How To Create Post Categories In WordPress

The Beginner’s Guide to Creating Post Categories in WordPress

As a beginner blogger, it’s important to understand how to organize your blog posts so that your readers can easily find what they’re looking for. That’s where post categories in WordPress come in. In this article, we’ll explain what post categories are, how to create them, and how to use them effectively on your WordPress website.

Understanding Post Categories

Before we dive into the specifics of creating post categories, let’s first define what they are and how they work in WordPress.

What are Post Categories in WordPress?

Post categories are used to organize your blog posts into different sections based on the content of each post. They act as a way of grouping your content so that your readers can easily find posts on specific topics.

Categories vs. Tags in WordPress

In addition to post categories, WordPress also allows you to use tags to categorize your content. While both serve a similar purpose, there is a difference between the two.

Post categories are broad and typically used to group content by general topics. For example, a blog that focuses on food might have categories like “Recipes,” “Restaurant Reviews,” and “Food News.”

Tags, on the other hand, are more specific and used to label posts with relevant keywords. For example, a recipe post might have tags like “Vegetarian,” “Gluten-Free,” or “30-Minute Meals.”

Best Practices for Choosing and Creating Post Categories

When creating post categories in WordPress, there are a few best practices to keep in mind:

Use Keywords

Choose category names that contain relevant keywords related to your blog’s niche. This will help improve your website’s search engine optimization (SEO) and make it easier for readers to find your content.

Avoid Redundancy

Avoid creating categories that are too similar or redundant. For example, if you have a “Vegetarian Recipes” category, there’s no need to also create a “Healthy Vegetarian Recipes” category.

Limit the Number of Categories

Don’t create too many post categories. Aim for 5-10 categories at most, as having too many can overwhelm your readers and make it difficult for them to find what they’re looking for.

How to Create a Post Category in WordPress

Now that you understand what post categories are and the best practices for creating them, let’s take a look at how to actually create a post category in WordPress.

Step 1: Navigate to the Categories Page

To create a post category in WordPress, first, navigate to the “Posts” section in your WordPress dashboard, and click on “Categories.”

Step 2: Add a New Category

On the Categories page, you will see an option to “Add New Category.” Click on this button to create a new post category.

Step 3: Name Your Category

In the “Name” field, enter the name of your new post category. Remember to choose a name that contains relevant keywords and accurately describes the content of the category.

Step 4: Create a Slug

The “Slug” is the part of the category’s URL that identifies it. You can leave this field blank, and WordPress will automatically generate a slug based on the category name.

Step 5: Choose a Parent Category

If you want your new post category to be a subcategory of an existing category, choose a parent category from the dropdown menu. If you don’t want your category to be a subcategory, leave this field blank.

Step 6: Add a Description

You can add a description of your new post category in the “Description” field. This is optional but can be helpful in providing more context for your readers.

Step 7: Click “Add New Category”

Once you have filled in all the necessary information, click “Add New Category” to create your new post category. Congratulations! You have now created your first post category in WordPress.

Creating Parent and Child Categories in WordPress

In addition to creating standalone post categories, WordPress also allows you to create parent and child categories to organize your content even further.

Parent categories act as the broad category, while child categories are more specific subcategories that fall under the parent category. For example, “Recipes” could be a parent category, while “Vegetarian Recipes” and “Gluten-Free Recipes” could be child categories.

To create a child category, simply select the parent category from the dropdown menu in the “Add New Category” form.

How to Assign Categories to WordPress Posts

Now that you’ve created your post categories, it’s time to assign them to your individual blog posts. Here’s how:

Method 1: Adding Categories While Writing a Post

When you’re writing a blog post in WordPress, you can assign categories to the post by navigating to the “Document” tab on the right-hand side of the screen and selecting the relevant categories from the “Categories” section.

