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 (called Embeds) 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. We will also show you exactly what to do when an embed doesn’t work correctly. 🙌

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:

• Method 1: Copying and pasting the URL (The easiest way).
• Method 2: Using the Embed block (For specific placement).

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:

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 include all WordPress-powered sites (including your own) and many popular services like YouTube and Vimeo.

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

But do note that the URL must be on its own line. Also, make sure the text is black (plain text). If the text is blue and underlined (hyperlinked), the content card will not appear.

As soon as you paste the link, 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 your page or post’s block editor. Then, simply click the ‘+’ add block button and search for ‘Embed’ to locate the 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 (like the title, description, and image) 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 social media platforms that are on the official allow-list, such as YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter (X), TikTok, and more.

If you try to paste a link from a website that is not on this supported list, WordPress will not create a content card and will simply display the text link.

For instance, you can embed YouTube videos instantly by simply pasting a video URL on its own line in the editor. Here’s what it might look like in 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.

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 these related guides:

• How to Remove Numbers From WordPress URLs
• How to Add Title and Nofollow to the 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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