In the WordPress world, excerpts are a powerful tool to improve the presentation and readability of your pages. They allow you to provide a concise summary of the content, making it easier for visitors to decide whether to go deeper into an article or not. Below, we'll explore how to add excerpts to your WordPress pages, from basic setup to using custom code.
What are excerpts in WordPress?
Excerpts are short summaries that describe the content of your posts or pages. They are displayed in various sections of your site, such as in post listings, widgets and emails. The main advantage of using excerpts is that they provide readers with a preview of the content, which can increase interest and traffic.
The importance of extracts
Using appropriate extracts can significantly improve the user experience. A well-written excerpt attracts the attention of visitors and can influence their behavior, such as clicking on a link to read more. They are also critical for SEO, as they can include relevant keywords that will help search engines index your content more effectively.
How to add excerpts to your pages
WordPress makes it easy to add extracts through its user interface. Here's how to do it in a few simple steps.
Using the block editor (Gutenberg)
If you use the WordPress block editor, follow these steps to add an excerpt:
- Open the page or entry where you want to add the excerpt.
- On the right side, look for the "Extract" section. If you don't see it, you may need to enable it in the "Display Options" at the top right.
- Write your statement in the corresponding field.
Using the classic editor
If you are still using the classic editor, the process is equally simple:
- Go to the desired entry or page.
- Scroll down until you find the "Extract" metabox.
- Enter your statement in the field provided and save the changes.
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Customize the display of extracts
Once you have added excerpts to your pages, you may want to customize their display. This can be done through the use of a plugin or through CSS code.
Using CSS to customize extracts
If you want to adjust the appearance of the excerpts, you can add CSS code in the customization section of your theme. For example, to change the font size of the excerpts, you could use the following code:
.post-excerpt {
font-size: 18px;
color: #333;
}
This code will change the font size and color to make the excerpts more prominent.
Add extracts to widgets and menus
Excerpts can also be useful in widgets and menus. For this, you can use plugins that allow you to display excerpts in different areas of your site.
Recommended plugins
Here are some plugins that make it easier to manage statements in widgets:
- Display PostsAllows you to display lists of publications with customized excerpts.
- WP Recent Posts: Displays recent entries with their respective excerpts.
- Custom Post Type UIIdeal for managing different types of content, including extracts.
Examples of use of extracts
To illustrate the usefulness of extracts, here are a couple of examples of how they can be used in different contexts:
Example 1: Personal blog
In a personal blog, excerpts can provide a glimpse into personal stories or reflections. An engaging excerpt might be:
"Today I reflect on the importance of gratitude in our daily life..."
This type of excerpt invites the reader to click and continue reading.
Example 2: Online store
In an online store, extracts can be used to describe characteristics of a product. For example:
"This wristwatch combines style and functionality, ideal for any occasion."
This helps customers quickly understand what they are buying.
Conclusions on the implementation of extracts
Adding excerpts to your WordPress pages is a simple but effective strategy to improve user interaction and content presentation. With the right tools and a little creativity, you can customize excerpts to align with the aesthetics and purpose of your website. Experiment with different styles and lengths of excerpts to find the combination that works best for your audience.
