🔍 Overview
After connecting your WordPress site to OTTO, you may notice ImageObject metadata validation errors appearing in Google Search Console (GSC). These errors are typically caused by conflicting schema output — OTTO generates its own structured data, and if a separate schema plugin is also active on your site, both sources attempt to output schema markup at the same time. The result is duplicate or malformed structured data that GSC flags as invalid.
The good news: OTTO has a built-in schema management feature inside your project settings. You do not need a third-party plugin to manage schema, and you do not need to leave OTTO to fix this. This article walks you through exactly how to resolve the issue.
⚙️ How OTTO Handles Schema
OTTO can generate and inject structured data (schema markup) for your connected site on a per-page basis after you approve or publish the recommendation (unless OTTO auto-deploy is enabled). This includes common schema types such as Article, BreadcrumbList, WebPage, and ImageObject. Because OTTO manages schema natively, running an additional WordPress schema plugin alongside it will almost always produce conflicts.
Common symptoms of a schema conflict include:
- ImageObject validation errors in GSC under Enhancements or Rich Results
- Duplicate structured data warnings in third-party schema testing tools
- Unexpected schema types appearing that you did not configure
🗂️ Step 1 — Deactivate Your WordPress Schema Plugin
Before adjusting anything in OTTO, remove the source of conflict by deactivating any schema or structured data plugin currently active on your WordPress site. Common plugins that conflict with OTTO include Rank Math, Yoast SEO (when schema output is enabled), Schema Pro, and WP Schema.
- Log in to your WordPress Admin Dashboard.
- Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins.
- Locate the schema or SEO plugin generating structured data.
- Click Deactivate. Do not delete it yet — confirm the errors clear first.
If you rely on that plugin for other features (such as redirects or sitemaps), check whether those features can be handled by OTTO or a separate dedicated plugin before fully removing it.
🔧 Step 2 — Access OTTO Schema Settings in Project Settings
OTTO gives you direct control over whether it outputs schema markup for your site. To access these controls:
- Log in to your Search Atlas account.
- From the left navigation, open OTTO SEO → All Sites (SEO Automation).
- Select the project connected to the affected site.
- Click the Settings icon or navigate to the Project Settings tab for that project.
- Scroll to the Schema section.
- Here you will see a toggle or option to enable or disable OTTO's schema output for the site.
If you want OTTO to handle all schema going forward (the recommended approach), ensure the Schema option is enabled in OTTO and the WordPress plugin is deactivated. If for any reason you prefer to manage schema entirely through a plugin, you can deactivate schema in OTTO's settings so only one source outputs structured data.
✅ Step 3 — Validate the Fix in Google Search Console
After resolving the conflict, confirm the errors are clearing in GSC:
- Open Google Search Console for your property.
- Go to Enhancements or Rich Results in the left sidebar.
- Locate the ImageObject report showing errors.
- Click into the report and select Validate Fix.
- Google will re-crawl the affected URLs. Full validation can take several days depending on crawl frequency.
You can also use Google's Rich Results Test tool to spot-check individual URLs immediately after making your changes, before GSC re-crawls.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Will deactivating my schema plugin break my site's SEO?
No. As long as OTTO's schema output is enabled for your project, OTTO will continue generating structured data for your site. You are switching the source, not removing schema entirely.
Can I customize the schema OTTO outputs?
OTTO manages schema output automatically based on your content. For specific customizations beyond the built-in controls, consult the OTTO project settings or reach out via the chat widget below.
The errors are still showing after I made these changes — why?
GSC does not update instantly. After clicking Validate Fix, allow 3–7 days for Google to re-crawl your pages. If errors persist after that window, there may be another plugin or theme function injecting schema. Use the Rich Results Test to inspect a live URL and check the page source for duplicate application/ld+json script blocks.
Do I need to repeat these steps for multiple sites?
Yes. Schema settings are configured per project in OTTO. If you manage multiple connected sites, check each project's settings individually.
💬 Need More Help?
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.