Article Schema vs BlogPosting Schema: Which Should You Use in 2025?
Learn the key differences between Article schema and BlogPosting schema. Discover which structured data type is best for your content and how to implement it correctly.
Choosing between Article schema and BlogPosting schema can feel confusing. Both are structured data types for content, but they serve slightly different purposes. The wrong choice won't break your SEO, but the right choice helps search engines better understand your content and can improve your chances of appearing in rich results.
This guide breaks down the differences between Article and BlogPosting schema, shows you exactly when to use each one, and provides complete implementation examples you can use today.
What is Article Schema?
Article schema is a generic structured data type that represents written content intended for publication. It's the parent type for several more specific article schemas, including BlogPosting, NewsArticle, ScholarlyArticle, and TechArticle.
Article schema is best for:
- General informational content and guides
- Educational articles and tutorials
- Long-form content that's evergreen
- Professional or corporate content
- Content hubs and resource centers
- Technical documentation
- Case studies and whitepapers
Think of Article schema as the catch-all for professional, informational written content. If your content is educational, instructional, or reference-based rather than conversational, Article schema is typically the right choice.
What is BlogPosting Schema?
BlogPosting schema is a subtype of Article schema specifically designed for blog posts. It inherits all Article schema properties but signals to search engines that the content is blog-style writing rather than formal articles.
BlogPosting schema is best for:
- Personal blog posts
- Opinion pieces and commentary
- Company blog updates
- Industry news and insights
- How-to guides in a conversational tone
- Product announcements
- Author-driven content with personality
BlogPosting schema tells search engines "this is blog content" - typically more conversational, opinionated, or time-sensitive than traditional articles. It's perfect for content that has an author's voice and perspective.
Key Differences Between Article and BlogPosting Schema
Here's a side-by-side comparison of how these two schema types differ:
Content Type and Purpose
Article Schema: Formal, educational, or reference content. Think knowledge bases, documentation, and professional guides.
BlogPosting Schema: Conversational, opinion-based, or timely content. Think blog updates, personal insights, and commentary.
Schema Hierarchy
Article Schema: Parent type that includes multiple subtypes (BlogPosting, NewsArticle, TechArticle, ScholarlyArticle).
BlogPosting Schema: Child type that inherits from Article but adds blog-specific context.
Supported Properties
Both Article and BlogPosting share the same core required properties:
- headline: Title of the content
- image: Featured image (minimum 1200px wide)
- datePublished: Original publication date
- dateModified: Last update date (or same as datePublished)
- author: Person or Organization who created the content
- publisher: Organization that published the content
The properties are identical - the main difference is semantic meaning and how search engines categorize your content.
SEO Impact
Both schema types are eligible for the same rich results features:
- Enhanced search snippets with author, date, and image
- Google Discover feed eligibility
- Article rich results in mobile search
- Better content understanding for AI assistants
- Improved indexing and categorization
Important: Using Article vs. BlogPosting won't make or break your rich results. Google treats them similarly for ranking purposes. The choice is about accuracy and semantic correctness, not SEO manipulation.
When to Use Article Schema: Decision Guide
Choose Article schema when your content matches these characteristics:
1. Formal Tone and Professional Style
If your content reads like a professional guide, educational resource, or reference material rather than a personal blog post, use Article schema. Examples include comprehensive guides, industry reports, and technical documentation.
2. Evergreen Content
Content designed to remain relevant for months or years benefits from Article schema. Think "What is X?" guides, how-to tutorials, and reference content that doesn't rely on current events or time-sensitive information.
3. Corporate or Brand-Focused Content
If you publish content as a brand rather than individual authors, Article schema better represents this authoritative, organizational voice. Corporate resource centers and knowledge bases typically use Article schema.
4. Non-Blog Sections of Your Site
Content published outside your /blog/ section - in guides, resources, help centers, or learning sections - should typically use Article schema to distinguish it from blog content.
When to Use BlogPosting Schema: Decision Guide
Choose BlogPosting schema when your content fits these criteria:
1. Conversational Tone with Author Voice
If your content has personality, uses first-person perspective, or sounds like someone talking to the reader, use BlogPosting schema. This includes personal insights, commentary, and opinion pieces.
2. Published in Your Blog Section
Any content published at yoursite.com/blog/ should typically use BlogPosting schema. This creates consistency and accurately represents the content type to search engines.
3. Time-Sensitive or Trending Topics
Blog posts often cover current events, industry news, product updates, or trending topics. If your content's value is tied to timeliness, BlogPosting schema is more appropriate.
4. Individual Author Attribution Matters
When author identity is important - personal blogs, thought leadership content, or multi-author blogs where writers have distinct voices - BlogPosting schema emphasizes the author-content relationship.
