Hey guys! Ever found yourself needing to recreate a post or page on your WordPress site? Maybe you've got a killer template you want to reuse, or perhaps you need to make a copy of a complex layout to tweak for a different purpose. That's where the Yoast Duplicate Post plugin comes in super handy! It's a simple, yet powerful tool that lets you clone posts and pages with just a few clicks. In this guide, we're diving deep into how to use it, so you can save time and effort while managing your content like a pro.

Installing Yoast Duplicate Post

Before we get started, the first thing you'll need to do is install the Yoast Duplicate Post plugin. Don't worry; it's a piece of cake! Just follow these simple steps:

1. Log into your WordPress dashboard: Go to your website's admin area by adding /wp-admin to your site's URL (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com/wp-admin).
2. Navigate to Plugins: In the left-hand menu, find and click on "Plugins", then click on "Add New".
3. Search for Yoast Duplicate Post: In the search bar, type in "Yoast Duplicate Post". It should pop up as one of the top results.
4. Install the Plugin: Click the "Install Now" button next to the plugin. Wait for it to install.
5. Activate the Plugin: Once installed, the "Install Now" button will change to "Activate". Click it to activate the plugin. And just like that, you're ready to roll!

Once you've activated the plugin, you'll notice that it doesn't add a new menu item in your WordPress dashboard. Instead, it integrates directly into your existing post and page management screens. This makes it super easy to access and use without cluttering up your admin area. Now that you've got the plugin installed, let's move on to the fun part: actually using it to duplicate your posts and pages!

Cloning a Post or Page

Okay, now that you've got the plugin installed, let's get to the main event: cloning a post or page. The Yoast Duplicate Post plugin offers a few different ways to duplicate content, each with its own advantages. Let's walk through each method step by step.

Method 1: Using the "Clone" or "New Draft" Link

This is the most straightforward method and the one you'll probably use most often. Here’s how it works:

1. Go to Posts or Pages: In your WordPress dashboard, click on "Posts" or "Pages" in the left-hand menu, depending on what you want to duplicate.
2. Hover Over the Post/Page Title: Find the post or page you want to clone and hover your mouse over its title. You'll see a few options appear below the title, including "Edit", "Quick Edit", "Trash", and now, thanks to the plugin, "Clone" and "New Draft".
3. Choose Your Option:
   • Clone: Clicking "Clone" creates an exact duplicate of the post or page. This copy is saved as a draft, so you can edit it before publishing.
   • New Draft: Clicking "New Draft" does the same thing as "Clone" – it creates a duplicate draft. Choose whichever option you prefer; they both achieve the same result.
4. Edit the Duplicate: After clicking either "Clone" or "New Draft", you'll be taken to the edit screen for the duplicated post or page. Here, you can make any changes you need, such as updating the title, content, or featured image.
5. Publish or Save: Once you're happy with your changes, you can either publish the post or page to make it live on your site, or save it as a draft to continue working on it later.

Method 2: Using the Bulk Actions Menu

If you need to duplicate multiple posts or pages at once, the bulk actions menu is your best friend. Here's how to use it:

1. Go to Posts or Pages: Just like before, start by navigating to either the "Posts" or "Pages" section in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Select the Posts/Pages: Check the boxes next to the titles of the posts or pages you want to duplicate. You can select as many as you like.
3. Open the Bulk Actions Menu: Above the list of posts or pages, you'll see a dropdown menu labeled "Bulk actions". Click on it to reveal the available options.
4. Choose "Clone": In the dropdown menu, select "Clone".
5. Apply the Action: Click the "Apply" button next to the dropdown menu. The plugin will now create a duplicate of each selected post or page, saving them as drafts.
6. Edit the Duplicates: You can now go through the list of posts or pages and edit each of the duplicates as needed. Make your changes and publish or save them as drafts.

Method 3: From the Post Editor Screen

Lastly, you can also duplicate a post or page directly from its editor screen. This is useful if you're already working on a post and decide you need a copy of it.

