How to Add Links as Content Cards in WordPress (2 Methods)

Tired of sharing links that look boring and get completely ignored by your readers? This is one of the most common frustrations website owners face when trying to share valuable content. 

The thing is, plain links don’t grab attention.

Fortunately, WordPress has a built-in feature that turns links from supported websites into rich content cards. These include images, titles, and descriptions, just like the previews you see on Facebook and X (Twitter).

In this guide, we’ll show you how to add links as content cards in WordPress. We’ve helped hundreds of users add this feature, and it works every time. Even better, you can customize it for platforms WordPress doesn’t support by default! 🙌

What Is a Content Card (and Why Does It Matter)?

A content card lets you display a visual summary of a link you share on your site. Instead of showing a plain URL, it automatically pulls in key information, like the title, featured image, and a short description, to create a clickable preview box.

It works a lot like Twitter Cards or Facebook Link Previews. When you paste a link into your post, WordPress turns it into a more engaging, media-rich element that stands out and invites clicks.

You can think of it like embedding a video or a tweet. Except, instead of social posts, you’re embedding full articles, podcast episodes, or other external content.

Here’s what it looks like in action:

These content cards don’t just look nicer; they make your posts easier to scan and more interactive. Readers are far more likely to click when they see a clear headline and image, rather than just a bare link.

Whether you’re linking to your own posts or other helpful content, content cards make your site more engaging, which helps encourage visitors to click around and stay longer.

How to Embed a Link as a Content Card in WordPress

Generally, there are 2 methods for embedding a link as a content card in WordPress: copying and pasting the URL and using the embed block.

In the following sections, we’ll show you just how to do it using both methods. Here’s a quick look at all the topics we’ll share:

• Method 1. Copy and Paste the URL (The Fastest Way to Auto-Embed Supported Links)
• Method 2. Use the Embed Block (More Control Over Placement and Layout)
• Bonus Tip: How Do Content Cards Work?
• Frequently Asked Questions About Content Cards
• Related WordPress Tutorials and Tips

Let’s jump right in! 🚀

Method 1. Copy and Paste the URL

By default, WordPress allows you to easily embed links as content cards from supported websites. These supported websites refer to all WordPress-powered blogs, including your own site.

To embed links as content cards, simply copy and paste the URL inside your page or post’s content editor.

Then, WordPress will automatically convert it into a content card.

Method 2. Use the Embed Block

Another way to add a link as a content card is by adding the Embed block in the block editor.

To do this, you’ll want to open the page or post’s block editor. Then, simply click the ‘+’ button and choose the Embed block.

You can now paste the URL of the blog post into the block’s field. Once done, go ahead and click the ‘Embed’ button.

WordPress will then automatically fetch the metadata for the URL and convert it into a content card.

Bonus Tip: How Do Content Cards Work?

By default, WordPress uses oEmbed technology to fetch metadata information from websites that support oEmbed formats.

All WordPress websites support the oEmbed protocol out of the box. This means you can embed links from a typical WordPress site as a content card on yours.

Other than WordPress websites, you can also embed content from many popular websites that already support oEmbeds.

For instance, you can embed YouTube videos instantly by simply pasting a video URL. Here’s what it might look like on your block editor:

Frequently Asked Questions About Content Cards

Got questions about how content cards work in WordPress? You’re not alone! Below are some of the most common things people ask when setting up or troubleshooting link previews.

Which websites can I embed as content cards in WordPress?

WordPress can automatically generate content cards (also called embedded previews) for a variety of sites using the oEmbed protocol. This includes popular social media platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter (now X), and TikTok. It also works seamlessly when linking to other WordPress websites.

However, Facebook and Instagram embeds no longer work natively in WordPress due to API changes made by Meta.

To embed content from those platforms, you’ll need a social media plugin like Smash Balloon. These plugins offer dedicated tools for displaying Instagram and Facebook feeds on your site.

What should I do if my link doesn’t turn into a content card?

You can start by checking whether the site you’re linking to supports oEmbed. WordPress only creates content cards for approved providers.

Next, make sure the link is placed on its own line in the WordPress editor, not hyperlinked inside a sentence or paragraph.

If you’re still not seeing the preview, try clearing your site’s cache. Occasionally, caching can interfere with how embeds load.

Can I change how the content card looks?

The design of the content card is controlled by two things:

1. The source site (which provides the data), and
2. Your WordPress theme (which determines how that data is displayed).

If you want to customize the appearance beyond what your theme allows, you’ll likely need to use custom CSS. That said, for most websites, the default embed style looks clean and works well out of the box.

Related WordPress Tutorials and Tips

We hope this article helped you learn how to easily embed links as content cards in WordPress. Next, you may also want to see our guides on:

• How to Remove Numbers From WordPress URLs
• How to Cloak Affiliate Links on Your WordPress Site
• How to Add Title and Nofollow to Insert Link Popup in WordPress
• How to Disable Auto-Linking of URLs in WordPress Comments
• How to Find and Fix Broken Links in WordPress
• Internal Linking for SEO: The Ultimate Guide to Best Practices

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