Menus are a crucial part of your WordPress website. They help visitors navigate your site and find the information they need. In this post, we’ll walk you through how to set up and manage menus in WordPress.
Setting up a new menu
- Go to the Menus page
In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Appearance > Menus. - Create a new menu
- Click the Create a new menu link at the top of the page.
- Enter a name for your menu (e.g., “Main Menu” or “Footer Menu”) and click Create Menu.
- Add menu items
- On the left, you’ll see a list of pages, posts, categories, or custom links you can add to your menu.
- Check the items you want to include and click Add to Menu.
- Drag and drop the items in the menu structure to arrange them in the desired order.
- Set the menu location
- Scroll down to the Menu Settings section.
- Choose a location (e.g., Primary, Footer, or Mobile).
- Click Save Menu.
Managing menu items
Once your menu is created, you can easily update it:
- Reorder menu items: Drag and drop items to rearrange them. Indent items to create submenus (dropdowns).
- Edit menu item labels: Click the dropdown arrow next to an item to change its label (what visitors see).
- Remove menu items: Click the dropdown arrow and select Remove to delete an item from the menu.
Advanced menu features
- Custom links: Use the Custom Links tab to add external URLs to your menu.
- Categories and tags: Add post categories or tags to guide visitors to related content.
- Conditional menus: With plugins like Conditional Menus or Elementor Pro, you can display different menus for specific pages or users.
Tips for effective menus
- Keep it simple: Include only the most important pages to avoid overwhelming visitors.
- Use clear labels: Ensure menu item names are easy to understand and accurately describe the page content.
- Test your menu: Check how your menu looks and works on desktop and mobile devices.
Setting up and managing menus in WordPress doesn’t have to be complicated. With a clear structure and thoughtful organisation, your menus will help guide visitors through your site with ease.
What’s next in your WordPress journey? Check out the next post in our WordPress 101 series for more tips and tutorials!