This post is based on Episode 132 of the ProBlogger podcast.
I’m ready to bet that every blog post you’ve ever written has a main heading at the top. (If you’re using WordPress, it’s usually the title.)
But how many of them have sub-headings?
Even if you’ve never used them before, you probably know what they are (especially if you’re a regular ProBlogger reader). These are the “mini-titles” you see in posts that are formatted slightly differently than the rest of the text. They can be a different color, in a larger font, or even in a completely different font.
Good for the reader
Now not every post needs subheadings. For short posts (like the type Seth Godin writes on his blog), you probably don’t need them as the reader will be ready to read in a matter of minutes. However, if your posts are longer than 500 words, adding sub-headings will make them easier to read. Here’s why.
1. You break up the text
Nothing is more intimidating to a reader than seeing a solid wall of text. You almost finish yourself by the time you get to it because you know it will be a tough slog to get through anything.
We need pauses in the text to take a mental break. And sub-headings are a perfect way to create those pauses.
2. You add extra white space
Spaces can also make text more attractive, especially from a reading point of view. Most sub-headings have spaces above and below, which allows you to add spaces to your post.
3. They serve as a guide within the text
As much as we want people to read every word we’ve written from start to finish, most readers will search your post for the information they want. And well-written sub-headings can help you find that information easily.
4. You give your contribution a strong structure
Subheadings can not only act as a guide, but also serve as a roadmap for the reader. By looking at your sub-headings, they can see where you are going with your post and how the various points you are making relate to each other and to the topic as a whole. Last thing you want when they scratch their heads wondering where are you taking them.
Good for the writer too
So far we’ve talked about how sub-headings make things better for the reader. But they can also help you write your posts.
When planning your posts (something I’m a huge fan of) using sub-headings can help you structure them properly. If you want to make four points (which you may have written as point points on your plan) then you can put them in the most logical order by creating a subheading for each point. They will also help you link each point together and create beautiful sections from one to the next.
And you will know exactly what to write about for each one as the subheading tells you what information to include.
You can also use sub-headings to add additional SEO keywords related to what you are writing about. Just make sure your sub-headings still make sense when you’re done.
Some examples
Okay, let’s look at some examples of blog post sub-headings.
A simple structure
Here is an excerpt from Charles Crawford’s post: 7 simple ideas for mailing list opt-ins. As you can probably see from the title, it talks about seven ideas. And each has its own heading, which makes it easy for the reader to come up with a specific idea that piques their interest.
And since this is a list post, he also numbered each idea.
This is a great way to make sure you keep your promise to your reader. If there are only five ideas in their post, the reader may feel cheated. By numbering them consecutively, he can quickly ensure that he has incorporated all seven ideas.
A more complicated structure
This type of structure works for most blog posts. However, nothing prevents you from using multiple levels of sub-headings if it helps to clarify the understanding of your information.
Here is Laney Galligan’s contribution: The 4 Rs That A Brand Show Your Blog Is Influential. And as in the previous example, it is a list item. But at the end of each section, Laney added another sub-heading listing various related items.
However, as you can see, the second subheading (‘Reach Metrics’) has no number and is written in smaller font than its main subheading above it. In this way, the reader is informed of additional information on “Range”.
How to create sub-headings in your posts
How do you create subheadings when writing your blog posts?
If you’re using WordPress, just select the heading text and change it from “Paragraph” to “Heading 1” (for a sub-heading), “Heading 2” (for a sub-heading), etc. in the pull-down menu.
If you write your posts in Microsoft Word and then paste them into WordPress, you can use the appropriate Word styles to do the same.
Are you going to start using sub-headings in your future posts? Are you going to go back and add some to your older posts? Let us know in the comments.
Photo by Ан Нет on Unsplash