Editing existing posts
Read time: 5 minutes
Editing an existing post in WordPress allows you to keep your content up-to-date, improve its quality, and make necessary changes. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to edit an existing post, including changing the title, the permalink, the content in the text editor, and the featured image.
Steps to Edit an Existing Post
- Log in to Your WordPress Admin Dashboard:
- Go to your WordPress login page (usually
yourwebsite.com/wp-admin). - Enter your username and password to log in.
- Go to your WordPress login page (usually
- Navigate to the Posts Section:
- In the left-hand menu of the WordPress admin dashboard, click on “Posts.”
- This will open a list of all the posts on your website.
- Find the Post You Want to Edit:
- Browse through the list or use the search bar to find the post you wish to edit.
- Click on the title of the post to open it for editing.
- Edit the Post Title:
- At the top of the editor, you’ll see the post title field.
- Click on the title field and make the necessary changes to the post title.
- Edit the Permalink:
- Directly below the title field, you’ll see the permalink (URL) for the post.
- Click the “Edit” button next to the permalink.
- Modify the URL slug as needed and click “OK” to save the changes.
- Edit the Post Content:
- In the main content area, you can make changes to the text using the WordPress text editor.
- Use the visual editor for a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) experience, or switch to the text editor to edit the HTML directly.
- Apply formatting, add links, insert images, and make any other content adjustments necessary.
- Change the Featured Image:
- On the right-hand side of the editor screen, find the “Featured Image” meta box.
- If a featured image is already set, click “Remove featured image.”
- Click “Set featured image” to open the media library.
- Choose an existing image from your library or upload a new one.
- Click “Set featured image” to apply the new image to the post.
- Save and Preview Changes:
- Once you have made all the necessary edits, click the “Update” button located on the right-hand side of the screen to save your changes.
- Click the “Preview” button to see how the post will look with the changes applied.
- View the Updated Post:
- After saving your changes, you can view the updated post on your website to ensure everything appears as expected.
- Navigate to the post on your site to confirm the changes.
Tips for Editing Posts
- SEO Considerations: When changing the title and permalink, ensure the new title is optimized for SEO and accurately reflects the content of the post. Avoid changing the permalink if the post has been live for a while to prevent broken links.
- Clarity and Readability: Ensure the content is clear, concise, and easy to read. Use headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs to improve readability.
- Consistency: Maintain a consistent style and tone throughout the post and across your website.
- Proofreading: Proofread the post for any grammatical or spelling errors before publishing the changes.
- Media Optimisation: Ensure images are appropriately sized and optimized for the web to improve load times.
By following these steps, you can efficiently manage and update your blog posts, ensuring they remain relevant and engaging for your audience.