Can You Edit a WordPress Website After Publishing? How to Edit Pages Before and After Publication

Editing pages in WordPress is important for the accuracy, engagement, and presentation of your website’s content. So is the whole website’s accuracy and presentation.

This process is not only for correcting errors but also for refining the layout, optimizing multimedia elements, and keeping information current. Regular updates and edits are important for user engagement and SEO.

But how to edit pages in WordPress? This article will guide you through editing WP pages, both pre- and post-publication.

You’ll learn to use WordPress’s editing tools to enhance content and layout and align with your website strategy. Mastering editing is important for both beginners and experienced users to level up their websites and professionalism.

Accessing the WordPress Editor from the WordPress Dashboard

How to edit existing pages in WP? Start by accessing the WordPress editor via the dashboard:

• Accessing the Login Section: Go to your WordPress site’s login URL, usually yourwebsite.com/wp-admin. If you have a custom login URL, use that instead.
• Entering Credentials: On the login page, enter your username or email and password. Use the ‘Lost your password?’ link if needed.
• Navigating to the Dashboard: After logging in, you’ll reach the WP Dashboard, the control center of your site.
• Finding the Pages Menu: In the Dashboard’s main menu, select ‘Pages’ to view all the sections on your site.
• Opening a Page for Editing: Locate the page you want to edit from the list in the ‘Pages’ section and click ‘Edit’ below the page title to open it in the WordPress editor.
• Ready to Edit: In the editor, you can edit your page and add or remove content using various blocks and settings.

These steps will allow you to access and use the WordPress editor for editing whether you are using the default editor or a page builder plugin for more customization options.

Editing Pages Before Publication

Creating and refining your pages before they go live is an important part of managing your WordPress site. Whether you’re using the Gutenberg editor or the Classic editor, WP has a lot of tools and options for drafting and formatting your content.

Drafting Content Using the Block Editor or Classic Editor

Gutenberg Editor: The Gutenberg editor, also known as the block editor, is a block-based editor where you use different blocks for various types of content like text, images and videos.

To add a block, click on the ‘+’ button and select the type of block you want to add.

Classic Editor: The Classic editor provides a more traditional word processor-like interface.

You can add content directly in the editor area and use the toolbar for formatting options like bold, italic, lists and more.

Adding and Formatting Text, Images, and Other Media

Text Content:

• For text, simply type directly into a text block (Gutenberg) or the editor area (Classic).
• Use formatting options like headings, lists, and text alignment for better content structure and readability.

Images and Media:

• Add images by using the ‘Image’ block in Gutenberg or the ‘Add Media’ button in the Classic editor.
• You can adjust image size and alignment and add captions directly within the editor. The settings sidebar provides controls for adjusting image attributes like style, dimensions, and other customization options.

Using Blocks and Their Options in Gutenberg

Exploring Block Options:

• Each block in Gutenberg comes with its own options and settings, which you can access by clicking on the block.
• Look for options for color, typography, and spacing to customize each block to your liking.

Advanced Block Features:

• Use advanced block features like columns for layouts, buttons for calls to action, and embed blocks for adding external content like videos and social media posts.

Previewing Changes Before They Go Live

Using the Preview Button:

• Before posting, use the ‘Preview’ button in both the Gutenberg and Classic editors to see how your page will look live.
• This feature allows you to view the page from different device perspectives, like desktop, tablet, or mobile, ensuring responsive design.

Making Adjustments:

• If you see any issues or areas for improvement in the preview, go back and make the necessary adjustments in the editor.
• Continue previewing and editing until you’re satisfied with the result.

Editing your pages before publication is an important process to make your content polished, structured, and engaging.

By using the various features in the WP editors, you can create professional and compelling pages that resonate with your audience. Remember, spending time on pre-publication edits can make a big difference in the quality and effectiveness of your website’s content.

Recommended: How to Change WordPress site URL

Page Templates and Layouts

WordPress has page templates and layout options for various content types and design preferences to simplify the design process and ensure website consistency.

The site editor in WordPress makes editing easier by allowing users to edit site pages and overall structure, including menus and templates, depending on theme compatibility.

Finding and Applying Templates:

Most WordPress themes come with pre-designed templates for different page types, like full-width pages or landing pages. How to edit pages in WordPress theme?

You can find these in the ‘Page Attributes’ section of the editor sidebar and apply them by selecting from the dropdown menu. The number of templates depends on your active theme.

Customizing Layouts:

• Gutenberg Editor: Use the Gutenberg editor for hands-on customization with blocks like ‘Group’, ‘Column’, and ‘Cover’ to create unique layouts.
• Theme Customizer: Adjust layout settings like sidebar positions and page widths in the WP Customizer under ‘Appearance’ > ‘Customize’.
• Page Builder Plugins: For advanced customization, consider page builder plugins like Elementor or Divi Builder, which have more layout options and design elements.

