Creating a blog post in WordPress: Step-by-step guide

With WordPress you can create blog posts, news, guides and other regularly published content directly in the admin area. For this purpose, the default is WordPress Block Editor available, which is also often referred to as Gutenberg Editor is referred to as.

A post does not simply consist of a single text field. Headings, paragraphs, images, lists, tables, buttons, and much other content are created as individual Blocks inserted and edited.

In this guide, we will show you step-by-step how to create a new WordPress post, structure content using the block editor, use categories and tags, set a featured image, and publish the finished article.

Briefly explained: Open in the WordPress admin area Posts → Add New, provide a meaningful title and create your content using the available blocks. Before publishing, you should particularly check the permalink, categories, featured image, and the layout of the finished post.

What is a post in WordPress? #

WordPress basically distinguishes between different content types. Two of the most important are Posts and Pages.

Posts are originally intended for chronologically or editorially organized content. These include, for example:

• Blog post
• News
• Guide
• Corporate news
• Specialist article
• Instructions
• current information

Posts usually have a publication date and can be assigned to categories and tags.

What is the difference between a post and a page? #

A Page is typically used for more permanent content, such as:

• Home
• About us
• Contact
• Services
• Imprint
• Privacy Policy

A Post on the other hand, normally belongs to an editorial area and can appear automatically, for example, on a blog or archive page.

Posts can also be assigned to categories and tags, which allows larger content areas to be structured.

We explain how to create normal WordPress pages separately at Create new pages in WordPress.

Create new WordPress post #

To create a new post, you first need to log in to the WordPress admin area.

Create new post #

1. Log in to your WordPress admin area.
2. Open Posts → Add New.
3. Enter a title for the new post.
4. Create the actual content underneath it.
5. Add images and additional blocks if needed.
6. Choose a suitable category.
7. Set a featured image if necessary.
8. Check the post in the preview.
9. Publish it only when everything is correct.

If you don't know how to reach the administration area yet, you can find the instructions at WordPress Login: How to log in to the admin area.

The WordPress block editor #

WordPress uses a block-based editor by default. Each content area is treated as a separate block.

For example, an article can consist of the following blocks:

• Paragraph
• Heading
• Image
• List
• Quote
• Table
• Buttons
• Columns
• Gallery
• File
• Video

Plugins can add additional block types to the editor.

The block system has the advantage that different contents can be edited and moved separately from one another.

What is Gutenberg? #

The term Gutenberg is frequently used as a term for the modern WordPress block editor.

Instead of editing an entire article in a single large text box, the content consists of individual blocks.

For example, a simple article could be structured like this:

Heading
Paragraph
Paragraph
Subheading
Paragraph
Image
Subheading
List
Paragraph

Each of these elements can be selected, edited, or moved separately.

Enter post title #

Above in the editor you will find the field for the post title.

The title should describe as clearly as possible what the article is about.

Instead of an imprecise title like:

A few tips for WordPress

is for example:

Installing WordPress plugins: Step-by-step guide

significantly more expressive.

The post title is often output by the theme as the main heading of the article.

Use only one main heading #

The post title is used in most WordPress themes as H1 Heading issued.

Therefore, within the actual post, you should normally not create another H1 heading again.

For the main sections of the article, you use H2 headings instead. Subsections of an H2 can be structured using H3.

For example, a sensible structure looks like this:

H1: Installing WordPress Plugins

H2: What is a WordPress plugin?

H2: Install plugin via the admin area

H3: Search for a plugin

H3: Activate plugin

H2: Install plugin as a ZIP file

H2: Common issues

A logical heading structure helps readers grasp the content faster and simultaneously improves the semantic structure of the document.

Write the first paragraph #

Click below the title in the content area and start typing.

WordPress creates a paragraph block by default.

Pressing the Enter key usually creates a new block where you can continue writing directly.

Therefore, you don't need to manually select a new paragraph block for every paragraph.

Add new block #

If you need a different content type, you can use the Plus sign Add a new block.

Depending on your position in the editor, you will find various ways to open the block inserter.

Add block #

1. Click where you want the new content to appear.
2. Open via the Plus sign the block selection.
3. Search for the desired block.
4. Click on the block type.
5. Process the inserted block.

Insert blocks faster with the slash #

A particularly practical function of the block editor is typing a forward slash:

/

For example, if you are in an empty block:

/image

you enter, you can quickly select an image block.

Further examples are:

/heading

/list

/table

Which labels are displayed depends on the language of your WordPress installation and the available blocks.

Insert headings #

Longer posts should be structured with subheadings.

