How To Easily Create Table Of Contents In WordPress Without A Plugin

Success Trending    October 08, 2023    Blogging Tips , Tech Skills   

Most Table of Contents Plugins that insert Table of Contents make lots of resource requests and iterations that slow down the website speed. Additionally, most tutorials online that tell you how to create a Table of contents in WordPress without a plugin involve complicated steps of editing the theme files and instructions of code that are very difficult to follow. 

Here is the simple method you can follow to easily create a table of contents in WordPress without a plugin.

Contents

• Why use a table of contents in WordPress?
• SEO Benefits of Creating Table of Contents in WordPress Without Plugin
• Step-by-step guide to creating a Table of contents in WordPress without a plugin
• How to create a Table of contents in WordPress without a plugin
• Step 1: Write your article in Visual Editor as you normally do.
• Step 2: Apply Heading styles and Paragraphs
• Step 3: Use the Table of Contents Generator to Create a Table of Contents in WordPress Without Plugin
• Benefits of Creating Table of Contents in WordPress Without Plugin
• Website Loading Speed
• Improved SEO Potential
• Control over customizations
• Easy editing
• No Technical issues
• Testing and updating: Ensuring your table of contents is functional and up-to-date.
• Conclusion: Take control of your table of contents in WordPress without relying on plugins.

Why use a table of contents in WordPress Without A Plugin?

A table of contents is a powerful tool that can greatly enhance the user experience on your WordPress website. It serves as a roadmap for your readers, providing them with a quick overview of the content and helping them navigate through lengthy articles or pages. But why should you use a table of contents in WordPress, especially without relying on plugins? 

First and foremost, a table of contents makes your content more accessible and user-friendly. It allows readers to easily jump to the sections that interest them the most, saving them time and effort. Instead of scrolling endlessly or using the browser's search function, they can simply click on the desired section in the table of contents and be taken directly to that part of the page. 

Furthermore, a table of contents improves the overall organization and structure of your content. By categorizing and breaking down your article or page into smaller sections, it becomes more digestible and easier to follow. It helps readers understand the flow of information and find specific details or topics they are looking for.

 

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SEO Benefits of Creating Table of Contents in WordPress Without Plugin

From an SEO perspective, a table of contents can also benefit your website. Search engines like Google appreciate well-structured and organized content. By incorporating a table of contents, you provide search engines with a clear hierarchy of your content, making it easier for them to index and rank your pages. This can ultimately improve your chances of appearing higher in search engine results and drive more organic traffic to your website. Using a table of contents in WordPress without relying on plugins can significantly enhance the user experience, improve content organization, and have potential SEO benefits. By implementing a table of contents, you can make your WordPress website more user-friendly, accessible, and organized, ultimately providing value to both your readers and search engines. 

  

Step-by-step guide to creating a Table of contents in WordPress without a plugin

Here are the steps to follow to create a Table of contents in WordPress without a plugin

How to create a Table of contents in WordPress without a plugin

The steps are very easy so much that you can use even a person who has no knowledge of coding can follow them.

Step 1: Write your article in Visual Editor as you normally do.

Adding a Table of Contents in WordPress is the last step before you publish your article. You should first completely format your article as you want. If you are going to make changes to your article after you have created the Table of contents, the new changes will not be reflected in the Table of Contents, and altering the table of Contents might simply cause you extra work.  

Step 2: Apply Heading styles and Paragraphs

Headings and paragraphs are also important for SEO. 

Heading 1 being the main heading, you must also apply heading styles like Heading 2 and Heading 3 which form part of the article body. A Heading 2 tag is used for the headings above this paragraph. A heading or a paragraph might serve as a tag that helps search engines understand the page. 

Paragraph tags, along with other HTML tags, provide information about the content of a webpage to search engines. This information is used by search engines to determine the relevance of a webpage to a user’s search query. 

In addition, paragraph tags help improve the readability of a webpage by breaking up large blocks of text into smaller, more manageable sections Search engines read a page's headings and paragraph tags to interpret it. We organize the content on the page using tags. The headers are used by the article's reader as well, and as they scroll down the page, it is simpler for them to identify sections that are divided by headings. 

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To apply headings and paragraphs, select the text and apply styles by choosing the appropriate style from the dropdown.  

Step 3: Use the Table of Contents Generator to Create a Table of Contents in WordPress Without Plugin

Table of Contents Generator or TOC Generators take the article code and insert the anchor tags with the Table of Contents ready for use in just a couple of clicks.

1. Open the URL - https://bloggingtools.success-trending.club  in another browser Tab.

2. Click on the Table of Contents Generator card.

 

3. Once all the formatting and paragraph tags are applied we need to get the HTML code of the article. Click on the Text tab on the top right of the WordPress Classic Post Editor.

