search
Go to app

Basic elements

10 essential content blocks available for free on all plans

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.

hashtag
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.

hashtag
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

hashtag
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)

hashtag
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

hashtag
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

hashtag
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

hashtag
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".

hashtag
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%

hashtag
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

hashtag
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

PreviousOverviewNextAdvanced elements

Last updated

Was this helpful?