If you have a WordPress website and use it regularly then you probably have a good idea of how everything works. But it does take a little digging to access the full suite of WordPress functionality. There’s a whole host of hidden WordPress features that, once uncovered, can help you get the most from your CMS.
Here is the 1-10 of the 20 hidden features we like our clients to know all about:
1. Screen Options
Screen Options is the key to unlocking other great functions (which is why it is first). By default, WordPress only displays the most commonly used functions but if you head to the top-right of the screen. Click Screen Options to open a drop-down menu that will show all the hidden features the screen offers.
2. Help
Right next to the screen options is a Help button which, again, once clicked will show a drop-down menu – this will explain key parts of the screen and provide quick links to the official WordPress documentation or support forums.
3. Dashboard Widgets
You are able to add widgets to your WordPress dashboard in order to have access to useful overviews of your website’s performance. Some of these widgets are provided by default (WordPress news, quick post and at-a-glance state) but by utilising drag-and-drop functionality you can move your widgets into one of four columns as well as hide the unwanted ones via screen options.
4. Sticky Posts
If you have a post targeted towards first time visitors to your site you might like to pin it to the top of your front page. You might like to also do this with a post that is your most popular, your most informative, or your biggest earner. The sticky posts feature is found to the right of the visual editor in the Publish panel. Click the Edit link next to Visibility and check the Stick this post to the front page option – you just created a sticky post.
5. Schedule Posts
If you don’t want a post to go live straight away (or you’re trying to be organised) you can schedule it to go live at a future time. This option is also found in the Publish panel next to the visual editor. Click the Edit link next to Publish and it will open up several date options. Specify the date or time you would like the post to go live and OK – you just scheduled your post.
6. Inline Linking
With recent WordPress updates there is a new inline linking feature. Simply copy a URL and paste it directly onto your text in order to create a link automatically. This function replaces the requirement of highlighting text, hitting Insert/Edit link button above the editor.
7. Quick-embed Media
In a similar way, you can also embed media into your posts by simply pasting a supported URL – videos, galleries, images, documents, slideshows, social media posts, and audio.
8. Formatting made simple
You can type these formatting shortcuts directly into the visual editor and WordPress will take care of the rest. Here’s a quick list of the formatting shortcuts currently available:
# for H1 tags
## for H2 tags
### for H3 tags
* or _ to start an unordered list
1) to start an ordered list
> for block quotes
– for a horizontal line
9. Distraction-free writing
In the top-right of your WordPress editor there is a button that will enable distraction-free writing mode – it will temporarily hide the WordPress sidebar and all of the panels surrounding the test editor so you are left with just a blank screen.
10. Split post into multiple pages
Many website owners and content managers are finding that long-form content isn’t being read in full and so are considering splitting single posts into multiple pages. This option breaks up the content and creates jumping off points where the reader can come back and continue reading. Access the text editor (top right of the visual editor) – add the following HTML tag where you want your content to be split.
<!—nextpage–>
You are able to be this as many times as you like to split your content into as many different pages as you like.
For more information on making the most of the WordPress hidden features just join us for our next blog post or contact the team from Website Design Centre.