Add a Heading block and select the appropriate level.

For normal main sections within an article, it is typically:

H2

suitable.

If a section is to be further subdivided, use underneath:

H3

and, if necessary, further logically subordinate levels.

Practical Tip: Do not choose headings based on how large they appear visually. H2, H3, and other levels describe the structure of the content. The visual design should be handled via the theme or CSS.

Format text #

Within a block of text, you can format individual text passages.

Depending on the block and WordPress version, functions are available for, for example:

• Bold
• Italics
• Links
• inline code
• additional text formatting

Use formatting purposefully. If every second sentence is displayed in bold, the highlighting loses its purpose.

Insert links into a post #

You can link words or text sections to internal or external pages.

Link text #

1. Highlight the desired text.
2. Click the link icon in the block toolbar.
3. Search for existing WordPress content or enter a destination URL.
4. Select or confirm the goal.
5. Check the link after publication.

For internal links, you can often search directly for existing pages or posts on your WordPress website.

Using internal links effectively #

Internal links help visitors find further information on your website.

For example, if you mention the importance of regular updates in an article about WordPress security, you can link directly to a detailed guide on how to update WordPress.

The link should be topically relevant to the sentence or section and offer the reader actual added value.

Avoid linking every possible term just because a matching page exists somewhere on your website.

Formulate link text clearly #

Link text should, as far as possible, make it clear what is behind the link.

Instead:

Click here

is for example:

Update WordPress

more expressive.

This helps both visitors and the structural organization of internal links.

Insert image into a WordPress post #

You can add pictures via a Image block Insert into the post.

Add image #

1. Add a new Image block one.
2. Upload a new file or open the media library.
3. Select the desired image.
4. Insert it into the post.
5. Check the image size and orientation.
6. Add a suitable alternative text if necessary.

We explain how you generally manage images and other files in WordPress under Managing media in WordPress.

What is the alternative text of an image? #

The Alternative text, often referred to simply as alt text, describes the relevant information or function of an image in text form.

It is particularly important for accessibility, as screen readers can render it in place of the image.

Therefore, a meaningful alt text depends on the context.

For example, in a screenshot of the WordPress plugin management, it could show:

Plugin management in the WordPress admin area

to be suitable.

An artificial string of search terms such as the following would be unsuitable:

Install WordPress SEO plugin best plugin website

The alt text is not a field for accommodating as many keywords as possible.

Does every image need alt text? #

No. Purely decorative images that convey no informational content do not necessarily require a descriptive alternative text.

The crucial factor is the function of the image in its specific context.

For informative screenshots, diagrams, or images with relevant meaning, on the other hand, a meaningful text alternative should be provided.

Use caption #

A caption is different from alt text.

The image caption is usually displayed visibly below the image and can provide visitors with additional information.

The alt text, on the other hand, serves as a textual alternative to the image.

Therefore, you do not need to copy the same text into both fields.

Use lists in a post #

Bullet points are particularly well-suited when several similar items need to be presented clearly.

WordPress supports:

• unordered lists
• numbered lists

For a list of properties, an unordered list is suitable, for example.

For a step-by-step guide, a numbered list often makes more sense.

Use quote block #

With a quote block, you can display quotes or correspondingly highlighted text areas.

However, a quote should not be used just because you want to visually highlight a paragraph.

For standard notes or info boxes, your theme or a corresponding block may offer a more suitable display format.

Insert table into a post #

For structured data, you can use the table block.

For example, a table is suitable for:

• Functional comparisons
• technical specifications
• Price overviews
• Assignments
• compact comparisons

Do not use tables merely as a design tool. Other blocks are better suited for regular running text or page layouts.

Move blocks #

If a paragraph, image, or other block is in the wrong place, you do not have to delete it and recreate it.

Select the block and use the available move functions or the list view.

Especially with longer articles, the List view helpful, because there you can clearly see the structure of the existing blocks.

What is the list view? #

The list view shows your post's blocks in a structured overview.

For a longer article, this allows you to quickly recognize, for example:

• what headings are available
• which blocks are nested inside each other
• where pictures are located
• which groups or columns are used

If you accidentally can no longer select a block or want to edit a complex structure, the list view is often the easiest way.

Duplicate block #

If you need an existing block again in a similar form, you can duplicate it.

For example, this is practical for recurring tables, notes, or structurally similar sections.

After duplicating, you should of course adjust the content of the copy accordingly.

Group multiple blocks #

WordPress allows multiple blocks to be grouped together.

