Links are everywhere on the web. They connect your readers to other resources, direct them to your other posts, or send them to external websites for additional context.
Here’s the quick version: Select the text you want to turn into a link, click the link icon (or press Cmd+K / Ctrl+K), paste or type your URL, hit Enter. Done. Your text’s now clickable.
Why bother with links? Because they make your content more useful. Internal links help readers discover more of your posts, which keeps them on your blog longer. External links show you’ve done your research and add credibility. Plus, search engines notice when you link thoughtfully—it helps them understand what your content’s about and can improve your rankings.
What You’ll Need
Before we dive in:
- Access to your Badass Network blog dashboard
- A blog post or page you’re working on (draft or published—doesn’t matter)
- URLs you want to link to (could be your own posts, other websites, resources, etc.)
- Basic text selection skills (if you can highlight text, you’re all set)
Adding a Text Link
This is the most common type of link you’ll use. Highlight some words, attach a URL, and those words become clickable.
Select your text
Click and drag your cursor over the words you want to turn into a link. Could be a phrase like “read our tutorial” or just a single word. The text you choose should make sense as a clickable element—avoid linking generic phrases like “click here” when you can link descriptive text instead.
Your formatting toolbar appears above the selected text.
Click the link icon
It looks like a chain link. You can also press Cmd+K (Mac) or Ctrl+K (Windows)—keyboard shortcuts are faster once you get used to them.
A popup appears with a URL input field and a search option.
Add your URL
You’ve got two options here:
Paste an external link: If you’re linking to another website, copy the full URL (starting with https://) and paste it into the field. Something like https://example.com/article-title.
Search for an internal post or page: Type a few keywords from one of your existing posts or pages. WordPress searches your blog and shows matching results. This is honestly way easier than hunting down the exact URL for your own content. Click the post you want from the dropdown.
Hit Enter
Your link’s live. The selected text turns into a clickable hyperlink, usually styled in a different color (typically blue) with an underline—depends on your theme settings.
That’s it. Most links you’ll create follow this exact process.
Opening Links in New Tabs
Sometimes you want a link to open in a new browser tab instead of replacing your current page. Useful for external links where you don’t want readers to completely leave your blog.
Access link settings
Click your linked text. A small popup appears with the URL and a few options.
Look for the arrow or settings icon (usually on the right side of the popup). Click it. You’ll see additional options, including “Open in new tab.”
Toggle the setting
Toggle that on. Now when someone clicks your link, it opens in a new tab and your blog stays open in the original tab.
Linking to a Specific Section (Anchor Links)
Want to link to a specific heading within a post? You can, though it’s a bit more involved than regular links.
WordPress automatically creates anchor points for every heading you write. The anchor is based on the heading text—so a heading like “Tips for Bloggers” becomes #tips-for-bloggers.
To link to a section on the same page:
- Select your link text as usual
- Click the link icon
- Type
#heading-text-herein the URL field (replace “heading-text-here” with your actual heading, lowercase, spaces replaced with hyphens) - Press Enter
To link to a section on a different page:
- Get the full URL of that page
- Add
#heading-text-hereat the end - Example:
https://badassnetwork.com/yourblog/post-title#tips-section
Creating Button Links
Text links work great, but sometimes you want something more prominent—like a call-to-action button.
Add a Buttons block
Start a new line, type /buttons, and press Enter. Or click the plus (+) icon and search for Buttons.
A button appears with placeholder text.
Type your button text
Click inside the button and type whatever you want it to say. “Read More,” “Download Now,” “Learn More”—whatever fits your content.
Add the link
With your cursor inside the button, click the link icon in the toolbar (or press Cmd+K / Ctrl+K). Paste or search for your URL, press Enter.
Customize the style
Click the button to see styling options in the sidebar. You can change colors, add rounded corners, adjust alignment, or make it full-width. Depends on what look you’re going for. Most people stick with the default style from their theme, but we like experimenting with button colors to make key actions stand out.
Buttons are great for things like newsletter signups, product links, or directing readers to your most important content.
Editing Existing Links
Made a mistake? URL changed? You can edit any link without reselecting the text.
Click on the linked text. The link popup appears showing the current URL.
You’ve got a few options:
- Edit: Click the URL or the pencil icon, change the address, press Enter
- Remove: Click the unlink icon (broken chain) to strip the link but keep the text
- Settings: Click the arrow to adjust “open in new tab” or other options
Changes take effect immediately. If your post’s already published, click Update to save.
