Sticky Posts in WordPress: How to Pin a WordPress Post?

Imagine writing a great blog post that delivers high value to your readers, but over time, it gets buried under newer content. This is where the pin a WordPress post feature comes in handy. Whether you’re highlighting a tutorial, an announcement, or a cornerstone article, sticky posts help keep your most important content front and center.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about sticky posts in WordPress. From creating and customizing them to using plugins and advanced display techniques. By the end, you’ll know how to use sticky posts effectively to boost visibility, engagement, and SEO.

1. What is a Sticky Post in WordPress?

WordPress usually shows your latest blog posts at the top of your homepage, following a reverse chronological order. However, sometimes you might want a specific post to always appear first; no matter how many new posts you publish. That’s exactly what a sticky WordPress post does.

Sticky posts allow you to pin a blog post to the top of your homepage, ensuring it gets maximum visibility. It’s a simple yet powerful way to:

• Highlight important announcements
• Showcase evergreen content
• Drive traffic to high-converting posts
• Make pillar content easily accessible to new visitors

The best part? You don’t need to touch any code to enable the sticky option.

2. Creating a Sticky Post: How to Pin a WordPress Post?

Creating a sticky post is super easy, and WordPress gives you two built-in ways to do it:

Method 1: Using the Post Editor in WP Admin

Log into your WordPress dashboard, go to Posts ⟶ All Posts and select the post you want to pin.

• Click Edit to open the post in the block editor.
• In the Post settings sidebar, expand the Status & Visibility section.
• Check the sticky box labeled “Stick to the top of the blog.”
• Click Update to save your changes.

Now, this post will always show up at the top of your blog page.

Method 2: Using Quick Edit Feature

If you prefer a faster route:

• Go to Posts ⟶ All Posts.
• Hover over the post title and click Quick Edit.
• Check the box that says Make this post sticky and click update.

This method is especially helpful when you’re managing multiple sticky posts at once.

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3. Using Plugins to Pin a WordPress Post

If you run a large blog or regularly publish new content, managing sticky posts manually can become a time-consuming task. Fortunately, WordPress offers several plugins that make it easier to manage, schedule, and display sticky posts. All this without needing to touch a single line of code.

These tools not only simplify the process of pinning posts but also give you greater control over how sticky content appears and functions across your site.

Recommended Plugins for WordPress Sticky Post Management

Here are some popular and highly effective WordPress plugins to consider:

• Auto Sticky Posts: This lightweight plugin adds a simple toggle option in the WordPress post list and allows you to quickly enable/disable sticky status for any post (be it latest post, last post or old post). It’s especially handy when you’re managing dozens or hundreds of blog entries and want a quick way to highlight or unpin featured content.

• WP Sticky: WP Sticky goes beyond blog posts and allows you to pin any element on your website, such as headers, menus, or call-to-action boxes. It’s a great option for marketers and web designers who want more visual flexibility. The plugin supports drag-and-drop functionality and works well with most WordPress themes and page builders like Elementor or WPBakery.

• Category Page Sticky Post: If you want to feature different sticky posts within specific blog categories, this plugin is for you. It lets you designate one sticky post per category, making it easier to showcase targeted content based on user interest. This is especially useful for niche blogs or content-heavy sites with multiple topic silos.

Why Use a Plugin for Sticky Posts?

WordPress plugins for sticky posts offer more than just convenience, and many include advanced features like:

• Scheduling Sticky Posts: Set start and end dates for when a post should stay pinned.

• Limiting the Number of Sticky Posts: Prevent content clutter by controlling how many recent posts remain sticky at a time.

• Custom Design Options: Apply different styles, badges, or highlights to make sticky posts visually stand out.

• Better Workflow: Quickly manage sticky status from the admin panel without editing each post manually.

Pro Tip: Always read plugin documentation carefully to ensure compatibility with your current WordPress theme and version. Some plugins also offer premium upgrades with even more customization options.

4. Customizing the Look of Sticky Posts

A sticky post should not only function differently but also look different. This draws attention and helps visitors quickly spot your featured content. To customize the look of the sticky post, you can try the following.

Theme Support

Most modern WordPress themes automatically highlight sticky posts with a label, a border, or a different background color. However, the styling may vary. If your theme doesn’t visually distinguish sticky posts, you can customize it using CSS.

.sticky {

  background-color: #f9f9f9;

  border: 2px solid #0073aa;

  padding: 15px;

}

Add this snippet to Appearance ⟶ Customize ⟶ Additional CSS or your child theme’s stylesheet.

Plugin-Based Customization

Some plugins allow you to tweak the appearance of sticky posts without writing code. For example, you might be able to:

• Add badges or icons
• Feature the post in a slider
• Highlight it in a grid layout

5. Reordering Posts Beyond Sticky

While sticky posts are great for highlighting key content at the top of your blog, there may be times when you want more flexibility in how posts are ordered across your site.

Maybe you want to create a custom reading flow, prioritize seasonal articles, or group related content together. However, manually changing publish dates can negatively impact SEO and misrepresent your content’s timeline.

The good news? You can reorder WordPress posts without altering their publish dates or affecting your archive structure simply by using the right plugin.

Use a Plugin to Reorder Posts Easily

Here are two user-friendly plugins that allow you to reorder posts, pages, and custom post types effortlessly:

Post Types Order

This popular plugin adds a drag-and-drop editor to the WordPress admin, making it incredibly easy to rearrange posts in any order you choose. It supports pages, posts, and custom post types, giving you full control over the order in which your content is displayed. Whether you’re organizing a tutorial series or prioritizing high-converting articles, this plugin can help you achieve a clean, logical structure.

