In WordPress, an excerpt is a summary or brief description of a post’s content. It is typically used to provide readers with a preview of the post before they click through to read the full article.

Excerpts are optional. If you choose not to write an excerpt manually, most themes will simply display the first few words or sentences of the post. However, writing a custom excerpt will often provide a better summary of the post as a whole, enticing the reader to click through.

How to Add an Excerpt in WordPress

To add an excerpt to a WordPress post, follow these steps:

  1. Create or edit a WordPress post.
  2. Locate the Excerpt box on the right-hand side of your screen.
  3. Type or paste your desired summary or brief description into the Excerpt box.
  4. Save or update your post.

Why Use an Excerpt?

An excerpt serves several purposes on your website:

  1. Provides Context: An excerpt can provide context for readers and help them decide whether they want to read the full article.
  2. Improves SEO: Including a well-written excerpt can improve search engine optimization (SEO) by providing search engines with more information about the content of your page.
  3. Enhances User Experience: By providing a summary of your content, you can make it easier for users to find relevant content quickly and efficiently.

Best Practices for Writing Excerpts

Here are some best practices that you should keep in mind when writing excerpts:

  1. Keep it Short and Sweet: Aim for concise summaries that highlight the main points of your article without giving away too much detail.
  2. Use Keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords into your excerpt to improve SEO and help readers find your content more easily.
  3. Be Accurate: Make sure that your excerpts accurately reflect the content of your posts so that readers aren’t misled about what they will find if they click through to read more.

By following these best practices, you can ensure that your excerpts are effective at providing context and enhancing user experience while also improving SEO for your website.

Conclusion

An excerpt is a summary or brief description of a post’s content in WordPress that serves several purposes including providing context, improving SEO, and enhancing the user experience. By following the best practices above when writing excerpts, you can ensure that they effectively communicate the main points of your articles while also making it easier for users to navigate and find relevant information on your website.