How to Add Links in WordPress Step by Step Guide

Adding Links in WordPress

When it comes to creating a successful website or blog, understanding how to effectively use links is crucial. Links not only help you connect your content but also enhance user experience and improve your website's SEO. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the various ways to add links in WordPress, best practices, and the importance of linking for your site's performance.

Understanding the Importance of Links

Links serve as the backbone of the internet. They guide users through content, establish relationships between different pages, and help search engines understand the context of your content. Here’s why linking is important:

• • User Experience: Links allow visitors to navigate easily from one page to another, providing a seamless browsing experience.
• • SEO Benefits: Both internal and external links contribute to SEO. They help search engines crawl your site more effectively and improve your chances of ranking higher in search results.
• • Credibility: Linking to authoritative sources adds credibility to your content, showing that you’ve done your research and are providing valuable information.
• • Content Discovery: Links help in promoting related content, encouraging users to spend more time on your site and reducing bounce rates.

Types of Links in WordPress

Before we dive into how to add links, it's important to understand the different types of links you can use in WordPress:

• • Internal Links: These links connect one page of your site to another. They help users navigate your site and allow search engines to crawl it effectively.
• • External Links: These links point to a page on a different website. They can help establish your site’s credibility and provide additional resources to your readers.
• • Outbound Links: Similar to external links, these lead users away from your site to another resource. Outbound links can be valuable when linking to authoritative sources.
• • Anchor Links: These links direct users to a specific section within a page. They’re useful for long posts or when you want to help readers quickly find information.
• • Email Links: These links allow users to initiate an email to a specified address when clicked.

Default Permalink

The permalink is a static hyperlink referring to one of your blog posts that look something like
"https://www.this_is_your_site.com/2019/02/?p=325".

That type of link can hurt your Search Engine ranking. The link can be made much better both for user engagement and for the Search Engines. You will want to change it. You can change your permalink structure through Settings > Permalinks
For more on Changing Permalinks, see WordPress.org.

How to Add Links in WordPress

Now that we understand the importance and types of links, let’s look at how to add them in WordPress. We’ll cover various methods for different scenarios, including adding links to posts, pages, and widgets. The WordPress post and page editor makes it easy to add hyperlinks to other web pages.

Adding Links to Posts and Pages

Navigate to Posts or Pages and select the post or page where you want to add a link.

In the editor, highlight the text you want to turn into a link. This could be a keyword, phrase, or sentence. After highlighting the text, click on the Link icon in the toolbar (it looks like a chain link). A box will appear where you can paste the URL of the link you want to add. You can also search for existing content on your site by typing keywords in the box. If you want the link to open in a new tab, click the gear icon next to the URL input box and toggle on the option to "Open link in a new tab." Click the Apply button (represented by a right arrow) to insert the link.
Don’t forget to save or update your post/page to ensure that the link is live.

Adding Links in the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg)

If you're using the Gutenberg editor, the process is slightly different but equally simple.

Log in to your WordPress Dashboard. Go to Posts or Pages and select the content you wish to edit. In the Gutenberg editor, click on the text block where you want to add a link. Highlight the text you want to link. Click on the Link icon in the block toolbar that appears above your selected text. Enter the URL in the box that appears or search for existing content. To have the link open in a new tab, click the down arrow next to the URL box and toggle on "Open in new tab."
Press Enter or click the checkmark icon to apply the link.

Adding Links to Images

Links can also be added to images, making them clickable. In the post/page editor, click on the Add Media button to upload an image. Once the image is inserted, click on it to select it. With the image selected, look for the Link To option in the Image block settings on the right-hand side. Choose Custom URL and enter the link you want the image to point to. If desired, check the box to "Open in new tab."
Click Update to save your changes.

Adding Links in Widgets

Widgets can also contain links, making it easy to direct visitors to specific pages or external sites.

Navigate to Appearance > Widgets in your WordPress dashboard. Choose a widget area (like Sidebar or Footer) and add a widget, such as Text or Custom HTML. In the widget settings, you can type your text, highlight it, and add a link just like in the post editor.
Click Save to apply your changes.

Adding Links in Menus

Adding links to your navigation menu can improve your site’s structure and help visitors find important pages.

Navigate to Appearance > Menus in your WordPress dashboard. If you don't have a menu yet, create a new one. If you want to edit an existing menu, select it from the dropdown. Use the Custom Links section to add any URL. Simply enter the URL and link text, then click Add to Menu. You can also add pages, categories, or posts from the other sections. Rearrange the links by dragging them into your desired order.
Click Save Menu to finalize your changes.

Best Practices for Adding Links in WordPress

Effective WordPress links should help visitors find relevant information, explain how pages relate to one another, and create a clear path through your website. Use descriptive anchor text, logical internal links, reliable external sources, accessible formatting, and stable URLs so people, search engines, and AI systems can understand each link’s purpose.