4. Copy the HTML Code from the Text section of the WordPress Classic Post Editor

 

5. Paste the code into the Table of Contents Generator Window

 

6. Apply the color codes as per your needs.

7. Click the Get Code button (see note below)

 

Important Note: In newer WordPress versions, the post-editors might not have any paragraph tags. In such cases, you may get this error in the Table of Contents Generator.

 

You may need to manually add "<div></div><div></div>" one line code after pasting your article code in the Table of Contents Generator. Paste this after the end of the first paragraph or wherever you want to insert the Table of Contents.

 

8. Paste the code back into the Text section of the WordPress Classic Post Editor.

 

9. Preview your post to see the inserted Table of Contents

 

 

10. Edit the Table of Contents in the visual post editor. Publish the post once you are satisfied with the working of the Table of Contents as per your requirement.  

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Benefits of Creating Table of Contents in WordPress Without Plugin

When it comes to creating a table of contents in WordPress, many website owners opt for the convenience of using plugins. However, there are several benefits to creating a table of contents without relying on additional plugins. Creating a table of contents in WordPress without relying on plugins offers a range of benefits that can enhance the user experience and improve the overall functionality of your website.

Website Loading Speed

One of the major advantages is the streamlined loading time. By avoiding the use of additional plugins, you can reduce the number of resources required to load your website, resulting in faster page load times and a smoother browsing experience for your visitors.

Improved SEO Potential

Another significant benefit is the improved search engine optimization (SEO) potential. Search engines like Google value well-structured content, and creating a table of contents can help hierarchically organize your website's information. This makes it easier for search engine crawlers to understand the content structure and index your pages more effectively, potentially boosting your website's visibility in search engine results.

Control over customizations

Creating a table of contents without plugins also gives you more control over the customization and styling options. You can tailor the design of your table of contents to match your website's branding and layout, ensuring a cohesive and professional appearance that aligns with your overall design aesthetic.

Easy editing

Moreover, by creating a table of contents without plugins, you have the flexibility to include specific sections or exclude irrelevant ones, providing a more focused navigation experience for your users. This targeted approach helps visitors look for the information they need quickly, improving their overall satisfaction and increasing the likelihood of them staying on your website for longer periods.

No Technical issues

Lastly, creating a table of contents without relying on plugins allows you to have full ownership and control over the functionality and compatibility of your website. You won't have to worry about potential conflicts between different plugins or the need for constant updates, giving you greater peace of mind and minimizing any potential technical issues. 

 In short, opting to create a table of contents in WordPress without plugins offers numerous benefits such as improved loading times, enhanced SEO potential, customization options, focused navigation, and greater ownership and control. By investing a little time in manually creating a table of contents, you can optimize your website's functionality and provide an enhanced user experience for your visitors.  

  

Testing and updating: Ensuring your table of contents is functional and up-to-date.

Once you have successfully created a table of contents in WordPress without using plugins, it is important to test and update it regularly to ensure it is functional and up-to-date. 

Testing your table of contents is crucial to verify that all the links are working correctly and leading to the intended sections of your content. This can be done by clicking on each link and confirming that it takes you to the right place on the page. 

Make sure to keep your table of contents up-to-date when creating and editing content. If you add or remove sections or subheadings in your article, don't forget to update the table of contents to keep it in sync. This ensures that your readers can easily navigate and find the information they need. 

To update your table of contents, follow the same steps above. The Table of Contents Generator will automatically update the anchor tags of the Table of Contents when changes are made, without any hassle. Once updated, preview and test the table of contents again to confirm its accuracy. 

By regularly testing and updating your table of contents, you ensure that your readers have a seamless browsing experience and can easily navigate through your WordPress content. This simple yet effective practice will help you maintain a user-friendly website and keep your readers engaged and satisfied.   

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Conclusion: Take control of your table of contents in WordPress without relying on plugins.

In conclusion, creating a table of contents in WordPress doesn't have to be a complicated process. With a few simple steps and some basic coding knowledge, you can easily create a table of contents without the need for plugins. 

By using the built-in features of WordPress, such as applying headings and paragraphs, you have the power to customize your table of contents to fit your website's specific needs.

Not only does creating a table of contents without plugins give you more control over the design and functionality, but it also helps improve the overall performance of your website. By reducing the number of plugins used, you can optimize your site's speed and reduce the risk of conflicts or compatibility issues.

Remember, when creating your table of contents, keep it user-friendly and intuitive. Organize your content effectively, using clear headings and subheadings, and make sure the table of contents is easily accessible and visible to your readers.

So, why rely on plugins when you can control your WordPress table of contents? Follow the steps outlined in this article and see how easy it is to create a professional-looking and functional table of contents that enhances the user experience on your website. Embrace the power of customization and make your WordPress site stand out from the crowd.