This can be useful, for example, if multiple elements are to be designed, moved, or structured together.

However, you do not necessarily need groups for a simple blog post. Only use more complex block structures if they serve a real purpose.

What is a featured image? #

The Featured image is an image that is assigned to a post as a representative image.

Depending on the theme, it may appear, for example:

• above in the post
• on the blog overview
• on category pages
• related posts in lists
• in other archive views

Where and in what size the featured image is displayed is determined by the theme or the template being used.

Set featured image #

Add featured image #

1. Open the desired post in the editor.
2. Open the post settings.
3. Search the area Featured image.
4. Choose an existing image from the media library or upload a new one.
5. Check the selected image.
6. Save or update the post.

If you do not set a featured image, the theme can either display no image at all in the corresponding places or show a defined placeholder.

Featured image and image in the content are not the same #

A common beginner mistake is confusing the featured image with a regular image block.

An image block is part of the actual article content.

The featured image, on the other hand, is assigned to the post as a special image and displayed by the theme or template in designated places.

You can theoretically use the same image for both. Whether that makes sense depends on the design.

Select category for the post #

Categories help to structure posts by topic.

A WordPress blog about websites could, for example, have the following categories:

• WordPress
• Web hosting
• SEO
• Web design

When creating a post, you can select one or more matching categories.

We explain in detail how categories are structured and managed at Creating categories and subcategories in WordPress.

Do not select multiple categories at random #

Just because a post theoretically fits multiple topics, you shouldn't automatically assign it to every available category.

Categories are intended to make the content structure clearer.

When almost every post gets five or six categories, they quickly lose their usefulness.

Therefore, consider which main topic the post covers and which category is actually useful for visitors.

What happens without a selected category? #

WordPress uses a Default post category. If you do not assign a different category to a post, this default category will be used.

For example, with new WordPress installations, this can General or be designated accordingly depending on the language and configuration.

You can set which category is used as the default in the WordPress writing settings.

You can find more about this at Configure writing settings in WordPress.

Add tags to a post #

Keywords, too Tags named, can additionally group posts according to specific terms or topical characteristics.

They differ from categories and should not simply be used as a second category structure.

If you use tags, you should have a consistent concept for them.

We explain what tags are and how to use them effectively at What are tags in WordPress and how do you add keywords?.

Check the permalink of the post #

WordPress creates a dedicated URL for each published post.

Depending on your permalink settings, it might look like this, for example:

https://deine-domain.ch/blog/wordpress-plugin-installieren

A readable slug is much more helpful to visitors than a cryptic URL.

We explain how WordPress permalinks work and which basic settings are useful at Configure permalink settings in WordPress.

What is the slug of a post? #

The Slug is the individual URL component of a post.

At:

https://deine-domain.ch/blog/wordpress-plugin-installieren

would be, for example:

install WordPress plugin

the relevant slug.

A good slug is usually short, understandable, and describes the content.

Check slug before publication #

Before publishing a new post, it is worth taking a look at the generated URL.

If you changed the title multiple times during creation, a slug that was already generated may no longer match the final title.

Before the initial publication, this can usually be corrected without any problems.

For a post that has already been published for some time and may be linked, you should not change the URL without a reason, however.

What is the excerpt? #

WordPress can for posts a Excerpt or use Excerpt.

Depending on the theme, this short description text can be displayed, for example, on blog and archive pages.

If no manual excerpt is provided, WordPress or the theme may automatically generate an excerpt from the post content, depending on the configuration.

A manually formulated excerpt can be useful if you want to precisely control how the post is described in overviews.

An excerpt is not automatically the meta description #

The WordPress excerpt and the SEO meta description are technically not necessarily the same thing.

An SEO plugin may use the excerpt as the basis for a meta description, but it does not have to.

Which metadata is actually output depends on your WordPress and SEO plugin configuration.

Author of a post #

WordPress assigns a post to a user as the author.

Depending on user permissions and configuration, the author of a post can be changed.

The theme can display the author above or below the article, for example.

We explain how users and their roles work at Managing users in WordPress: roles, capabilities, and user accounts.

Save post without publishing it #

You do not have to make a new post publicly accessible immediately.

WordPress can save an unpublished post as Draft save.

This makes sense if:

• the article is not ready yet
• Pictures are missing
• a second person should check the content
• still need to be checked on the left
• the release date has not yet been reached

A draft is not visible to regular website visitors as a regularly published post.

Pending review #

Depending on the user role and editorial workflow, a post can be marked for review or as pending.

This is especially helpful for websites with multiple authors and editors.