Using templates and layout customization makes your pages more visually appealing and functional, creating engaging, navigable and brand aligned designs that improve user experience and engagement.

You can of course, hire a team to perform WordPress development services to create, edit and publish your website’s pages.

SEO Before Publishing

Optimizing your WordPress pages for search engines before publishing is important for discoverability and ranking. Focus on editing page titles to be clear and keyword-rich, and add concise and informative meta descriptions using SEO plugins like Yoast SEO or All in One SEO.

For permalinks, choose a structure that includes the post name for better SEO, and make sure individual page URLs are keyword-focused and readable. Also, add descriptive alt text to images and include relevant keywords for search engine understanding and accessibility.

A well-optimized page will bring more traffic and improve user experience, so you need to update SEO regularly for sustained results.

Collaboration

Collaboration is crucial for high-quality content creation on WordPress websites, and WordPress has many tools to help with that:

• WordPress Revision System: WP saves revisions automatically while you edit pages. Access these revisions in the editor under the ‘Revisions’ link in the ‘Document’ panel to view, compare, and restore previous versions.
• Assigning User Roles: WordPress has different user roles like Administrator, Editor, Author, and Contributor, each with specific permissions. Assign roles based on the access level required and manage user roles in the ‘Users’ section of the dashboard.
• Managing Comments for Feedback: Use the built-in commenting system to get feedback on drafts. Control comments through the ‘Discussion’ settings for each page and moderate them in the ‘Comments’ section of the dashboard.

These tools help track changes, manage team collaboration, and gather feedback, creating an environment for well-reviewed and high-quality content.

Publishing Your Page

When your WordPress page is ready to go live, understanding the different publishing options is important. WordPress gives you flexibility on how and when your content is published for different needs and scenarios.

Saving as Draft, Scheduling, and Publishing Immediately

Saving as Draft:

• ‘Save as Draft’ allows you to save your work without making it live. This is ideal for content that is still in progress.
• Drafts can be accessed later for further editing and posting. Site editing practices like editing without going live prevent errors that can disrupt user experience and allow you to test changes before making them public.

Scheduling:

• The ‘Schedule’ option lets you set a future date and time for your page to be posted automatically.
• This is useful for planning your content and scheduling posts without manual intervention.

Publish Immediately:

• ‘Publish Immediately’ will publish your page live on your site as soon as you hit the ‘Publish’ button.
• Use this when your content is final and ready for your audience.

How to Set Visibility Options (Public, Private, Password-Protected)

Public Visibility:

• The default, ‘Public’, makes your page visible to everyone.
• Use this for general content meant for all website visitors.

Private Visibility:

• Setting a page to ‘Private’ means it will only be visible to logged-in users with proper permissions, like administrators or editors.
• Use this for internal content or content that’s not meant for the general public.
• This mode allows you to get the URL of the page and display the page/post or other content on the live site but with the label “Private”. Only registered admin users can view this post or page in the admin panel, and it’s not visible on the public site for other users.

“I use this when I need to create a non-basic URL for a page that should not be published. In Private mode, I configure all settings and check how it looks on the live site.”

Ihor, ProCoders Senior WordPress Developer

Password-Protected:

• ‘Password-Protected’ allows you to set a password for your page. Only users with the password can view the content.
• This is useful for restricted content you want to make available to a specific audience.

To set these visibility options:

• In the Gutenberg editor, find the ‘Visibility’ setting in the ‘Document’ panel on the right.
• Click on ‘Public’, ‘Private’ or ‘Password Protected’ and make your selection. If you choose ‘Password Protected’, you’ll be asked to set a password.

With these publishing and visibility options, you have more control over your content distribution.

Whether you’re working ahead of schedule, preparing restricted content, or ready to publish your page to the world, WordPress has the tools to publish content according to your specific needs and strategy.

Using a Staging Site to Test Changes

Using a staging site is a great way to test changes on your WordPress website without affecting the live site. A staging site is a copy of your live site where you can try new WordPress plugins, themes, and other changes in a risk-free environment.

To set up a staging site, you can use plugins like WP Staging or Duplicator. These plugins allow you to create a clone of your live site with just a few clicks.

Once your staging site is ready, you can make changes, test new features, and ensure everything works as expected before pushing the updates to your live site.

Benefits of Using a Staging Site:

• Reduced Risk of Errors: Testing changes on a staging site minimizes the risk of errors or issues on your live site.
• Safe Plugin and Theme Testing: You can test new plugins and themes without disturbing your live site.
• Seamless Updates: Make changes and ensure everything works before applying them to your live site.
• Enhanced User Experience: By testing changes beforehand, you ensure a smooth and uninterrupted experience for your site visitors.

Using a staging site is a best practice for a professional and error-free WordPress site. It allows you to innovate and improve your site while protecting its performance and user experience.

