Table of contents improve user experience on long-form content by providing instant navigation to specific sections. They help readers scan topics quickly, jump to relevant sections, and understand content structure at a glance.
This guide shows you how to add a table of contents to WordPress posts using Nexus Pro’s built-in TOC block—no plugins or coding required. You’ll learn implementation steps, customization options, and best practices for maximum impact.
Why Add a Table of Contents?
Tables of contents benefit both users and search engines.
User Experience Benefits
Better Navigation:
- Jump to specific sections instantly
- Skip irrelevant content easily
- Return to TOC from any section
- Understand content structure
Improved Scannability:
- See all topics at a glance
- Identify relevant sections quickly
- Estimate reading time per section
- Better mobile experience
Reduced Bounce Rate:
- Users find content faster
- Less frustration searching
- Higher engagement
- Longer time on page
SEO Benefits
Jump Links in Search: Google can show jump links in search results:
- Sitelinks to specific sections
- “Jump to” shortcuts
- Increased SERP real estate
- Higher click-through rates
Improved Dwell Time:
- Users stay longer
- Lower bounce rates
- More pages per session
- Positive user signals
Better Content Structure:
- Clear hierarchy signals
- Organized content
- Topic relevance
- Comprehensive coverage
Content Types That Need TOC
Must Have:
- Long-form guides (2,000+ words)
- Ultimate guides
- Tutorials and how-tos
- Resource pages
- Documentation
Should Have:
- Blog posts over 1,500 words
- Comparison articles
- List posts (Top 10, Best of)
- In-depth analyses
Skip TOC:
- Short posts (under 1,000 words)
- News updates
- Simple announcements
- Image galleries
Adding TOC with Nexus Pro
Nexus Pro includes a built-in Table of Contents block.
Step 1: Create Your Content
Before adding TOC, structure your content with proper headings:
Heading Hierarchy:
- H1: Post title (automatic)
- H2: Main sections
- H3: Subsections
- H4: Sub-subsections (if needed)
Example Structure:
H1: Complete WordPress SEO Guide
H2: On-Page SEO
H3: Title Tag Optimization
H3: Meta Descriptions
H2: Technical SEO
H3: XML Sitemaps
H3: Robots.txt
Best Practices:
- Use only one H1 (post title)
- Don’t skip heading levels
- Make headings descriptive
- Include keywords naturally
- 5-10 H2s for optimal TOC
Step 2: Insert Table of Contents Block
- Open your post in block editor
- Click + to add new block
- Search for “Table of Contents”
- Click to insert block
- Block appears with automatic TOC
Automatic Detection: The TOC block automatically:
- Scans all headings in post
- Detects H2, H3, and H4 tags
- Creates hierarchical list
- Generates anchor links
- Updates when you add/remove headings
Step 3: Position the TOC
Recommended Placement:
After Introduction:
- Below opening paragraphs
- Before main content starts
- Users see it early
- Scans well on mobile
Alternative: Sticky Sidebar:
- Remains visible while scrolling
- Always accessible
- Desktop only typically
- Requires sidebar support
Step 4: Customize Appearance
With Nexus Pro TOC Block:
Display Settings:
- Toggle heading levels (H2, H3, H4)
- Show/hide numbers
- Customize title text
- Choose bullet or number style
Styling Options:
- Background color
- Border settings
- Padding and spacing
- Font size
- Link colors
Advanced Options:
- Smooth scroll behavior
- Scroll offset (fixed headers)
- Accessibility settings
- Mobile responsiveness
Step 5: Test Functionality
Click Each Link:
- Verify jumps to correct section
- Check smooth scrolling works
- Test on mobile devices
- Ensure accessibility
Update Test:
- Add new heading
- Check TOC updates automatically
- Remove heading
- Verify TOC adjusts
TOC Best Practices
Optimize your table of contents for maximum effectiveness.
Heading Guidelines
Descriptive Headings:
- Use clear, specific headings
- Include keywords naturally
- Front-load important words
- Keep under 70 characters
Good:
- “How to Optimize Images for Speed”
- “Common Schema Markup Mistakes”
- “WordPress Security Best Practices”
Bad:
- “Optimization”
- “Mistakes”
- “More Tips”
Length Considerations
Minimum Content: Don’t add TOC if:
- Under 1,000 words
- Fewer than 4 headings
- Simple, linear content
- Quick reading time
Optimal TOC:
- 5-10 main sections (H2)
- 2-3 subsections per main (H3)
- Clear hierarchy
- Logical flow
Mobile Optimization
Mobile Considerations:
- TOC collapses on small screens
- Expandable/collapsible design
- Touch-friendly links (44px minimum)
- Fast, smooth scrolling
- No horizontal scroll
With Nexus Pro: TOC automatically responsive:
- Adapts to screen size
- Optimized for touch
- Proper spacing
- Mobile-first design
Accessibility
WCAG Compliance:
- Proper ARIA labels
- Keyboard navigation support
- Screen reader friendly
- Focus indicators
- Skip links available
Best Practices:
- Descriptive link text
- Clear visual hierarchy
- Sufficient color contrast
- Focus visible on tab
Advanced TOC Features
Take your table of contents further.
