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Formatting your blog post well isn’t just about making it look good, it helps your readers stay engaged and improves your chances of showing up in search engines and AI-powered summaries like Google’s AI Overviews.
This guide walks you through how to structure your WordPress blog post for clarity, scannability, SEO success, and AI visibility.
Why Formatting Matters
When a visitor lands on your blog post, you only have a few seconds (or miliseconds) to make a good impression. Well-formatted content is easier to scan, more enjoyable to read, and more likely to perform well in both search results and AI-generated summaries.
Use Headings to Organize Your Ideas
Headings create an outline for your post and help readers (and search engines) understand the structure of your content.
- H1 is automatically used for your blog title. Each page should have a single H1.
- Use H2 for your main sections.
- Use H3 for supporting points within those sections.
Try to include your primary keyword in your headings when it makes sense, but don’t over do it. Your human readers will notice the keyword packing.
Keep Paragraphs Short and Clear
Aim for 2–4 sentences per paragraph. This improves readability, especially on mobile devices, and helps readers move smoothly through your content.
Use Lists and Bullet Points
Breaking information into bulleted or numbered lists makes it easier for readers to scan and increases the chance your post will be featured in Google snippets or AI-generated summaries.
Add Visual Content Strategically
Use images, graphics, or short videos to break up text and reinforce your message. You should always include:
- Descriptive filenames (e.g., wordpress-formatting-example.png)
- Alt text that explains what the image shows
- Optimized file sizes for fast loading
Link to Other Content
- Internal links help guide your readers through your site and improve SEO.
- External links to reputable sources can boost your credibility and provide helpful context.
Make sure to open external links in a new tab to keep users on your site.
Include a Featured Image and Excerpt
- A featured image helps your post stand out on your blog archive page and creates a visual hierarchy immediately.
- A custom excerpt provides a short summary (1–2 sentences) that can be used by search engines and AI tools when displaying your post in previews. This should be different than the copy on the page.
Format for AI Overviews
Google’s AI Overviews pull content directly from websites and blogs to generate quick answers. To improve your chances of being included you can:
- Use clear subheadings phrased as questions (like “How do I format a blog post in WordPress?”).
- Keep your answers short and direct—especially in the first paragraph under each heading.
- Include semantically relevant keywords in your headings and body copy.
- Use bulleted lists and numbered steps where appropriate.
The more structured and clear your content is, the more likely it is to be selected by AI for summaries and overviews.
Preview Before You Publish
Always click the Preview button to see how your post appears across desktop, tablet, and mobile. Check formatting, links, spacing, and headings before hitting Publish. Google looks at page experience as a ranking factor, so your page should be clearly formatted for all devices.
Final Thoughts
A well-formatted blog post keeps readers engaged and boosts your visibility in both search results and AI summaries. A few simple formatting techniques can make a big difference in how your content is perceived—and how it performs.
Need Help Formatting for SEO and AI?
At Ruby Moon Designs, we help clients create blog content that’s both beautiful and optimized for today’s evolving digital landscape. If you’d like help formatting your posts or making them more AI-friendly, get in touch for a free consultation.
