Adding anchor links in WordPress can significantly improve site navigation and user experience by enabling readers to access specific sections quickly. This guide will help you create something step by step and manage anchor links using the WordPress Block Editor and the Classic Editor. You’ll also discover how to use internal links effectively and set up a Table of Contents with popular plugins like Yoast SEO. This comprehensive tutorial can make your content easier to explore and more organized for your audience.
What is Anchor Links
Adding anchor links in WordPress improves site navigation and helps readers quickly jump to specific sections. This guide will help you create step-by-step editing and manage anchor links using the WordPress Block Editor and the Classic Editor. Additionally, you can learn how to efficiently use internal links to boost your website’s SEO and provide an experience for users. From setting up Table of Contents to inserting direct links using HTML code, you’ll learn how to make your content more accessible and user-friendly.
Key Features of Anchor Links:
- Direct Navigation: Allows users to go straight to a specific page part.
- Improves User Experience: Helps readers find the content they’re interested in faster.
- Commonly Used in TOCs: Often seen in Table of Contents to let users jump between sections.
- Uses HTML Anchors: Typically implemented using an HTML attribute like href=”#section-id.”
In short, anchor links improve navigation within a page, improving accessibility and the overall user experience.
Step-by-Step Guide to Add Anchor Links in WordPress
Let’s begin our step-by-step guide. We’ll keep everything simple so it’s easy to follow. Whether you’re doing this for the first time or you’ve done it before, this guide will take you through each step clearly and easily. Let’s get started and make everything simple for you!
How to Create a New Page in the WordPress Dashboard
To add a new page, first, go to your WordPress dashboard. Hover your mouse pointer over the ‘Pages’ section on the left menu. When the dropdown appears, click on ‘Add New’. This step lets you start making your new page without any hassle.
Organize Content with Anchor Links and Spacers
First, add a page name and some introductory Text to your new WordPress page. Next, insert a spacer to divide the content neatly and prepare for the anchor link setup. After the spacer, add another heading and Text to create a clear structure. This layout helps make the anchor link easy to spot and use.
Add Anchor Text to WordPress Page
To set up an anchor link, select the Text you want to turn into a link first. Then, click on the ‘Advanced’ settings on the right sidebar. In the HTML anchor field, type in your chosen anchor Text (like bring me here). Next, right-click on the Text and select ‘Copy’ to save it for later linking.
Insert an Anchor Link in the WordPress
To insert an anchor link:
- Start by highlighting the Text that you want to link.
- Click on the ‘Anchor Link’ icon in the toolbar.
- In the field that appears, paste the previously copied Text with a hash symbol (#) at the beginning, like #bring-me-here. This action will turn your selected words into an active anchor link.
Publish Your WordPress Page with Anchor Links
After setting up your anchor links, it’s time to make the changes live. To do this, click the ‘Publish’ button at the top-right corner of your WordPress page. This final step lets visitors access the updated page with working anchor links.
View Your Published WordPress Page
Click the ‘View Page’ button at the bottom-left corner of the screen to see your changes. This will open your updated WordPress page, where you can check your anchor links and the page’s overall look.
Test Your Anchor Link
To check if your anchor link works, click on the highlighted Text, “This is an anchor link.” When clicked, it should easily take you to the designated section of your WordPress page. This confirms that the anchor link is correctly set up and active.
Verify the Anchor Link Destination
After clicking the anchor link, you will navigate to this specific section on your WordPress page. This confirms that the link is correctly set up and leads users to the intended part of the content.
Link Your Anchor to a Heading
To switch the anchor link from a paragraph to a heading:
- When you finish, click ‘Save’ to make your changes.
- Click on the heading you want to link.
- Go to the Advanced settings on the right and add your anchor Text, like “bring me here,” in the HTML Anchor field.
Click on the Same Anchor Link Again
To test the same anchor link again, click on the highlighted Text labeled “This is an anchor link.” This will let you double-check whether it still correctly directs you to the desired section of your WordPress page.
Check the Anchor Link to the Heading
Clicking the anchor link will lead to this heading on your WordPress page. This step shows that your anchor link points precisely to the right place.
Navigate to All Posts in the WordPress Dashboard
Go to your WordPress dashboard to add anchor links using a plugin. Hover your mouse pointer over the ‘Posts’ section on the left-hand menu. A dropdown will appear; click ‘All Posts’ to view all your posts in one place.
Preview Your WordPress Post
After locating your post in All Posts, find the one you want to preview. Then, click the ‘View’ link next to the post title. This lets you see the complete post as it will appear to your visitors on the live site.
Edit Your Post to Add a Table of Contents
To include a Table of Contents using a plugin, start by clicking the ‘Edit Post’ button at the top of your post. This step will open the editing screen, where you can add a table for your page’s sections; organizing your content into sections helps readers find what they need more quickly.
Add a Table of Contents Using Yoast SEO
To insert a Table of Contents, press enter in the editor. Then, type “/tab” and choose ‘Yoast—Table of Contents’ from the options. This plugin automatically creates a clear, organized table for your WordPress post, improving user navigation.
