How to Create a Table of Contents in WordPress

A well structured table of contents (TOC) can significantly enhance the readability and user experience of your WordPress blog posts. It provides a quick overview of the content allowing readers to navigate easily through your articles.

TOC is essential for any lengthy blog post or webpage. It helps readers navigate through your content with ease improving their overall experience and boosting SEO. In this article, we will cover the importance of a TOC and various methods to create one in WordPress.

Why Table of Contents Is Important

Before create table of contents WordPress let’s understand why TOC is important in WordPress posts:

1. A TOC breaks down long articles into digestible sections making it easier for readers to skim through the content and find specific topics of interest.
2. TOC helps readers navigate your posts efficiently reducing bounce rates and increasing engagement.
3. Search engines often consider structured content with clear headings and a TOC as a positive ranking factor.
4. A TOC can be particularly beneficial for users as it allows them to quickly access specific sections of your content.

Methods to Create a Table of Contents in WordPress

The following are three methods to discuss below for creating a table of contents in WordPress:

Method 1: Using WordPress Plugins

WordPress plugins make it easy to add a TOC without touching any code. Some popular table of contents WordPress plugins include:

• Easy Table of Contents
• Table of Contents Plus
• LuckyWP Table of Contents

Using Easy Table of Contents Plugin

Go to your WordPress dashboard. Navigate to “Plugins” then click “Add New”. Search for the “Easy Table of Contents” plugin. Install and activate the plugin.

Go to Settings then Table of Contents. Here you can choose where the TOC will appear, customize its appearance, and select which headings to include.

When editing a post or page you will see a new option to insert a TOC. Click on it, and the plugin will automatically generate a TOC based on your headings.

Method 2: Using Built-In HTML and CSS

If you prefer not to use a plugin, you can manually add table of contents WordPress using HTML and CSS.

Open the post or page where you want to add the TOC. At the top of your content, insert the following HTML:

<div id="toc">
  <h2>Table of Contents</h2>
  <ul>
    <li><a href="#section1">Section 1</a></li>
    <li><a href="#section2">Section 2</a></li>
    <li><a href="#section3">Section 3</a></li>
  </ul>
</div>

Add anchor links to each section in your post:

<h3 id="section1">Section 1</h3>
<p>Your content here...</p>
<h3 id="section2">Section 2</h3>
<p>Your content here...</p>
<h3 id="section3">Section 3</h3>
<p>Your content here...</p>

Add custom CSS to style your TOC. Go to Appearance then Customize then Additional CSS and add:

#toc {
  background: #f9f9f9;
  padding: 10px;
  border: 1px solid #ddd;
}
#toc ul {
  list-style-type: none;
  padding-left: 0;
}
#toc ul li {
  margin: 5px 0;
}

From the above method, you can add table of contents WordPress without plugin.

Method 3: Using Page Builder

Page builders like Elementor and Divi offer widgets or modules to easily add a TOC.

Go to your WordPress dashboard. Navigate to “Plugins” then click “Add New”. Search for the “Elementor” plugin. Install and activate the plugin.

Edit the post/page with Elementor Pro. Drag and drop the TOC widget into your desired location.

Customize the appearance choose which headings to include and save your changes.

Troubleshooting Issues

Following are the troubleshooting issues while creating the table of contents in WordPress:

1. Ensure the plugin or widget is active and properly configured.
2. Verify that your headings have the correct IDs and that your TOC links correspond to these IDs.
3. Double check your CSS and make sure it’s being applied correctly.

Important Notes

Following are the important notes while creating the effective table of contents in WordPress:

• Avoid creating overly long TOCs as they can overwhelm readers.
• Make sure your headings are easy to understand and relevant to the content.
• Increase the level of detail in your TOC to the knowledge and interests of your readers.
• Continuously test your TOC on different devices and screen sizes to ensure optimal performance and readability.

Conclusion

Creating a Table of Contents in WordPress can significantly enhance the readability and navigability of your content. Whether you use a plugin manually code it or leverage a page builder a TOC is a valuable addition to any lengthy post or page.

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