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How To Edit WordPress Website

WordPress offers a wide range of options for customizing the appearance and functionality of your site. Editing a WordPress website can seem daunting if you’re new to the platform, but with the right guidance, it becomes a straightforward task. WordPress offers a user-friendly interface and a range of tools that allow you to customize your site to fit your needs. This guide will explore popular approaches on how to edit  WordPress websites, including theme customization and content editing.

What You Need to Edit a WordPress Site

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

✔The WordPress admin URL (e.g., yourwebsite.com/wp-admin/)

✔Admin login credentials

✔Gutenberg or the WordPress Classic Editor installed

✔A page builder for front-end editing (if desired)

With these ready, open the admin URL and log in to your WordPress dashboard.

How to Log Into WordPress

Go to your WordPress login page (typically yourwebsite.com/wp-admin/).

a screenshot of WordPress login page

Enter your username or email address and password.

a screenshot of WordPress login image focusing on the username and password options

In some cases, you might be able to log in directly through your WordPress hosting dashboard.

Upon successful login, you’ll be directed to your WordPress dashboard.

WordPress Dashboard

The WordPress Dashboard is your primary interface for editing your site if you’re not using a front-end page builder. Here, you can manage and customize your website content and settings.

Understanding the Basics of Website Management

Before you start editing your website, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with some core concepts:

1. Dashboard

a screenshot of the WordPress dashboard

This is your central hub for managing and controlling your website. The dashboard provides access to various administrative tools and settings, allowing you to oversee and modify different aspects of your site, such as content, appearance, and user management.

2. Posts

a screenshot showing posts

These are the individual entries or articles you publish on your blog. Posts are typically organized by date and categories, allowing you to share timely updates, news, or insights with your audience. They usually appear in reverse chronological order and are ideal for dynamic content that changes frequently.

3. Pages

a screenshot showing posts

Unlike posts, pages are designed for static content that doesn’t change often. Common examples include the About Us, Contact, and Services pages. Pages provide essential information about your business or organization and are usually structured in a way that remains constant over time, serving as foundational elements of your website.

4. Themes

a screenshot of WordPress themes

Themes determine the visual design and layout of your website. They control how your site looks, including the color scheme, fonts, and overall layout. A theme sets the aesthetic tone and user experience of your site, and you can often customize themes to better fit your branding and functional needs.

5. Plugins

a screenshot of WordPress plugins

These are additional software components that you can install to extend the functionality of your website. Plugins can add a wide range of features, from improved SEO tools and social media integration to advanced analytics and security measures. They allow you to customize your site’s capabilities without needing extensive coding knowledge.

6. Widgets

a screenshot of Appearance sections with widgets highlighted

Widgets are modular components that allow you to add specific content or functionality to designated areas of your site, such as sidebars, footers, or other widget-ready zones. They offer a flexible way to improve the site’s layout with elements like recent posts, popular articles, custom text, search bars, or calendar events. Widgets can be dragged and dropped into place through the WordPress Customizer or Widgets screen, and their settings can often be adjusted to fit your needs.

7. Media Library

The Media Library is a centralized repository within your site where all uploaded files, including images, videos, audio files, and documents, are stored and managed. From here, you can view, edit, and organize these media files, as well as insert them into posts, pages, or other site content. The Media Library also offers tools for editing images (like cropping or resizing) and provides metadata information for each file, aiding in effective content management.

8. Menus

a screenshot of Appearance section with menu highlighted

Menus are used to create and manage the navigation structure of your site. They allow you to organize and display links to your site’s pages, posts, categories, or custom links in a user-friendly manner. Menus can be customized to appear in various locations on your site, such as the primary navigation bar, footer, or header. You can arrange menu items through a drag-and-drop interface and create hierarchical structures with sub-menus for better navigation.

9. Users and Roles

a screenshot of users menu

Users are individuals who have access to your website’s admin area. Each user can be assigned a specific role, which determines their level of access and capabilities. Common roles include:

🔹️Administrator

Has full control over the site, including access to all settings, themes, plugins, and user management.

🔹️Editor

Can manage and publish posts and pages, as well as moderate comments and manage categories and tags.

🔹️Author

Can write, edit, and publish their posts but cannot modify posts by other users or manage site settings.

🔹️Contributor

Can write and edit their posts but cannot publish them. They require an Editor or Administrator to review and publish their content.

🔹️Subscriber

Typically only have access to their profile and can view content.

How to edit WordPress Website

#1. Editing a WordPress Page or Post

With the latest WordPress update, you’ll likely use the Gutenberg block editor for editing pages or posts.

To create a new page, navigate to Pages > Add New. 

a screenshot of pages menu

This will open a blank page in the block editor. To edit an existing page, such as the homepage or blog page, go to Pages > All Pages, hover over the desired page, and click Edit.

Alternatively, you can use the Quick Edit feature to adjust the page’s title, URL slug, last modified date, and other settings like password protection, privacy, parent page assignment, page template, comments, and status.

To create a new post, go to Posts > Add New to open a blank post in the block editor. 

a screenshot of an existing page showing all options

For editing an existing post, hover over it in the Posts list and select Edit.

Quick Edit for posts allows you to add tags, manage pings, and set the post as sticky (featured).

