60M",
  "recipeYield": "1 loaf"
}

Frequently Asked Questions