How to Display Related Posts in WordPress

Displaying related posts in WordPress is a great way to increase engagement, improve user experience, and encourage visitors to spend more time on your site. By showing content that is similar to what the user is already viewing, you provide a more personalized experience, and you can also improve your SEO efforts. Let’s explore different methods of displaying related posts in WordPress.

1. Using a Related Posts Plugin

The easiest way to display related posts in WordPress is by using a plugin. Many plugins can automatically detect and display related content based on tags, categories, or post content. Here are a few popular plugins to consider:

1.1. Popular Related Posts Plugins

• Yet Another Related Posts Plugin (YARPP):
  • YARPP is one of the most popular related posts plugins. It uses a sophisticated algorithm to display related posts based on content, tags, and categories.
  • Steps:
    1. Install and activate the YARPP plugin from the WordPress dashboard.
    2. Go to Settings > YARPP to customize its settings.
    3. You can adjust how related posts are displayed (e.g., grid, list) and filter them based on criteria like tags, categories, or post titles.
    4. It allows you to add related posts automatically at the end of your content, or you can use a shortcode to display them in other places.
• Contextual Related Posts:
  • Another plugin that automatically shows related posts based on content. It also supports thumbnails for a more visually appealing display.
  • Steps:
    1. Install and activate the Contextual Related Posts plugin.
    2. Customize the display settings from the plugin’s settings page (you can choose whether to show related posts as a list or with thumbnails).
    3. It works automatically by inserting related posts after your content.
• Related Posts by Taxonomy:
  • If you want more control over how related posts are displayed based on categories and tags, this plugin offers more flexibility.
  • Steps:
    1. Install and activate the Related Posts by Taxonomy plugin.
    2. Configure the plugin’s settings by going to Settings > Related Posts.
    3. The plugin lets you set which categories or tags should be used to find related content.

Pros of Using Plugins:

• Easy to set up and configure.
• Offers various customization options like thumbnails, post filters, or layout style.
• Saves time by automatically displaying related content.

Cons:

• Additional plugin may slow down your site slightly, especially if the plugin is resource-intensive.
• Some plugins may have limitations or require premium versions for full functionality.

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2. Displaying Related Posts Manually Using Custom Code

If you prefer not to use a plugin, you can display related posts manually using custom code. WordPress has built-in functions that allow you to display related posts based on categories, tags, or other attributes. This method requires some basic knowledge of PHP and theme file editing.

2.1. Display Related Posts by Category or Tag

You can add the following code to your single.php or content-single.php file in your WordPress theme to display related posts. This example displays related posts based on shared categories:

1. Edit Your Theme Files:
   • From the WordPress Dashboard, go to Appearance > Theme Editor and open the single.php or content-single.php file.
2. Insert the Related Posts Code:
   • Add this PHP code where you want the related posts to appear (typically after the post content):
   <?php // Get current post ID
$current_post_id = get_the_ID();
// Get categories of the current post $categories = get_the_category($current_post_id); if ($categories) {
$category_ids = array();
foreach ($categories as $category) {
$category_ids[] = $category->term_id; }
// Query related posts based on shared categories
$args = array( 'category__in' => $category_ids,
'post__not_in' => array($current_post_id),
'posts_per_page' => 5,
// Number of related posts to show
'orderby' => 'rand', // Random order, you can change it to 'date' or 'title'
);
$related_posts_query = new WP_Query($args);
if ($related_posts_query->have_posts()) {
echo '<h3>Related Posts</h3><ul>';
while ($related_posts_query->have_posts()) {
$related_posts_query->the_post();
echo '<li><a href="' . get_permalink() . '">' . get_the_title() . '</a></li>'; }
echo '</ul>';
}
wp_reset_postdata();
}
?>
3. Customize the Code:
   • This code queries related posts based on categories. You can change the category__in parameter to tag__in if you want to display related posts by tags.
   • You can also adjust the number of posts to display by changing the posts_per_page value.
4. Save the File:
   • After adding the code, save the file and visit one of your posts to see the related posts in action.

2.2. Display Related Posts by Custom Taxonomy or Custom Fields

If your WordPress site uses custom taxonomies or custom fields, you can modify the query parameters to fetch related posts based on those attributes.

For example, to display related posts based on a custom taxonomy (like “genre” or “topics”), modify the query in the above code like so:

$args = array(
‘tax_query’ => array(
array(
‘taxonomy’ => ‘genre’, // Replace with your custom taxonomy
‘field’ => ‘term_id’,
‘terms’ => wp_get_post_terms($current_post_id, ‘genre’, array(‘fields’ => ‘ids’)),
‘operator’ => ‘IN’,
),
),
‘post__not_in’ => array($current_post_id),
‘posts_per_page’ => 5,
);

Pros of Custom Code:

• No need for additional plugins, keeping your site faster and lighter.
• Full control over the design and functionality.

Cons:

• Requires basic PHP knowledge and theme file editing.
• You need to manually update the code when changing the post type or taxonomy.

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3. Using Jetpack to Display Related Posts

If you already have the Jetpack plugin installed, you can easily enable related posts functionality.

Steps:

1. Install and activate the Jetpack plugin if you haven’t already.
2. Go to Jetpack > Settings and click on the Traffic tab.
3. Toggle the Related Posts option to “On.”
4. Jetpack will automatically display related posts at the end of your content based on tags, categories, and content analysis.

Pros of Using Jetpack:

• Simple to activate with no additional setup.
• Jetpack handles the related posts algorithm for you.

Cons:

• Jetpack can add unnecessary bloat if you’re not using its other features.
• Limited customization compared to using a dedicated related posts plugin or custom code.

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4. Best Practices for Displaying Related Posts

• Placement: Position related posts where they are easily visible to users. Common placements are at the end of posts or in a sidebar widget.
• Limit the Number of Posts: Don’t overwhelm your readers with too many related posts. 3-5 related posts are generally ideal.
• Avoid Duplicate Content: Ensure the related posts aren’t too similar to the current post to avoid confusing users.
• Use Thumbnails: If your theme supports it, adding thumbnails to related posts makes them more visually appealing.

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Conclusion

Displaying related posts in WordPress is an effective way to keep visitors engaged with your content and increase page views. Whether you use a plugin, custom code, or Jetpack, there are several methods to integrate related posts into your site. Plugins like YARPP and Contextual Related Posts offer quick solutions, while custom code provides full flexibility. Choose the method that best fits your needs and technical comfort level, and enhance your site’s user experience today!