Introduction
Your Member Essentials Public Site includes a Posts feature that can be used to share timely news and updates with your community.
While many websites refer to this type of content as a blog, your League does not have to use Posts for traditional blog articles. Posts can also be used to share:
Press releases
Public relations announcements
Media coverage or newspaper features
Community partnerships
Public statements
Advocacy or public affairs updates
League news and announcements
Think of Posts as a place to publish content that is timely, newsworthy, or part of an ongoing collection of updates.
Understanding Posts vs. Pages
In WordPress, Pages and Posts serve different purposes.
Pages
Pages are generally used for information that is more permanent and does not change frequently. Examples may include:
About Us
Membership
Volunteer Opportunities
Community Impact
Contact Us
Posts
Posts are designed for content that is published over time. Each new Post becomes part of your League's collection of published updates.
For example, your League could publish a Post announcing a new community partnership this month and another Post sharing a recent media feature next month.
Posts can also be organized using Categories, making it easier to group similar content together.
Before You Begin
If your League does not currently have a Blog, News, or similar section on your website, you may first need to create a page where your Posts will display.
The page itself is separate from the individual Posts you create.
For example:
News — the main page where your League's Posts are displayed
League Announces New Community Partnership — an individual Post
Junior League Featured in Local Newspaper — another individual Post
Once the main page has been set up to display Posts, you will create future updates through the Posts section of your WordPress dashboard.
Creating a New Post
Log in to your WordPress dashboard by adding /wp-admin to the end of your website URL.
From the left-hand navigation menu, select Posts.
Select Add New.
Enter a clear title for your Post.
Add your content using the WordPress editor. You can include text, images, links, and other available content blocks.
Review the additional Post settings before publishing.
Adding a Featured Image
You can add a Featured Image to your Post to provide a visual representation of your content.
Depending on how your League's website is configured, the Featured Image may appear on the Post itself and/or within the main Blog or News page.
To add a Featured Image:
Locate the Featured Image section in the Post settings.
Select Set Featured Image.
Upload a new image or select one from your Media Library.
Save or update your Post.
Organizing Posts with Categories
Categories allow your League to organize similar Posts together.
For example, your League may choose to create Categories such as:
League News
Press Releases
In the Media
Community Partnerships
Public Affairs
Before creating multiple Categories, consider how your League plans to use Posts over time. Keeping your Categories simple and consistent will make your content easier to manage.
To assign a Category to a Post, locate the Categories section in the Post settings and select the appropriate Category.
Reviewing and Publishing Your Post
Before publishing, review your Post to make sure:
The title is clear and accurate.
The content is complete and properly formatted.
Links are working correctly.
Images have been added, if applicable.
The appropriate Category has been selected.
A Featured Image has been added, if desired.
When your Post is ready, select Publish.
Your Post will then become part of your League's collection of published updates.
Need Help?
If you need assistance creating or managing Posts on your Member Essentials Public Site, please submit a website support request by emailing websitesupport@ajli.org
Happy publishing!