diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f5c4cdb..d951d3e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ Rust implementation of a [Decentralized Web Node](https://identity.foundation/de
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use dwn::{actor::Actor, message::Data, store::SurrealStore, DWN};
+use iana_media_types::Application;
 use surrealdb::{Surreal, engine::local::Mem};
 
 #[tokio::main]
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ async fn main() {
     let create = actor
         .create_record()
         .data(data.clone())
+        .data_format(Application::Json.into())
         .process()
         .await
         .unwrap();