Improve User Experience on Your WordPress Site with Breadcrumb Navigation

Breadcrumb navigation is an essential feature that not only helps users easily navigate through a website but also boosts its visibility in search results. If you want to add breadcrumb navigation to your WordPress site, continue reading to discover effective methods.

Method 1: Adding Breadcrumb Navigation with All in One SEO

All in One SEO is a popular WordPress SEO plugin that offers a user-friendly breadcrumb feature. Follow these steps to set it up:

1. Install and activate the All in One SEO plugin.
2. Go to All in One SEO » General Settings and click on the Breadcrumbs tab.
3. Enable the breadcrumb feature by turning on the Enable Breadcrumbs option.
4. Customize the display settings according to your preferences.

Method 1.1: Display Breadcrumb Navigation with Shortcode

If you want to display breadcrumb navigation links within specific posts or pages, you can use the shortcode method:

1. Edit the desired post, page, or product.
2. Insert the following shortcode in the desired location: [aioseo_breadcrumbs].
3. Save your changes and preview the post or page to see the breadcrumb navigation in action.

Method 1.2: Adding Breadcrumb Navigation with Gutenberg Block

If you prefer using the Gutenberg editor, follow these steps:

1. Edit the post or page you want to add breadcrumb navigation to.
2. Add the AIOSEO – Breadcrumbs block to the content.
3. Save the changes or publish the post to display the breadcrumb navigation.

Method 1.3: Implementing Breadcrumb Navigation Using Widgets

The AIOSEO Breadcrumbs widget allows you to automatically display breadcrumbs on every post or page:

1. Go to Appearance » Widgets in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Add the AIOSEO – Breadcrumbs widget block to your desired widget area, such as the sidebar or footer.
3. Configure the widget settings and click on the Update button.

Method 1.4: Including Breadcrumb Navigation via Code

Advanced users can have more control by manually adding breadcrumb navigation links to their theme files:

1. Determine the location where you want to display the breadcrumb links.
2. Locate the appropriate theme file, such as content-single.php.
3. Edit the file and insert the following code snippet where you want the breadcrumb navigation to appear:
   <?php if ( function_exists( 'bcn_display' ) ) {
bcn_display();
} ?>
4. Save the changes and upload the file back to your website.

Method 2: Using Breadcrumb NavXT Plugin

Breadcrumb NavXT is a powerful plugin that provides an easy way to add breadcrumb navigation links to your WordPress site. Here’s how to get started:

1. Install and activate the Breadcrumb NavXT plugin.
2. Go to Settings » Breadcrumb NavXT to configure the plugin settings.
3. Customize the breadcrumb style and settings based on your preferences.

Method 2.1: Displaying Breadcrumb Navigation with Theme Support

If your WordPress theme supports it, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Appearance » Customize page.
2. Click on the Breadcrumbs menu.
3. Select Breadcrumb NavXT as the source for your breadcrumbs.
4. Set the position where you want the breadcrumbs to appear.
5. Save your changes.

Method 2.2: Adding Breadcrumb Navigation with Breadcrumb Trail Block

To display the breadcrumb navigation using the Breadcrumb Trail block:

1. Access the WordPress content editor.
2. Add the Breadcrumb Trail block to your desired location.
3. Save or publish your content to display the breadcrumb navigation.

Method 2.3: Including Breadcrumb Navigation via Widgets

Add the Breadcrumb Trail widget to your widget-ready areas:

1. Go to Appearance » Widgets in your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Add the Breadcrumb Trail widget block to your desired widget area.
3. Configure the widget settings and click on the Update button.

Method 2.4: Implementing Breadcrumb Navigation via Code

For advanced users, you can manually add breadcrumb navigation links to your theme files:

1. Connect to your WordPress site using an FTP client.
2. Navigate to your current WordPress theme folder.
3. Locate the appropriate template file, such as content-single.php.
4. Edit the file and insert the following code snippet where you want the breadcrumb navigation to appear:
   <?php if ( function_exists( 'bcn_display' ) ) {
bcn_display();
} ?>
5. Save the changes and upload the file back to your website.

By implementing these methods, you can effortlessly incorporate breadcrumb navigation into your WordPress site, enhancing user experience, and improving your website’s visibility in search results.