1. Open the Post/Page Editor: Go to the post or page you want to duplicate and open it in the WordPress editor.
2. Look for the "Duplicate" Link: In the top menu bar, you should see a "Duplicate" link.
3. Click "Duplicate": Simply click the "Duplicate" link, and the plugin will create a copy of the post or page and open it in a new editor window. This duplicate will be saved as a draft.
4. Edit the Duplicate: Make any necessary changes to the duplicated post or page, and then publish or save it as a draft.

These three methods give you plenty of flexibility when it comes to duplicating content on your WordPress site. Whether you're cloning a single post or multiple pages, the Yoast Duplicate Post plugin makes the process quick and easy.

Configuring Yoast Duplicate Post Settings

While the Yoast Duplicate Post plugin works great out of the box, you can also customize its settings to better suit your needs. Let's take a look at the available options:

1. Accessing the Settings: To access the plugin settings, go to "Plugins" in your WordPress dashboard and click on "Duplicate Post" then click on "Edit".
2. Permissions: Here, you can control which user roles have access to the plugin's features. For example, you might want to allow administrators and editors to duplicate posts, but restrict access for authors or contributors.
3. Elements to Copy: This section lets you choose which elements of a post or page should be copied when you create a duplicate. You can select options like:
   • Title: Whether to copy the title of the original post or page.
   • Date: Whether to keep the original publish date or set the duplicate to the current date.
   • Status: Whether the duplicate should be created as a draft, published, or with the same status as the original.
   • Content: Whether to copy the main content of the post or page.
   • Excerpt: Whether to copy the excerpt (summary) of the post or page.
   • Featured Image: Whether to copy the featured image (thumbnail) of the post or page.
   • Custom Fields: Whether to copy any custom fields associated with the post or page.
   • Taxonomies: Whether to copy the categories and tags assigned to the post or page.
   • Comments: Whether to copy the comments from the original post or page.
   • Template: Whether to copy the template used by the original post or page.
   • Author: Whether to copy the author of the original post or page.
4. Title prefix: Here you can add a prefix to the title of the duplicated post.
5. Title suffix: Here you can add a suffix to the title of the duplicated post.
6. Increase the menu_order by one: This setting allows you to increase the menu order of the duplicated post by one.
7. Do not copy these fields: Here you can choose the meta fields that you dont want to copy.
8. Filters: This section allows you to set up the post types where you want to see the "Clone" and "New Draft" links.
9. Display: Here, you can choose where the clone links are displayed (e.g., on the post list, edit screen, or both).

By customizing these settings, you can tailor the Yoast Duplicate Post plugin to your specific workflow and ensure that it behaves exactly as you want it to.

Best Practices for Using Yoast Duplicate Post

To get the most out of the Yoast Duplicate Post plugin, here are some best practices to keep in mind:

• Always Edit Duplicates: Remember that the plugin creates an exact copy of your original post or page. Before publishing a duplicate, always edit it to make sure it's unique and relevant. Update the title, content, and any other elements as needed.
• Use it for Templates: One of the best uses for this plugin is creating templates for your posts and pages. If you have a layout or structure that you frequently use, create a template and then clone it whenever you need to create a new post or page.
• Be Mindful of SEO: When duplicating content, be careful not to create duplicate content issues that can harm your site's SEO. Make sure to rewrite the content of each duplicate to make it unique.
• Check Your Settings: Take some time to explore the plugin settings and configure them to match your needs. This will help you streamline your workflow and avoid any surprises.

Conclusion

The Yoast Duplicate Post plugin is a fantastic tool for anyone who manages a WordPress website. It saves you time and effort by allowing you to quickly clone posts and pages. Whether you're creating templates, reusing layouts, or simply need to make a copy of a post, this plugin has you covered. So go ahead, install it, and start duplicating your way to a more efficient workflow! Happy content creating!