How to write & publish a blog post
Step-by-step instructions for writing, formatting, and publishing a blog post in WordPress, including categories, tags, and featured images.
Blog posts are how you share news, tips, and stories on your WordPress site. They are different from pages — posts appear in date order, support categories and tags, and usually show up in your site's blog feed. This guide walks you through writing and publishing one from start to finish.
Quick summary
Go to Posts → Add New Post in your WordPress dashboard. Add a title, write your content using blocks, set a category, add a featured image, then click Publish. The whole process takes 10–20 minutes for a typical post.
What you'll need
Beginner 10–20 minutes- An Editor or Administrator role in WordPress. Authors can also write posts. If you can't see the Posts menu, ask your project lead to check your user role.
- Your post content ready to go — a working title, the body text, and optionally a featured image.
Open the Add New Post screen
Log in to WordPress. Visit your site's login page and sign in. Not sure where that is? See how to find your WordPress login URL.
Hover over Posts in the left sidebar. A flyout menu appears with options including Add New Post.
Click Add New Post. The block editor opens with a blank post ready for your content.
Add a title
Click the Add title area at the top of the screen and type your post title. Make it clear and specific — think about what someone would search for, or what would make them want to click.
Titles become URLs
WordPress automatically creates the post's web address from the title. For example, "5 Tips for Better Sleep" becomes /5-tips-for-better-sleep. You can edit this later in the Permalink field in the right-hand panel, but it's easier to get it right from the start.
Write your content
Click in the white content area below the title and start typing. Each paragraph you write becomes its own paragraph block automatically. Press Enter to start a new paragraph.
To add other types of content — headings, images, buttons, or lists — click the blue + icon that appears on the left of any empty line, or use the + button in the top toolbar. Not sure which blocks to use? See working with blocks and the most useful blocks, explained.
A few tips for readable blog posts:
- Use Heading blocks (Heading 2 or Heading 3) to break up long posts into sections.
- Keep paragraphs short — 3 to 4 sentences works well.
- Add an image or two to keep readers engaged. See how to add images to a page or post.
Set the post category
Categories help you organize your blog and make it easier for visitors to find related posts. In the right-hand panel, find the Categories section (you may need to scroll down).
Check the box next to the right category for this post. If you need a new category, click Add New Category, type the name, and click the button to save it.
Every post needs a category
If you don't choose a category, WordPress assigns the post to "Uncategorized." That's fine technically, but it looks unprofessional on your site. Take a moment to set a real category.
Add tags (optional but useful)
Tags are more specific than categories. For example, a post in the "Marketing" category might carry tags like "social media" and "email marketing."
In the right-hand panel, find the Tags section. Type a tag and press Enter (or the comma key) to add it. You can add as many as you need. Learn more about organizing content in using categories & tags.
Set a featured image
The featured image appears at the top of your post and in blog listing pages, social media previews, and search results. It makes a big difference to how professional your post looks.
In the right-hand panel, find Featured image and click Set featured image. You can upload a new image or choose one from your media library. See setting featured images for sizing tips.
Write an excerpt (optional)
An excerpt is a short summary of the post. Some themes display it on the blog listing page instead of the full post. In the right-hand panel, find the Excerpt field and type 1–2 sentences that describe the post. See post excerpts explained for more.
Preview before publishing
Click the Preview button (the eye icon near the top-right) to see how your post will look to a visitor. Check for typos, broken formatting, and that your featured image looks right.
Publish the post
Click the blue Publish button in the top-right corner.
Review the pre-publish panel that slides in. It shows visibility (Public, Private, or Password protected) and the publish date.
Click Publish again to confirm. Your post is now live.
Post published!
Your blog post is live. Click View Post in the toolbar to see it on your site.
Not ready yet? Click Save Draft to save your work without publishing. You can return to finish it anytime. See drafts, previews, and publishing for more on the draft workflow.
Want to publish at a specific date and time? See how to schedule a post or page.
Common questions
Related guides
- Working with blocks
- The most useful blocks, explained
- Adding images to a page or post
- Drafts, previews, and publishing
- How to schedule a post or page
- Using categories & tags
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