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I find that many of my posts are quite long. How do I make it so my post has a teaser or introduction, but provides a link to the rest of the article?

This is one of those questions I receive a lot. Expandable content (providing readers with a short teaser, then providing a link to the rest of the article) is excellent for bloggers whose posts tend to be quite long or who like to keep weeks and weeks of content on their main page.

Blogger
Believe it or not, Blogger actually has information on how make your posts expandable. You will need to have post pages enabled and you’ll be inserting CSS code. I think Blogger’s instructions are clear and you shouldn’t have any problems.

TypePad
Enabling expandable posts in TypePad is even easier because you don’t have to insert the code yourself.

  1. Go to Weblogs > Compose Post.
  2. Click Customize the display of this page (you’ll find it at the bottom of the page).
  3. In the pop-up window, choose Custom and check Extended Post.
  4. Click Save.
  5. Save your post.

WordPress (written by Jordan at Momma Blogga)

The easiest way to enable a "Read More" link is to use the "more" button
in the compose post window, which inserts the code <!–more–>
.  Make sure the cursor is positioned where you want the read more link to appear in the post
window.

Note that until we get to WordPress version 2.5 (due in spring 08),
this will cut off the post in the feed as well.  However, if you’re
running WordPress.org (a standalone site with hosting), there are
plugins that are designed to show excerpts from your posts on your
website without affecting your feed as well as plugins designed to show
full stories even when you use the Read More tag.

WordPress allows you to set up the "Read More" function from your admin page. WordPress also allows you to customize your "Read More" link.

5 thoughts on “I find that many of my posts are quite long. How do I make it so my post has a teaser or introduction, but provides a link to the rest of the article?”

  1. I read somewhere once that most people won’t bother to click on the “more” button. If people have to work to read your stuff, they’ll just move on. The “more” button impedes reading and I recommend against it if you want to retain your readership. The “more” button and music on your site – annoying.

  2. I have a question about a post you did last November. I am commenting here because I didn’t know if you see that comment since it was from several months ago!

    I am trying to put an html code box on one of my post on my blog. Your tutorial was great but every time I added my personalized html code inside the box the picture icon actually shows up in the html code box. Your box works beautifully but MY information is messing up!! Can you help me? I am hope I am making since. Feel free to email me or comment here! Thanks!! This site has great info!! Thanks so much!

    Jennifer

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