WordPress is a top platform for creating visually appealing and lucrative websites. One of its most notable characteristics is the ease with which you can create and manage web pages. Adding an About Us page, a Contact page, or something more complex is an easy process. This step-by-step guide will show you how to add a new page to your WordPress site and customize it to meet your needs.
How to Create a Page
To begin creating a new page in WordPress, go to the Pages menu in the WordPress Dashboard and click Add New.
In the WordPress editor, content is organized into distinct “blocks,” such as paragraphs, images, and videos. Each block has its own set of controls for adjusting properties like color, width, and alignment. These controls appear when you select a block. You can access all available blocks from the Block Library by clicking the + icon.
Depending on your WordPress version, you may be using the Gutenberg Block editor (version 5.0 and later) or the Classic editor (versions before 5.0). If you’re using version 5.0 or higher, you can still use the Classic editor by installing the corresponding plugin.
Additionally, you can use page builder plugins (like Elementor) or themes (such as Divi), which offer advanced features like drag-and-drop functionality. However, these are not native to WordPress and may occasionally cause conflicts with other parts of your site. For this guide, we’ll focus on the default editors provided by WordPress.
Add Page Title
Begin by adding the title of your page, such as About. The page title should reflect the content it will contain. If you have pretty permalinks enabled, WordPress will use this title as the page’s permalink, which is the URL or web address for the page.
Start Writing or Choose a Block
Once the title is set, you can start adding content. Content can include text, headings, images, lists, videos, tables, and more. Ensure the Top Toolbar is visible to see the available blocks or click the button to add the appropriate block.
WordPress Content Blocks
Blocks are the fundamental elements for creating content in the WordPress page editor. Here’s a list of the blocks you can use:
▪️Text
This category offers various formats for including written content on your page. You can add simple paragraphs, create new headings, insert lists, or use tables, among other text-based elements. Each format allows for different ways to structure and present information.
▪️Media
This section enables you to integrate multimedia elements into your page. You can include a single image, a gallery of images, audio files, or other types of media content, enhancing the visual and auditory appeal of your page.
▪️Design
Here, you can customize the overall layout of your page. Options include adjusting page breaks, modifying spacing, arranging rows and columns, and more, allowing you to tailor the page’s design to fit your needs.
▪️Widgets
This feature provides various tools to extend the functionality of your page. You can add elements like calendars, archive menus, shortcodes, social media icons, search bars, and other widgets that enhance user interaction and page functionality.
▪️Theme
This option integrates widgets that are specific to the active theme of your site. These may include contact forms, navigation menus, post lists, and other theme-specific elements designed to match the overall look and feel of your site.
▪️Embeds
This enables you to directly add content from outside sources to your page. Posts, videos, and other content from social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others can be smoothly incorporated by embedding them.
Once you have added these blocks, you can easily rearrange their positions or adjust their settings to fit your desired layout and functionality.
Additionally, under the subsection Patterns, you can select pre-designed block templates to quickly insert into your page. After inserting these patterns, you can further customize their design and text to suit your specific requirements.
WordPress Page Settings
In the WordPress page editor, the Document settings located on the right side are essential for configuring the details and visibility of your page. Here’s a look at each component:
✔Status & Visibility
This section controls how and when your page is accessible.
▪Public
This setting makes the page visible to everyone on the internet.
▪Private
Limits visibility to site administrators and editors only.
▪Password-Protected
Allows only users who have the password you set to view the page.
✔Scheduling Your Page
You can choose to publish your page either immediately or schedule it for a future date.
▪Immediate Publishing
If you select Immediately, the page will be published as soon as you click the blue Publish button.
▪Scheduled Publishing
To set a specific future date and time for publication, use the date and time picker. Enter your desired schedule, and the page will automatically publish at that time.
✔Permalink
The Permalink is the final segment of your page’s URL and should ideally be customized to match the page’s title for better SEO. Ensure that pretty permalinks are enabled in your WordPress settings to customize the URL structure.
✔Featured Image
The featured image may be displayed in various locations based on your theme, such as in a homepage gallery or as a visual preview on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter when you share the page link.
✔Discussion
This is where you control whether or not users can leave comments on your page. If you would like to enable commenting from visitors, enable this setting.
✔Page Attributes
This section allows you to define the hierarchical structure and layout of your page.