Link Best Practices We’ve Learned
- Use descriptive anchor text. Instead of linking “click here,” link meaningful words like “our beginner’s guide to SEO.” This helps readers know where they’re going and improves your SEO. Search engines read your link text to understand what the linked page is about.
- Check your links work. Broken links frustrate readers and hurt your SEO. After adding links, click them in preview mode to verify they go to the right place. This sounds obvious, but it’s easy to paste the wrong URL or typo a letter.
- Don’t overdo it. Links are useful, but 20 links in a 300-word post feels spammy. We typically aim for 2-4 internal links and 1-3 external links per post, depending on length and topic. It varies, but that’s a decent starting point.
- Link to your own content. Internal linking helps readers discover more of your posts and keeps them on your blog longer. When you mention a topic you’ve covered before, link to that post. Search engines also use internal links to understand your site structure.
- Link to credible external sources. If you reference a statistic, quote someone, or mention another resource, link to it. Shows you’ve done your homework and builds trust with readers. Plus, it’s just good internet etiquette.
- Open external links in new tabs (usually). Keeps your blog open while readers explore other resources. Internal links can stay in the same tab—lets readers use their browser’s back button naturally.
Different Link Types You’ll Use
Internal links point to your own posts or pages. Great for keeping readers engaged with your content. WordPress makes these easy with the search function when adding links.
External links point to other websites. Use them to cite sources, recommend tools, or provide additional context. You’re linking out, so make sure the destination is trustworthy and relevant.
Affiliate links track referrals and earn you commission if someone makes a purchase. If you’re using affiliate links, add a disclosure somewhere in your post—most people put it near the top or where the link appears. Honesty builds trust.
Email links open someone’s email client when clicked. Format these as mailto:[email protected] in the URL field. Useful for contact pages or if you want readers to reach out directly.
Download links point to files like PDFs, worksheets, or images. Upload the file to your Media Library first, copy the file URL, then link to it. When someone clicks, the file downloads (or opens in their browser, depending on file type and browser settings).
Linking Images
Text isn’t the only thing you can link. Images work too.
Click your image block. In the toolbar, you’ll see the same link icon. Click it, add your URL, press Enter.
Now when someone clicks the image, they’re taken to whatever you linked. Useful for linking to product pages, larger versions of the image, or related content.
Most people don’t realize images can be links. It’s a nice subtle way to direct readers without adding more text.
Common Situations
Yep. Upload the file to your Media Library first (Add New under Media). Open the file, copy its URL from the address bar, then use that URL in your link. When readers click, the document opens or downloads depending on their browser.
Click the linked text, then click the unlink icon (looks like a broken chain) in the popup. The text stays, but the link’s gone. Simple.
Just use your blog’s main URL: https://badassnetwork.com/yourblog. Or if you’re linking from one of your own posts, you can search for your homepage by name when adding the link.
Sure. In the URL field, type mailto:[email protected] (replace with the actual email). When someone clicks, their email program opens with that address ready to go. Pretty handy for contact links.
Depends on your preference. We usually set external links to open in new tabs so readers don’t lose their place on our blog. But some people find that annoying. Test what feels right for your audience.
Yeah, they do. Internal links help search engines understand your site structure and spread authority across your pages. External links to quality sources show you’re providing value. Both help, but don’t force links where they don’t make sense just for SEO.
When Links Don’t Behave
What You’ve Accomplished
You know how to add links to your blog posts and pages on Badass Network. Text links, button links, image links, anchor links—you’ve got the full toolkit. You can edit existing links, remove them, and set them to open in new tabs.
Links turn your blog from isolated posts into a connected resource. Use them strategically to guide readers through your content, back up your claims with sources, and create clear calls to action.
Next step: Go through one of your posts and add 2-3 internal links to your other content. It’s a quick way to improve navigation and SEO at the same time.
Want to get deeper into content strategy? Check out our guides on SEO optimization, creating effective calls-to-action, or building a content hub. But honestly, just adding thoughtful links as you write is half the battle.
Related Resources
- Write Your First Blog Post — Complete guide to the WordPress editor and publishing
- Formatting Text: Bold, Italics, Headers, and Lists — Master text formatting in the Block Editor
- Adding Images to Your Blog Posts — Upload and optimize images in your content
- Writing SEO-Friendly Blog Titles — Craft titles that rank well and attract clicks
- Creating Effective Post Excerpts — Write summaries that encourage readers to click
Need Help?
Links acting weird? We’re here.
- Contact Badass Network Support and describe what’s happening
- Include the URL you’re trying to link to
- Screenshot the issue if you can
- Let us know if it’s happening on a specific post or across your whole blog
We’ll help you sort it out, usually within 24 hours.