If you check your blog post using the Google Rich Results Test, you may encounter the following warning:
"Missing: author"
This issue usually appears when the Blogger theme does not properly include structured data markup for the author.
While the post may still display the author name on the page, search engines cannot detect it in the structured data.
Fortunately, fixing the missing author error in Blogger theme is simple.
All you need to do is a small modification in your theme's HTML code.
This is another useful post from the DiGiztal Blogspot Blogger Tips series.
What causes the missing author error in Blogger?
The missing author structured data error usually occurs, when the Blogger template lacks proper Schema.org markup for the author.
Search engines like Google use structured data to understand key information on a page, such as:
- Author name
- Publication date
- Article headline
- Images
- Publisher information
If the author is not properly marked with Schema.org Person markup, Google's testing tools may flag it as Missing: Author.
How to fix missing author in Blogger Theme
Follow the steps below carefully to fix this structured data problem.
Step 1: Log in to Your Blogger Dashboard
Sign in to your Blogger account and open the blog where the error appears.
Step 2: Open the Theme editor
- Click Theme in the left sidebar.
- Click the dropdown arrow beside Customize.
- Select Edit HTML.
Step 3: Locate the author code in the Template
Use the search function (Ctrl + F) and look for the following code inside your template:
<b:if cond='data:top.showAuthor'>
<b:if cond='data:post.authorProfileUrl'>
<span class='fn'>
<a expr:href='data:post.authorProfileUrl' rel='author' title='author profile'>
<data:post.author/>
</a>
</span>
<b:else/>
<span class='fn'><data:post.author/></span>
</b:if>
</b:if>
</span>
Step 4: Replace it with structured data markup
Replace the old code with the following improved version that includes Schema.org Person markup:
<b:if cond='data:top.showAuthor'>
<b:if cond='data:post.authorProfileUrl'>
<span class='fn author'>
<a expr:href='data:post.authorProfileUrl' rel='author' title='author profile'>
<span itemprop='name'><data:post.author/></span>
</a>
</span>
<b:else/>
<span class='fn author'><span itemprop='name'><data:post.author/></span></span>
</b:if>
</b:if>
</span>
Step 5: Save the theme
Click the "Save" icon after replacing the code.
Your Blogger template is now has proper structured data for the author.
How to verify the missing author error is fixed
After saving the changes, paste your Blogger domain in the Rich Results Test tool
If everything is configured correctly, the Missing: author warning should disappear.
Why Fixing the missing author in Blogger Theme matters
Fixing the missing author in Blogger theme improves your blog in several ways:
- Helps search engines understand your content
- Improves structured data validation
- Strengthens content credibility
- Supports potential rich results in search
- Enhances SEO for blog posts
Although the warning does not always prevent indexing, it is best practice to ensure all structured data fields are properly defined.
👉 Chek out how to add FAQ schema markup for Blogger blog post.