Save Changes to Table of Contents
Once you’ve customized your Table of Contents, click ‘Save’ to confirm your changes. This step will apply all your changes, including any updated or hidden anchor links, ensuring your WordPress post’s final version is ready.
Preview Your Updated WordPress Post
To see your updates, click the ‘View Page’ button at the editor’s top. This lets you check your changes in the live preview to ensure your Table of Contents and any anchor links are correctly displayed.
Add a Table of Contents with Yoast SEO
In this example, you successfully added the Table of Contents using the Yoast SEO plugin. This table helps organize your content by displaying key headings, allowing readers to navigate through the sections of your WordPress post quickly. Utilizing Yoast SEO to create a table improves navigation and user experience.
Select a Heading from the Table of Contents
Select the appropriate title in the Table of Contents to navigate directly to a particular section. This action will take you directly to that part of the content, making navigation within your WordPress post quick and easy.
Navigate to the Section via the Table of Contents
After clicking on a heading in the Table of Contents, you will be redirected to that specific section within your WordPress post. This function helps readers find exactly what they want with a single click.
Delete Table of Contents from WordPress Post
Click on the three-dot menu above the block to remove the Table of Contents. Select ‘Delete’ from the options to permanently remove the table from your WordPress post. This step helps you easily remove unwanted elements.
Activate Easy Table of Contents Plugin
To add the Easy Table of Contents plugin, Set it up and enable it through your WordPress dashboard. Once activated, please scroll down to the plugin settings at the bottom of the page to confirm that it is enabled. This tool helps create a structured table for more straightforward navigation.
Save Changes to Easy Table of Contents
After adjusting your Table of Contents settings, press the ‘Save’ button at the top of the screen. This action will apply all updates to your WordPress post, including layout changes and positions.
Preview Your Page After Changes
To view your WordPress page after saving changes, click the ‘View’ icon at the top of the editor. This action lets you preview the final version of your page with the updated Table of Contents and settings.
Easy Table of Contents Successfully Added
After activating the plugin, you’ll see the Easy Table of Contents appear at the beginning of your WordPress post. This table allows readers to easily navigate through the different sections of your content, improving the overall user experience.
View Table of Contents on WordPress Page
To see the complete Table of Contents, click the dropdown arrow next to the heading. This will expand the table, showing all the sections for easy navigation within your WordPress page.
Full View of Table of Contents
Here, you can see the complete Table of Contents with all its headings and subheadings neatly listed. This layout helps readers easily navigate your WordPress post’s different topics and sections.
Select SEO Tools from the Table of Contents
In the Table of Contents, you can choose any heading to explore. For this example, click the SEO Tools section in your WordPress post to jump directly to that topic. This feature allows for quick navigation to the content you’re interested in.
Jump to SEO Tools Section
Clicking on the SEO Tools heading in the Table of Contents will take you to that section within the WordPress post. This feature ensures readers can quickly find detailed information on SEO tools without scrolling.
Add an Anchor Link with Classic Editor
To create an anchor link using the Classic Editor, install and activate the Classic Editor plugin. Then, open the post you want to edit. This setup lets you easily add and manage anchor links within your content using the familiar Classic Editor interface.
Insert an Anchor Link in Classic Editor
You can create an anchor link in the Classic Editor by selecting the Text where you want to insert the link. Highlight the desired Text and use the available options to insert the anchor. This helps in connecting sections easily within your content.
Navigate to the Target Section via the Anchor Link
When users click on the anchor link labeled “Let’s Come Here with Anchor Link,” they will be directed quickly to this specific part or section of the post. This function helps visitors easily find critical points or topics in your WordPress content.
Modify Anchor Link in HTML Code
To edit the anchor link in the HTML editor, wrap the line of Text within paragraph tags like<p></p>. Add any additional properties needed to style or improve the link. This approach allows for precise control over your WordPress content and layout.
Add Anchor Link with HTML Code
To set up an anchor link using HTML, wrap the Text inside a tag like HyperLink. In the href attribute, include the hash symbol (#) followed by your anchor name, such as #Lets-Reach-Here. This HTML coding method allows for accurate internal linking within your WordPress content.
Save Changes by Clicking Update
After making all edits to your WordPress post, click on the ‘Update’ button on the right side of the editor. This step applies all the changes, ensuring that your content and anchor links are up-to-date for your readers.
Test Anchor Link in New Tab
To verify that the anchor link works, open the updated post in a new tab. Click on the highlighted anchor link labeled “Click Here” to check if it takes you to the intended section within the WordPress post.
Anchor Link Destination Reached
After clicking the anchor link, you will land at the target section labeled “Let’s Come Here with Anchor Link.” This shows that the link successfully directs users to the exact part of the WordPress post you wanted to highlight.
Conclusion:
Following this guide, you’ve gained some handy skills for effectively creating and managing anchor links in your WordPress site. Whether using plugins like Yoast SEO or working with the Classic Editor, these methods help you structure your content for a better user experience. Adding anchor links and a Table of Contents improves navigation and boosts content accessibility. Keep refining these techniques to make your website more reader-friendly and well-organized.
About Author
This article was written by Haider Aftab Abbasi. If you’re looking for more insightful content or professional collaborations, feel free to connect with Haider on LinkedIn using the provided link.