For example, one author can prepare a post while another person reviews it before publication.

Publish post immediately #

When the article is finished, you can make it publicly accessible via the publishing function.

Depending on the editor workflow, WordPress may require confirmation once more or display important publishing settings.

Use this moment for a final check.

Schedule post for later #

WordPress can automatically publish a post at a future date and time.

Instead of publishing immediately, you set a future date and time for it.

This is useful, for example, when several posts are to be prepared and published according to an editorial plan.

Important: The planned publication time is based on the time zone configured in WordPress. Therefore, check under Settings → General, whether the correct time zone is set.

Check time zone for scheduled posts #

If WordPress is set to an incorrect timezone, a scheduled post may appear at a different time than expected.

You can find the basic settings under:

Settings → General

We explain how these options work at Configure general WordPress settings.

Publish post as private #

WordPress also supports other visibility settings in addition to publicly visible posts.

As a private published post is not visible to every regular website visitor.

Which users can view private content depends, among other things, on their WordPress permissions.

Create password-protected post #

WordPress can also protect content with a password.

Visitors must then enter the specified password before they can view the protected content.

This is a simple access restriction, but not a replacement for a full member, customer, or permission system.

Preview post #

Before you publish an article, you should use the preview function.

While the editor already shows an approximation of the content, the actual display on the website is additionally determined by the theme and the templates used.

Therefore, check in particular:

• Headlines
• Paragraphs
• Pictures
• Listen
• Tables
• Links
• Spacers
• Featured image

Also check the mobile display #

An article can look good on a large screen and still cause problems on a smartphone.

Particularly wide tables, very large images, long words, or complex column layouts can be problematic on small displays.

Therefore, also check important posts in a narrow or mobile view.

What should be checked before publication? #

A quick final check prevents many typical errors.

Pre-release Checklist #

1. Is the title clear and comprehensible?
2. Is the content complete?
3. Are H2 and H3 headings logically structured?
4. Do internal and external links work?
5. Do informative images have appropriate alt texts?
6. Is the correct category selected?
7. Are used tags useful?
8. Is the featured image correct?
9. Is the slug clear?
10. Are author and publication date correct?
11. Does the post look correct in the preview?
12. Does the display work on mobile devices?

Check post after publication #

Even after clicking on Publish you should open the finished post directly on the website once.

Test the links in particular and check whether the theme, header, featured image, and other automatically generated areas are displayed correctly.

If there is an error, you can then edit and update the post.

Why is my new post not showing up on the homepage? #

That depends on your reading settings and the structure of your website.

WordPress can display either the latest posts or a static page on the homepage.

If your website uses a static front page, new posts will not appear there automatically.

Instead, a separate blog page or a custom-created post archive may exist.

You can find more about this at Configure reading settings in WordPress.

Why is the post not appearing on the blog page? #

If a published post does not appear in the expected overview, there are several possible causes.

• The post is still a draft.
• The publication is planned for later.
• This post is private.
• The blog page uses a custom query or post filter.
• The template used only shows certain categories.
• A cache is showing an older version of the page.

Therefore, check the publication status first and then the structure of the blog overview.

Why does the post look different than in the editor? #

The block editor edits the content. The final appearance is additionally determined by the active theme or the templates used.

For example, the theme defines:

• Fonts
• Font sizes
• Content width
• Colors
• Spacers
• Display of headings
• Post information

With block themes, global styles and templates can also have a major impact on the presentation.

WordPress posts and Elementor #

Even if Elementor is installed, you do not automatically have to create blog posts completely with Elementor.

Many WordPress websites use the standard block editor for editorial content and control the general presentation of the post via a global single post template.

This has the advantage that the actual article content can be maintained independently of a complex page layout.

Which approach makes sense depends on the structure of your website.

Do not overload the post with unnecessary layout #

A blog post does not have to be structured like a landing page.

For longer guides, the most important things are:

• easy-to-read text
• clear subheadings
• meaningful paragraphs
• matching images
• Listen, if they make content clearer
• helpful internal links

Too many columns, animations, buttons, and decorative elements can make a technical article harder to read.

Blog posts and SEO #

WordPress does not automatically ensure that a published post achieves good search engine rankings.

The decisive factor is primarily whether the content genuinely answers a specific search or user query and is professionally helpful.

A good contribution includes, among other things:

• a clearly defined topic
• a meaningful title
• a clear heading structure
• substantive depth, if the topic requires it
• comprehensible language
• meaningful internal linking
• accurate and up-to-date information
• a technically functional page

More text doesn't automatically mean better content #

An article should be as detailed as necessary to completely answer the topic.