• • Use descriptive anchor text: Make the clickable words clearly describe the destination page. Replace vague phrases such as “click here,” “read more,” or “this page” with specific wording such as “WordPress backup instructions” or “how to format WordPress posts.” Descriptive anchor text gives readers useful context before they follow the link.
• • Link to closely related internal pages: Add internal links where another page genuinely expands on the current topic or answers the reader’s next question. Connect this guide with relevant WordPress tutorials, supporting service pages, and related articles instead of adding links solely for promotional purposes.
• • Place links within useful context: Include links naturally inside sentences that explain why the destination is relevant. Surrounding text helps visitors and automated systems understand the relationship between two pages. Avoid isolated links, unexplained URLs, and long lists of destinations that provide little context.
• • Keep each page focused on one primary subject: Use clear headings, concise paragraphs, and logically grouped instructions before adding supporting links. A well-organized page makes it easier to identify the main topic and understand how linked resources contribute to it. Review these WordPress post-formatting techniques for additional guidance.
• • Choose readable and stable URLs: Use short, descriptive WordPress permalinks that reflect the page topic. Avoid unnecessary numbers, dates, tracking parameters, and frequently changing slugs. When an established URL must change, create a permanent redirect and update all internal references to prevent broken links and lost navigation paths.
• • Check links before and after publishing: Confirm that every destination loads correctly, points to the intended page, and does not create a redirect loop. Periodically review older content for deleted pages, outdated resources, misspelled URLs, and redirected domains. A suitable tool from this comparison of WordPress SEO and broken-link plugins can help with larger websites.
• • Use external links selectively: Link to trustworthy primary sources when they verify a fact, provide official documentation, or offer information your page does not cover. Avoid linking to low-quality, misleading, copied, or unrelated pages. External links should strengthen the reader’s understanding rather than distract from the main content.
• • Apply link attributes correctly: Use rel="sponsored" for paid placements and affiliate links, and consider rel="ugc" for links added through user-generated content. Do not automatically apply nofollow to every external link. Choose attributes according to the relationship between your website and the linked destination.
• • Avoid opening every link in a new tab: Allow ordinary internal navigation to open in the same window unless there is a clear reason to preserve the current page. When a link opens a new tab, make that behavior understandable to visitors and use it consistently, especially for forms, documents, or external tools.
• • Create accessible links: Make linked text meaningful when read by itself, avoid using a full URL as the visible label, and do not rely only on color to identify links. Ensure links are easy to select on mobile devices and visually distinguishable from surrounding text. These practices improve navigation for keyboard and screen-reader users.
• • Use navigation links for important destinations: Place core pages in a clear site menu rather than depending entirely on links inside articles. Organize menus by visitor need, keep labels concise, and avoid overcrowding the navigation. See how to create and manage WordPress custom menus.
• • Preserve links during redesigns and migrations: Record existing URLs, map changed addresses to their new destinations, update internal links, and test redirects before launching major changes. A structured website migration checklist can help prevent broken navigation and inaccessible content.
• • Avoid excessive or repetitive linking: Do not link every occurrence of the same phrase or add several links that lead to the same destination within a short section. Select the most useful placement and prioritize pages that directly support the reader’s task. This keeps the content readable and makes each link more meaningful.
• • Review the complete user journey: Consider what visitors need before, during, and after reading the page. Link to prerequisite instructions, related explanations, troubleshooting resources, and logical next steps. Explore the RSH Web Services blog and resource index when additional supporting material is contextually relevant.

WordPress Permalinks Plugins

Permalink Manager Lite

Permalink Manager lets you customize the complete URL addresses of your posts, pages, custom post types, terms, and WooCommerce links with ease. By Maciej Bis

Remove Special Characters From Permalinks

Removes special characters from permalinks. By WPFactory

Cyrillic Permalinks

Automatically transliterates Cyrillic letters in post and page permalinks to their Latin phonetic equivalent. Multi-language. By Petko Bossakov

Custom Permalink Editor

Set Custom Permalink Editor on a per-post, per-tag per-page, and per-category basis. By Team KCG

Disable Media Permalink

Completely disable the Media Permalink generated by WP. By Hardweb.it

External Permalinks Redux

Allows you to point WordPress objects (posts, pages, custom post types) to a URL of your choosing. By Erick Hitter & Oomph, Inc.

