# Basic elements
Basic elements are the foundation of every blog post. They are **free for all users** on every plan (Free, Basic, Pro, and Advanced) - no upgrade required. These 10 elements cover the most common content needs: text, headings, images, videos, lists, tables, and layout spacing. Whether you are writing your first post or your hundredth, these are the building blocks you will use in every article.
***
### Heading
Add headings to structure your blog post into clear sections. Supports heading levels H2 through H6.
**How to use:**
1. Add a Heading element or type `/heading`
2. Type your heading texee
3. Select the heading level (H2-H6) from the toolbar
Formatting options: Bold, Italic, Underline
| Do | Don't |
| ---------------------------------- | --------------------------------- |
| Use H2 for main sections | Skip levels (H2 -> H4) |
| Use H3 for subsections under H2 | Use H1 (reserved for page title) |
| Include keywords naturally | Stuff keywords into every heading |
| Keep headings concise (5-10 words) | Write full sentences as headings |
> **SEO Tip:** Your most important keywords should appear in H2 headings. Google gives more weight to higher-level headings. The Table of Contents element automatically generates navigation from your headings.
***
### Paragraph
The standard text block for writing content. Every blog post is built primarily from paragraph elements.
**How to use:**
1. Add a Paragraph element or simply start typing in the editor
2. Write your content
3. Format text using the toolbar: Bold, Italic, Underline, Hyperlinks
**Best practices:**
* Keep paragraphs **3-5 sentences** - walls of text scare readers away
* Use **short sentences** for mobile readability (60% of blog traffic is mobile)
* Include **internal links** to product pages naturally within your content
* Front-load important information - readers scan, they don't read every word
***
### List
Create ordered (numbered) or unordered (bulleted) lists to organize information in an easy-to-scan format.
**How to use:**
1. Add a List element or type `/list`
2. Choose **Bulleted** (unordered) or **Numbered** (ordered)
3. Type each item, press Enter for the next
| Type | Best for |
| -------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| Bulleted | Features, benefits, tips, ingredients |
| Numbered | Steps, rankings, instructions, tutorials |
**Best practices:**
* Use lists for **3+ items**
* Keep items **parallel** in structure (all start with verbs, or all are nouns)
* Google frequently pulls list content into **featured snippets** (position zero)
***
### Table
Insert data tables with customizable rows and columns. Add or remove rows/columns above, below, left, or right of any selected cell.
**How to use:**
1. Add a Table element or type `/table`
2. Set the number of rows and columns
3. Click any cell to type content
4. Use the toolbar to add/remove rows and columns
**Use case examples:**
| Use case | Example |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------ |
| Size chart | XS/S/M/L/XL with measurements |
| Product comparison | Feature vs feature across 3 products |
| Pricing table | Plan features side by side |
| Shipping rates | Region x delivery speed x cost |
**Best practices:**
* Keep tables **under 6 columns** for mobile readability
* Use the **first row as headers**
* Google can extract table data for **featured snippets**, especially for comparison queries
***
### Divider
A horizontal line that visually separates sections of your blog post. The divider's appearance adapts to your Shopify theme styling.
**How to use:**
1. Add a Divider element or type `/divider`
2. The divider appears automatically - no configuration needed
**Best practices:**
* Use dividers **sparingly** - too many makes the post look fragmented
* Pair with headings for major sections; use dividers alone for minor breaks
* Works well before product recommendation sections or CTA banners
***
### Quote
Add a styled blockquote to highlight important text, cite a source, or feature a customer testimonial.
**How to use:**
1. Add a Quote element or type `/quote`
2. Type the quote text
3. (Optional) Add author name and title
4. Customize styling via the settings panel
**Customization options:**
* Layout & alignment (left, center, right)
* Background color, text color, quote symbol color
* Author name and title/role fields
**Use case examples:**
| Scenario | Example |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Customer testimonial | "This serum changed my skin in 2 weeks" - Sarah M., verified buyer |
| Expert opinion | "Organic cotton is the future of sustainable fashion" - Dr. Jane Lee |
| Data highlight | "73% of consumers prefer brands with sustainable packaging" |
**Best practices:**
* Always **attribute** quotes to a real person or source
* Limit to **1-2 quotes per post** to maintain impact
***
### Image
Add images to your blog post. Upload from your computer, select from the media library, or paste an image URL. Images are stored in your Shopify Files section.
**How to use:**
1. Add an Image element or type `/image`
2. Choose your source: Upload, Media Library, or URL
3. Configure image settings
**Configuration options:**
* **Alt text** - Describe the image for SEO and accessibility
* **Aspect ratio** - Control image proportions
* **Alignment** - Left, center, right
* **Caption** - Add descriptive text below the image
* **Image link** - Make the image clickable (link to product, collection, etc.)
**Best practices:**
* **Always add alt text** - Google uses it for image search ranking, and it's essential for accessibility
* Write alt text that describes the content: "Woman wearing red summer dress on beach" not "image1.jpg"
* Use **high-quality images** but keep file size under 500KB for page speed
* Add **image links** to product photos - turn every image into a sales opportunity
> **SEO Tip:** Include your target keyword naturally in alt text when relevant. "Organic cotton baby blanket in mint green" is better than "baby blanket".
***
### Video
Embed videos in your blog post. Upload from your device, select from the media library, or paste a YouTube/Vimeo URL.
**How to use:**
1. Add a Video element or type `/video`
2. Choose your source: Upload, Media Library, or URL (YouTube/Vimeo)
3. The video embeds with a player in your post
**Supported platforms:** YouTube, Vimeo
**Best practices:**
* **YouTube is preferred** for SEO - Google owns YouTube and gives its videos search priority
* Keep product demo videos **under 2 minutes**
* Add a **text summary** below the video for readers who prefer reading (and for SEO - Google can't index video content directly)
* Video increases average time on page by 88%
***
### Text & Text
A two-column layout with text on both sides. Each column is independently editable with full paragraph formatting.
**How to use:**
1. Add a Text & Text element or type `/text & text`
2. Click on the left column to type content
3. Click on the right column to type content
4. Format each column independently
**Use case examples:**
| Left column | Right column |
| ------------------ | ---------------------- |
| Product benefits | Product specifications |
| Customer problem | Your solution |
| Free plan features | Pro plan features |
**Best practices:**
* Use for **genuinely parallel content** - don't force unrelated text into columns
* Keep column content **similar in length** for visual balance
* On **mobile devices**, columns stack vertically - make sure each column makes sense on its own
***
### Spacer
Add adjustable vertical spacing between elements. Control the height and background color with opacity.
**How to use:**
1. Add a Spacer element or type `/spacer`
2. Adjust the height using the settings
3. (Optional) Set a background color with opacity
**Configuration:**
* **Height** - Pixel value for vertical space
* **Background color** - Optional colored space
* **Opacity** - Control transparency of the background
**Best practices:**
* Use **20-40px** for minor gaps, **60-100px** for major section breaks
* Transparent spacers are most common - colored spacers work for visual emphasis
* Don't overuse - too much white space makes the post feel empty
* Consider **Spacer v2** (New Elements) for more height options
