{"id":36982,"date":"2022-09-21T07:00:58","date_gmt":"2022-09-21T14:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhblog.dream.press\/blog\/?p=36982"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:33:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:33:51","slug":"tutorial-wp-menu-setup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/tutorial-wp-menu-setup\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Set Up Your WordPress Menus (In 3 Steps)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

To create a menu in WordPress, go to Appearance > Editor<\/i> and edit the Navigation block if you\u2019re using a block theme, or head to Appearance > Menus<\/i> (or the Customizer) on a classic theme. Below, we\u2019ll walk through both paths in three steps: create the menu, add your items, and organize its structure. It\u2019s worth doing well: menus provide the fastest way for your users to find your content and navigate your site, so poorly organized or unwieldy menus can be detrimental to your UX and, in turn, damage your search engine rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, WordPress includes a menu editing system that\u2019s easy for all users to grasp. For instance, you can select the location of your menu and the pages you want to display. The location can vary depending on your theme, although most WordPress themes include several options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a WordPress menu?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A WordPress menu is a set of links \u2014 usually to your pages, posts, categories, or custom URLs \u2014 displayed in a navigation area of your site, such as the header or footer. Menus show visitors what your site contains, help them move between its sections, and can include submenus (dropdowns) that group related pages together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Menus are navigational tools<\/a> that enable your users to find content on your site. This makes them essential to your site\u2019s overall organization and user experience<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n

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For example, if a reader discovers your site through a search engine, they may not always land on your home page. To learn more about your site, they will need to know how to explore your other content. Out of habit, they will look for your menus to get a feel for what else there is to explore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WordPress menus can improve your site\u2019s Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Search engines reward relevant content, so making sure your menus are clear can help increase your rankings<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a few other ways that menus can boost your SEO<\/a>, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n