WordPress provides a handy tool that allows you to schedule posts, rather than instantly publishing them. This feature is particularly useful as it can help generate more traffic to your site during peak periods. Whether you prefer to use an editor or a plugin, WordPress offers both options. This guide will walk you through scheduling posts using both methods, assisting you in choosing what works best for you.
Guidelines for Scheduling and Publishing Posts
WordPress is equipped with an inherent scheduling system that can be accessed through both the Classic and the Gutenberg editors. When you’re prepared to publish a draft, simply transition the status from ‘Drafts’ to ‘Published’. This can be done by selecting the Blog Posts Tab, followed by the Draft tab at the top. Lastly, click ‘Publish’ and you’re good to go.
Scheduling Posts in Gutenberg Editor
To schedule posts using the Gutenberg editor, start by logging into your website’s dashboard. Scan for the gear-like symbol in the top-right corner leading you to the ‘Status and Visibility’ section. Next to ‘Publish’, you will see the ‘Immediately’ option. To schedule your post, select the date and time, keeping the time zone in mind. The final step is to click ‘Schedule’. The ‘Publish’ button will then transform into the ‘Schedule’ button, signifying that the content management system has timed the post for a future date. Be patient and ensure this change reflects before proceeding onward.
Scheduling Posts in the Classic Editor
Begin by clicking the blue ‘Edit’ link adjacent to ‘Publish Immediately’. Modify the date and time, press ‘OK’, and then click ‘Schedule’ to finish the process.
Cancelling a Scheduled Post
In case you need to cancel a scheduled post, simply open the editor and deselect the concerned post. For the Classic editor, find ‘Edit’ under ‘Status’, located beneath the ‘Publish’ section. Proceed by selecting ‘Scheduled’, then ‘Draft’, and then ‘OK’. Hit the ‘Update’ button to finalize. Keep a watchful eye to confirm the post doesn’t reappear in the ‘Scheduled’ section.
For Gutenberg editor users, shift to ‘Draft’ in WordPress. You will find the ‘Draft’ button near the ‘Schedule’ button. Clicking on it will terminate the publication of the post, while hitting ‘Publish’ will release the post immediately.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Scheduling WordPress Posts
Scheduling posts holds its own set of advantages. One can maintain better control over their content with a well-organized editorial calendar. It promotes consistency in publishing new articles without any breaks, thereby keeping your site active, even in your absence. Especially for time-sensitive topics or special events, you get ample time for content preparation.
However, there are a few drawbacks. On rare occasions, system errors could hinder the timely publishing of scheduled posts. Maintaining an editorial calendar may seem overwhelming as well.
Managing Scheduled Posts
To successfully manage automated publishing posts, keeping track of your scheduled posts is essential. Overlapping or simultaneous publishing of multiple posts can be avoided by regularly checking your dashboard under ‘Posts’, then ‘All Posts’, and finally ‘Scheduled’. It displays all scheduled posts in their publishing order. You can adjust any clashing dates or overlaps accordingly.
Remember, the default time set for WordPress scheduled posts is Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+0). The time zone can be adjusted as per the majority of your reader’s location. You can alter this in your dashboard under ‘Settings’, ‘General’, and finally ‘Time Zone’. Be sure to save these changes.
Conclusion
WordPress post scheduling can be a potent tool to boost your site’s traffic. The strategy is to time them based on your website’s traffic trends and peak hours, rather than bulk publishing.
