If you’re new to WordPress, you may have come across the term “parent category” and wondered what it means. In this article, we’ll explain what a parent category is in WordPress and how it can benefit your website’s SEO.
Understanding Categories in WordPress
Before we dive into parent categories, let’s first understand what categories are in WordPress. Categories are a way to organize your website’s content into different topics or sections. They help visitors navigate your site and find the content they are interested in.
For example, if you have a food blog, you may have categories such as “recipes”, “restaurant reviews”, and “cooking tips”. This allows your readers to easily find the type of content they are looking for.
What is a Parent Category?
A parent category is a top-level category that contains subcategories. Think of it as a folder that holds other folders. In WordPress, you can create a hierarchy of categories by assigning subcategories to a parent category.
For example, in our food blog example, “recipes” could be a parent category, and “desserts”, “main dishes”, and “appetizers” could be subcategories under it.
How to Create a Parent Category in WordPress
Creating a parent category in WordPress is simple. Follow these steps:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to Posts > Categories.
- In the “Add New Category” section, enter the name of your parent category.
- Leave the “Parent” field blank.
- Click on the “Add New Category” button.
Your parent category will now appear in the list of categories on the right side of the screen.
How to Create a Subcategory in WordPress
To create a subcategory in WordPress, follow these steps:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to Posts > Categories.
- In the “Add New Category” section, enter the name of your subcategory.
- In the “Parent” field, select the parent category you want to assign the subcategory to.
- Click on the “Add New Category” button.
Your subcategory will now appear under the selected parent category in the list of categories.
Benefits of Using Parent Categories in WordPress
Now that you know what a parent category is and how to create one, let’s explore the benefits of using parent categories in WordPress.
Improved Website Navigation
As mentioned earlier, categories help visitors navigate your website and find the content they are interested in. By using parent categories, you can further organize your content and make it easier for visitors to find what they are looking for.
For example, if a visitor is interested in dessert recipes, they can simply click on the “desserts” subcategory under the “recipes” parent category to view all the dessert recipes on your site. This saves them time and effort in searching through all your recipes to find what they want.
Better User Experience
A well-organized website with clear categories and subcategories can greatly improve the user experience. By using parent categories, you can create a logical structure for your content, making it easier for visitors to navigate and find what they are looking for.
This can lead to increased engagement and a higher likelihood of visitors returning to your site in the future.
SEO Benefits
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Parent categories can also benefit your website’s SEO. By organizing your content into categories and subcategories, you are creating a clear hierarchy for search engines to understand. This can help search engines better understand the structure of your website and the topics you cover.
Additionally, by using relevant keywords in your parent category names and subcategory names, you can improve your website’s SEO and potentially rank higher in search engine results pages.
Best Practices for Using Parent Categories in WordPress
To make the most out of parent categories in WordPress, here are some best practices to keep in mind:
Keep Your Category Structure Simple
It’s important to keep your category structure simple and easy to understand. Avoid creating too many parent categories or subcategories, as this can confuse visitors and make it difficult for them to find what they are looking for.
Use Descriptive Names
When creating parent categories and subcategories, use descriptive names that accurately reflect the content within them. This will not only help visitors understand what type of content they can expect to find, but it will also benefit your SEO efforts.
Regularly Review and Update Your Categories
As your website grows and evolves, it’s important to regularly review and update your categories. This can help ensure that your categories are still relevant and accurately reflect the content on your site.
Use Plugins to Enhance Your Category Structure
There are many WordPress plugins available that can help you enhance your category structure and make it more user-friendly. For example, the “Category Order and Taxonomy Terms Order” plugin allows you to easily reorder your categories and subcategories.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a parent category in WordPress is a top-level category that contains subcategories. It can greatly benefit your website’s navigation, user experience, and SEO efforts. By following best practices and regularly reviewing and updating your categories, you can make the most out of parent categories and improve your website’s overall performance.
