Show Blog Post Excerpts: A Guide to Creating Better Blog Previews
Blog excerpts are condensed summaries that give readers a preview of your full blog posts. They help visitors quickly scan your content and decide which articles to read in full.
How to Add Blog Excerpts
- To add an excerpt to a new post:
- Navigate to your blog page
- Create a new post
- Click the Options tab
- Add your summary in the Excerpt field
- Click Save or Publish
- To add an excerpt to an existing post:
- Find the post you want to edit
- Click Edit
- Go to the Options tab
- Add your excerpt text
- Save changes
Adding Images to Excerpts
Most templates support either featured images or promoted blocks for excerpt thumbnails:
- Featured images: Add through blog post settings
- Promoted blocks: Place at the beginning of your post content
Writing Effective Excerpts
Best practices for engaging excerpts:
- Summarize the main points in 1-2 sentences
- Use the first paragraph with an ellipsis (...)
- Ask an intriguing question
- Keep it concise but informative
Blog post preview example
Read More Links
- Automatically included in most templates
- Can be customized for font and color
- Appears at the end of excerpts
- Links to the full post
Blog posts with and without excerpts
Jars of pickled vegetables and fruits
Tips for Success:
- Ensure all posts have excerpts for consistent appearance
- Use compelling language to encourage click-throughs
- Keep excerpts short enough to maintain interest
- Include relevant keywords naturally
- Test different excerpt styles to see what works best