How to Create a Table of Contents on Elementor: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating a Table of Contents (TOC) is an excellent way to improve user experience and SEO on your website. It helps visitors navigate lengthy content by providing quick links to specific sections. If you’re using Elementor, one of the most popular page builders for WordPress, adding a TOC is a breeze. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to create a Table of Contents on Elementor using the TOC Pack plugin.

Step 1: Install and Activate the TOC Pack Plugin

Before you can add a TOC to your Elementor pages, you need to install and activate a plugin that supports this functionality. TOC Pack is a powerful plugin designed to integrate seamlessly with Elementor.

Here’s how to install and activate TOC Pack:

1. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard: Navigate to the admin area of your WordPress site.
2. Go to Plugins > Add New: In the sidebar menu, hover over “Plugins” and click “Add New.”
3. Search for TOC Pack: In the search bar, type “TOC Pack” and press enter.
4. Install the Plugin: Find the TOC Pack plugin in the search results and click “Install Now.”
5. Activate the Plugin: Once the plugin is installed, click “Activate” to enable it on your site.

Step 2: Add a TOC Widget to Your Elementor Page

With TOC Pack activated, you can now add a Table of Contents to any page or post built with Elementor.

Follow these steps to add the TOC widget:

1. Open Elementor Editor: Go to the page or post where you want to add the TOC, and click “Edit with Elementor.”
2. Search for the TOC Widget: In the Elementor panel on the left, search for the “Table of Contents” widget provided by TOC Pack.
3. Drag and Drop the TOC Widget: Drag the widget from the panel and drop it onto your desired location on the page. This is typically at the top of your content for easy access, but you can place it anywhere that makes sense for your layout.

Step 3: Customize the TOC Settings

TOC Pack offers a variety of customization options, allowing you to tailor the Table of Contents to match your site’s design and content structure.

Here’s how to customize your TOC:

1. Select Heading Levels: Choose which heading levels (H1 to H6) should be included in the TOC. This gives you control over the content that appears in the TOC, allowing you to focus on the most important sections.
2. Customize the Appearance: Adjust the styling options, including fonts, colors, and bullet styles, to align with your site’s design. You can choose between different bullet styles like float, decimal, or Roman numerals.
3. Enable/Disable the Toggle Button: Decide whether to include a toggle button that allows users to collapse or expand the TOC. This feature is particularly useful for long pages, helping to keep the page clean and organized.
4. Set Smooth Scroll and Speed: Enable smooth scrolling for a seamless navigation experience, and adjust the scroll speed to ensure it matches the user experience you want to create.

Step 4: Adjust the TOC Behavior

TOC Pack allows you to fine-tune how the TOC behaves on your site.

Configure these additional settings:

1. Sticky TOC: Make the TOC sticky so it stays visible as users scroll down the page. This ensures that navigation remains easily accessible, improving user experience.
2. Exclude Headings: If there are specific headings you don’t want to include in the TOC, you can exclude them by adding their CSS classes or IDs to the exclusion list.
3. Responsive Settings: Adjust how the TOC behaves on mobile devices. You can choose to collapse the TOC by default on smaller screens to save space and improve readability.

Step 5: Publish Your Page

Once you’re satisfied with the TOC setup, it’s time to publish your page.

1. Preview the Page: Before publishing, preview the page to see how the TOC looks and functions. Ensure that it aligns with your content and provides a smooth navigation experience.
2. Publish: If everything looks good, click “Publish” or “Update” to make the TOC live on your site.

Bonus: Advanced TOC Features with TOC Pack

TOC Pack doesn’t just stop at creating a basic TOC. It also offers advanced features like TOC Posts and AJAX-enabled navigation for more complex content structures.

Explore these advanced features:

1. TOC Posts: Automatically generate a TOC for posts grouped by categories and taxonomies, allowing for better organization and easier content discovery.
2. AJAX Navigation: Enable AJAX to load content dynamically without refreshing the page, providing a smoother browsing experience.
3. Drag-and-Drop Reordering: Use the drag-and-drop feature to reorder posts and terms directly from the frontend, simplifying content management.

Conclusion

Creating a Table of Contents in Elementor using the TOC Pack plugin is a straightforward process that can significantly enhance your site’s usability and SEO. By following this guide, you’ll be able to add a fully customizable TOC to your pages, improving navigation and providing a better experience for your visitors. Whether you’re managing a blog, a business site, or an online store, a well-organized TOC can make a big difference in how users interact with your content.