Is FAQ schema worth paying for?
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Founder, ProveWorth
No, don't pay for FAQ schema. Google no longer shows FAQ rich results in Search, so the code can't buy you that extra space in the results. A visible FAQ section on your page still helps customers, and it costs you an hour, not a fee.
Before the change, Google limited the feature to well-known government and health websites, excluding local service businesses. Google also says structured data isn't required for generative AI search and no special schema.org markup is needed.
The catch is that markup you already have can stay, as long as it matches the text visitors see. If a vendor quotes a price for it, ask what result it buys.
Does FAQ schema still show extra answers in Google?
No. Google's own update says the FAQ rich result feature is no longer shown in Google Search results.
Google had already limited it to well-known, authoritative government and health websites. Under that restriction, a pet waste route or a campground wasn't eligible.
Will FAQ schema help me in ChatGPT or AI Overviews?
Google says structured data isn't required for generative AI search, and there's no special schema.org markup you need to add.
No assistant I've read publishes a rule that FAQ code earns a mention. Treat that pitch as a sales line until a seller shows you the page that says otherwise.
Should my site still have an FAQ section?
Yes, because a visitor can read it. Write the questions your customers ask on the phone: what it costs, which towns you cover, how often you come and what is included.
Answer each in a few plain sentences. That is an hour of your time, and it works the same whether or not any code sits behind it.
Is any structured data worth paying for?
Not as a separate purchase. If your website builder adds basic business markup for free, fine.
Google lists matching structured data to the visible text on the page as a best practice. Check yours by comparing the phone number and hours in the code to the ones on the page.
What do I do next?
Write your five most common customer questions into one FAQ section this week. Then read what to buy or skip in AI SEO and how to rank in AI Overviews.
For something visible rather than hidden code, ProveWorth gives you a free page with your services and the customer reviews we read before publishing. You can get your free page, or see how it works first.
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Key takeaways
- 1Don't pay for FAQ schema. Google no longer shows FAQ rich results in Search.
- 2Before that, the feature was limited to well-known government and health sites, excluding local service businesses.
- 3Google says no special schema.org markup is needed for generative AI search.
- 4A visible FAQ section still helps customers, and writing one costs an hour of your time.
- 5Free markup is fine if it matches the visible text on the page.
Related questions
Does FAQ schema still show extra answers in Google results?
No. Google says the FAQ rich result feature is no longer shown in Google Search results. Paying for markup to get it buys nothing.
Do I need to remove the FAQ markup I already have?
My advice is to leave it if it's free and accurate. Google says structured data should match the visible text on the page, so check that it does.
Will FAQ schema help me in ChatGPT or AI Overviews?
Google says there's no special schema.org markup to add for generative AI search. No assistant I've read publishes a rule that FAQ code earns a mention.
Should my website still have an FAQ section?
Yes. Write the questions customers actually ask and answer each in a few sentences. The section helps the person reading it, whatever happens to the code.