Introduction
Navigation menus help visitors move around your website and find important information quickly.
A well-structured menu improves usability and helps visitors locate pages such as:
- Home
- About Us
- Services
- Contact Us
- Blog
This guide explains how to create and manage navigation menus in WordPress.
Step 1 – Log Into WordPress
Open your browser and visit: https://yourdomain.co.za/wp-admin
(Replace yourdomain.co.za with your own domain name.)
Enter your WordPress username and password.
Click: Log In
Step 2 – Open Menu Management
For traditional themes:
From the WordPress Dashboard
Click: Appearance
Then click: Menus
For Block Themes:
From the WordPress Dashboard
Click: Appearance
Then click: Editor
Then click: Navigation
Step 3 – Create a New Menu
Click: Create New Menu
Locate: Menu Name
Example: Main Navigation
Click: Create Menu
Step 4 – Add Pages to the Menu
Locate: Pages
Select the pages you wish to add.
Examples:
- Home
- About Us
- Services
- Contact Us
Click: Add to Menu
The selected pages will appear in your menu structure.
Step 5 – Arrange Menu Items
Drag and drop menu items into the desired order.
Example:
- Home
- About Us
- Services
- Blog
- Contact Us
The order displayed in the menu editor will determine how the menu appears on your website.
Step 6 – Create Drop-down Menus
To create a drop-down menu:
Click and hold the menu item.
Drag it slightly to the right beneath another menu item.
Example:
- Services
- Web Hosting
- Domains
- Website Design
The indented items will appear as drop-down menu options.
Step 7 – Assign a Menu Location
Locate: Menu Settings
Select the desired location.
Examples:
- Primary Menu
- Header Menu
- Footer Menu
- Mobile Menu
The available locations depend on your theme.
Step 8 – Save the Menu
Click: Save Menu
Your navigation menu will now be displayed on your website.
Editing a Menu
From the WordPress Dashboard
Click: Appearance
Then click: Menus
Select the menu you wish to edit.
Add, remove or rearrange menu items as required.
Click: Save Menu
Removing Menu Items
Open the menu editor.
Click on the menu item you wish to remove.
Click: Remove
Click: Save Menu
The page itself will not be deleted.
Only the menu entry will be removed.
Adding Custom Links
Menus can also contain custom links.
Locate: Custom Links
Enter the website address.
Example: https://www.hostworx.co.za
Enter the link text.
Example: HostworX Website
Click: Add to Menu
Common Problems
Menu Does Not Appear
Verify that the menu has been assigned to the correct menu location.
Drop-down Menu Not Working
Ensure the sub-menu items are indented beneath the parent menu item.
Save the menu after making changes.
New Pages Do Not Appear Automatically
Most themes require pages to be manually added to menus.
Edit the menu and add the page manually.
Best Practices
When creating menus:
- Keep menu names short and clear.
- Limit the number of top-level menu items.
- Group related pages together.
- Use drop down menus where appropriate.
- Keep navigation consistent throughout the website.
A clear navigation structure helps visitors find information quickly.
Conclusion
Navigation menus are one of the most important elements of any website.
A well-organized menu improves usability, visitor experience and helps users quickly find the information they are looking for.
