One of the things that we have to take into account, which is very important, but can go unnoticed, is the user experience.
When a user enters our website, we have to make sure that everything is coherent, that it is well planned, that the information is useful.
On the subject that concerns us today, that all our content is readable, that it is like navigating, especially if we have a lot of content.
How many times have we entered an infinite post, that we do not stop scrolling because it is huge, and only to search for a part of that text.
A table of contents allows us to quickly find what we are looking for.
Why Should We Add A Table Of Contents?
We may think that using a table of contents can only help improve the user experience, but it has more advantages.
We have to know that the vast majority of visitors to our website do so looking for information, and we have to facilitate this search.
It is necessary to facilitate the navigation so that the user feels comfortable and does not leave our page, it will be a benefit for our SEO.
Also, Google automatically adds a jump link to the section next to your site in the search results.
We have two options to create a table of contents on our website, using HTML, but this can be difficult for novice users, or through a plugin.
Adding A Table Of Contents Using Plugins
The first thing we are going to do is install the plugin, we go to the Plugins → Add New menu, look for the Easy Table Of Contents plugin, install and activate.
Once active, we will find it in the Settings → Table of Contents menu.
We can choose where we want it to be inserted automatically, or do it manually, position it, when to show it, change colors and appearance.
The advanced settings are generic and ready to use, but we should check the options to fit our preferences.
Once all the changes we need have been made, don’t forget to go down and click on the Save Changes button.
The end result would be this.
We have seen how easy it is to create a table of contents in WordPress, easy and fast.
How to Get a Useful Table of Contents
- Use headings correctly. The plugin builds the table from your H2, H3 and other headings, so write clear headings and keep the hierarchy in order.
- Do not overdo it. A table with dozens of entries is as hard to read as a long post. Choose which heading levels to include in the settings.
- Use it on long posts. A table of contents adds little to a short post, but helps a lot on guides, tutorials and comparisons.
- Check it on mobile. The table should not push your first paragraph too far down the screen.
Table of Contents Without a Plugin
Recent versions of WordPress include a Table of Contents block. Add it from the block inserter and it builds the list from the headings in your post. It is a good option if you only want a simple table and prefer not to install another plugin.
Why Jump Links Help
Each entry in a table of contents is a link to a section of the same page. Visitors can go straight to the part they need, and search engines can better understand how the page is organized. As mentioned above, Google can sometimes show these jump links under your result, but that is decided by Google and is never guaranteed.
The table of contents brings us many benefits, so we recommend its use.
If you have not created your website yet, you may be interested Create Your Website With WordPress.
Looking for a design that puts your writing first? Take a look at our WordPress blog themes. You may also like: How To Install And Set Up Yoast SEO.
Leave a Reply