How to Create and Edit Blog Posts in WordPress

Accessing the Blog Section

  1. Log into your WordPress dashboard at yourwebsite.com/wp-admin
  2. On the left sidebar, click Posts → All Posts to see existing posts
  3. Click Posts → Add New to create a new blog post

Creating a New Blog Post

Step 1: Add Your Post Title

  • Enter your blog post title in the field at the top that says “Add title”
  • Keep titles clear, descriptive, and under 60 characters when possible

Step 2: Write Your Content

IMPORTANT: Make sure you’re in the “Visual” tab

  • Look at the top right corner of the editor
  • You should see two tabs: Visual and Text
  • Click “Visual” – this gives you the Microsoft Word-like editor
  • DO NOT use the “Text” tab – that’s for code and will look confusing

Use the Classic Editor (works just like Microsoft Word)

  • Start typing your content in the main text area
  • Use the toolbar buttons for formatting:
    • B = Bold text
    • I = Italic text
    • Paragraph dropdown = Create headings (Heading 2, Heading 3, etc.)
    • Link icon = Add hyperlinks
    • Bullet/number icons = Create lists

Step 3: Add Images to Your Post (Optional)

  1. Place your cursor where you want the image to appear
  2. Click the “Add Media” button above the editor
  3. Either upload a new image or select from your media library
  4. Click “Insert into post”

Image Requirements for In-Post Photos:

  • Dimensions: 960px wide, height between 540px-720px
  • Orientation: Landscape preferred (horizontal images work best)
  • Consistency: Try to use similar image sizes throughout your blog for a professional look
  • Format: JPG only (NOT PNG)
  • Compress BEFORE uploading at a website like https://compressjpeg.com/ or use your favorite photo editing tool
  • Target file size under 200KB

Adding Your Featured Image

The featured image is the main image that appears at the top of your blog post and in blog previews.

Featured Image Requirements:

  • Dimensions: 960px wide, height between 540px-720px
  • Orientation: Landscape preferred (horizontal images work best)
  • Consistency: Try to use similar image sizes throughout your blog for a professional look
  • Format: JPG only (NOT PNG)
  • File Size: Under 200KB
  • Compress BEFORE uploading at a website like https://compressjpeg.com/ or use your favorite photo editing tool

How to Set Featured Image:

  1. Scroll down the right sidebar to the “Featured Image” box
  2. Click “Set featured image”
  3. Either upload a new image or select from your media library
  4. Click “Set featured image” to confirm

Categories

Categories help organize your blog posts by topic.

Using Existing Categories:

  1. Find the “Categories” box in the right sidebar
  2. Check the box next to the appropriate category
  3. Only select ONE category per post (avoid checking multiple)

Adding a New Category:

  1. In the “Categories” box, click “+ Add New Category”
  2. Type the new category name
  3. Click “Add New Category”
  4. The new category will automatically be selected for your post

Publishing Options

Publish Immediately:

  1. Click the blue “Publish” button in the top right corner
  2. Confirm by clicking “Publish” again

Schedule for Later:

  1. Click “Publish” in the top right
  2. Click the date/time next to “Publish:”
  3. Select your desired date and time
  4. Click “Schedule”

Save as Draft:

  • Click “Save Draft” in the top right to save your work without publishing
  • You can come back and finish it later

Editing Existing Posts

  1. Go to Posts → All Posts
  2. Hover over the post title and click “Edit”
  3. Make sure you’re in the “Visual” tab (top right corner of editor)
  4. Make your changes
  5. Click “Update” in the top right to save changes

Best Practices Checklist

Before publishing, make sure:

✅ You’re in the “Visual” tab (not “Text”)
✅ Title is clear and descriptive
✅ Featured image is uploaded (960px wide, 540-720px tall, landscape, JPG, under 200KB)
✅ All images are compressed BEFORE uploading
✅ All images are saved as JPG (NOT PNG)
✅ All images are landscape orientation (horizontal)
✅ All images are similar sizes for consistency
✅ Content is proofread for spelling/grammar
✅ One category is selected
✅ Post is assigned to correct publish date

Important Settings (Already Configured)

Your website has the Disable Comments plugin active, which automatically prevents:

  • Comments on all blog posts
  • Pingbacks and trackbacks

You do not need to adjust these settings.