How to Use Excerpts and Featured Images

[Abbie Shores]

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Excerpts and featured images help your blog look polished and professional. They control what shows up on the main blog page, in archives, and sometimes in search results.

Excerpts

An excerpt is a short summary of your post.

1. Find the Excerpt Box
   – In the post editor, scroll down the right-hand sidebar.
   – Open the Summary/Excerpt panel (sometimes it’s under Post Settings).

2. Write a Short Summary
   – Keep it to 1–3 sentences.
   – Make it inviting, so readers want to click through.

3. Leave It Blank (optional)
   – If you don’t write an excerpt, WordPress will automatically use the first part of your post.

Featured Images

A featured image is the main picture for your post.

1. Set the Featured Image
   – In the editor, open the Featured Image panel (usually on the right-hand side).
   – Click Set Featured Image, then upload or choose from the Media Library.

2. Check the Display
   – Different themes use featured images in different ways (on the homepage, at the top of the post, or in previews).

3. Alt Text
   – Always add alt text when you upload your image (important for accessibility and SEO).

Tips:

• Choose an image that represents the theme of your post, not just a random photo.

• Keep excerpts short and engaging — think of them like a magazine teaser.

• Make sure your featured image looks good when cropped (landscape images usually work best).

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