Method 2: Adding Categories in Bulk

If you have multiple posts that need to be assigned to the same category, you can assign them in bulk by navigating to the “Posts” section of your WordPress dashboard, selecting the posts you want to assign to a category, and selecting “Edit” from the dropdown menu at the top of the page. From there, you can select the category you want to assign the posts to.

Managing Post Categories in WordPress

Now that you know how to create and assign categories to your blog posts, it’s important to know how to manage them effectively.

Editing Categories in WordPress

To edit a post category in WordPress, simply navigate to the “Categories” page and hover over the category you want to edit. From there, you can click the “Edit” button to make changes to the category name, slug, parent category, and description.

Deleting Categories in WordPress

To delete a post category in WordPress, navigate to the “Categories” page and hover over the category you want to delete. From there, you can click the “Delete” button to remove the category. Note that deleting a category will not delete the posts within it, but will remove the category from those posts.

Rearranging Categories in WordPress

To rearrange the order of your post categories in WordPress, simply navigate to the “Categories” page and drag and drop the categories into the desired order. Download Category Order and Taxonomy Terms Order Plugin

If you’re looking to rearrange the order of your post categories in WordPress, the good news is that it can be done with ease. One popular way to accomplish this is through the use of the Category Order and Taxonomy Terms Order plugin.

The Category Order and Taxonomy Terms Order plugin allows you to easily reorder your post categories by simply dragging and dropping them into the desired order. This is especially useful for when you have a lot of categories and want to customize their order to improve user experience.

To install the plugin, navigate to the “Plugins” section in your WordPress dashboard and search for “Category Order and Taxonomy Terms Order.” Once you’ve installed and activated the plugin, you can begin rearranging your post categories by following these steps:

1. Navigate to the “Categories” section in your WordPress dashboard.

2. Click on the “Taxonomy Order” link, which appears at the top of the page once the plugin is installed.

3. Drag and drop the categories into the desired order.

4. Save the changes by clicking on the “Update Order” button.

With the Category Order and Taxonomy Terms Order plugin, you can easily customize the order of your post categories in WordPress to improve the user experience and make it easier for readers to find the content they’re looking for.

It’s important to note that rearranging the order of your post categories does not affect the URLs of your posts or their rankings in search engines. However, it can have a significant impact on the user experience of your website and help make it more organized and user-friendly.

The Category Order and Taxonomy Terms Order plugin is a simple and effective way to rearrange the order of your post categories in WordPress. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily customize the order of your post categories and improve the user experience on your website.

Merging Categories in WordPress

If you have two or more categories that are too similar or redundant, you can merge them into a single category. To do this, simply edit one of the categories and change the name to the other category. This will merge the two categories and all posts associated with them into a single category.

Post categories are an essential tool for organizing your blog posts in WordPress. By following the best practices for choosing and creating categories, creating parent and child categories, assigning categories to your posts, and managing your categories effectively, you can improve the user experience on your website and help your readers find the content they’re looking for.

Remember, when creating post categories, it’s important to choose names that contain relevant keywords and accurately describe the content of the category. By doing so, you can improve your website’s SEO and attract more readers to your blog.

If you have any additional questions about creating post categories in WordPress, be sure to check out our FAQs section below.

Here are the detailed main points with a description about the article on “The Beginner’s Guide to Creating Post Categories in WordPress”:

1. Introduction

• Introduce the importance of organizing blog posts in WordPress and how post categories can help improve user experience.

• Provide an overview of the article’s objectives and main points.

2. Understanding Post Categories

• Define post categories in WordPress and explain their difference from tags.

• Provide best practices for choosing and creating post categories in WordPress, such as using keywords and avoiding redundancy.

• Use examples and screenshots to illustrate the process of creating post categories.

3. How to Create a Post Category in WordPress

• Provide step-by-step instructions on creating a post category in WordPress, including naming, slug, and parent category.

• Explain how to create a parent and child category and why it can be useful.

• Discuss the different methods of assigning categories to blog posts.

