Understanding Posts vs Pages
Module: Website Setup & WordPress Basics • Lesson: Posts vs Pages
This lesson explains the difference between WordPress posts and pages, when to use each type of content, and how they fit into your website’s structure.
What Are Posts and Pages?
WordPress offers two main content types: posts and pages. Both are used to publish content, but each serves a different purpose in your website’s structure.
Understanding Posts
Posts are timely pieces of content, typically displayed in reverse chronological order. They are ideal for blogs, articles, updates, or news sections.
Characteristics of Posts
- Appear in your blog feed or news section
- Organized using categories and tags
- Show publication date
- Can allow comments
- Are syndicated via RSS feeds
Examples of Posts
- Blog articles
- Tutorials
- Company updates
- News stories
- Announcements
Understanding Pages
Pages are static, timeless content that forms the backbone of your website. They do not display by date and are not grouped by categories or tags.
Characteristics of Pages
- Don’t show a publication date
- Used for permanent site content
- Can be arranged in hierarchy (parent/child structure)
- Do not use categories or tags
- Usually not included in RSS feeds
Examples of Pages
- Home
- About
- Services
- Contact
- Privacy Policy
Key Differences Between Posts and Pages
| Posts | Pages |
|---|---|
| Time-based | Timeless/static |
| Use categories & tags | No categories or tags |
| Shown in blog feed | Shown in menus or links you create |
| RSS-friendly | Not included in RSS |
| Often encourage comments | Comments usually disabled |
| No hierarchy | Can have parent/child pages |
SEO Impact: Posts vs Pages
Both posts and pages can rank well in search engines. The difference is how they are used:
Posts
- Great for content marketing and fresh content
- Boost SEO with related posts, categories, and tags
- Good for targeting long-tail keywords
Pages
- Ideal for important, evergreen topics
- Often target broader, high-value keywords
- Better for conversions and key site messaging
Activity: Create One Post and One Page
Inside your WordPress dashboard, complete the following:
- Create a new Post:
- Add a title and sample content
- Assign a category
- Add at least one tag
- Create a new Page:
- Add a title such as “About” or “Services”
- Insert sample text and publish it
- Compare their appearance in your dashboard and on your live site.
Assignment: Upload a screenshot of your post and page titles in the WordPress list view.
Best Practices
- Use pages for important structural content.
- Use posts for ongoing updates and articles.
- Organize posts with meaningful categories for easy navigation.
- Keep pages up-to-date since they represent your core information.
- Don’t use pages as blog entries—keep content types consistent.