How to Change Link Color in WordPress: A Guide

Would you like to learn the steps to modify link colors on your WordPress site? Adjusting these colors can not only improve the navigational experience for users but also lend a unique visual identity to your website with a personalized color scheme.

In this detailed guide, we’ll take you through the various methods to change link colors in WordPress, offering clear and easy-to-follow directions. Learn how to change the color of links in WordPress and then apply that knowledge to effectively add submenus to your site for improved navigation.

Modifying Link Colors in WordPress

When you add a link to your WordPress site, it automatically adopts a default hue based on the currently selected theme. While this pre-set shade generally fits well with most designs, there may be instances where you seek to add a personal touch to these link appearances.

Adapting the shade of your links to match your brand’s visual theme or logo is a popular tweak. Another objective could be to improve the contrast of these links, making your site more user-friendly for those with visual impairments.

Many WordPress themes come equipped with options to easily modify the appearance of links via their settings panel or the WordPress customizer. It’s wise to first investigate these native functionalities. Delving into your theme’s documentation might also uncover useful tips and tricks.

In this guide, we’ll introduce different techniques to modify the color of links on your WordPress site, adaptable to any theme you might be using.

Method 1: Customizing Colors of Specific Links in WordPress

There are instances where you might need to modify the color of certain links individually. This is particularly useful when you want to highlight a specific call to action on a landing page, drawing the visitor’s focus.

To achieve this, first click on the link you wish to alter. Then, navigate to the right-hand menu and select the ‘Block’ tab. Under the ‘Color’ section, choose ‘Link.’;
A popup will then appear, allowing you to pick a new color for the link. Repeat these steps for any additional links you want to customize;
Once you’re satisfied with the appearance of your links, click ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ to apply your changes and make them visible on your live site.

Method 2: Changing Link Color in WordPress Using WPCode

Changing link colors in WordPress can be effectively achieved by incorporating custom CSS. Many tutorials suggest adding code snippets to your theme’s functions.php file, but this method comes with risks. A small mistake in the code could lead to major problems, possibly making your WordPress site unreachable. Furthermore, updating your theme might wipe out these customizations.

To circumvent these issues, the WPCode plugin stands out as a valuable resource. It offers a free and secure way to add custom CSS, ensuring that your site’s functionality remains intact. This plugin simplifies the process, allowing for safe and efficient customization of your website’s appearance.

Begin by downloading and setting up WPCode on your WordPress site. Our detailed tutorial on WordPress plugin installation will guide you through this process;
Once WPCode is active, navigate to Code Snippets and select ‘Add Snippet’. There, you’ll find the option to ‘Add Your Custom Code’. Move your cursor over this option and choose ‘Use snippet’;
Next, assign a title to your code snippet, something that will make it easily recognizable in the WordPress dashboard later;
Then, access the ‘Code Type’ dropdown and pick ‘CSS Snippet’;
You’re now ready to insert your own CSS code into the designated box. In the following sections, we’ll explore various CSS snippets that can be employed to modify the appearance of links on your WordPress site.

For example, if you want to customize the overall link color — the color that visitors see before clicking on a link — you simply need to add a specific CSS snippet into the WPCode code box. Let’s explore how to do this.

a {
     color: #FFA500;
}

In the provided example, using the hex code #FFA500 turns the link color to orange. To choose a different color, simply replace #FFA500 with your desired hex code.

Should you be unsure of the exact hex code for the color you desire, the HTML Color Codes website provides an excellent resource to browse a wide array of colors and find their specific codes;
After tailoring your code to perfection, make sure to change the toggle from ‘Inactive’ to ‘Active’. This step is crucial to implement your CSS snippet on your website. Simply click on ‘Save Snippet’ to secure these changes;
When you next visit your WordPress site, you will notice that the link colors have been updated, showcasing the adjustments you’ve just made.

Modifying Link Hover Color:

Attracting your visitors’ focus can be effectively achieved by modifying the hover color of links. This alteration becomes visible when someone moves their cursor over a link. To implement this change, insert the following code snippet into the WPCode editor:

a:hover {
     color: #FF0000;
     text-decoration: underline;
}

This code sets the hover color to red and underlines the text. You can replace #FF0000 with any color hex code of your choice. Publish the code snippet using the same steps as before to activate the changes.

A laptop displaying the word 'links' with various icons and a red mug

Changing Link Color Post-Visit:

Altering the color of links after they have been clicked can assist visitors in navigating your WordPress blog by indicating which links they have already visited. Use the following CSS code to change the color of visited links:

a:visited {
     color: #0000FF;
}

Change the default blue (#0000FF) to any desired color. Activate the code by switching the ‘Inactive’ toggle to ‘Active’ and then save the snippet.

Customizing Navigation Menu Link Colors:

Tailoring the colors of your navigation menu links can further enhance the user experience and align with your brand’s visual identity. Similar to the previous methods, you can create a custom CSS snippet specifically for your navigation menu. The code will depend on your theme’s structure, but generally, it involves targeting the CSS class or ID of your navigation menu and specifying the desired color.

As with other customizations, remember to activate and save your code snippet in WPCode.

By following these steps, you can significantly improve the visual dynamics of your WordPress site, making it more engaging and user-friendly. Remember to choose colors that complement your overall design and enhance readability.

Method 3: Link Color Customization in WordPress Without CSS

If you’re looking to change link colors on your WordPress site but prefer to avoid direct CSS coding, a CSS styling plugin is an ideal solution. CSS Hero is a highly recommended tool for beginners, offering a user-friendly, visual editing experience akin to a drag-and-drop page builder.

Begin by installing the CSS Hero plugin on your WordPress website. Activate it by selecting the ‘Proceed to Product Activation’ option. This action will prompt you to enter your credentials, including your username and password. Follow the onscreen instructions to confirm your account details;
Once your account is verified, CSS Hero will automatically redirect you to your WordPress control panel;
To begin customizing your site’s appearance, choose ‘Customize with CSS Hero’ from the WordPress administrative toolbar. This action will enable CSS Hero on your website’s live interface;
CSS Hero operates using a ‘What You See is What You Get’ (WYSIWYG) approach, offering an intuitive and visual editing experience. Click on any element on your webpage that you desire to alter, such as a hyperlink in a blog post. This will open a specialized editing toolbar for that element;
For customizing hyperlink aesthetics, navigate to the ‘Typography’ section and select a color that meets your preferences. CSS Hero offers a spectrum of colors to choose from, or you can specify an exact hex code for greater accuracy.

A stylized desktop with colorful SEO and web development icons

Customizing WordPress Navigation Menu Link Colors with CSS Hero:

CSS Hero also makes it easy to modify the color of links in your WordPress navigation menu.

Hover over and click any item in the navigation menu to start editing;
Then, select the ‘Typography’ option to change the link color to your chosen hue;
Once you’ve completed your link color customizations, finalize your changes by clicking the ‘Save and Publish’ button, making them immediately visible on your live site.

This method offers a straightforward, coding-free approach to personalizing your WordPress site, making it more visually appealing and in line with your brand or design preferences.

Conclusion

To sum up, the capability to adjust link hues in WordPress can greatly enhance your site’s user interface. By exploring different methods such as tailoring colors of specific links, employing WPCode for secure CSS edits, or using CSS Hero for an intuitive drag-and-drop approach, personalizing your site becomes both easy and efficient. It’s important to note that the visual appeal of your website plays a crucial role in its overall success and in attracting visitor engagement. Thus, using these strategies to craft a visually appealing and brand-consistent online presence is key.