How to Add Featured Images or Post Thumbnails in WordPress

What is a Featured Image?

A featured image, also known as a post thumbnail, is a prominent image chosen to represent a post, page, or custom post type in WordPress. It visually represents the content and is often displayed in various locations throughout your website, including on the homepage, blog archive pages, and social media when the content is shared. This image is typically set apart from the content and serves as a key visual element that can draw attention to the article or page.

Why Set a Featured Image?

Visual Appeal: A well-chosen featured image can make your content more attractive and engaging, encouraging visitors to click and read more.
Branding: Consistent use of featured images can help maintain a cohesive look and feel across your website, strengthening your brand identity.
SEO Benefits: Featured images can improve your content’s SEO, especially when optimized with relevant keywords and alt text.
Social Media Sharing: When your content is shared on social media, the featured image often appears alongside the link, making the post more likely to be clicked and shared.

How to Set a Featured Image in WordPress

Setting a featured image in WordPress is a straightforward process. Follow these steps:

Log in to Your WordPress Dashboard:
- Standard Login: Start by logging into your WordPress admin area by visiting yourdomain.com/wp-admin and entering your username and password.
- Ecenica WordPress Manager: Alternatively, you can log in using the Ecenica WordPress Manager. Access it via Ecenica Dashboard > My Services. This method provides a quick and convenient way to access your WordPress sites hosted with Ecenica.
Navigate to the Post or Page Editor:
- If you’re creating a new post or page, go to Posts > Add New or Pages > Add New.
- If you’re editing an existing post or page, navigate to Posts > All Posts or Pages > All Pages, and click on the title of the item you want to edit.
Locate the Featured Image Widget
- On the right side of the screen, you should see a button labelled Set featured image.
Set the Featured Image:
- Press the Set featured image button. This will open the WordPress Media Library.
- You can choose an existing image from your library or upload a new one by clicking the Upload Files tab.
- Once you’ve selected or uploaded an image, click the Set featured image button.
Save Your Changes:
- After setting the featured image, you can either publish your post or page, or save it as a draft to come back to later.

How to replace a Featured Image in WordPress

Changing a featured image in WordPress is a similar process to setting a featured image. Follow these steps:

Log in to Your WordPress Dashboard:
- Standard Login: Start by logging into your WordPress admin area by visiting yourdomain.com/wp-admin and entering your username and password.
- Ecenica WordPress Manager: Alternatively, you can log in using the Ecenica WordPress Manager. Access it via Ecenica Dashboard > My Services. This method provides a quick and convenient way to access your WordPress sites hosted with Ecenica.
Navigate to the Post or Page Editor:
- Navigate to Posts > All Posts or Pages > All Pages, and click on the title of the item you want to edit.
Locate the Featured Image Widget
- On the right side of the screen, you should see a thumbnail of your existing featured image.
Replace the Featured Image:
- Click the thumbnail image. Or hover over the image and press the “Replace” button. This will open the WordPress Media Library.
- You can choose an existing image from your library or upload a new one by clicking the Upload Files tab.
- Once you’ve selected or uploaded an image, click the Set featured image button.
Save Your Changes:
- After setting the featured image, you can either publish your post or page, or save it as a draft to come back to later.

How to remove a Featured Image in WordPress

To remove a featured image follows the same steps as above, but instead of clicking on the image. However your mouse pointer over the image and press the “Remove” button.

Additional Tips

Image Size and Quality: Use high-quality images that are appropriately sized for your theme. Some themes may specify optimal image dimensions for featured images.
Alt Text: Always add alt text to your featured images for accessibility and SEO benefits.
Image Optimization: Optimize your images to ensure they don’t slow down your site. You can use plugins like WP Smush or EWWW Image Optimizer for this purpose.