Article Schema Implementation Example
Here's a complete Article schema example in JSON-LD format with all recommended properties:
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Complete Guide to Schema Markup for SEO",
"description": "Learn everything about schema markup implementation, from basic concepts to advanced techniques for maximizing SEO impact.",
"image": [
"https://example.com/images/schema-guide-16x9.jpg",
"https://example.com/images/schema-guide-4x3.jpg",
"https://example.com/images/schema-guide-1x1.jpg"
],
"datePublished": "2025-12-04T09:00:00+00:00",
"dateModified": "2025-12-04T09:00:00+00:00",
"author": {
"@type": "Organization",
"name": "SchemaBooster",
"url": "https://schemabooster.com"
},
"publisher": {
"@type": "Organization",
"name": "SchemaBooster",
"logo": {
"@type": "ImageObject",
"url": "https://schemabooster.com/logo.png",
"width": 600,
"height": 60
}
},
"mainEntityOfPage": {
"@type": "WebPage",
"@id": "https://example.com/complete-guide-schema-markup"
},
"articleSection": "SEO Guides",
"keywords": ["schema markup", "structured data", "SEO", "JSON-LD"],
"wordCount": 2500
}
</script>
// This Article schema is perfect for comprehensive guides and educational contentKey Details: Notice the author is an Organization rather than a Person, reflecting the formal, brand-focused nature of article content. The articleSection property helps categorize the content within your site structure.
BlogPosting Schema Implementation Example
Here's a complete BlogPosting schema example showing the differences:
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "BlogPosting",
"headline": "Why We Built SchemaBooster: Our Journey to Simplifying Structured Data",
"description": "The story behind SchemaBooster and how we're making schema markup accessible to everyone, from our CEO's perspective.",
"image": [
"https://example.com/images/company-story.jpg"
],
"datePublished": "2025-12-04T14:30:00+00:00",
"dateModified": "2025-12-04T14:30:00+00:00",
"author": {
"@type": "Person",
"name": "Sarah Johnson",
"url": "https://schemabooster.com/author/sarah-johnson",
"jobTitle": "CEO & Founder",
"sameAs": [
"https://twitter.com/sarahjohnson",
"https://linkedin.com/in/sarahjohnson"
]
},
"publisher": {
"@type": "Organization",
"name": "SchemaBooster",
"logo": {
"@type": "ImageObject",
"url": "https://schemabooster.com/logo.png",
"width": 600,
"height": 60
}
},
"mainEntityOfPage": {
"@type": "WebPage",
"@id": "https://example.com/blog/why-we-built-schemabooster"
},
"blogPosting": {
"@type": "Blog",
"name": "SchemaBooster Blog",
"url": "https://schemabooster.com/blog"
},
"keywords": ["company story", "product development", "schema tools"],
"wordCount": 1200
}
</script>
// BlogPosting schema emphasizes individual authorship and conversational contentKey Differences: The author is a Person (not Organization), includes social profiles, and the content is clearly attributed to an individual with a specific voice and perspective. The optional blogPosting property links to the parent blog.
Side-by-Side Property Comparison
Both schema types support the same core properties, but here's how they're typically used differently:
Author Property:
- Article: Often uses Organization as author for brand-focused content
- BlogPosting: Typically uses Person as author to highlight individual writers
Tone and Style:
- Article: Professional, educational, reference-focused headlines and descriptions
- BlogPosting: Conversational, engaging, personal headlines and descriptions
Keywords:
- Article: Focus on informational, evergreen search terms
- BlogPosting: May include trending topics, opinions, and time-sensitive keywords
Content Length:
- Article: Often longer, comprehensive pieces (2000+ words)
- BlogPosting: Variable length, from quick updates to long-form posts
What About Other Article Types?
Schema.org defines several other Article subtypes. Here's when to use them instead:
NewsArticle
Use for breaking news, press releases, and journalistic content. NewsArticle is designed for time-sensitive news content and can appear in Google News and Top Stories carousels. Required if you want eligibility for news-specific rich results.
TechArticle
Use for technical documentation, developer guides, and engineering tutorials. Includes additional properties like dependencies, proficiencyLevel, and code samples. Perfect for API documentation and technical how-tos.
ScholarlyArticle
Use for academic papers, research publications, and peer-reviewed content. Supports properties like pageStart, pageEnd, and pagination for journal articles. Best for academic and scientific content.
Learn more about implementing different article types in our complete Article schema guide.
Common Mistakes When Choosing Between Article and BlogPosting
Avoid these errors when implementing article-type schema:
Mistake 1: Using Article for Everything
The Error: Marking all blog posts with Article schema because it's "more professional."
Why It's Wrong: You lose semantic specificity. BlogPosting accurately describes blog content and helps search engines understand your site structure.
The Fix: Use BlogPosting for content in your /blog/ section and Article for guides, resources, and documentation.
Mistake 2: Mixing Schema Types Inconsistently
The Error: Using Article for some blog posts and BlogPosting for others with no clear logic.
Why It's Wrong: Inconsistency confuses search engines and makes your schema harder to maintain.
The Fix: Create clear rules. Example: "All /blog/ posts use BlogPosting, all /guides/ content uses Article."