Simple Custom Post Order

Simple yet effective, this plugin lets you sort not only posts but also pages and taxonomy terms (like categories and tags). Once installed, you can drag and drop items right from the WordPress dashboard. It’s especially useful for content-heavy websites, portfolio pages, or sites that rely on structured storytelling.

Why Use These Plugins?

These post-order plugins offer several benefits, such as:

• Preserve Publish Dates: Keep original timestamps intact, which helps maintain historical accuracy and SEO continuity.

• Boost User Experience: Arrange content in a more intuitive flow for your readers, increasing engagement and reducing bounce rates.

• Support for Custom Post Types: Ideal for sites with complex structures such as products, portfolios, or testimonials.

• No Coding Needed: Easily adjust order from the dashboard; no WordPress developer required.

Pro Tip: After reordering, clear your site’s cache and test on both desktop and mobile to ensure changes are reflected properly across your theme layout.

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6. Pin a WordPress Post: Advanced Sticky Post Techniques

If you’re comfortable working with a bit of code, WordPress offers advanced ways to take sticky post functionality to the next level. These methods give you complete control over how, where, and when sticky posts appear; beyond the default blog layout.

Whether you’re designing a custom homepage, building a featured content slider, or organizing posts into unique sections, coding with WordPress functions opens the door to flexible designs.

Using WP_Query to Show Only Sticky Posts

By default, WordPress includes sticky posts at the top of the main blog loop. But what if you want to display sticky posts in a separate section like a homepage banner, sidebar widget, or dedicated “Featured” section?

That’s where the WP_Query class comes in. You can fetch only the sticky posts and display them anywhere on your site using a custom loop.

Here’s a sample snippet:

$args = array(
  'posts_per_page' => 5,
  'post__in' => get_option('sticky_posts'),
  'ignore_sticky_posts' => 1
);
$query = new WP_Query($args);

This loop pulls the most recent five sticky posts and excludes them from the main post query to prevent duplication.

You can then loop through the results like this:

if ($query->have_posts()) :
  while ($query->have_posts()) : $query->the_post();
    get_template_part('template-parts/content', get_post_format());
  endwhile;
  wp_reset_postdata();
endif;

This approach is ideal for custom layouts such as sliders, grids, or promotional banners on your homepage.

Display Sticky Posts in Custom Templates

Want even more design flexibility? You can create custom page templates and use WordPress functions like get_template_part() to include sticky post content in specific areas of your site.

For example, in a custom front-page template, you might load sticky posts into a hero section while keeping regular posts in a separate blog feed. This allows you to break away from a one-size-fits-all layout and deliver a more curated user experience.

You can also design separate partial templates for sticky posts (content-sticky.php) to apply unique styles, formatting, or animations.

Tips for Developers

Here are some advanced tips for WordPress developers:

• Enable Debug Mode: Always turn on WP_DEBUG during development to catch any errors or conflicts.

• Use Conditional Tags: Use is_sticky() inside loops to apply specific styles or behavior to sticky posts.

• Optimize Performance: Avoid running sticky post queries site-wide if not necessary. Use the post edit screen to limit the scope to areas where you truly need them.

• Test Across Devices: Ensure your custom sticky post sections are responsive and mobile-friendly.

Pro Tip: Combine sticky post queries with custom fields (using ACF or Meta Box) to add additional control over layout, display rules, or expiration logic.

7. Best Practices for Sticky Posts on WordPress Site

Sticky posts are a great way to highlight your most important or valuable content, but using them strategically is key. When done right, they can boost engagement, improve user experience, and support your SEO efforts. Below are a few best practices to follow to make the most of this feature:

Keep the Content Evergreen

Sticky posts should ideally contain timeless content that remains useful and relevant over the long term. Think of pillar blog posts, how-to guides, cornerstone content, or essential announcements. Avoid using sticky posts for short shelf-life content, such as flash sales or seasonal news.

Use Strong Visuals

Visuals are powerful attention-grabbers. A high-quality, eye-catching featured image can significantly improve click-through rates and engagement. Ensure the image is relevant to the post and optimized for both desktop and mobile viewing. If your theme supports it, consider adding a badge or label (e.g., “Featured” or “Top Pick”) to visually differentiate sticky posts.

Optimize for SEO

Since sticky posts often get more visibility, it’s important they’re fully optimized for search engines. Include targeted keywords in your title, meta description, and headers. Also, structure your content with short paragraphs, internal links, and relevant schema markup (if applicable). This not only improves rankings but also helps readers quickly understand the value of the post.

Keep it Updated

Sticky posts typically stay at the top of your blog for long periods, so outdated information can become a credibility issue. Set a reminder to review and update older posts regularly. Also, check for broken links, old stats, or outdated screenshots. Keeping the content fresh signals to both users and search engines that your site is well-maintained.

Limit the Number of Sticky Posts

Less is more when it comes to sticky posts. Featuring one or two key WordPress blogs or articles is usually enough to draw attention without overwhelming your visitors. Too many sticky posts can clutter the layout and reduce their individual impact. Choose your most valuable content and rotate occasionally to keep things fresh.

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Conclusion

Sticky posts in WordPress are a simple yet powerful tool to keep your most important content in front of your audience. Whether you guide new visitors to your pillar articles, promote a time-sensitive offer, or highlight must-read content, sticky posts offer flexibility and control.

With just a few clicks or a bit of custom code, you can make sure your best content gets the attention it deserves. Use built-in features, leverage plugins for ease, and always think about user experience.

By mastering sticky posts, you’re not just organizing content; you’re shaping how visitors engage with your WordPress website.

FAQs About WordPress Sticky Posts