How to Add Images & Videos in WordPress Posts

Adding images and videos to your WordPress posts is an essential way to enhance the visual appeal and engagement of your content. WordPress makes it easy to add multimedia files to posts, and there are a few simple methods to do so using the Gutenberg editor. Let’s walk through the process for adding images and videos to your WordPress posts.

1. Adding Images to WordPress Posts

Images are a key part of blog posts and pages. They make your content visually appealing, help break up text, and can boost SEO. Here’s how to add images to your WordPress posts.

Method 1: Adding Images Using the Gutenberg Editor

1. Go to the Post or Page Editor:
   • In your WordPress dashboard, go to Posts > Add New (or Pages > Add New if you’re editing a page).
   • Open an existing post or create a new one.
2. Add an Image Block:
   • Inside the editor, click the plus (+) icon to add a new block.
   • From the block options, select the Image block. You can also type “image” in the search bar to find the block quickly.
3. Upload or Choose an Image:
   • You’ll be presented with three options:
     • Upload: Select this option if you want to upload a new image from your computer. Click Choose File, find the image on your computer, and upload it.
     • Media Library: If the image is already uploaded to your WordPress media library, click Media Library to choose an image that’s already there.
     • Insert from URL: If the image is hosted elsewhere, paste the image URL here, and WordPress will pull it into the post.
4. Adjust the Image Settings:
   • After the image is added, you can adjust the alignment (left, center, right), image size, and add a caption below the image.
   • In the Block Settings on the right sidebar, you can also adjust the image’s width and height or choose the Full Size or Large Size options depending on your theme.
5. Adding Alt Text (SEO):
   • Adding alt text is essential for accessibility and SEO. In the image settings on the right sidebar, you’ll find a field to add Alternative Text. Use this space to describe the image with relevant keywords. This helps search engines understand the image and can improve your search ranking.
6. Save or Publish:
   • Once you’ve added and customized your image, you can Save Draft or Publish the post.

Method 2: Adding Images Using the Classic Editor (if enabled)

If you’re still using the classic editor, follow these steps:

1. Click the “Add Media” Button: In the classic editor, click the Add Media button above the text area.
2. Upload or Choose an Image: You can either upload an image from your computer or select one from your media library.
3. Insert into Post: Once you’ve selected or uploaded your image, click Insert into Post to add it to your content.
4. Adjust the Image: After adding the image, you can align it (left, center, right), resize it, or add a caption by clicking on the image within the editor.

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2. Adding Videos to WordPress Posts

Adding videos to your posts helps to increase engagement and time on page. You can either upload videos directly to your WordPress site or embed videos from platforms like YouTube or Vimeo. Here’s how to add videos to your WordPress posts.

Method 1: Embedding YouTube or Vimeo Videos

Embedding videos is the easiest way to add them to your WordPress posts, and it doesn’t take up any server space since the video is hosted externally.

1. Get the Video URL:
   • If you’re embedding from YouTube or Vimeo, go to the video you want to share, and copy the URL from the address bar (e.g., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example).
2. Go to Your Post:
   • Open the post where you want to add the video in the Gutenberg editor.
3. Add a Video Block:
   • Click the plus (+) icon to add a new block.
   • Type “Video” in the block search bar and select the Video block.
4. Insert Video URL:
   • After adding the video block, you’ll see an option to either upload a file or paste a URL.
   • Simply paste the YouTube or Vimeo URL directly into the block.
   • WordPress will automatically detect and embed the video in your post.
5. Customize the Video Block:
   • Once the video is embedded, you can adjust settings like alignment (left, center, right), video size, and add captions.

Method 2: Uploading a Video Directly to WordPress

If you want to upload a video directly to WordPress (rather than embedding it), you can do so, but be mindful that large video files can slow down your site’s performance.

1. Go to Your Post:
   • Open the post where you want to add the video in the Gutenberg editor.
2. Add a Video Block:
   • Click the plus (+) icon to add a new block.
   • Select Video from the block options.
3. Upload the Video:
   • You can either drag and drop the video file directly into the block or click Upload to choose a file from your computer.
4. Video Settings:
   • After uploading the video, you can adjust the alignment, size, and autoplay settings from the Block Settings in the right sidebar.
   • You can also enable the video to loop or control whether it starts automatically when the page loads.
5. Add a Caption (Optional):
   • You can add a caption below the video by typing it into the Caption box under the video block.
6. Save or Publish:
   • Once you’re satisfied with the video, click Save Draft or Publish to make your changes live.

Method 3: Embedding Videos from Other Platforms

You can also embed videos from other platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter using the Embed block.

1. Get the Embed URL:
   • Go to the video on the platform (e.g., Facebook, Instagram) and copy the shareable link or embed code (found under the post’s sharing options).
2. Add an Embed Block:
   • In the Gutenberg editor, click the plus (+) icon and search for the Embed block.
   • Paste the URL into the Embed block and WordPress will automatically embed the video.

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3. Best Practices for Adding Images and Videos

• Image Optimization: Ensure your images are optimized for the web. Use image compression tools (like TinyPNG or Smush) to reduce file sizes without sacrificing quality. This will help your page load faster and improve user experience.
• Video Compression: If uploading videos directly to WordPress, compress them before uploading to minimize load times. You can use video compression tools like Handbrake or Clipchamp.
• Alt Text for SEO: Always add alt text to images for SEO purposes. This helps search engines understand the content of the image and can improve your rankings.
• Responsive Media: Ensure that the images and videos you add are responsive, meaning they will automatically adjust to fit on different devices, including mobile phones and tablets.
• Copyright Considerations: Always ensure you have the rights to use any images or videos you upload. You can use free stock images or videos from platforms like Unsplash, Pexels, or Pixabay.

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Conclusion

Adding images and videos to your WordPress posts is simple, whether you’re uploading them directly to your site or embedding them from third-party platforms like YouTube or Vimeo. Images can make your content visually appealing, while videos can provide additional value and engagement. Remember to optimize your media files for the web and always add alt text to your images for SEO. With these practices, your posts will look more professional, load faster, and attract more visitors.