Mistake 3: Overthinking the Decision
The Error: Spending hours debating which schema type to use for each piece of content.
Why It's Wrong: The choice between Article and BlogPosting has minimal SEO impact. Both work equally well for rich results.
The Fix: Pick one based on content type, implement it correctly, and move on. Accurate implementation matters more than perfect categorization.
Mistake 4: Forgetting Required Properties
The Error: Using the right schema type but missing critical properties like headline, image, or datePublished.
Why It's Wrong: Missing required properties prevents rich results from appearing, making your schema type choice irrelevant.
The Fix: Always validate your schema markup using Google's Rich Results Test before publishing.
Best Practices for Article and BlogPosting Schema
Follow these guidelines regardless of which schema type you choose:
1. Always Use JSON-LD Format
Google recommends JSON-LD over Microdata or RDFa. It's easier to implement, maintain, and debug. Add your schema in a `<script type="application/ld+json">` tag in the page `<head>` section.
2. Include Multiple Image Sizes
Provide images in different aspect ratios (16:9, 4:3, 1:1) to maximize rich result appearance across different search features. All images should be at least 1200 pixels wide.
3. Keep Headlines Under 110 Characters
Google truncates long headlines in search results. Keep your headline property concise and compelling for optimal display in rich results.
4. Update dateModified When Content Changes
Change the dateModified property whenever you make significant updates to content. This signals freshness to search engines and can help maintain or improve rankings.
5. Match Schema Data to Visible Content
Your schema markup must accurately represent what's actually on the page. Don't embellish, add fake information, or mark up hidden content. This violates Google's guidelines and can result in penalties. See our schema markup mistakes guide for more details.
How to Implement Schema Markup Efficiently
Creating schema markup manually for every article or blog post is time-consuming and error-prone. Here are efficient implementation approaches:
For WordPress Sites
Use SEO plugins like Yoast, RankMath, or Schema Pro that automatically generate Article or BlogPosting schema based on your post settings. Configure once, and schema is added to all posts automatically. Learn more in our WordPress schema markup guide.
For Custom Sites
Create dynamic templates that pull post metadata (title, date, author, image) from your database and render JSON-LD schema automatically. This ensures consistency and reduces manual work.
Using AI-Powered Generators
Tools like SchemaBooster automatically generate validated schema markup in seconds. Simply input your content URL or paste your text, and get properly formatted Article or BlogPosting schema with all required properties included.
The generator intelligently determines whether Article or BlogPosting is more appropriate based on your content characteristics, saving you decision-making time while ensuring accuracy.
Comparing Article vs BlogPosting: Quick Decision Tree
Still unsure which to use? Follow this simple decision tree:
Start Here: Is this content published in your /blog/ section?
- YES → Does it have a conversational tone with clear author voice? → YES = Use BlogPosting | NO = Use Article
- NO → Is this a comprehensive guide or reference content? → YES = Use Article | NO = Is it news content? → YES = Use NewsArticle | NO = Use Article
When in doubt, use BlogPosting for blog posts and Article for everything else. Both work well for SEO when implemented correctly.
Monitoring Your Schema Performance
After implementing Article or BlogPosting schema, track these metrics in Google Search Console:
- Enhancement Reports: Check for errors or warnings in your Article/BlogPosting markup
- Valid Items: Monitor how many pages have successfully validated schema
- Rich Result Impressions: Track how often your content appears with rich result enhancements
- Click-Through Rate: Compare CTR before and after schema implementation
- Coverage Issues: Identify pages where schema failed to process correctly
Review these metrics monthly and fix any errors within 48 hours of detection. Following schema markup best practices ensures long-term performance.
Related Reading
- Article Schema Markup: Complete Guide - Deep dive into Article schema implementation
- How to Test Schema Markup - Validate your Article and BlogPosting schema
- Schema Markup Best Practices - Expert tips for all schema types
- JSON-LD vs Microdata - Choosing the right schema format
Conclusion: Choose the Right Schema Type with Confidence
The difference between Article schema and BlogPosting schema comes down to content type and context, not SEO advantage. Both offer the same rich result opportunities when implemented correctly.
Quick Summary:
- Use Article schema for professional guides, educational content, and formal articles
- Use BlogPosting schema for blog posts with conversational tone and individual authorship
- Both schema types support identical properties and rich result features
- Consistency matters more than perfect categorization
- Always validate your implementation before publishing
- Focus on accurate, complete schema rather than schema type optimization
Your Action Plan:
- Audit your existing content and categorize by type (blog vs. article)
- Create implementation rules for consistency across your site
- Choose JSON-LD format for easier maintenance
- Include all required properties plus recommended ones
- Test with Google's Rich Results Test
- Monitor performance in Search Console
The most important factor isn't which schema type you choose, but that you implement it correctly with accurate, complete data matching your visible content.
Ready to add Article or BlogPosting schema to your content? Try SchemaBooster's intelligent generator that automatically selects the right schema type and creates validated markup in seconds. Stop guessing and start implementing schema the right way.