“Skip the extra work of writing blog post excerpts—Google creates its own unique snippet for your post in the search results!”
If you’re still following this advice, stop now.
It’s one of the worst blogging tips out there, and I regret ever following it. From experience, it’s counterproductive, especially if you’re trying to build an audience like I am.
Plus, once you master writing excerpts, they only take a minute or two, so don’t skip them.
Let me explain why excerpts are important and how to make them compelling.
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Importance | Rule | Tips | SEO & AI
Importance of Blog Post Excerpts
I mentioned “skipping the excerpt” is bad advice for three reasons.
- First, search engines aren’t the only source of traffic—social media is another, and they don’t automatically create an excerpt when we share our posts.
- Second, excerpts are helpful for readers. They allow readers to quickly decide if our blog post matches their interests when they come across our link on social media or in our blog roll.
- Finally, as a blogger, excerpts help drive traffic. It’s where we summarize our post, highlight the core message, add a hook, or include anything that encourages readers to click and read.
So, before hitting that publish button, make sure your blog post has a great excerpt.
The Rule of Thumb for Writing Blog Post Excerpts
Now, the question is: how do we create compelling excerpts for our blog posts?
Here’s my general approach to writing excerpts: always put the readers first while keeping it clear and to the point. The goal is to give readers a reason to click on the link to your blog post.
Depending on the topic, the excerpt could focus on one of these:
- Benefit — What will readers gain after reading the post?
- Awareness — What important information does the post offer that they need to know?
- Curiosity — What interesting things will they discover in the post?
- Relevance — What can they expect to find inside?
Here’s a tip: If you’re unsure what words to include in your blog post excerpts, try this quick hack I use: grab keywords and topics from your H2 headings.
This way, readers can easily find what they expect after reading the excerpt. It helps avoid confusion, keeps them happy, and makes a great first impression—which is key, especially if you’re building a brand.
Remember, your excerpt is often the first thing readers see, so make it count!
Tips for Making Blog Post Excerpts More Engaging
Most of the time, it enough for your excerpt to include two key things:
- why readers should read the blog post and
- a short summary of the content.
But don’t stop there—do some revisions to make your excerpts more compelling to click!
For example, rewrite it as a call-to-action or a hook. This can boost the blog post’s click-through rate (CTR), especially on social media. Use the CTR-boosting tips below to make your excerpt more engaging.
I added examples for each—these are phrases I can use in the excerpt of this blog post you’re reading.
- Action Words. Start with verbs that provoke action, urgency, or excitement. For example: “Craft powerful excerpts that grab your readers’ attention instantly!”
- Emotion. Tap into emotions like curiosity, fear, or excitement to grab attention. For instance: “See the results when your excerpts connect with your audience immediately.”
- A Provocative Question. Engage readers by making them think, like this: “Are your blog excerpts compelling enough to make readers click?”
- Intrigue. Offer something unexpected or tease a benefit that draws the reader in. Try this: “Learn the secret technique top bloggers use to write irresistible excerpts.”
- Bold Claim. Make a strong, audacious statement to spark interest and curiosity. Here’s a sample: “Master the art of writing excerpts that boost your blog’s engagement in minutes.”
SEO & AI Reminders for Writing Blog Post Excerpts
If you’re working on SEO, remember to include your target keywords, but make sure they sound natural for your audience. Keep your excerpts between 150 and 160 characters, including spaces.
If you’re like me and focus on the reader when writing excerpts but still want to benefit from SEO, keep them around 160 characters. This way, your blog posts will have a proper description in the SERP even if the search engine doesn’t create its own.
I don’t include keywords in the excerpt because search engines are already great at understanding semantics.
Lastly, if you’re using AI to draft your blog post’s excerpt, don’t let it do all the work. It can give you a draft, but keep in mind, it’s just that—a draft. AI relies on probability, not factual accuracy.
As the blogger who knows the content, you understand the true intent and goal of your post. Always double-check what AI provides.
This post is a resource for Explore to Thrive’s Interactive Pre-Publish Checklist for Blog Posts. Take a look!
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