# When to Use JSON-LD Structured Data > Learn why Crystal Ball flags missing or limited JSON-LD structured data and how to add appropriate schema without overdoing it. Canonical page: https://yourseowizard.com/education/fix-library/json-ld-structured-data/ Crystal Ball Fix Library JSON-LD gives compatible machines clear labels for the people, places, services, and ideas described on a page. By [Ian Garcia-Theriault](https://yourseowizard.com/about/ian-garcia-theriault/) Published June 26, 2026 - Updated July 27, 2026 ## Quick index - [Choose detail level](#reading-level) - [What the flag means](#flag) - [Common causes](#causes) - [How to fix it](#fixes) - [What JSON-LD means](#meaning) - [Examples and validation](#examples) - [Need help?](#support) - [Related fixes](#related) ## Crystal Ball checks covered `JSONLD_MISSING`, `SCHEMA_TYPE_LIMITED` Guide detail ## Choose Your Technical Level This setting applies to the meaning, causes, and fix sections. Your choice carries to other Fix Library guides on this device. Basic Intermediate Advanced Practical explanations and page-specific steps. Recommended for most readers. ## Useful next pages For related context, review [invalid JSON-LD fixes](https://yourseowizard.com/education/fix-library/invalid-json-ld/), [LocalBusiness schema guidance](https://yourseowizard.com/education/fix-library/localbusiness-schema/), and the broader [schema and indexability guide](https://yourseowizard.com/education/schema-indexability-seo/). ## What the flag means Crystal Ball reports missing or limited JSON-LD when a page has little or no structured data. JSON-LD is a machine-readable format that can describe a page, business, article, product, breadcrumb trail, FAQ, or another relevant entity. Missing JSON-LD is not automatically a defect. Add it when structured labels would clarify real, visible content for systems that support the vocabulary. Accurate markup can improve machine understanding, but it does not repair weak content or guarantee a special search result. ### Advanced diagnostic view Treat this finding as a diagnostic signal, not a verdict. Confirm it against the live URL and the exact Crystal Ball checks (JSONLD_MISSING, SCHEMA_TYPE_LIMITED). Compare the final HTTP response, raw source, and rendered DOM where relevant, then determine whether the pattern is page-specific, template-wide, or introduced by infrastructure. ## Common causes Common causes include static sites built without schema, CMS themes that output only basic markup, unconfigured plugins, copied pages with no page-specific data, or organization markup that does not describe the page itself. ### What to check next Check whether the issue appears on one page or every page using the same template. Review recent content, theme, plugin, deployment, and server changes, then compare the live output with a known-good page. ### Advanced cause isolation Compare one affected URL with a known-good control at every layer that can own this signal: origin or CDN response, server rules, shared template output, client-side rendering, and third-party integrations. Record the differences before changing production; correlation narrows the investigation, but it does not prove the cause. ## How to fix it Confirm the warning first and make a backup before editing the live site. If the change involves templates, code, DNS, redirects, or server settings, switch to Intermediate or ask for help before proceeding. - **Custom HTML/static:** Add JSON-LD inside a `