When it comes to creating a captivating WordPress website, small businesses and entrepreneurs often face a common challenge - the default excerpt length. The excerpt, a summary or teaser of a blog post, usually consists of a fixed number of words, but what if you want to change that? In this article, we will explore how you can easily adjust the number of words in the excerpt to make it more suitable for your content and engage your readers right from the start.
To modify the number of words in the WordPress excerpt, you have a couple of options depending on your comfort level with coding. Let's dive into two methods that will help you achieve your desired word count:
1. Using the Excerpt Length Filter Function:
- Start by accessing your WordPress theme's functions.php file, which can usually be found under Appearance > Theme Editor.
- Open the file and add the following code snippet within the PHP tags:
```
function change_excerpt_length($length) {
return 20; // Adjust the number according to your preference
}
add_filter('excerpt_length', 'change_excerpt_length');
```
This code sets the excerpt length to 20 words, but you can update the value based on your requirements.
- Save the changes to your functions.php file, and the new excerpt length will take effect.
2. Utilizing the Manual Excerpt Field:
- If you prefer a more flexible approach, WordPress provides a manual excerpt field while editing a post. This field allows you to enter a custom summary of any length.
- To enable this feature, make sure the manual excerpt box is displayed when editing a post. Go to Screen Options (found in the top right corner of the post editor) and check the "Excerpt" box.
- Once enabled, you can craft your own excerpt by entering text directly into the "Excerpt" box. WordPress will use this custom excerpt instead of the automatically generated one.
Wordpress Change Number Of Words In Excerpt Example:
Let's say you run a small business that specializes in organic skincare products. You publish a blog post about the benefits of using natural ingredients in skincare routines. To engage your readers, you want the excerpt to be a short teaser that leaves them wanting to learn more. By setting the excerpt length to 15 words, you can create an attention-grabbing summary like this:
"Discover the transformative power of natural ingredients. Achieve healthier-looking skin with our organic skincare products."
Now that you have learned how to modify the number of words in your WordPress excerpts, take control of your content's first impression. Experiment with different excerpt lengths to find what engages your readers best. Remember to share this article with fellow small business owners and entrepreneurs who are seeking to enhance their WordPress websites. Explore other insightful guides on DamnWoo to further elevate your online presence, and don't forget to check out our awesome plugins designed exclusively for your success.
