In WordPress, having the ability to quickly edit posts and pages directly from the front end of your website can streamline your workflow and save time. If you’re a beginner hosted with US Domain Center and want to learn how to add an “Edit Post” link to your WordPress posts and pages, you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process step by step.

Why Add an Edit Post Link?

Adding an “Edit Post” link to your WordPress posts and pages allows you to:

1. Streamline Editing: Easily access the post or page editor directly from the front end of your website without navigating through the WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Improve Workflow: Save time by editing content quickly and efficiently, especially when making minor updates or corrections.
3. Enhance User Experience: Provide logged-in users with a convenient way to edit content while browsing your website.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Advanced Custom Fields Plugin

To add an “Edit Post” link to your WordPress posts and pages, we’ll use the Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin. Follow these steps to install and activate the plugin:

1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Navigate to “Plugins” > “Add New.”
3. Search for “Advanced Custom Fields.”
4. Click “Install Now” and then “Activate” to activate the plugin.

Step 2: Create a New Field Group

Once the ACF plugin is activated, you’ll need to create a new field group to add the “Edit Post” link. Follow these steps:

1. In your WordPress admin dashboard, go to “Custom Fields” > “Field Groups.”
2. Click on “Add New” to create a new field group.
3. Give your field group a name, such as “Edit Post Link.”
4. Under the “Location” section, set the rules to display the field group for “Posts” and “Pages.”
5. Click “Publish” to save your field group.

Step 3: Add a New Field

With the field group created, you can now add a new field to display the “Edit Post” link. Follow these steps:

1. Click on “Add Field” within your field group.
2. Enter a label for the field, such as “Edit Post Link.”
3. Set the field type to “Link” or “Text.”
4. Under the “Instructions” section, provide a brief description, such as “Click here to edit this post.”
5. Click “Save” to save your field settings.

Step 4: Display the Edit Post Link in Your Theme

Now that you’ve created the field group and added the “Edit Post” link field, you need to display it in your theme. Follow these steps:

1. Open the template file where you want to display the “Edit Post” link using a code editor or the WordPress theme editor.
2. Use the get_field() function provided by ACF to retrieve the value of the “Edit Post” link field.
3. Output the link using HTML markup, including the post or page ID dynamically.
4. Save the changes to your template file.

Step 5: Test the Edit Post Link

Once you’ve added the “Edit Post” link to your theme, it’s time to test it out. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard and navigate to a post or page where you’ve added the link. You should see the “Edit Post” link displayed on the front end of your website. Clicking on the link should take you directly to the post or page editor.

Conclusion

Adding an “Edit Post” link to your WordPress posts and pages hosted with US Domain Center is a simple yet powerful way to enhance your workflow and improve user experience. By following the step-by-step guide outlined in this article, complete beginners can quickly implement this feature and streamline their content editing process. Experiment with different configurations and placements to find what works best for your website and workflow.