How to Edit Pages in WordPress Editor After Publication?

Editing live pages on your WordPress site requires a careful approach to minimize disruption to the user experience and performance across all devices and browsers.

To edit an existing page or post, you can access it through the WordPress dashboard and use Quick Edit or page builders for customization.

Here are some best practices for editing published pages:

How to Edit Individual Pages in WordPress Editor? Best Practices

Edit During Low Traffic:

• If possible, edit during times when your site has lower traffic. This reduces the impact on user experience.

Use a Staging Environment:

• For major changes, use a staging environment. This allows you to make and test changes without affecting the live site.

Inform Your Users:

• If the changes are significant and might impact user experience, consider informing your users beforehand. This can be done via a notice on the site or through social media and email communications.

How to Update Content Without Disrupting User Experience

Quick Edits:

• For minor edits like typos or updating info, you can edit the live page. These changes won’t disrupt the user experience.
• Always preview before updating to ensure everything looks good.

Backup Before Major Changes:

• Before making major edits, make sure you have a recent backup of your site. This way, you can restore the previous version if needed.

Update Links:

• If you’re removing pages or changing URLs, make sure to update or redirect links to avoid broken links on your site.

Edits Reflected Across All Devices and Browsers

Responsive Design Checks:

• After editing, use the preview function to check how the page looks on different device sizes to ensure responsive design integrity.

Cross-Browser Testing:

• Test the page in different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) to ensure compatibility and that edits show up correctly across all browsers.

Clear Caches:

• If you’re using a caching plugin or service, clear the cache after updating to ensure the latest version of the page is served to users.

Check Functionality:

• Ensure all interactive elements, like forms, buttons, or navigation menus, work correctly after the edits.

ProCoders Tip

“When I need to modify a page that is live and should remain live (e.g., pricing page), which is one of the most important pages, I create a copy of the page, set it to not be indexed, and assign a URL, for example, ‘pricing-new’. Then, I start editing the page as I want without affecting the current page. When I finish the edits, I simply switch the pages and URLs.”

“Also, it’s important to know that after editing a page, you need to clear the site cache. Often the site is cached for a specific duration and the cache service might serve the old version of the page or post.”

Ihor, ProCoders’ Senior WP Developer

Editing live pages on your WordPress site can be done smoothly with these best practices. They ensure your updates improve the page without compromising user experience.

Regular monitoring and testing of your website post-update is also crucial to keep your site healthy and performing well.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

When editing your WordPress site, we always try to avoid errors. But you may encounter some common issues that can be frustrating. Here are a few common problems and their solutions:

• Error Messages: If you see error messages while working, check the WordPress dashboard for any notifications. Clearing your browser cache or refreshing the page can often resolve the issue.
• Plugin Conflicts: Sometimes, plugins can conflict with each other. Try deactivating and reactivating plugins to find the culprit. If the issue persists, contact the plugin’s support team.
• Theme Issues: If your theme is causing problems, reach out to the theme’s support team. Alternatively, switching to a different theme might resolve the issue.
• Editing Problems: If you’re having trouble editing a page, try using a different browser or device. If the problem continues, seek help from the WP community or a professional.

Advanced Techniques

Once you’ve got the basics of editing your WordPress site down, you can move on to advanced techniques to take it to the next level:

• Customizing Themes: Customize your WordPress theme to match your brand’s look and feel. Adjust the layout, colors, and fonts to create a cohesive and beautiful design.
• Using Page Builder Plugins: Plugins like Elementor and Beaver Builder offer powerful tools to create custom layouts and designs without coding. These page builders provide drag-and-drop functionality to build complex and beautiful pages.
• Adding Custom Code: If you know how to code, you can add custom code to your WordPress site to create unique layouts, designs, and functionalities. This gives you a high level of customization and personalization.
• Using the WordPress Editor: The WordPress editor is a powerful tool to edit your site’s content, layout, and design. Use it to create custom layouts and designs to enhance your website’s user experience.

By using these advanced techniques, you can take your WordPress site to the next level and create a more engaging and dynamic online presence.

Conclusion

Editing and managing pages in WordPress before and after publication are fundamental skills for any website owner or content manager. Adding, editing, and updating pages allows you to keep your site’s content fresh, relevant, and engaging. Whether you are making minor tweaks, overhauling entire pages, or collaborating with a team, WordPress provides the tools and flexibility to manage your content effectively.

Remember, regular page updates can significantly enhance your site’s SEO performance and user engagement. Moreover, understanding the nuances of editing, such as the difference between posts and pages, utilizing templates, and implementing best practices for SEO and responsive design, can elevate the quality of your site.

By mastering these skills, you can ensure that your WordPress site remains a dynamic, up-to-date, and effective communication tool that reflects your audience’s and your brand’s evolving needs. Keep experimenting with different features and stay updated with WP advancements to make the most out of your website.