What is a Featured Post in WordPress?

WordPress is undoubtedly one of the most widely used content management systems out there. It’s easy to use, highly customizable, and provides a plethora of stunning features to make your site stand out. One such feature is the ‘Featured Post’ option that enables blogs and websites to highlight some of the best content on their site.

The Power of a Featured Post

Making a post ‘Featured’ is a powerful tool to grab the attention of your readers and promote the most essential content on your site. However, some bloggers and site owners may find the option confusing or even daunting. Fear not; we have a step-by-step guide to making your posts featured in WordPress.

Steps to Make a Post Featured in WordPress

1. Login to your WordPress account– First and foremost, you need to log in to your WordPress account and navigate to your site’s dashboard. If you’re the site owner or administrator, go to “yoursite.com/wp-admin” and enter your login credentials.

2. Navigate to the post you want to feature– Once you have logged in, find the post you want to feature on the dashboard menu. Choose the ‘Posts’ option, then ‘All Posts’. From here, select the specific post you want to feature.

3. Choose ‘Quick Edit’- Hover the cursor over the post you want to showcase and select the ‘Quick Edit’ option. This should open up a small menu on the post where you can edit some of its details.

4. Check the ‘Stick to the front page’ box– On the ‘Quick Edit’ menu, tick the ‘Stick to the front page’ box. This option is typically located near the ‘Publication’ tab. Don’t forget to click on the ‘Update’ button after making the change.

5. View your site’s front end– To ensure that the post has been featured successfully, check out the front end of your site. Open it up on a new tab or window to see if the post you added is now occupying a prominent position in your feed.

Tips for Using Featured Posts Effectively

• Pin posts that are likely to retain their relevance for some time. You don’t want to feature a piece of content that will become obsolete quickly.

• Not every post is suitable for being featured. Highlight only your best work that accurately represents what you want to convey to visitors.

• Keep track of which posts you have promoted to be featured. You should switch them around after a certain period and promote other posts so that regular visitors have something new to see each time they visit.

• Don’t overdo it. It’s not always necessary to feature multiple posts on your homepage, as this can dilute the impact of each post. Stick to one or a maximum of two featured posts to maintain their effectiveness.

Final Thoughts

Making a post ‘featured’ on WordPress is a quick and straightforward process that can make a significant difference in the way your visitors view your site. Use this option effectively to grab the attention of your audience, provide a better user experience, and ultimately drive more traffic to your best content. Keep experimenting with which posts work the best and continue featuring the content that resonates with your visitors. Happy blogging!