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Creating Custom Menus

[wp101 video=”custom-menus”]

In this video, the instructor shows how to create and customize navigation menus in WordPress using the Customizer, making it easier for visitors to find important content.

1. Where to Manage Menus

  • Two options:
    • Appearance > Menus from the Dashboard
    • Customizer (Appearance > Customize) — allows live preview of changes in real time

2. Creating a New Menu

  • Give the menu a name (for identification).
  • Choose its location(s) (depends on theme support). In the Twenty Twenty theme, options include:
    • Horizontal desktop menu (top of site)
    • Expanded menu (hidden until clicked)
    • Mobile-only menu
    • Footer menu
    • Social links menu

3. Adding Items to the Menu

  • Click Add Items to include:
    • Pages (existing or create new directly from the menu editor)
    • Custom links (external URLs with custom labels)
    • Posts
    • Categories or tags (useful for blog organization)
  • Example setup:
    • Home
    • About
    • Blog
    • Contact
    • Products (category link)
    • Temporary external link (e.g., acme.com)

4. Customizing Menu Items

  • Edit the navigation label (shorten or rename links).
  • Remove items with the red X.
  • Rearrange items by drag-and-drop.
  • Create nested dropdown menus by dragging items slightly to the right beneath a parent item.

5. Menu Locations and Styles

  • Assign the same menu to multiple locations (e.g., top and footer).
  • Preview how menus look on desktop, tablet, and mobile.
  • Expanded menu option adds a three-dot icon that reveals items when clicked — great for mobile navigation.

6. Social Links Menu

  • Create a separate menu for social media profiles (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.).
  • Assign it to the Social Links menu location.
  • The theme automatically converts these links into icons.

Key Takeaway:

WordPress menus let you guide visitors to your most important content, whether through pages, posts, categories, or external links. With the Customizer, you can easily build, rearrange, and preview navigation menus—including dropdowns and social icons—in real time.

In the next video, you’ll likely learn more about customizing your site design and theme settings.

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