We frequently receive tickets from users reporting warnings in Google Search Console regarding missing fields in the schema markup for their events. After reviewing the issues shared to us by our users, we’ve identified several common errors and their causes. In this article, we’ll walk you through the missing fields, explain why they occur, and provide troubleshooting steps to resolve them.
Common Missing Field Errors and Their Causes
1. Missing field “image”
Cause: No featured image has been set for the event.
- Solution: Ensure each event has a featured image. This can be done directly in the event editor in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Missing field “offer”
Cause: This happens when tickets are not available for the event.
- Solution: Make sure that the event has tickets available for purchase. If you’re using Event Tickets/Event Tickets Plus, verify that tickets are properly configured and available for the event.
3. Missing field “eventStatus”
Cause: This field is optional and, if not provided, defaults to “Scheduled.”
- Solution: Our plugin will only set an “eventStatus” for events that are Postponed or Cancelled. For all other events, this field is omitted, as the default status is considered “Scheduled.”
4. Missing field “organizer”
Cause: The event has no organizer set, or only a name is provided without further details.
- Solution: Make sure you include full organizer information for each event, including the organizer’s name, contact details, and URL.
5. Missing field “url” (in “organizer”)
Cause: The event has an organizer set, but no URL is provided for the organizer’s website.
- Solution: Add a URL for the organizer’s website to ensure proper schema markup.
6. Missing field “location”
Cause: No venue has been set for the event.
- Solution: Verify that each event has a correct venue information.
7. Missing field “address” (in “location”)
Cause: The venue is set, but no address is provided.
- Solution: Make sure to include the full address for the venue, including street, city, and postal code.
8. Missing field “eventAttendanceMode”
Cause: This field is not required unless the event is cancelled or postponed.
- Solution: The field will only be added for cancelled or postponed events. For scheduled events, this field is not necessary.
9. Missing field “performer”
Cause: This error typically occurs when using Yoast SEO. The field is disabled in the plugin code (file /the-events-calendar/src/Events/Integrations/Plugins/WordPress_SEO/Events_Schema.php, line 250), but it is provided when Yoast is disabled (file /the-events-calendar/src/Tribe/JSON_LD/Event.php, line 150).
- Solution: If you’re using Yoast SEO and encountering this issue, consider disabling Yoast temporarily to allow the performer field to be included in the schema. Alternatively, we may need to create an enhancement ticket in the future to address this issue and include a default performer to avoid this warning.
Steps to Troubleshoot and Validate Schema Markup
1. Verify Google Search Console Warnings
If you receive a Google Search Console warning, please note that we don’t have direct access to your Search Console data. However, you can share your report with us by following the steps outlined in this article.
2. Test Event URL Using Rich Results Tool
SEO plugins may sometimes add additional schema markup. To ensure the schema is correct and matches what’s being sent to Google, we recommend testing the URL of an event page using Google’s Rich Results Testing Tool.
This tool will provide a preview of the structured data Google sees on your event page and help identify any missing fields or errors.
Conclusion
By understanding the causes of these common schema markup errors and following the suggested solutions, you can ensure that your event pages display the correct information in Google Search Console. If you’ve followed all the troubleshooting steps and still need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team.