How to Create a Content Hub on WordPress

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| Updated on March 21, 2025

Let me guess - you've read dozens of articles about content hubs that left you with more questions than answers. Most guides focus on SEO theory but fail to show you how to actually build something that works. Today, that changes.

The problem with most content hub tutorials? They tell you to "create topic clusters" and "implement proper internal linking" without showing you how to actually do it in WordPress. Or worse - they'll have you create beautiful spreadsheets full of keywords and content plans, but leave you hanging when it's time to turn those plans into an actual, working website. They focus on theory while ignoring the practical steps you need.

But here's the thing: creating an effective content hub doesn't have to be complicated. What it does require is a strategic approach that balances three key elements:

Clear, intuitive organization that helps readers find exactly what they need
Smart technical implementation that strengthens your SEO
Scalable structure that grows with your content

In this practical guide, I'll show you how to build a content hub that:

Helps visitors naturally discover related content
Improves your search engine rankings
Creates a better user experience
Positions you as an authority in your field

Best of all? You won't need to write a single line of code or hire a developer. Using Thrive Architect, we'll build a professional content hub that looks great and works even better.

Why Most WordPress Content Hubs Fail (And How to Do Better)

Remember how I mentioned those beautiful spreadsheets that turn into confusing websites? I've seen this happen time and time again. A business owner gets excited about content hubs, creates an elaborate plan in Google Sheets, and three months later... they're stuck with a mess of loosely connected blog posts that neither readers nor search engines can navigate effectively.

Here's where a lot of people go wrong:

The "More Content" Trap

Most people think a content hub is just about creating lots of related content. They'll write dozens of articles, tag them under the same category, and call it a day. But here's what I learned after working across various industries: quantity without strategy creates confusion, not authority.

The SEO-Only Approach

Another common mistake? Focusing solely on keyword research and forgetting about user experience. Yes, SEO matters (and we'll cover it thoroughly), but when you prioritize search engines over actual humans, you end up with content that ranks well but fails to engage readers or drive conversions.

The "Set and Forget" Mindset

Too many businesses treat their content hub as a one-time project rather than an evolving resource. They launch it and... nothing. No updates, no improvements, no response to user behavior or feedback. This static approach quickly leads to outdated content and missed opportunities.

What Actually Works

After helping businesses build and optimize their content hubs, I've found that successful ones share these characteristics:

✓ Clear Purpose: They solve specific problems for their audience

✓ Simple Navigation: Users can find related content without thinking

✓ Strategic Structure: Content is organized in a way that makes sense for both users and search engines

✓ Regular Updates: The hub grows and evolves based on user behavior and needs

✓ Balanced Approach: SEO and user experience work together, not against each other

"The difference between a content dump and a content hub? Strategy, structure, and user focus."

Planning Your Content Hub Strategy

Before we dive into the technical setup, let's get strategic. In my experience, the difference between a thriving content hub and a forgotten one often comes down to what happens before you create your first piece of content.

Start With Your "Why"

Your content hub needs a clear purpose beyond "it's good for SEO." When I work with clients, the first question I always ask is "What problem are you really trying to solve for your audience?"

💡 Think about it this way: if a reader lands on your hub page, what should they walk away with? For example, if you're running a digital marketing agency, your hub might focus on helping small businesses implement DIY marketing strategies. Each piece of content should then support this core mission, creating a resource that genuinely helps your audience while establishing your expertise.

Choose Your Hub Model

There are several ways to structure a content hub, and choosing the right one makes a huge difference. Let me walk you through the three most effective models I've worked with.

The Topic Hub Model works like a well-organized textbook. You have a main hub page that introduces the topic, followed by detailed chapters (your pillar content) that dive deeper into specific aspects. This model works particularly well when you're covering comprehensive topics that need systematic exploration.
The Resource Library Model is more like a carefully curated collection. Instead of following a linear path, visitors can browse through categories based on their immediate needs. I've found this model especially effective for educational content and tutorials where users might need different resources at different times.

A good example of a resource library model is WPBeginner.

WPBeginner - The Beginner's Guide for WordPress

This site houses a wide range of curated content - in different formats - that caters to WordPress users of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced users. And as a result, WPBeginner is now the go-to resource for anyone who has a question about WordPress.

From building a website, to selecting a hosting provider, or even learning how to use OpenAI on your WordPress website -- WPBeginner has a resource for you.

The Solutions Hub Model takes a problem-first approach. Rather than organizing by topic, you structure content around specific challenges your audience faces. This works beautifully for product-focused content because it naturally aligns with how people search for solutions to their problems.

Map Your Content Structure

Once you've chosen your model, it's time to map out your structure. Here's where many content creators get overwhelmed, but let me share a simpler approach that's worked well for me.

