[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/ajaymaanju.com\/default-image-for-article-in-yoast-seo-schema\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/ajaymaanju.com\/default-image-for-article-in-yoast-seo-schema\/","headline":"Default Image for Article in Yoast SEO Schema","name":"Default Image for Article in Yoast SEO Schema","description":"If you’re using Yoast SEO on your WordPress site, you\u2019re already ahead in optimizing your content for search engines. But have you ever noticed that when your articles are shared on social media or appear in rich results, sometimes no image shows up\u2014or the wrong one does? This is where setting a default image for […]","datePublished":"2025-07-21","dateModified":"2025-07-21","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/ajaymaanju.com\/author\/admin\/#Person","name":"admin","url":"https:\/\/ajaymaanju.com\/author\/admin\/","identifier":1,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/ajaymaanju.com\/wp-content\/litespeed\/avatar\/a852f508f347739e39fd192f2935e473.jpg?ver=1777711981","url":"https:\/\/ajaymaanju.com\/wp-content\/litespeed\/avatar\/a852f508f347739e39fd192f2935e473.jpg?ver=1777711981","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Person"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/ajaymaanju.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Default-Image-for-Article-in-Yoast-SEO-Schema.png","url":"https:\/\/ajaymaanju.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Default-Image-for-Article-in-Yoast-SEO-Schema.png","height":400,"width":400},"url":"https:\/\/ajaymaanju.com\/default-image-for-article-in-yoast-seo-schema\/","about":["WordPress"],"wordCount":496,"keywords":["Article Schema","Default Image","Open Graph","Schema Markup","SEO Tips","Social Media Preview","WordPress SEO","WordPress tips","Yoast SEO","Yoast Settings"],"articleBody":"If you’re using Yoast SEO on your WordPress site, you\u2019re already ahead in optimizing your content for search engines. But have you ever noticed that when your articles are shared on social media or appear in rich results, sometimes no image shows up\u2014or the wrong one does? This is where setting a default image for article in Yoast SEO schema becomes essential.In this blog, we\u2019ll walk you through why and how to set a default image that helps boost your SEO and social sharing performance.Why Is a Default Image Important?When your blog post doesn\u2019t contain an image, or the first image is not appropriate for sharing, platforms like Facebook, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn might not display anything at all. This not only affects your visibility but also your click-through rate (CTR).Similarly, search engines using schema.org\u2019s structured data to generate rich snippets can benefit from a properly set default image, especially for the Article type.How Yoast Handles Article Schema ImagesYoast SEO automatically generates schema markup for your articles. This includes data like:Article titleDescriptionAuthorDateFeatured image (if set)If no featured image is available, the schema may be incomplete or even omit the image property\u2014leading to poor previews in rich results.How to Set a Default Image in Yoast SEOHere\u2019s a step-by-step guide to make sure there\u2019s always a fallback image:1. Add a Default Social ImageNavigate to:Yoast SEO \u2192 Settings \u2192 General \u2192 Site BasicsUnder \u201cSite representation,\u201d upload a default social image. This image will be used when a post doesn\u2019t have a featured image.2. Customize Your Theme’s functions.phpIf you want to ensure every article has an image in schema\u2014even when one isn’t set\u2014add this custom code to your theme:add_filter( ‘wpseo_schema_article’, ‘set_default_image_schema’, 10, 2 );function set_default_image_schema( $data, $context ) {if ( empty( $data[‘image’] ) ) {$data[‘image’] = array(‘url’ => ‘https:\/\/yourwebsite.com\/path-to-your-default-image.jpg’,‘width’ => 1200,‘height’ => 628,);}return $data;}This code ensures that even if no featured image is selected, the schema will include a fallback image.Recommended Image Size and FormatMinimum size: 1200 x 628 pxFormat: JPG or PNGRatio: 1.91:1 (ideal for Open Graph and Twitter)Bonus Tip: Use Open Graph TagsYoast also supports Open Graph metadata for Facebook and Twitter Cards. You can set default images here:Yoast SEO \u2192 Settings \u2192 Site Features \u2192 SocialMake sure the correct default image is set for both platforms. This ensures better control over how your content appears when shared.ConclusionA missing image in your schema can cost you in visibility and clicks. Setting a default image for article in Yoast SEO schema is a simple, effective SEO enhancement that ensures your content always looks professional and attractive\u2014whether in Google rich results or on social media.Take a few minutes to configure this today, and give your content the visual edge it deserves."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Default Image for Article in Yoast SEO Schema","item":"https:\/\/ajaymaanju.com\/default-image-for-article-in-yoast-seo-schema\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]