Gutenberg Blocks: FAQ & How-To Schema Blocks

What Are Schema Blocks?

Schema blocks are special WordPress editor blocks that both display content visually AND generate JSON-LD structured data. When Google detects this schema, it can show your content as rich results:

FAQ Block

What It Does

Creates a list of questions and answers with automatic FAQPage schema markup. In Google search results, your questions can appear as expandable dropdowns — taking up more space and increasing click-through rate.

How to Use

Example

In the editor:

Q: What is SEObolt?
A: SEObolt is a comprehensive WordPress SEO plugin that helps you optimize
   your content for search engines with 57+ SEO checks, schema markup,
   sitemaps, and more.

Q: Is SEObolt free?
A: Yes, SEObolt has a free version with core SEO features. Pro tiers add
   advanced features like Content AI, instant indexing, and email reports.

Q: Does SEObolt work with Elementor?
A: Yes, SEObolt integrates with Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder, Bricks,
   Oxygen, Avada, Thrive Architect, and WPBakery.

Generated schema (automatic):

{
  "@type": "FAQPage",
  "mainEntity": [
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "What is SEObolt?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "SEObolt is a comprehensive WordPress SEO plugin..."
      }
    }
  ]
}

Tips for FAQ Blocks

• 3-10 questions is the sweet spot. Too few won't trigger rich results; too many may be ignored by Google.
• Write genuine FAQs — Questions your visitors actually ask. Don't fake it.
• Keep answers concise — 2-3 sentences per answer is ideal for rich results.
• Include keywords naturally — But don't stuff. Google penalizes obviously keyword-stuffed FAQs.
• One FAQ block per page — Multiple FAQ blocks on the same page can confuse schema validators.

How-To Block

What It Does

Creates a step-by-step guide with automatic HowTo schema markup. In Google search results, your steps can appear as a visual how-to card with numbered steps and optional images.

How to Use

Example

In the editor:

Title: How to Install a WordPress Plugin
Description: A beginner's guide to installing plugins from the WordPress directory.
Estimated Time: 5 minutes

Step 1: Log in to WordPress Admin
Go to yoursite.com/wp-admin and enter your credentials.

Step 2: Navigate to Plugins
Click "Plugins" in the left sidebar, then "Add New."

Step 3: Search for the Plugin
Type the plugin name in the search box and press Enter.

Step 4: Install and Activate
Click "Install Now" next to the plugin, then click "Activate."

Generated schema (automatic):

{
  "@type": "HowTo",
  "name": "How to Install a WordPress Plugin",
  "description": "A beginner's guide to installing plugins...",
  "totalTime": "PT5M",
  "step": [
    {
      "@type": "HowToStep",
      "name": "Log in to WordPress Admin",
      "text": "Go to yoursite.com/wp-admin and enter your credentials."
    }
  ]
}

Tips for How-To Blocks

• Add images to steps — How-To rich results with images perform significantly better.
• Be specific with step titles — "Click the Install Button" is better than "Step 3".
• Include estimated time — Google shows this in the rich result.
• 3-10 steps is ideal. Break complex processes into manageable steps.
• One how-to per page — Don't combine multiple tutorials on one page.

Testing Your Schema

After publishing a page with FAQ or How-To blocks:

1. Google Rich Results Test

2. View Page Source

Troubleshooting

Blocks Not Appearing in Block Inserter

1. Check tier — FAQ and How-To blocks require Starter or above
2. Check license — SEObolt > License > verify active
3. Check editor — Blocks only work in the Gutenberg block editor, not Classic Editor
4. Search by name — Try searching "SEObolt" or "FAQ" in the block inserter

Schema Not Generating

1. Check block is properly filled — Empty questions/steps won't generate schema
2. Check for conflicts — Another plugin may be outputting competing FAQ/HowTo schema
3. View source — Search for FAQPage or HowTo in your page's HTML source
4. Save and reload — Schema generates on page render, not in the editor

Rich Results Not Showing in Google

Rich results are NOT guaranteed. Google decides whether to show them based on:

1. Content quality — Thin or low-quality pages may not qualify
2. Site authority — New sites may not get rich results initially
3. Competition — Google may prefer other sites' schema
4. Query relevance — Rich results only show for certain search queries
5. Time — It can take days to weeks after Google re-crawls your page

FAQ Answers Getting Truncated in Search

Google may truncate long answers in the search result dropdown. Keep answers concise (2-3 sentences) for the best display.

Best Practices

Frequently Asked Questions

"Can I use FAQ blocks on every page?"

You can, but shouldn't. Only use them on pages where FAQs make sense (product pages, service pages, help articles). Using them everywhere dilutes their value.

"Do FAQ rich results still work?"

Yes, as of 2026 Google still supports FAQ rich results, though they may not show for every query. The schema is valid and worth implementing.

"Can I style the FAQ/How-To blocks?"

Yes. The blocks output HTML with CSS classes you can target in your theme's stylesheet. The exact classes depend on your theme and the block's rendering.

"Do these work with Classic Editor?"

No. These are Gutenberg (block editor) blocks. If you use Classic Editor, use the Schema tab in the SEObolt meta box to manually add FAQ or HowTo schema.

Related Guides

• Meta Tags & Social Guide — Control titles and descriptions alongside schema blocks
• Breadcrumbs Guide — Add structured breadcrumb navigation with schema
• WooCommerce SEO Guide — Product schema for WooCommerce stores
• Image SEO Guide — Optimize images used in your Gutenberg content