Start by identifying 3-5 core topics that will form the foundation of your hub. Don't try to cover everything – focus on what you do best and what your audience needs most.

For instance, when I helped a fitness coach build their content hub, we focused on nutrition, workout planning, and recovery. These three pillars gave us plenty of room to expand while keeping the content focused and manageable.

For each core topic, you'll want to plan a comprehensive hub page that serves as your topic gateway. Think of this as your "ultimate guide" – not because it covers everything, but because it guides readers to exactly what they need. From there, you can branch out into more specific subtopics based on your audience's needs.

Pro Tip: The best content hubs aren't the ones with the most content – they're the ones with the most thoughtful organization.

Planning Your Content Matrix

Let's get practical. Here's how to map out your content in a way that makes sense:

Start with your main topic at the center. For each core pillar, identify:

Key questions your audience is asking
Common challenges they face
Natural progression of information
Related subtopics that support the main theme

Think of it as creating a roadmap for your readers. Each piece of content should lead naturally to the next, whether they're following your suggested path or exploring based on their interests.

Using Thrive Architect, we'll turn this planning into a practical, engaging structure that guides visitors through your content in a way that feels natural and helpful.

Why I Choose Thrive Architect for Content Hubs

Before we dive into implementation, let me quickly explain why I specifically recommend Thrive Architect for building content hubs. After trying numerous WordPress page builders, here's why Thrive Architect stands out:

First, it's built for conversion. Thrive Architect understands that your content needs to drive results. Its pre-built elements and templates are specifically designed to engage readers and encourage action.
Second, it makes content relationships visual. Instead of relying on basic text links, you can create engaging content boxes, custom navigation elements, and visual hierarchies that actually guide readers through your hub. This is crucial for keeping visitors engaged and moving through your content naturally.
Third, and most importantly for content hubs, it's reliable and consistent. When you're building a large content structure, you need elements that maintain their formatting and don't break when you make updates. Thrive Architect's components stay exactly where you put them, looking exactly how you designed them.

The bottom line? While you could build a content hub with other tools, Thrive Architect simply makes it easier to create something that both looks professional and actually works for your audience.

Check Out Thrive Architect

Now, let's put these tools to work as we build your hub...

Step 1: Setting Up Your Content Hub Foundation

Now that we have our strategy in place, let's build something real. I'll show you how to set up your content hub foundation using Thrive Architect - no coding required. Here's an example of a hub from my personal website:

ScreenRecordingon2025-03-20at09-08-21-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter (1)

I use my personal website to share professional and personal content. For my personal content, I created a separate hub called "The Vault", to make it easier for people to navigate.

As you can see, there's a clear navigation structure, detailed explanations of what each section entails, and even a lead-generation form to encourage visitors to take a next step.

Creating Your Main Hub Page

Your hub page is more than just a list of links; it's the gateway to your expertise. Think of it as your content's homepage. When I build hub pages, I focus on three key elements:

First, a clear introduction that helps visitors instantly understand what they'll find. This isn't just about SEO (though we'll optimize for that too) - it's about making a promise to your reader about the value they'll get. Take a look at the intro for my hub:

Second, an intuitive navigation structure. I prefer using visual elements like content boxes or cards rather than simple lists. With Thrive Architect, we can create engaging layouts that guide visitors to exactly what they need.
Third, strategic organization that makes sense for your specific audience. For example, when I built a hub page my page, we organized content by the main topics my audience knows me for.

Building Your Navigation Structure

Here's where many WordPress sites go wrong: they rely solely on categories and tags, buried in sidebars where nobody looks. Instead, let's create a navigation system that actually helps your readers.

Using Thrive Architect, we can build a custom navigation structure that stays consistent across your hub. I recommend creating a visual hierarchy that includes:

A primary navigation menu that highlights your main topic areas. The key here is consistency - use the same terms throughout your hub to avoid confusing readers.
Content relationship indicators that show how different pieces connect. These could be "Related Topics" sections at the bottom of each page or visual breadcrumbs that show where readers are in your content structure.

As I mentioned earlier, the "Vault" hub for my website has limited content and I didn't feel a need for a menu. But, this was different for a separate hub on my site where I house my "professional" content. Here, I added a simple menu to help my audience easily navigate the topics based on what they need answers on:

This menu is known as a post list filter and it helps filter your posts according to what your visitors want to see. You can learn how to set it up here.

Alternatively, you can add an actual mega menu to your page, or a dropdown menu -- Thrive Architect's menu element gives you the option to create both easily.

What makes this approach different is that we're designing for actual user behavior. After years of analyzing how people interact with content hubs, I've learned that visitors rarely follow the perfect path we imagine. They jump between topics based on their interests, which is why our navigation needs to support both linear and non-linear exploration.