▪Parent
Assign a parent page to organize your pages into a hierarchy, creating child pages under a main page.
▪Template
Select a custom template from your theme’s available options, if applicable, to alter the layout of your page.
▪Order
Assign a numerical value to control the page’s order to other pages. By default, pages are ordered alphabetically, but this setting lets you customize the sequence.
✔Save Draft or Preview Your Page
Before publishing, you have two key options accessible from the left-hand links at the top of the editor:
▪Save Draft
Click this to save your progress and keep the page unpublished while you continue working on it.
▪Preview
Use this button to view a draft of your page as it will appear once published. This opens a new tab in your browser to check the page’s appearance.
✔Publish Your WordPress Page
Once your content is complete and you’re satisfied with the settings, click the Publish button. You’ll have a final opportunity to review your page settings before it goes live. After publishing, you’ll receive a confirmation message with the page URL. You can either click View Page to see it live or Copy Link to save the URL for future reference.
Adding a Page to Your Menu
1. Access the Menus Section
Go to the WordPress dashboard and click on Appearance in the left-hand sidebar. From the drop-down menu, select Menus to enter the Menus management area.
2. Add Your Page to a Menu
Within the Menus section, find the Pages tab on the left side of the screen. Here, you will see a list of all your pages. Locate the page you want to add, check the box next to its title, and then click the Add to Menu button. This action will add the selected page to the menu structure on the right side of the screen.
3. Arrange Menu Items
In the menu structure area on the right, you can organize the order and hierarchy of your menu items. Simply drag and drop the newly added page to your desired position within the menu. Once you have arranged the menu items to your preference, click the Save Menu button to apply the changes and update your site’s navigation.
How to Edit Pages in WordPress
To edit pages in WordPress, start by browsing the Pages section in your WordPress dashboard. When you hover over an existing page, you’ll see a set of actions you can take. Here’s an overview of each option:
1. Edit
Clicking Edit will take you to the page editor. This is where you can make comprehensive changes to the page. You can modify the content, such as text and images, adjust links, and update various page layouts and functionality settings.
2. Quick Edit
Selecting Quick Edit opens a compact editor directly on the same screen. This mode allows you to adjust the basic settings of the page, including the page title, slug (URL), publishing date, and other general information. It is useful for making minor adjustments without moving away from the main page list.
3. Trash
The Trash option will remove the page from the public view by moving it to the trash bin. The page is not permanently deleted but rather stored in the trash, from where it can be restored.
4. View
Clicking View allows you to see how the page appears to visitors on the live site. This helps review the page’s layout and content as it will be displayed to users.
Additionally, you can manage and organize your pages by using the available sorting and search options:
▪️Sort by Status
You can filter pages based on their status, such as published, draft, or trashed. This helps in quickly locating pages that fall under a specific status.
▪️Search Pages Bar
Use the search functionality to find a specific page by entering keywords related to the page’s title or content.
These tools provide an efficient way to manage your WordPress pages, whether you’re making significant updates or minor tweaks.
Tips for Managing Pages in WordPress
Here are some important tips to ensure your WordPress pages are both effective and engaging:
01. Use Relevant Keywords
Incorporate keywords that are closely related to your page’s content. This helps improve your page’s visibility in search engine results, making it easier for users to find your page. Focus on placing keywords naturally within headings, subheadings, and body text to enhance SEO without compromising readability.
02. Optimize Images
Resize and compress images to ensure faster loading times and a better user experience. Large image files can slow down page load speeds, negatively impacting user engagement and SEO. Use tools or plugins to automatically optimize images for web use, maintaining a balance between quality and file size.
03. Proofread Carefully
Thoroughly proofread your content before publishing it. Check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors to ensure the content is professional and polished. Well-edited content enhances readability and credibility, reflecting positively on your website.
04. Consider a Page Builder
For more complex and visually appealing page designs, consider using a page builder plugin such as Elementor or Divi. These tools offer advanced design features and customization options, allowing you to create professional layouts without needing extensive coding knowledge.
Conclusion
Creating a new page in WordPress is a straightforward yet effective method to grow your website’s content. By following these steps, you can easily add and publish new pages, which enhances the user experience and provides valuable information. Regular page updates help keep your site relevant and engaging for your visitors.