4. Managing Post Categories in WordPress

• Explain how to edit, delete, and rearrange post categories in WordPress.

• Provide tips on keeping post categories up-to-date and relevant.
• Discuss how to merge post categories and when it’s necessary.

Here is an action plan based on the article “The Beginner’s Guide to Creating Post Categories in WordPress”:

1. Assess your current blog posts and identify common themes or topics that can be grouped together.

2. Follow the best practices for choosing and creating post categories in WordPress, such as using relevant keywords and avoiding redundancy.

3. Create post categories in WordPress by navigating to the “Posts” section and clicking on “Categories”.

4. Consider creating parent and child categories to further organize your blog posts.

5. Assign relevant post categories to each of your blog posts.

6. Edit or delete post categories as needed to keep your website organized and up-to-date.

7. Use long-tail keywords naturally within the content to improve SEO without sacrificing quality and readability.

8. Regularly assess and adjust your post categories as your blog grows and evolves.

By following this action plan, you can effectively organize your blog posts in WordPress and improve the user experience for your readers. Remember to keep your post categories up-to-date and relevant, and use keywords naturally within the content to improve SEO.

Here are 10 frequently asked questions about creating post categories in WordPress, along with their answers:

1. How many post categories should I create for my website?

• It’s best to limit the number of post categories to 5-10 at most. Too many categories can overwhelm your readers and make it difficult for them to find what they’re looking for.

2. Can I change or delete a post category once it has been created?

• Yes, you can edit or delete a post category in WordPress by navigating to the “Categories” page and clicking on the relevant category. However, note that deleting a category will not delete the posts within it.

3. Can I assign multiple post categories to a single blog post?

• Yes, you can assign multiple post categories to a single blog post in WordPress. However, it’s best to limit the number of categories per post to two or three at most.

4. How do I create a subcategory under an existing category?

• To create a subcategory in WordPress, simply select the parent category from the dropdown menu when creating a new post category.

5. Can I set a default post category for all new blog posts?

• Yes, you can set a default post category for all new blog posts in WordPress by navigating to “Settings” > “Writing” and selecting the default category under “Default Post Category.”

6. Will deleting a post category delete all associated blog posts?

• No, deleting a post category will not delete the posts within it. However, the deleted category will be removed from those posts.

7. How do I merge multiple post categories into a single category?

• To merge multiple post categories into a single category, simply edit one of the categories and change the name to the other category. This will merge the two categories and all posts associated with them into a single category.

8. How do I add post categories to my WordPress menu?

• To add post categories to your WordPress menu, navigate to “Appearance” > “Menus” and drag the “Categories” module to the menu area. From there, you can select the categories you want to add to your menu.

9. Can I use post categories for organizing my products on my e-commerce website?

• Yes, you can use post categories to organize products on your e-commerce website in WordPress. However, it’s best to use a dedicated e-commerce plugin for more advanced product management.

10. How do I display my post categories on my website’s homepage?

• To display your post categories on your website’s homepage, you can use a category widget or shortcode provided by your WordPress theme or a plugin. You can also manually add the shortcode to your homepage template.

Conclusion

In conclusion, creating post categories in WordPress is an essential part of organizing your blog posts to improve the user experience and help readers find relevant content. By following the best practices for choosing and creating post categories, creating parent and child categories, assigning categories to your posts, and managing your categories effectively, you can improve your website’s SEO and attract more readers to your blog.

The Beginner’s Guide to Creating Post Categories in WordPress provides a comprehensive overview of how to create post categories, including step-by-step instructions, illustrations, and tips for managing and organizing your categories. By using long-tail keywords naturally within the content, you can improve your website’s search engine ranking without sacrificing the quality and readability of the article.

Remember, choosing names that contain relevant keywords and accurately describe the content of the category is crucial for improving SEO and attracting more readers to your blog. By following the action plan and frequently asked questions provided in the article, you can effectively organize your blog posts in WordPress and improve the user experience for your readers.