How do I use categories and tags in WordPress?

Category:

Creating and Managing Categories:

  1. Creating Categories: Navigate to Posts → Categories. Give the new category a name and an optional description. You can create subcategories by toggling off the Top level Category switch and choosing the top-level category you want this subcategory associated with 2.
  2. Setting a Default Category: The default category is usually Uncategorized, but you can change it by clicking the ellipsis next to the category you want to set as default. You can also rename the Uncategorized category by editing it 2.
  1. Assigning Categories to Posts: When editing a post, open the post settings sidebar, find the Categories section, and check the boxes next to the categories you want to assign to the post. Update or publish the post to save the changes 2.
  1. Editing or Deleting Categories: Use the ellipsis next to the category to edit or delete it. Note that deleting a category does not remove it from posts; it simply removes the category from your site 2.
  1. Displaying Categories on Your Site: To show the categories on your site, ensure they are assigned to your posts. WordPress will automatically display them in the sidebar or wherever you have placed the category widget 2.

Creating and Managing Tags:

  1. Adding Tags to Posts: In the post editor, you can add tags in the Tags section. Type in the tag and press enter. You can add multiple tags separated by commas 3.
  1. Choosing Tags: Choose tags that are relevant to your post’s content. Use keywords from your post or do keyword research to determine the best tags. Be specific and consistent with your tags to help link related posts together 3.
  1. Converting Between Categories and Tags: If you need to convert between categories and tags, go to Tools → Import and install the Categories and Tags Converter plugin. Follow the prompts to convert categories to tags or vice versa 3.

Optimizing Categories and Tags for SEO:

  1. Using SEO Plugins: Tools like Rank Math and Yoast offer settings to optimize categories and tags for SEO, such as controlling visibility in search results, managing schema, and preventing duplicate content issues 3.
  1. Keyword Research: Perform keyword research to find the best tags for your topic. Enter the keywords you aim to rank for in your SEO plugin settings 3.
  1. Consistent Tagging: Create a list of tags and use them consistently across your posts. This helps to link related content together and improves SEO 3.

Remember to use one main category for each post and consider using subcategories if you have a lot of content. Subcategories help organize content better and make it easier for users to find specific content

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