If you've been blogging using WordPress for any amount of time, then you're familiar with it's WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) Editor.
It's a lot like creating a document in Word and everyone's been using it for forever. Well, no more.
Within months, WordPress will be forcing a roll out Gutenberg – a new way to draft posts and pages.
Currently, you can update WordPress to the newest version and play with the soon-to-be standard editor.
Or, you also have the option to install a Classic Editor (what they're calling the old WYSIWYG Editor) plugin that allows you to continue creating the old school way.
But, I mean, we're all going to be forced to use this New Normal soon enough so… why not learn how, right?
Here's the very, very basics of creating a new post using Gutenberg.
How To Create Posts And Pages In WordPress Using Gutenberg
Log in to your WordPress blog.
Click on Plugins > Add New. It can be found on the left side of your blogging dashboard.
Type “Gutenberg” into the search bar, find the Gutenberg plugin, and click on “Install”. You should see another, larger Activation button pop-up – click it.
You are now ready to create your blog’s content using the new Gutenberg WordPress interface.
Writing Your Blog Post
Click on “Posts” in your WordPress dashboard.
Click on “Add New”. You should see the Gutenberg Editor (instead of the standard Classic version). It is here that you'll write your post.
Write your blog post’s title in the box labeled “Add Title”.
Write your post in the box labeled “Add Text or Type / To Add Content” in your Gutenberg Editor.
Adding An Image To Your Blog Post
To add an image within your blog post, click on the spot where you want your image to appear.
Click on “+” which will appear to the left or in the center top of the new block being created.
Big Fat Tip: You can also create new blocks by clicking on the
“+” in the upper left hand corner. There are also new “Undo” and “Redo” arrows there. Plus, an icon of an “i” with tons of information including: a word count, number of headings, number of paragraphs, number of blocks, and a breakdown of your title and headers.
Click the small image icon.
You'll have the option to either drag and drop an image directly from your computer or use the Upload/Media Library tools to find it in your files.
Big Fat Tip: Take a moment to add the text for the alt and title tags – it all helps with social media sharing and search engine optimization. Use the sidebar on the right. You can also click the pencil icon on the image to make edits (and remove that pesky caption option that's automatically showing up now).
Click the pencil icon to make edits to your image OR make edits in the block on the right hand side. For example, you can select your alignment, add alt text, add a link, and adjust the size.
Click “Publish/Update” on the right side.
How To Link To Another Website
To link to another site within your blog post, you'll need to highlight the text that you want linked. Then click the “Chain Link Icon” at the top of the Gutenberg Editor. This opens up a pop-up window where you can paste in the URL where you would like that phrase to link to.
Click the three small dots in the right hand corner and flip the “Open in New Window” switch on.
Click the small gray arrow when you’re done.
Click “Publish/Update” on the right side.
How To Link To One Of Your Own Blog Posts
To link to one of your own blog posts in a new blog post, highlight the phrase you want linked then click the “Chain Link Icon” at the top of the Gutenberg Editor.
This opens a pop-up window where you'll manually paste in the URL OR type in keywords to pull up one of your existing posts in the scroll down window – click the post to add it.
Click the small gray arrow when you’re done.
Click “Publish/Update” on the right side.
Big Fat Tip: If you keep a separate list of your most linked to blog posts then you can add a link to one of your older posts by using the “How To Link To Another Website” instructions above – sometimes, that's faster.
How To Add Categories
Categories are there to help your readers better find what they're looking for on your blog.
Big Fat Tip: Categories help you to broadly group of your blog posts – like general topics or a table of contents.
To add categories to your post, Click on the “Document” tab in the right hand sidebar.
Click on the “Categories” section.
Click on “Add new category” to create new categories or check the box of a pre-existing category to add it.
Click “Publish/Update” on the right side.
How To Add Tags
Big Fat Tip: Tags can help to go into more specific details for each post – like index words (which often show up in your Google search results). You can add as many words or phrases as you like as tags.
After writing your new post, add tags by typing the tag words in the “Add New Tag” box under the “Tags” section in the right hand sidebar (be sure to use a comma to separate the words or phrases).
Click “Publish/Update” on the right side.
How To Add A Featured Image
Big Fat Tip: Featured images allow you to pick the image that will be pulled from your post to display that specific post or page on your Front Page and across social media.
After writing your new post, add a featured image by clicking on “Set featured image” under the “Featured Image” option. Select your featured image (or upload a one) then click the “Set” button.
Click “Publish/Update” on the right side.
Creating A Page
Blog pages are those posts that do not rotate through the regular feed. Typically, they are the About page, Contact page, Disclaimer page, etc. These pages have a set “location” on the blog.
Use the same processes above to create, write, and post your blog’s pages – except instead of creating the content in “Posts” it will be in “Pages”.
Go to your WordPress dashboard.
Click on “Add New”. You should see the Gutenberg Editor. It is here that you'll write your post.
Write your blog post’s title in the box labeled “Add Title”.
Write your post in the box labeled “Add Text or Type / To Add Content” in your Gutenberg Editor.
Remember to use the customization options to create a featured image and text for the Front Page.
Once you are done, click “Publish/Update” on the right side.
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