Along with consistently using Jump Break, properly sizing and wording of important post sections can make the blog pages neater, and easier to read.
You see my opening paragraph, above. Sizing and wording of important post sections, such as the opening paragraph, helps make the main page layout more consistent - and gives a slightly more professional look to the blog.
And, a cleaner and more consistent page layout, to complement a carefully structured blog, encourages readers to read more of the blog.
The section of the post, before the jump break, helps indicate what the post is about.
The title and opening paragraph should be consistent in length - but the complete pre jump break section can be varied, depending upon post complexity.
There are 5 key sections, which help encourage people to read your post - when you use Jump Break.
The post title.
The title is found in every index page or post index - so make it descriptive, yet short. It's the most important of the 5 sections.
The title needs to be short enough, to fit into a SERP entry, properly - but long enough to describe to the potential reader, what the post is about.
I shoot for 40 to 50 characters, per post title, in this blog - since the size of the post title font, and the width of the posts column - makes for 50 characters (give or take a few), in one title line. I've found that a one line title makes a well sized "latest post" section, on the Home page - and puts the "Read more" link just above the bottom of the screen.
Note that using a 50 character title line is based on a 100% zoom level - which may be more or less effective, for any given blog.
Having the "Read more" link visible, without scrolling, encourages the reader to click thru to read the latest post, when on the home page.
The first paragraph of the post.
When the potential reader scans an index page, looking for a post to read, the first paragraph falls just after the title, for each post entry.
The first paragraph is not displayed in any index gadgets - but it's a key section on any index page. After the title, it is the most important section of the post.
I try to make mine one or two sentences - and no more than 2 or 3 lines. Note that line length is affected by font size ("zoom" level), which is a personal choice of each individual reader. Your choice of Title, First Paragraph, Pre Jump Break and others won't produce a definitive screen space for every reader.
The section ahead of the jump break.
This section should be sized, proportional to the post as a whole. If a small post, you'll want to make it a couple sentences - if a large post, 2 or 3 paragraphs. With Jump Break - unlike many other "Read More" features, you can size the pre Jump Break section so it breaks on complete paragraphs.
Along with a one line title, a properly sized pre jump break section makes the "Read more" link fall just above the bottom of the screen. And this section, like the post title and the first paragraph, provides detail to the reader - and describes the post subject.
This post, as initially published, in main page view.
This post, as seen recently, in main page view.
I generally install the Jump Break code while I am finishing the post, to allow for post length changes.
The first paragraph after the jump break.
This paragraph - like the opening post paragraph - should be short. It's what the reader sees first, after clicking "Read more" from an index page.
This, too, I try for 1 or 2 sentences - and 2 to 3 lines, maximum.
The post Search Description.
Along with the title and URL, the post search description is part of some SERP entries. It complements the blog search description.
This I keep at 130 to 150 characters - and I spend a fair amount of time revising, before and after the post is published.
Don't use meta keywords, which will hurt search reputation.
The Google SERP Snippet Optimization Tool.
SERP snippet optimization is a useful process, which teaches you the proper length and wording for the title, URL, and search description. I used it heavily for 2 or 3 weeks, when learning about optimisation - and use it occasionally, even now.
Making the title, URL, and search description fields long enough (so they describe, properly) - yet stay within limits (so they don't get truncated by the SERP assembly process) makes for a cleaner looking SERP entry.
This is a very useful tool, to show you how to size the title, URL, and search description.
Compare the example SERP entry above, with the ones below. See the truncated description and title, in the SERP entries below? How do you want to present your blog, in the SERP entries?
Here, we see a SERP entry with a truncated description. See how unpolished it looks?
Here, we see a SERP entry with a truncated title. See how unpolished it looks?
The end result.
While older sections are not as well organised or written, a consistent post structure helps make the more recent portions of this blog cleaner - and encourages casual reader activity, from main page view.
And, along with properly chosen index and search accessories, it may be easier to hunt for answers. And that is what most tech blogs should be about.
You see my opening paragraph, above. Sizing and wording of important post sections, such as the opening paragraph, helps make the main page layout more consistent - and gives a slightly more professional look to the blog.
And, a cleaner and more consistent page layout, to complement a carefully structured blog, encourages readers to read more of the blog.
The section of the post, before the jump break, helps indicate what the post is about.
