Categories and Tags

[wp101 video=”categories-tags”]

In this video, the instructor explains how to use categories and tags to organize your blog posts in WordPress, helping readers navigate your content more easily.

1. Why Categories and Tags Matter

• Categories and tags group related content, making your site easier to browse by topic instead of just chronologically.
• They only apply to blog posts (not pages).
• In the default WordPress theme (Twenty Twenty):
  • Categories appear above the post title
  • Tags appear below the post content

2. Categories: Structure and Use

• Categories are broad groupings of content (e.g., News, Products).
• Every post must belong to at least one category.
• You can assign a post to multiple categories, but it’s best to keep it focused.
• By default, WordPress assigns new posts to “Uncategorized”—not helpful, so always choose or create a relevant category.

Creating Categories:

• In the editor:
  • Open the Document Settings
  • Expand the Categories section
  • Click Add New Category
  • You can set a Parent Category to build a hierarchy (e.g., Shirts > T-Shirts)

3. Tags: Keywords for Quick Search

• Tags are specific keywords (e.g., rockets, reviews) that describe the post’s content in more detail.
• Think of:
  • Categories as a Table of Contents
  • Tags as an Index

Creating Tags:

• In the editor:
  • Open the Tags section
  • Add relevant keywords (e.g., “rockets” for a post about rocket-powered skates)
• Tags help visitors find related articles across your site.

4. Managing Categories and Tags in the Dashboard

• From the WordPress Dashboard, go to:
  • Posts > Categories
  • Posts > Tags

Category Management:

• Edit, delete, or add categories.
• Optional: Add a slug (URL-friendly name), set a parent category, and write a description.
• Posts assigned to a subcategory are automatically included in the parent category archive.

Tag Management:

• Add, edit, or bulk delete tags.
• Use the search bar to find specific tags quickly.

Key Takeaway:

Organizing your posts with categories and tags makes it easier for visitors to find related content—and improves your site’s overall usability and SEO. Always assign meaningful categories and tags before publishing a new post.

In the next video, you’ll likely finalize and publish the post, making it live on your site.