How to Add Links in WordPress

Tutorial #15

Sooner or later, you’ll want to add links to other websites, or even another page in your own site. Fortunately, in a WordPress site it’s pretty straightforward.

Note: this article was updated on July 15, 2019.

Understand the Two Types of Links

There are text links and there are image links. A text link changes a word or phrase to an active link. When your reader clicks on it, they’ll be taken to another web page. It could be a different page on your site, or it could link to a totally different site.

An image link does the same thing, but your reader clicks on an image instead of words to get there.

Here’s an example of a text link:

Download your copy of The WordPress Beginner’s Blueprint.

Here’s an example of an image link that will take you to the same page. Go ahead and click – I’ll wait.

How to Add a Text Link

WordPress makes it easy to create the links you want. Here are the steps to create a text link:

#1. Get the exact URL you want to link to.

The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is what shows up at the top of your browser when you’re visiting a web page. If you look up, you’ll see the URL for this page is http://wpbuildingblocks.com/how-to-add-links-in-wordpress. (Your particular browser might not show the http:// or https:// part of it, but trust me, it’s there.)

To make sure you get it exactly right, it’s probably wise to copy and paste it rather than trying to type it by hand.

#2. Highlight the text you want to link

In your WordPress editor, highlight your link text. Your highlighted text will look something like this:

#3. Click the icon to create the link

Once you begin highlighting, you’ll see this set of icons pop up. It includes your link tool. Go ahead and click it.

#4. Paste the link URL

Underneath your highlighted text, you’ll see a new box that says Paste URL or type to search. Type, or better yet, paste, the URL into the box.

Note that if you want to link internally (in other words, to another post or page within the same WordPress site), you can search for the link you need by typing a few words into that box. When you do, WordPress will show you a list of available items. Simply click the correct one, and WordPress will insert the right link.

Here’s what the link to The WordPress Beginner’s Blueprint above, looks like.

#5. If you want, set up the link so it opens in a separate browser tab

Click the small arrow next to the URL to open the dialog, then select Open in New Tab.

#6. Save the link

Click the arrow to save the link.

That’s all there is to it!

How to Add an Image Link

#1. Get the exact URL, as above

#2. Add your image

Here’s a quick tutorial on how to add an image.

#3. Highlight the image and add link details

Highlight the image, then look at the Block tab to your right. Scroll down until you see the Link Settings.

Select the type of link from the dropdown box.

If you select Media File, WordPress will automatically insert the proper link. When your readers click, they’ll see a separate page displaying only that image.

If you select Attachment page, WordPress will create the link and take your readers to a separate page that looks something like this.

To link to another page, post, or a completely different website, select Custom URL.

Just as you did with the text link, paste or type in the URL you’re linking to, and select Open in New Tab if appropriate. Your link will be saved when you save your draft.

That’s it! You’ve added an image and linked to it.

I hope you’ve found this tutorial helpful. If you have a question, please contact me. I also teach WordPress — here’s more information.

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See more basic WordPress tutorials for beginners here.