Featured image

A featured image, also known as a post thumbnail, is an image that represents a blog post, page, or custom post type in WordPress. The featured image is usually displayed along with the post title and excerpt on the front page, archive pages, and search results, making it a key element in the visual representation of your content.

Here are some of the benefits of using featured images in WordPress:

1. Improved visual appeal: Featured images can help make your content more visually appealing and help grab the attention of your visitors. By including an eye-catching image with each post, you can make your content stand out and entice visitors to read more.

2. Better organization: Using featured images can help you organize your content and make it easier for visitors to find what they’re looking for. By using different images for different types of content, you can help visitors quickly identify what each post is about.

3. Increased engagement: Featured images can also increase engagement with your content. By including an interesting and relevant image with each post, you can encourage visitors to share your content on social media, increasing its reach and exposure.

4. Improved SEO: Search engines like Google can use the alt text of an image to better understand the content of a page, which can help improve your search engine rankings. By including a descriptive and keyword-rich alt text with each featured image, you can improve the SEO of your site.

5. Better theme compatibility: Many WordPress themes have built-in support for featured images, allowing you to easily display your images in a consistent and attractive way across your site.

To use featured images in WordPress, you’ll need to choose a theme that supports them, and then set a featured image for each post or page that you want to display one for. You can set a featured image from the post or page edit screen by clicking on the “Set featured image” link in the “Featured Image” box.

Overall, featured images are an important aspect of a successful WordPress site and can help you create a more visually appealing and engaging experience for your visitors.