In the block editor, start by clicking the ‘+’ button to add new blocks. You can drag and drop blocks into the editing area and use the block toolbar and settings sidebar to adjust styles, dimensions, padding, margins, and spacing.

Plugins may add additional settings below the editing interface, such as SEO options with the All in One SEO plugin, where you can optimize meta titles and descriptions.

#2. Editing a WordPress Website Using Elementor

Elementor is a popular page builder for WordPress, known for its drag-and-drop interface and extensive features. To use Elementor:

1. Install Elementor

a screenshot of plugins menu

Go to Plugins > Add New

Search for Elementor, 

a screenshot of search bar of plugins

Install and activate it.

a screenshot of Elementos plugin

2. Edit with Elementor

For a new post or page, go to Posts > Add New or Pages > Add New, then click Edit with Elementor to launch the Elementor editor.

a screenshot of a new page with edit with elementor button highlighted

Elementor’s drag-and-drop interface allows you to choose containers and elements, and then customize them. The free version is strong, but Elementor Pro offers advanced features.

To change the site logo or header, click the top-left icon (three horizontal lines), go to Site Settings, and update the logo and site name. Customize your header by replacing elements in your starter site or using new containers.

#3. Editing the Header, Footer, and Menu in WordPress

Currently, editing the header in Gutenberg requires Full Site Editing, which we’ll cover. For now, to customize your header, locate your theme’s header builder. For example, with the Blocksy theme, go to Appearance > Customize.

a screenshot of Appearance menu

You can also access customization via the top bar on your site. Click Customize to open the customization menu.

a screenshot of customization option when using Blocksy theme

To use the header builder, select Header from the menu. 

a screenshot of header section under customization

The builder supports drag-and-drop for arranging elements into three rows: top, main, and bottom. Click any element to customize it, such as changing your site logo by selecting the Logo element.

To edit your menu, return to the WordPress dashboard and go to Appearance > Menus. 

a screenshot of Appearance menu

Here you can create new menus, add items like posts and pages, and choose menu display locations. 

a screenshot of menu section

After updating your menu, check your site to ensure the changes appear correctly. If not, revisit the header builder and adjust the menu settings.

For footer customization, Blocksy uses a similar builder as the header.

a screenshot of footer option under custmization

Click Footer to access the footer builder. Like the header, you can drag and drop elements, add widgets, and use Gutenberg blocks for design. Manage widgets from Appearance > Widgets.

a screenshot of Appearance menu with Widgets button highlighted

#4. Customizing Your Theme

To change your site’s appearance:

1. Go to Themes: Go to Appearance > Themes.

a screenshot of themes under appearance

2. Open the Customizer: Hover over the active theme and click Customize.

a screenshot of Acivated Blocksy theme

3. Make Changes: Adjust site identity, colors, fonts, and visual elements.

a screenshot of customization editing options

4. Publish: Click Publish to save changes.

Managing Widgets

To manage widgets:

1. Access Widgets: Go to Appearance > Widgets.

a screenshot of widgets under appearance

2. Add or Arrange Widgets: Drag widgets into areas like sidebars or footers and configure their settings.

a screenshot of widget section

3. Save Changes: Click Save to apply your widget settings.

Adding and Managing Plugins

To extend functionality with plugins:

1. View Plugins: Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.

a screenshot of plugins menu

2. Install New Plugins: Click Add New, find a plugin, click Install Now, and then Activate.

a screenshot of jetpack plugin showing Install now button

3. Configure Plugins: Adjust settings under the plugin’s menu or the general settings area.

Adjusting Settings

To modify site-wide settings:

1. Open Settings: Click Settings in the sidebar.

2. Configure Settings: Adjust options for General, Reading, Discussion, and more.

a screenshot of settings menu

3. Save Changes: Click Save Changes to apply your updates.

Editing a WordPress Site Using Full Site Editor

Full Site Editing (FSE) allows comprehensive site customization, including headers, footers, and templates. To access FSE, go to Appearance > Editor. 

a screenshot of editor under appearance

When you enter the Site Editor, you’ll see: A panel of options on the left, which is described below.

Your website’s homepage is on the right, as set in your Reading Settings.

Clicking anywhere on the right side will open the editor and hide the left sidebar

a screenshot of editor when you click on it

.

The left sidebar offers the following options:

a screenshot of left sidebar section in the editor

▪️Navigation

Manage your site’s navigation menus.

▪️Styles

Customize colors, fonts, and other design elements.

▪️Pages

Edit the content of individual pages.

▪️Templates

Modify the structural layout of your site’s content.

▪️Patterns

Adjust smaller elements of your templates (like headers and footers) and patterns you’ve created.

Your homepage is displayed to the right of these options. Click in this area to close the left sidebar and open the editor for your homepage.

Select and edit your header or footer directly. Upload a logo by clicking the logo block, customize the menu from its settings, and use the Styles tab to adjust the global site design.

Regular Backups

It’s essential to back up your site before implementing major changes. Tools like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy can help you create backups to protect your website from potential problems.

Conclusion

Editing a WordPress site involves managing the dashboard, customizing pages and posts, handling themes and plugins, and adjusting site settings. Understanding these processes will help you effectively update and maintain your site. Regular updates and backups are crucial for keeping your site functional and secure as you make changes.

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