How to Add Dataset Schema to WordPress Pages (Beginner’s Guide)

Looking for an easy way to add dataset schema to your WordPress website?

Dataset schema helps searchers find and filter datasets.

In this short tutorial, you'll learn how to add dataset schema markup to WordPress in minutes.

What you’ll need: The All in One SEO (AIOSEO) plugin.

What is Dataset Schema Markup?

Dataset schema markup is a type of code applied to web pages containing datasets.

The purpose of the code is to make datasets easier to discover and explore in online searches.

Google Dataset Search

Did you know that Google has a search engine dedicated to datasets called Google Dataset Search?

Designed for use by scientists and science journalists, the search engine came out of beta 2 years ago.

Because Dataset Search is a siloed search engine, when you type in a search term, autosuggest displays datasets.

In the sample search below, for “energetic particles,” a scrollable list of 100+ datasets is returned in the left-hand column.

At the top of Google Dataset Search results are a set of filters that enable users to narrow searches down according to

• Download format
• Usage Rights
• Topics
• Last Updated

Click on any of those filters, and more options appear.

Dataset schema markup helps make these search functions possible.

Step 1: Download the All-in-One SEO (AIOSEO) Plugin

To add dataset schema to your WordPress page, we recommend that you download and install the All in One SEO (AIOSEO) plugin.

This plugin makes adding dataset schema easy. You'll click some buttons and fill out a form.

AIOSEO has thousands of 5-star reviews on WordPress.org. Currently, over 3 million people use the plugin. A plus: users get access to All in One SEO's support service, staffed by experienced software engineers.

With the All-in-One SEO (AIOSEO) plugin installed, you're ready to add dataset schema.

Step 2: Find and Click the Dataset Schema Button

With your WordPress editor open, navigate to a page that you want to add dataset schema to.

Now, in the upper right-hand corner, click the AIOSEO button. (That will open AIOSEO's settings.)

Next, click Schema.

Now you'll see an area called Schema in Use.

Notice that the “Article” schema has already been applied. (This is the default setting.)

Now, click the blue Generate Schema button.

That will open AIOSEO's Schema Catalog. This catalog lists all the schema types you can add to a web page.

Look for the Dataset schema button and click the plus (+) icon on the right side of the button.

Step 3: Fill out the Dataset Schema Form

Clicking on that Dataset button will open a pop-up window with a scrollable form for you to fill out.

Here's a list of the form fields, with a few explanatory notes.

• Title: Add the name of your dataset. By default, this is set to your page or post title. Highlight and delete the gray “Post Title” tag if you need to enter a different title.
• Description: Add a short summary describing the dataset. The description must be between 50 and 5,000 characters long. (Delete the default “Post Excerpt” tag first. This default setting causes a random block of text to be displayed as the description.)
• Same As: If relevant, add a URL that points to a canonical (duplicate) version of the dataset.
• Alternative Names: Add any alternative names that might be used to reference the dataset, including aliases or abbreviations.
• Data Catalog: Add the name of the larger (parent) Data Catalog that this dataset belongs to.
• Identifier: Add any related Digital Object Identifiers (DOI) or Compact Identifiers.
• License: Add a URL to the license. (Example: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
• Accessible for Free: Let the user know whether this dataset is freely available or behind a paywall.
• Keywords: Enter keywords that clarify the topic and/or sub-topics of the dataset.

• Temporal Coverage: This is the specific time interval this dataset covers. (Use ISO 8601 standard.)
• Spatial Coverage: Enter the specific coordinates where the measurements were collected.

Sub Datasets

Here you'll describe one or more sub datasets.

Sub Dataset 1

• Name: Enter the name of the sub dataset
• Description: Add a short summary describing the dataset. The description must be between 50 and 5,000 characters long.

Note, that if you have more than one dataset to upload to the page, click on the Add Another Sub Dataset link at lower right.

Downloads

Download 1

• Encoding Format: Add the file format of the download (e.g., CSV)
• URL: Add the URL for the file download.

Have more than 1 download to upload? Simply click on the Add Another Download link at lower right.

Save Your Dataset Schema

Save your dataset schema by clicking on the blue Update Schema button at lower right of the pop-up form window.

Step 4: (Optional) Test Your Schema

As an optional step, you can test your schema using the All in One SEO plugin. Follow these instructions to run a “rich results test.”

This is a code validation test. All in One SEO interfaces with Google's Rich Results Test to perform this function.

The test will verify that the dataset schema markup has been correctly applied to the page.

How to Edit or Delete Your Dataset Schema

To edit or delete your dataset schema, follow these steps.

• Open the WordPress editor and go to the page that you want to edit.
• Click on the AIOSEO button and then on Schema (see Step 2 above).
• Now, under Schema in Use, you'll see your Dataset button.
  • Click the pencil icon to edit your dataset schema.
  • Click on the trashcan icon to delete the dataset schema.

Google's Documentation on Dataset Schema

If you're interested in adding dataset schema without a plugin, we recommend that you review Google's developer documentation here.

Q&A on Dataset Schema

What's Next?

Now that you know how to add dataset schema to your WordPress pages or posts, what's next?

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Sherrie Gossett Content Writer

Sherrie is an SEO analyst based in New Hampshire in the United States. When she’s not busy researching, implementing, and writing about new SEO developments, she can be found hiking and playing guitar.

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