Setting Up Your Templates

One secret to a professional-looking content hub is consistency. Rather than designing each page from scratch, we'll create templates for different content types. This not only saves time but ensures a consistent experience for your readers.

And this is where I really love Thrive Architect. They have a set of Block templates that come with a variety of pre-designed sections you can easily drag and drop onto your page. That's how I built my hub!

My hub's intro section, for example, was created from one of Thrive Architect's "Hero" block templates. I added it to my page, swapped out the text and images, and had a custom section ready to go! Can you spot which template I used?

And that's how you'll build your templates as well. You get everything you need to add custom post lists, forms, hero sections, and even lead-generation forms.

The best part? You can have this all set up in minutes. So, as you explore this page builder and build your hub, make sure to have the following templates set up:

Your hub page template: This will be your master layout for topic gateway pages. We'll include sections for your introduction, content overview, and related resources.
Your pillar content template: For your comprehensive guide-style content that serves as the backbone of each topic area.
Your supporting content template: For more focused articles that drill down into specific aspects of your topics.

"Remember: A well-organized content hub isn't about fancy design – it's about creating clear paths to valuable information."

Quick Setup Checklist

Before moving on, make sure you have:

Created your main hub page with a clear value proposition
Set up your primary navigation structure
Built your core templates
Tested your basic user flows

And if you need a visual walkthrough to help get you started, check out this step-by-step video Tony created:

Now that we have our foundation in place, we're ready to create the content that will make your hub truly valuable.

Step 2: Creating Your Pillar Content

This is where most content hubs either shine or fall apart. Your pillar content isn't just another blog post - it's the foundation of your hub's authority. Let me show you how to create pillar pages that actually serve your audience while strengthening your SEO.

Here are the essential elements of strong pillar content:

Clear Promise and Structure: Open with a compelling promise that shows readers they're in the right place. When I created a pillar page about email marketing, I opened with: "You're about to learn how to build an email strategy that works for your business - not just what worked for someone else." Then, create a comprehensive overview that explains why each section matters to your reader.
Visual Hierarchy and Scannability: Nobody reads every word on your page. That's why I use Thrive Architect's content blocks to create clear visual hierarchies. Break complex topics into distinct sections, use highlight boxes for key takeaways, and create styled lists for step-by-step instructions. The goal is to help readers find exactly what they need, whether they're skimming or deep-diving.

Implementation Focus: This is something I learned the hard way: readers need to see how ideas work in practice. Include action steps after each major concept, giving readers specific actions they can take. Use Thrive Architect's customizable call-to-action sections to make these implementation sections stand out and easy to find.

An example of some of the call to action blocks in Thrive Architect

Strategic Content Connections: Your pillar content should naturally lead readers to related resources. I use what I call the "natural next step" approach. At key points in your content, ask yourself: "What might my reader need to know next?" Then, create strategic pathways to that information. For example, if you're explaining how to set up email automation, include a styled content box that leads to your detailed guide on writing email sequences.

Styled box templates in Thrive Architect

SEO Layer: While we're focusing on user experience, we can't ignore SEO. The good news is that well-structured pillar content naturally supports good SEO. Use Thrive Architect's heading structure to create clear content hierarchies that search engines love. But remember: your primary goal is to help readers. I've found that content that truly serves its audience tends to rank well naturally, especially with proper technical optimization in place.

Think of your pillar content as a GPS for your topic - it should help readers navigate to exactly where they need to go.

Step 3: Building Your Content Clusters

Content clusters are where your hub comes alive. But here's what most tutorials get wrong: they tell you to create clusters based purely on keywords. Instead, I'll show you how to build clusters that serve real user needs while naturally strengthening your SEO.

Understanding Content Structure: Think of your pillar content as the main chapters of a book. Your clusters are the detailed explanations, examples, and practical applications that make those chapters useful. For example, if your pillar page covers "Email Marketing Strategy," your cluster content might include specific email sequence templates, list building techniques, email analytics interpretation, and automation workflow examples. The key is that each piece should be valuable on its own while contributing to the larger story.
Creating Focused Content: After years of content creation, I've discovered that the best cluster content follows a simple principle: it should answer a specific question or solve a specific problem completely. When I review a pillar page, I look for moments where readers might think, "Yes, but how exactly do I do that?" Those are your cluster content opportunities. And with Thrive Architect's templates, you can maintain consistent formatting while delivering detailed, actionable information.

Building Natural Connections: Here's where most WordPress sites struggle: connecting content in a way that feels natural, not forced. The secret is to think about user journeys, not just links. Every cluster piece should have a clear connection to the main pillar topic, natural pathways to related content, and strategic calls-to-action that make sense in context.
Optimizing for Search: While we're building for users first, we can also make search engines happy. Modern SEO rewards content that demonstrates expertise in a topic area. Your clusters should support your pillar content's main keywords naturally, target related long-tail keywords that answer specific questions, and create topical relevance through strategic internal linking. But here's the important part: don't force it. When you focus on creating genuinely helpful content that connects logically, the SEO benefits tend to follow naturally.

