The Web Dev Geek Blog
Your regular dose of geeky, businessy, websitey information
Your regular dose of geeky, businessy, websitey information
WordPress is one of the most widely used website building platforms, and managing its menus is crucial for enhancing user experience and site navigation. A well-structured menu allows visitors to easily find the content they are looking for, which can lead to increased engagement and improved SEO performance. This tutorial will walk you through the steps involved in creating and managing menus in WordPress effectively, with a focus on best practices and tips.
Menus in WordPress are a collection of links to various pages, posts, categories, or custom links that help in navigating your site. Added through the WordPress dashboard, these menus are often displayed in a header, footer, or sidebar. Understanding the basic structure of menus will empower you to make your website more user-friendly and can positively affect your SEO ranking.
To begin managing your WordPress menus, log in to your WordPress admin panel. Navigate to ‘Appearance’ in the left sidebar and click on ‘Menus.’ This will take you to the menu management page where you can create new menus or edit existing ones. It’s important to note that you must have at least one menu created before you can assign it to a theme location.
To create a new menu, follow these steps: 1. Click on the ‘Create a new menu’ link. 2. Enter a name for your menu (e.g., Main Navigation) and click ‘Create Menu.’ 3. Once your menu is created, you will see a list of your available pages, posts, categories, and custom links on the left-hand side. 4. Check the boxes next to the items you want to add, then click ‘Add to Menu.’
With your items added to the menu, you can rearrange them by dragging and dropping each item into your desired order. You can also create sub-items (dropdown menus) by dragging items slightly to the right under their parent item. Additionally, each menu item can be renamed by clicking the little arrow next to it, allowing you to give descriptive titles that may improve SEO.
Beyond just placing items in your menu, you can also customize various settings. In the menu structure section, you will see options to customise the individual menu items. You can change the navigation label, add a title attribute (which is beneficial for SEO), and even add CSS classes for better styling. These tools allow you to further enhance both the functionality and visual appeal of your menu.
After you’ve organized and customised your menu, you’ll need to assign it to one of your theme’s menu locations. In the same menu settings page, scroll down to the ‘Menu Settings’ section. Here, you can select where you want your menu to appear (e.g., Primary Menu, Footer Menu). Make sure to check the appropriate box and save the changes to effect this assignment.
If you ever need to make changes to an existing menu, return to the ‘Menus’ page under ‘Appearance.’ You’ll find a dropdown at the top of the page where you can select the menu you wish to edit. After making your desired changes—adding new links, rearranging items, or modifying settings—make sure to click ‘Save Menu’ to ensure your changes are updated on the front end.
If you wish to remove a menu entirely, you can do so by selecting it from the dropdown on the ‘Menus’ page. Scroll to the bottom and click on ‘Delete Menu.’ This action cannot be undone, so ensure you have saved or exported any important changes before proceeding.
Aside from pages and posts, WordPress also allows the addition of custom links to your menu. To create a custom link, enter the URL you wish to link to in the URL field, and provide a navigation label in the corresponding box. Click ‘Add to Menu’ and it will be added to the bottom of your menu structure, where you can rearrange it as needed.
With an increasing number of users accessing websites via mobile devices, it’s crucial to consider how your menu performs on smaller screens. Ensure your menu is responsive and user-friendly. Many WordPress themes come with built-in mobile menu options, which can often be configured within the customizer settings. Test your menus on various devices to ensure optimal functionality.
An effective menu not only improves navigation but can also influence SEO. Use descriptive anchor text for menu items, as clear labels help search engines understand what each link pertains to. Avoid excessive menus as overwhelming visitors may negatively impact user experience, potentially leading to a higher bounce rate.
Creating and managing menus in WordPress is a straightforward process that can significantly enhance your website’s navigation. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can design menus that not only improve user experience but also support your website’s SEO efforts. Regularly review and update your menus to keep them aligned with your site’s content and ensure visitors can easily find what they are looking for.