The title and opening paragraph should be consistent in length - but the complete pre jump break section can be varied, depending upon post complexity.
There are 5 key sections, which help encourage people to read your post - when you use Jump Break.
- The post title.
- The first paragraph of the post.
- The section ahead of the jump break.
- The first paragraph after the jump break.
- The post Search Description.
The post title.
The title is found in every index page or post index - so make it descriptive, yet short. It's the most important of the 5 sections.
Optimize Post Content, And Encourage Readers
The title needs to be short enough, to fit into a SERP entry, properly - but long enough to describe to the potential reader, what the post is about.
I shoot for 40 to 50 characters, per post title, in this blog - since the size of the post title font, and the width of the posts column - makes for 50 characters (give or take a few), in one title line. I've found that a one line title makes a well sized "latest post" section, on the Home page - and puts the "Read more" link just above the bottom of the screen.
Note that using a 50 character title line is based on a 100% zoom level - which may be more or less effective, for any given blog.
Having the "Read more" link visible, without scrolling, encourages the reader to click thru to read the latest post, when on the home page.
The first paragraph of the post.
When the potential reader scans an index page, looking for a post to read, the first paragraph falls just after the title, for each post entry.
Along with consistently using Jump Break, properly sizing and wording of important post sections can make the blog pages neater, and easier to read.
The first paragraph is not displayed in any index gadgets - but it's a key section on any index page. After the title, it is the most important section of the post.
I try to make mine one or two sentences - and no more than 2 or 3 lines. Note that line length is affected by font size ("zoom" level), which is a personal choice of each individual reader. Your choice of Title, First Paragraph, Pre Jump Break and others won't produce a definitive screen space for every reader.
The section ahead of the jump break.
This section should be sized, proportional to the post as a whole. If a small post, you'll want to make it a couple sentences - if a large post, 2 or 3 paragraphs. With Jump Break - unlike many other "Read More" features, you can size the pre Jump Break section so it breaks on complete paragraphs.
Along with consistently using Jump Break, properly sizing and wording of important post sections can make the blog pages neater, and easier to read.
You see my opening paragraph, above. Sizing and wording of important post sections, such as the opening paragraph, helps make the main page layout more consistent - and gives a slightly more professional look to the blog.
And, a cleaner and more consistent page layout, to complement a carefully structured blog, encourages readers to read more of the blog.
Along with a one line title, a properly sized pre jump break section makes the "Read more" link fall just above the bottom of the screen. And this section, like the post title and the first paragraph, provides detail to the reader - and describes the post subject.
I generally install the Jump Break code while I am finishing the post, to allow for post length changes.
The first paragraph after the jump break.
This paragraph - like the opening post paragraph - should be short. It's what the reader sees first, after clicking "Read more" from an index page.
The section of the post, before the jump break, helps indicate what the post is about.
This, too, I try for 1 or 2 sentences - and 2 to 3 lines, maximum.
The post Search Description.
Along with the title and URL, the post search description is part of some SERP entries. It complements the blog search description.
This I keep at 130 to 150 characters - and I spend a fair amount of time revising, before and after the post is published.
Properly sized post sections make the posts easier to read, and encourage reader activity. Learn how to do this, easily.
Don't use meta keywords, which will hurt search reputation.
The Google SERP Snippet Optimization Tool.
SERP snippet optimization is a useful process, which teaches you the proper length and wording for the title, URL, and search description. I used it heavily for 2 or 3 weeks, when learning about optimisation - and use it occasionally, even now.
Making the title, URL, and search description fields long enough (so they describe, properly) - yet stay within limits (so they don't get truncated by the SERP assembly process) makes for a cleaner looking SERP entry.
Properly sized post sections make the posts easier to read, and encourage reader activity. Learn how to do this, easily.
Compare the example SERP entry above, with the ones below. See the truncated description and title, in the SERP entries below? How do you want to present your blog, in the SERP entries?
Properly sized post sections make the posts easier to read. More text makes the SERP truncate, and makes it look unpolished. Learn how ...
This is an Example of a Title Tag that is Seventy Characters i...Use the snippet optimization tool yourself, and see the results.
The end result.
While older sections are not as well organised or written, a consistent post structure helps make the more recent portions of this blog cleaner - and encourages casual reader activity, from main page view.
And, along with properly chosen index and search accessories, it may be easier to hunt for answers. And that is what most tech blogs should be about.
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