Artificially expanding a simple problem to several thousand words does not automatically improve the content.

Conversely, a very short guide can be insufficient if important steps, prerequisites, and typical problems are missing.

The scope should therefore be determined by the topic and not by a generalized word count.

Writing content for people #

A specialist article should answer the reader's question as completely and comprehensibly as possible.

Avoid texts that repeat the same search term an unnaturally high number of times or lengthen paragraphs just to make the article appear more extensive.

If a term is necessary for understanding, use it. If not, you do not have to artificially insert it into every paragraph.

Link existing content internally #

If you already have a detailed article on a subtopic, you do not need to repeat its entire content in every new post.

Explain the context briefly and then link to the detailed guide.

Over time, this creates a logically interconnected structure of knowledge.

That is exactly how the related links within this CURIAWEB Knowledge Base work, for example.

Update posts regularly #

A published post does not have to remain unchanged forever.

Technical WordPress guides in particular can become outdated over time because:

• WordPress itself
• the block editor
• Plugins
• Themes
• User interfaces
• technical recommendations

develop further.

Therefore, review important articles regularly and correct outdated information.

Do not artificially change the release date #

When you update an old post, you should be transparent about the content.

Simply changing a date does not make an outdated article current.

The crucial point is that the technical information has actually been verified and revised if necessary.

Comments on posts #

WordPress can allow visitors to leave comments under posts.

Whether comments are enabled depends on your global discussion settings and, if applicable, the settings of the individual post.

If you do not need a comment function, you can configure it accordingly.

You can find more about this at Configure discussion settings in WordPress.

Revisions of a post #

WordPress can, during editing, various versions or Revisions save a post.

This makes it possible to trace how a post has changed with supported content, and a previous revision can be restored if necessary.

Revisions are particularly helpful if a larger block of text was accidentally modified or deleted.

Automatic saving #

WordPress automatically saves intermediate editing states at specific intervals or in certain situations.

Nevertheless, you should not rely exclusively on it for extensive work.

Especially with an unstable internet connection, check whether your changes have actually been saved.

What to do if the editor is not working properly? #

If the block editor does not load, does not save changes, or if individual functions react incorrectly, there can be various causes.

This includes, for example:

• Plugin conflicts
• JavaScript error
• Theme conflicts
• Browser extensions
• Cache issues
• Server or PHP issues
• faulty HTTPS configuration

If the problem occurred immediately after installing or updating a plugin, you should consider this change when troubleshooting.

Disable Block Editor and use Classic Editor #

WordPress uses the block editor by default. However, for certain older workflows or existing websites, the classic editor can still be used.

A switch should not be made just because the block editor looks unfamiliar at first. For new WordPress websites, the block editor is the standard editorial workspace.

If you still need the classic editor, we explain the procedure under Switch from the Block Editor to the Classic Editor in WordPress.

Typical mistakes when creating WordPress posts #

• confusing posts and pages
• use a second H1 heading within the post
• Select headings solely based on their visual size
• do not assign a meaningful category
• using too many categories and tags
• Featured image forgotten
• Stuffing alt texts with keywords
• Do not check slug before publishing
• writing long texts without subheadings
• Do not test links
• check only the desktop view
• Publish post without controlling public view
• never update old technical articles

Note: A good WordPress post does not simply consist of as much text as possible. It answers a clearly defined topic, is logically structured, and enables the reader to quickly find and understand the information they are looking for.

When should you contact CURIAWEB support? #

If you cannot create or save a post as a CURIAWEB customer, or if the WordPress editor is not working correctly from a technical standpoint, you can contact our support.

Helpful in this regard are:

• the affected domain
• a precise description of the problem
• an displayed error message
• the browser used
• whether the problem occurred after a specific change

When it comes to questions regarding editorial design or individual content creation, a distinction must be made between technical WordPress support and actual content creation or web design.

Summary #

You create a new WordPress post via Posts → Add New. The standard block editor allows you to create and flexibly edit texts, headings, images, lists, tables, and other content as individual blocks.

Before publishing, in addition to the actual content, you should check the title, heading structure, category, tags, featured image, slug, and internal links. Use the preview and then check the finished post directly on the public website.

For a long-term helpful blog, the number of published posts is not what matters. Create content that comprehensively answers a specific topic with professional expertise, link sensibly to further information, and update technical articles when WordPress or the described features change.

If you want to modify or remove an existing article later, we will explain that in the next post under Edit or delete blog posts in WordPress.