Custom Permalinks

Set custom permalinks on a per-post, per-tag or per-category basis. By Sami Ahmed Siddiqui

Longer Permalinks

Allow long permalinks in your WordPress. Useful especially for using non-latin characters in permalinks. By Giannis Economou

WP Better Permalinks

Set custom friendly permalinks structure instead of default WordPress structure. By Mateusz Gbiorczyk

Automatically Update Permalinks

Automatically updates the permalink (slug) of a post or page when its title is changed. By WP Zone

Permalink Manager for WooCommerce

Premmerce Permalink Manager for WooCommerce allows you to change WooCommerce permalink and remove product and product_category slugs from the URL. By Premmerce

WordPress Resources and Links

Developers WordPress.org
Explore WordPress development with our comprehensive guides and resources. Learn to create themes, plugins, and optimize your site

Widgets WordPress.org
Discover WordPress widgets to customize your site’s layout easily! Add functionality and content in sidebars and footers without coding

Codex WordPress.org
Explore the WordPress Codex for comprehensive documentation and tutorials. Find guides on themes, plugins, and customization to help you master WordPress

Online Courses WordPress.org
Explore free WordPress courses designed for all skill levels! Learn about themes, plugins, and site management through structured lessons to boost your skills and create stunning websites

Community WordPress.org
Join the WordPress community! Collaborate with passionate contributors, share ideas, and help shape the future of WordPress. Get involved in events, discussions, and projects today

WordPress Resources RSHWeb.com
RSH Web Services complete WordPress resources. Our blog helps you find WordPress Resources like optimize your site, improve performance, and master all things WordPress

Security WordPress.org
Discover WordPress Security best practices to protect your site. Learn about updates, secure hosting, and essential plugins to keep your content safe from threats

Themes WordPress.org
Browse thousands of free WordPress themes to customize your site’s look. Find the perfect design for your blog, business, or portfolio, and enhance your site’s functionality

Plugins WordPress.org
Unlock your site's potential with thousands of free WordPress plugins! Enhance functionality, improve performance, and add features easily. Explore, install, and elevate your website

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my WordPress link not clickable after I publish the page?

A link may not work if the URL is incomplete, the linked text was not selected correctly, or the editor did not save the change. Reopen the post or page, select the anchor text, verify the full destination URL, and update the page. Also test the link in a private browser window to rule out cached content or editor permissions.

Should internal WordPress links use full URLs or relative URLs?

Both formats can work, but relative URLs such as /wordpress-back-up are useful for internal links because they remain tied to the same domain. Full URLs are often easier to copy between systems and feeds. Whichever format you choose, use it consistently and confirm links remain valid during domain changes or a website migration.

When should a WordPress link open in a new tab?

Opening a new tab can be helpful for external references, downloadable documents, forms, or tools visitors may want to compare while keeping the original page open. Most internal navigation should open in the same tab for a predictable browsing experience. Use new tabs selectively, especially when adding destinations to a WordPress custom menu.

What is the difference between nofollow, sponsored, and ugc link attributes?

The rel="sponsored" attribute identifies advertising, affiliate, or other compensated links. The rel="ugc" attribute is intended for links added through comments, forums, and other user-generated content. rel="nofollow" may be used when you do not want to endorse or associate your website with a destination. These attributes can also be combined when appropriate.

How can I find and repair broken links in WordPress?

You can test links manually, use a site-crawling service, or install a reputable broken-link or site-management plugin. Correct mistyped URLs, replace outdated resources, and redirect moved internal pages to their new locations. Before installing another tool, compare its features with established WordPress site management plugins and create a WordPress backup.

Do I need a paid plugin to add or manage links in WordPress?

No. The WordPress block editor includes built-in controls for linking text, images, buttons, posts, pages, and other content. Paid plugins may help with automatic internal-link suggestions, redirect management, reporting, or large-scale link audits, but they are optional. Avoid adding unnecessary plugins, since excessive or poorly maintained extensions are among the common WordPress mistakes.

Why does WordPress change or remove part of a URL I entered?

WordPress may alter a link when quotation marks, spaces, unsupported characters, copied formatting, or an invalid protocol are included. Paste the address as plain text, confirm it begins with https:// when linking externally, and check the HTML view for malformed markup. After correcting it, preview the page and test the destination on desktop and mobile. Additional guidance is available in the RSH Web Services article library.

Summary

Adding links in WordPress is an essential skill for anyone looking to enhance their website’s user experience and SEO. By understanding the types of links and how to add them effectively, you can create a more interconnected and user-friendly site.

Remember to follow best practices for linking to ensure your links serve their intended purpose and benefit both your visitors and your site's performance. As you become more familiar with linking, you'll discover even more ways to enhance your content and engage your audience.

Also see: Using WordPress To Build A Website

Installation with cPanel and Softaculous. WordPress Themes. Changing Themes. Plugins, Creating New Pages. Appearance, Step by step guide, more

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Author Bio: Mira Calden

A WordPress wizard with over eighteen years of experience designing, optimizing, and troubleshooting sites on the world’s favorite CMS WordPress....

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