A Checklist to Fix “Missing Field” Structured Data Errors 

Content Marketing Strategy

This simple checklist helps you diagnose and fix the most common “Missing Field” structured data errors so you can get the rich snippets you’ve earned.

That sinking feeling is all too familiar to marketers. You open Google Search Console, only to be greeted by a list of “Missing Field” errors under your “Enhancements” tab. This message often indicates you have missing structured data markup, which can stop your valuable rich snippets (like star ratings and prices) from appearing in search results. 

However, these errors are not a cause for panic. In fact, they are usually Google’s way of giving you a clear roadmap to improve your code. This guide provides a simple, step-by-step checklist to help you diagnose and fix the most common “Missing Field” errors and get your structured data working for you. 

Part 1: Diagnosing the Core Problem 

1. Use the Rich Results Test to Pinpoint the Error 

First, you need to see exactly what Google sees. Don’t just rely on the Search Console report. Take the URL of the affected page and plug it into Google’s own Rich Results Test. This tool will run a live test on your code and show you precisely which schema types it found and, more importantly, which required fields are missing. This is your primary diagnostic tool. 

2. Identify Your Schema’s Required Properties 

Next, it’s crucial to understand that not all schema types are created equal. For example, a “Recipe” schema has different required fields than a “Product” schema. The error, missing field aggregaterating, is common on product pages but irrelevant for an “Article” page. Therefore, before you start fixing things, identify which type of schema you’re using and look up its required properties on Schema.org to understand the specific problem. 

A graphic showing that different schema types have different required fields, a key concept for fixing structured data errors. 

Part 2: A Checklist for Common “Missing Field” Errors 

3. The Fix for missing field description 

This is one of the most common errors and, thankfully, one of the easiest to fix. Nearly every schema type, from Product to Event, requires a short description of the item. If you see this error, the solution is simply to add a concise, user-friendly description to your page and ensure it is properly tagged in your structured data markup. 

4. The Fix for missing field pricevaliduntil (in offers) 

This error specifically applies to “Product” schema that uses an “offers” property to show a price. Google requires you to specify how long the price is valid for. To fix the missing field pricevaliduntil (in offers) error, you must add a date in the ISO 8601 format (e.g., “2025-12-31”). Even if your price doesn’t expire, providing a date far in the future will satisfy the requirement. 

A code snippet showing how to fix the "missing field pricevaliduntil" structured data error. 

Part 3: Advanced Fixes and Validation 

5. The Fix for missing field aggregate rating 

This is a tricky one. You cannot simply add the missing field of the aggregate rating property to your code. This property must reflect real, visible reviews on the page. To fix this, you must have a system that collects customer reviews and displays them on the page, along with the overall average rating and the total number of reviews. If you don’t have reviews, you cannot use this property. 

6. Validate Your Fix in Search Console 

Finally, after you’ve used the Rich Results Test to confirm your code is valid, go back to Google Search Console. Find the original error report and click the “Validate Fix” button. This tells Google to re-crawl your page and check if the missing structured data issue has been resolved. Be patient, as this process can take several days, but it is the final step to clearing the error. 

The "Validate Fix" button in Google Search Console, the final step in fixing structured data errors. 

Tips 

  • If you’re using WordPress, plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math have built-in tools to help manage your schema. 
  • Start with the most critical pages on your site, like your main products or services. 
  • You can often find pre-made JSON-LD snippets online that you can adapt for your own use. 
  • Always ensure the information in your structured data is visible to the user on the page. 

Warnings 

  • Never put misleading information in your structured data that is not on the actual page. This is against Google’s guidelines. 
  • Don’t add review schema to pages that don’t have legitimate, first-party reviews. 
  • Fixing an error does not guarantee that your page will get a rich snippet. It only makes it eligible. 
  • Be careful when editing code directly. A small syntax error can break your entire markup. 

Things You’ll Need 

  • Access your Google Search Console account. 
  • The URL of the page with the error. 
  • Google’s Rich Results Test tool. 
  • Access to edit your website’s HTML or use a relevant plugin. 

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