This article covers how to write and publish a WordPress blog post, which is the initial step towards sharing your content with the world. WordPress facilitates this process by providing an editor that allows you to customise the appearance of your posts, the look and feel. From organising the content to selecting the optimal publication options, this guide shows you how to write and publish your first article.
This Knowledgebase article assumes that you are already logged in to your WordPress website’s dashboard and is related to our YouTube video “Your First Blog Post Awaits! Write & Publish on WordPress“.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How to Write A WordPress Blog Post
When you want to write your first WordPress blog post, you will start from the main WordPress Dashboard:
1. In the left sidebar menu, hover over “Posts”. A submenu will drop down with options such as “All Posts”, “Add New”, “Categories”, and “Tags”.
2. Click “Add New” to open a blank Post editor.
3. A new page titled “Add New Post” will display. Here, you’ll see fields like “Add Title” for your Post heading, and a large area labelled “Type / Choose a Block”; this is where you start writing your content.
4. Start by entering a title for your Blog Post in “Add Title” at the top of the page. This will be the main heading at the top of your published blog.
5. In the content block below the Title, start typing or pasting your Blog Post content.
The WordPress Block Editor allows you to create content in various formats. You can type plain text, format it with colours, bold or italics, add hyperlinks, or organise the content using lists, tables, and custom HTML code.
6. WordPress’ Block Editor provides a flexible way to add different types of content elements:
- Click “Add Block” (+) to access options like inserting images, videos, quotes, galleries, or custom code.
- To insert an image, click “Image” to either upload a new picture or choose one from the Media Library.
7. Hide or show the content options by clicking “Add Block” again. Once you’ve structured your Post, move to the right sidebar for additional settings.
How to Configure WordPress Blog Settings
1. If the Settings sidebar isn’t visible, click “Settings” in the top-right corner to reveal it. This sidebar allows you to control various aspects of your post, including visibility, publishing options, and metadata.
2. In the “Visibility” section, choose whether the Post will be public, private, or password-protected:
- Public: The Post will be visible to everyone on the internet.
- Private: The Post will only be visible to site administrators and editors.
- Password-Protected: Only users with the Password can view the Post.
3. By default, WordPress publishes Posts immediately after you click “Publish”. However, you can schedule a ‘Future Publish” date:
- Under “Publish”, click the “Immediately” option. A Date and Time field will appear.
- Select a desired Time and Date for the Post to go live.
4. Under “Permalink”, WordPress automatically generates a URL based on your post title.
- You can edit “Permalink” to make it shorter or more descriptive
- Keep the URL under 75 characters to ensure better search engine optimisation (SEO).
5. Scroll down to “Categories” in the sidebar.
- Select an existing Category or click “Add New Category” to create a new one.
- Categories help you organise your Blog Posts and make it easier for users to find related content.
6. In “Tags”, add relevant keywords that describe your post. Tags help search engines understand your Post topic, making it easier to find. Add as many Tags as you deem necessary, separated by commas.
How to Publish a WordPress Blog Post
Once you’ve written your Post and configured all settings:
1. Preview your Blog Post
Click “Preview” at the top of the page to see how your Post will look to visitors. This is a good time to double-check formatting and make any necessary adjustments.
2. Publish the Blog Post
When you’re ready to publish, click “Publish” in the top-right corner of the screen.
WordPress will confirm your publishing options (visibility, scheduling, etc.). Once confirmed, click “Publish” again to make your Post live.
3. Check the Blog Post Live
Congratulations! Your first blog is published and visible on your site. You can view the published Post by clicking “View Post” or visiting your site’s main Blog Page and navigating to the first blog post to double check that it is displaying correctly in the Summary Page as well.
– You Tube Video: Your First Blog Post Awaits! Write & Publish on WordPress
Additional Information
Editing Your Post After It’s Published – After publishing, go to Posts > All Posts, hover over your post’s title, and click “Edit” to update any settings or content.
Using Featured Images – The Feature Image can be selected from the right sidebar. Your content will stand out with this graphic, which appears at the top of Posts and in Blog feeds.
Customising Excerpts – Use “Excerpt” in the sidebar to compose a brief introduction that will show up on the Blog Homepage if you wish to showcase a personalised Post synopsis on the main page.
Login to Domains.co.za Account
1. Go to the Domains.co.za website Account Login page.
2. Enter your Email and Password.
3. Then click the “Sign In” button.
Access WordPress from your Domains.co.za Dashboard
4. On the right of the Dashboard under the “Manage Account” menu, click “Manage Services” on the drop-down menu and select your Hosting plan, our example uses Web Hosting.
5. Scroll down to the “Quick Manage” section (below “Product Information”) and click on the WordPress icon. If you haven’t yet installed WordPress, it will ask you to first do so.
Access WordPress via cPanel from your Domains.co.za Account
6. On the right of the Dashboard under the “Manage Account” menu, click “Manage Services” on the drop-down menu and select your Hosting plan, our example uses Web Hosting. (refer image above).
7. Click “Manage” next to the website domain you wish to access in cPanel.
8. The Product Information section will display – click the “Login” button next to Control Panel.
9. On the cPanel Dashboard, in the menu on the right, select “WP Toolkit”, or if you haven’t yet installed WordPress “WordPress Management”.
10. There is also a WordPress icon under the “Popular Applications” section on the cPanel Dashboard.
WordPress can be Accessed Online via cPanel
1. Go to your cPanel URL or cPanel Login page.
2. Enter your “Email” and “Account Password” and click “Log In”
3. On the cPanel Dashboard, in the menu on the right, select “WP Toolkit”, or if you haven’t yet installed WordPress “WordPress Management”. There is also a WordPress icon under the “Popular Applications” section on the cPanel Dashboard.