Smooth Scrolling
Benefits:
- Better user experience
- Visual feedback
- Professional feel
- Reduces disorientation
With Nexus Pro: Smooth scroll built-in:
- CSS scroll-behavior
- JavaScript fallback
- Customizable speed
- Offset for fixed headers
Highlight Current Section
Sticky Behavior: Shows users current position:
- Active section highlighted
- Updates while scrolling
- Visual orientation
- Better UX on long pages
Implementation: Requires custom JavaScript or advanced plugin features.
Collapsible TOC
When to Use:
- Very long articles
- Many subsections
- Mobile optimization
- Reduce initial visual clutter
Behavior:
- Starts collapsed
- Click to expand
- Saves screen space
- User controls visibility
Number vs Bullets
Numbered Lists:
- Sequential content
- Steps or processes
- Ranked items
- Formal documents
Bulleted Lists:
- Unordered topics
- Equal importance sections
- Casual tone
- Easier scanning
With Nexus Pro: Toggle between both styles in block settings.
Common TOC Issues
Troubleshoot problems quickly.
TOC Not Showing Headings
Cause: Headings formatted incorrectly
Check:
- Are you using proper heading blocks?
- Not bold paragraphs?
- Correct heading levels?
- Published, not draft?
Solution: Convert text to proper heading blocks (H2, H3, H4).
Links Don’t Work
Cause: Anchor ID conflicts or JavaScript errors
Check:
- Browser console for errors
- Conflicting plugins
- Theme compatibility
- Cache cleared
Solution:
- Deactivate other TOC plugins
- Clear all caches
- Test with default theme
TOC Doesn’t Update
Cause: Static TOC or cache
Solution:
- Remove and re-add TOC block
- Clear page cache
- Save draft and preview
- Use Nexus Pro block (auto-updates)
Mobile Display Issues
Cause: CSS conflicts or responsive design
Check:
- Mobile preview in editor
- Real device testing
- Theme CSS conflicts
- Width overflow
Solution:
- Add custom CSS if needed
- Use Nexus Pro TOC (mobile-optimized)
- Test on actual devices
TOC Plugins vs Nexus Pro Block
Compare different implementation methods.
TOC Plugins
Popular Options:
- Table of Contents Plus
- Easy Table of Contents
- LuckyWP Table of Contents
Pros:
- Feature-rich
- Extensive customization
- Widget support
- Shortcode options
Cons:
- Another plugin to maintain
- Potential conflicts
- Extra HTTP requests
- Learning curve
Nexus Pro TOC Block
Advantages:
- Built into Nexus Pro
- No additional plugins
- Block editor native
- Auto-updates
- Mobile-optimized
- Performance-friendly
Features:
- Automatic heading detection
- Multiple heading levels
- Smooth scrolling
- Customizable appearance
- Responsive design
- Accessibility compliant
Best For:
- Nexus theme users
- Minimal plugin approach
- Block editor fans
- Performance-conscious sites
Styling Your TOC
Make your table of contents match your brand.
Color Customization
Elements to Style:
- Background color
- Border color
- Link color
- Hover state
- Active section
- Numbers/bullets
With Nexus Pro: Use block settings to adjust:
- Color picker for all elements
- Preset color palettes
- Custom hex codes
- Opacity controls
Typography Settings
Adjustable:
- Font family (matches theme)
- Font size
- Line height
- Letter spacing
- Font weight
Recommendations:
- Slightly smaller than body text
- Good line height (1.5-1.7)
- Medium weight
- Clear, readable font
Spacing and Layout
Customize:
- Padding (inside TOC box)
- Margin (around TOC box)
- List item spacing
- Indent levels
- Border radius
Visual Balance:
- Not too cramped
- Not too spacious
- Clear hierarchy
- Visual breathing room
Monitoring TOC Performance
Track how users interact with your TOC.
Google Analytics
Event Tracking: Add click tracking to TOC links:
// Track TOC clicks
document.querySelectorAll('.toc a').forEach(link => {
link.addEventListener('click', () => {
gtag('event', 'toc_click', {
'event_category': 'navigation',
'event_label': link.textContent
});
});
});
Metrics to Monitor:
- TOC click rate
- Most clicked sections
- Scroll depth
- Time on page
User Behavior
Analyze:
- Do users click TOC links?
- Which sections get attention?
- Do they scroll or jump?
- Mobile vs desktop usage
Optimize Based On:
- Reorganize sections by popularity
- Expand popular topics
- Remove/condense unpopular sections
- Improve heading descriptions
Conclusion
Adding a table of contents to WordPress posts improves navigation, user experience, and SEO. With Nexus Pro’s built-in TOC block, implementation takes seconds with no coding required.
Quick Implementation:
- Structure content with proper headings (H2, H3, H4)
- Insert Table of Contents block after introduction
- Customize appearance to match your brand
- Test on desktop and mobile
- Monitor user engagement
With Nexus Pro TOC Block:
- Automatic heading detection
- One-click insertion
- Mobile-responsive
- Smooth scrolling
- No additional plugins
- Performance-optimized
Start adding TOC to your long-form content today. Focus on posts over 1,500 words with clear section structure for maximum impact.
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