How to Publish a Blog Post on Your WordPress Website

TL;DR

• To publish a blog post: go to Posts, then Add Post. Add a title and your text, pick a category, set a featured image, and click Publish.
• Always pick a category. Don’t leave posts in “Uncategorized.”
• Have several posts ready? Schedule them to go out one at a time.
• Rather not do it yourself? We can post them for you, or write them too.

How Do I Publish a Blog Post on My WordPress Website?

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Go to Posts, then Add Post. On older versions it says Add New Post or Add New.
3. Type your title at the top.
4. Add your text below it. Type it in, or paste it from your document. Use headings to break up long posts.
5. Pick a category in the sidebar. Check the box next to the right one, or click Add Category (Add New Category on older versions).
6. Add tags if you use them. Tags are optional.
7. Set a featured image. Click Set featured image and choose a photo. This is the image that usually shows on your blog page and when the post is shared.
8. Add an excerpt if you want one. This is a one or two sentence summary. If you skip it, WordPress uses the post’s first 55 words.
9. Preview it to check how it looks. In the block editor, click the screen icon at the top (it says View when you hover over it), then Preview in new tab. Other editors have a Preview button.
10. Click Publish, then Publish again to confirm.

See WordPress’s guide to post settings.

Why Doesn’t My Screen Match the Tutorials?

Your theme and plugins change how the editor looks. As Beth told one client, “Every theme, builder, and plugin is different.” If your screen doesn’t match these steps, a short training session on your own site fixes that fast. See Do You Offer WordPress Training for Me and My Staff?

How Do I Schedule a Blog Post?

1. Click the Publish date in the sidebar. It usually says Immediately.
2. Pick a future date and time on the calendar.
3. Click Schedule where the Publish button was, then Schedule again to confirm.

Have a batch of posts ready? Space them out. When Beth had several posts ready for one client, she held them back: “I don’t want to make them all live. It looks odd to do all at once, and it helps to push out new ones slowly.”

What Should My Featured Images Look Like?

Pick one style and use it on every post. For one client, Beth used the brand colors and a pattern from the logo.

A photo in the post also gives it its own preview image when it’s shared. As Beth told one client, “There just needs to be a featured photo in the blog post to have a thumbnail.” Without one, your site’s default image shows, if one is set.

Rather Have Us Post It?

Send us the post, the photos, and the category. We’ll publish or schedule it on your Webmaster Retainer. Want us to write it too? See How Does Monthly Blog Posting and Approval Work?

What Webmaster For Hire Recommends

• Give every post a category. It helps visitors find related posts.
• Use one featured image style so your blog looks like one brand.
• Preview before you publish.
• Schedule batches instead of posting them all at once.

:: Common Questions ::

What Do the Share Buttons on My Blog Posts Do?

They let readers share your post on their own social media. They aren’t links to your business’s profiles. The buttons come from your theme or a plugin (an add-on). If you don’t want them, we’ll remove them on our Webmaster Retainer.

Can I Change a Post After It’s Published?

Yes. Open the post, make your changes, and click Save (Update on some versions). See How Do I Edit Text on My WordPress Website?

Need Help With Your Blog?

See our Webmaster Retainer, or request a consultation.