If you participate in online forums, then you will already be familiar with the concept of “sticky” posts.
A featured or sticky post is where a specific item does not get replaced by newer entries while older threads appear down the page.
Like forums, WordPress also lets you display posts at the top of your blog page while the newer entries appear below the pinned item and older posts get pushed down your page.
This step-by-step tutorial explains how to make WordPress posts sticky.
Before going through this tutorial, it helps to understand basic WordPress features like:
- Understanding the difference between Posts and Pages
- Creating new WordPress blog posts
- How to edit blog posts in WordPress
- Using the WordPress Quick Edit function
- How to create a WordPress blog page
- How to specify the number of posts to show on your blog post page
Featured Posts
In WordPress, posts are typically listed on your blog page with the latest posts at the top …
(Latest posts get listed at the top of your blog posts page and older entries get pushed further down the page)
Depending on how many posts you have set up your site to display on your blog page, as new blog posts get published, older posts will get pushed further down the blog page.
You can mark posts as Sticky if you want them to appear above all other posts. Sticky posts will continue to display above all other posts until you uncheck the ‘Sticky’ option on your Post Edit screen.
Here’s how to make your blog post sticky:
Log into your WordPress admin section, then go to the main navigation menu and choose select Posts > All Posts …
(Posts Menu – All Posts)
This brings up the Posts screen, which displays all the posts on your site …
(Table Of Posts)
You have two methods of making your blog posts sticky:
Making A Post In WordPress Sticky Using The Quick Edit Function
Search for the post item you want to edit, then hover over the title to display the options menu and click on Quick Edit …
(Click on the ‘Quick Edit’ link)
The Quick Edit inline editor displays your post editing options. Locate the ‘Make this post sticky’ option …
(’Make this post sticky’ option – Inline editor section)
Tick Make this post sticky …
(Quick Edit - Sticky post checkbox)
Click the ‘Update’ button to save your settings …
(Update your settings)
Make A Post In WordPress Sticky - Post Edit Method
If you are adding a new post or editing an existing post, you can make the post sticky by going to Publish > Visibility: Public > Edit …
(Post publish section – Visibility settings)
Select ‘Stick this post to the front page’ then click OK, and remember to update your changes …
(Publish post section)
Your Table of Posts will now show your post status as “Sticky” …
(Post status: Sticky)
Visitors will see the sticky post at the top of the page, followed by your most recent posts …
(Featured posts are added to the top of the blog summary page and all other posts get pushed down the page)
Depending on the active theme you are using, your sticky post can also stand out from other blog posts.
For example, your sticky post could have a distinct label or highlight color …
(Featured posts can appear differently than other posts)
Here’s the same example using a different theme …
(Featured posts can stand out from regular posts)
Your blog post will stay sticky for as long as you want.
How To Unstick Blog Post Entries
Unsticking posts in WordPress is as simple as reversing the process.
To unstick a post, navigate to your Table of Posts in the WP administration area and click on the ‘Sticky’ link on the Posts menu to display all items assigned a sticky status …
(Sticky posts menu – Posts screen)
Hover your mouse over the post title to view the options menu and click on the ‘Quick Edit’ link …
(’Quick Edit’ feature)
Uncheck the ‘Make this post sticky’ box and click the ‘Update’ button to save your settings …
(Unselect the box to unstick your post inside the Quick Edit function)
Alternatively, when editing an existing blog post, you can unstick your post by going to Publish > Visibility: Public > Edit …
(Publishing box – Visibility settings)
Unselect ‘Stick this post to the front page’ then click OK and remember to click Update to save your settings when finished …
(Publish box)
Your post will no longer be sticky and will behave like all regular posts.
Congratulations! Now you know how to make your blog posts stick.
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"This is AMAZING! I had learnt about how to use WordPress previously, but this covers absolutely everything and more!! Incredible value! Thank you!" - Monique, Warrior Forum