Do you want to add a hyperlink in WordPress? Recently, one of our users asked us how to add a link in WordPress.
There are several different ways to add links in WordPress. You can add links in your posts, pages, navigation menu, sidebar widgets, footer area, and more.
In this comprehensive beginner’s guide, we will show you how to add a link in WordPress posts, pages, widgets, navigation menus, and more.
How to easily add a link in WordPress
Since this is a detailed tutorial, please use the navigation below to quickly jump to the section you need:
Why Are Links Important?
Links are the bloodstream of the internet, which makes them really important.
Basically, most websites on the internet are connected via links, which is why the term ‘web’ or ‘World Wide Web’ was introduced in the first place.
These are the hyperlinked text, buttons, and other elements that you click to go from one page to another or from one website to another.
Imagine visiting a web page with no link for you to click on. You’ll have no option but to click on the back button in your browser.
For individual websites, links tell your users where to click to view more information.
Properly placing links on your website allows you to increase the time users spend on your website. It also helps users discover more content, make a purchase on your online store, or subscribe to your email newsletter.
That being said, let’s take a look at how to easily add links in different areas of your WordPress website.
How to Add Links in WordPress Posts and Pages
WordPress makes it really easy to add links in your blog posts and pages using the block editor.
Simply edit your post or page, or create a new one.
Next, highlight the text that you want to attach the link to. This selected text is called the anchor text for the link. Now click on the ‘Link’ button:
You’ll see a box where you can enter a URL. A URL is a web address. For instance, WPBeginner’s guide on how to start a WordPress blog has the URL https://www.wpbeginner.com/start-a-wordpress-blog.
You can simply copy and paste the URL of the post or page you want to link to, like this:
Creating a hyperlink by pasting in a URL using the WordPress block editor
Click the Apply (Enter) button to insert the link into your post.
If you’re linking to content on your own site, then it might be quicker to search for it. Type a word or two from your content title, and WordPress will find it:
Searching for a page to link to using the WordPress block editor
Click on the title of the page or post you want to link to, and the URL will be automatically added for you. Again, you’ll need to click the Apply button to put the link into your post.
If you want to set your link to open in a new tab, then click the arrow on the right. You can then click the toggle and set your link to open in a new tab.
Setting your link to open in a new tab using the WordPress block editor
Note: We recommend that you only use this option for links to third-party websites. This way your users don’t leave your website while visiting it.
Adding hyperlink in Old WordPress Editor
If you are using the older classic editor instead of the block editor, then the process for adding a link is quite similar.
Open up the post that you want to edit, or create a new one. Find the text you want to use as the link’s anchor and highlight it. Then, click the ‘Link’ button which should appear in the first row of toolbar buttons.
Creating a hyperlink using the WordPress classic editor
You can then copy and paste the URL you want to link to, or search for it, as in the block editor.
Pasting your URL directly onto the anchor text
Another, even quicker, way to add a link in both the block editor and classic editor is to simply paste the URL onto the anchor text.
First, copy the URL you want to link to. Then, highlight your chosen anchor text in your post.
Next, you can either right-click and select ‘Paste’ or simply press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac) to paste the URL.
Paste your link directly into your content
WordPress will automatically detect that you’re pasting a URL, not text, and will turn the anchor text into a link.
Take a look at our tips for mastering the WordPress content editor to learn more about using the block editor effectively.