Remember: Your content clusters aren't just supporting players - they're the specialized experts that make your hub truly valuable.

Step 4: Optimizing for Both SEO and User Experience

Now comes the part where many content creators get stuck: balancing SEO requirements with user experience. After years of optimizing content hubs, I've learned that these two goals can work together perfectly - if you approach them the right way.

Technical SEO Elements That Matter

While user experience is the focus, technical SEO elements must be done right. Thrive Architect simplifies this process by ensuring your heading structure creates a clear content hierarchy, making it easy for both users and search engines to navigate. Internal linking should create logical pathways that guide users naturally while reinforcing topical relevance for search engines.

One tool I’ve found really helpful for handling the technical side of SEO is AIOSEO (All-in-One SEO).

It takes a lot of the guesswork out of optimization by:

Highlighting heading structure issues and suggesting ways to improve clarity.
Making internal linking easier with smart recommendations, so you’re always connecting the right pages.
Helping you craft SEO-friendly meta titles and descriptions that boost click-through rates.
Adding schema markup automatically, so search engines better understand your content.
Running a built-in SEO audit, which flags any technical issues before they impact rankings.

Using Thrive Architect for content design and AIOSEO for technical optimization is a combination that’s worked really well for me. It keeps my content structured, easy to navigate, and fully optimized without feeling forced or overly complicated.

Monitoring and Improving Performance

Optimization is an ongoing process, not a one-time task. Tracking key metrics helps refine your content hub over time. Monitor how users move through your content, which pathways are most effective, where users tend to exit, and which content pieces drive the most engagement. And I have two tools that help me with this part of the process:

AIOSEO makes it easier to track and improve your content’s rankings by providing actionable SEO insights, helping you fine-tune pages for better visibility. For a deeper look at user behavior,
MonsterInsights connects directly with Google Analytics to show how visitors interact with your site, making it easier to spot opportunities for improvement.

Using this data, you can continuously refine your hub's structure and content to better serve your audience while improving your search visibility.

Step 5: Launch and Maintenance Strategy

A content hub isn't a "set it and forget it" project - it's a living resource that grows with your audience. Let me share the launch and maintenance strategy I've developed after seeing what actually works in the real world.

Launch Smart, Layer Strategically: Avoid launching everything at once. Start with your main hub page and one complete pillar section to establish a strong foundation, test your structure, and gather early feedback. This phased “Launch and Layer” approach helps you build momentum while refining your strategy.
Keep Your Content Fresh and Relevant: A content hub isn’t static—it needs regular updates. Use a “Rolling Review” system to revisit key content quarterly, updating outdated information, adding new insights, and incorporating user feedback.
Track What Truly Matters: Don’t just chase page views—focus on engagement and performance. Monitor how users navigate your hub, what content keeps them engaged, and where drop-offs happen. These insights help you refine your hub to better serve your audience while driving real business results.

Next Steps: Taking Your Content Hub from Good to Great

You now have a solid foundation for creating a content hub that serves both your audience and your business goals. But let me share some advanced strategies that can take your hub to the next level.

Enhance Engagement with Interactive Elements: Adding dynamic content like quizzes can significantly boost engagement. I’ve seen a simple "What's your biggest challenge?" quiz double a client’s average time on page. Thrive Quiz Builder, another stellar Thrive Themes plugin, makes it easy to create these interactive experiences.
Strategic Lead Generation: Instead of generic “subscribe” boxes, offer resource upgrades tailored to specific content clusters. Your hub should not only organize content but also nurture relationships by providing valuable, targeted next steps for readers.
Make Your Hub Mobile-Friendly and Scalable: With most visitors on mobile, design your hub for smooth navigation on smaller screens. Thrive Architect makes responsive design simple, but also consider how mobile users interact differently. As you scale, content templates for tutorials, case studies, and guides help maintain consistency while saving time.

And There You Go... That's How to Create a Content Hub in WordPress

Now you know how to create stunning, conversion-focused content hub pages that will impress your site visitors, boost their trust in your business, and help you build a loyal community of subscribers and followers.

Want even more free resources to improve your online marketing? We've got you covered!

What are you waiting for?

Start building your content hub with Thrive Architect today.

Written on April 10, 2023

About the author

Chipo Marketing Writer

A self described devotee of WordPress, Chipo is obsessed with helping people find the best tools and tactics to build the website they deserve. She uses every bit of her 10+ years of website building experience and marketing knowledge to make complicated subjects simple and help readers achieve their goals.

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How to Create a Content Hub on WordPress