When I was putting together an iPad app review, I wanted the post to do more than just mention the app by name. I wanted the review to show the app image, connect to the correct iTunes listing, and give the post enough structure that it looked right across the site.
This walkthrough uses Invoice2go as the example, but the same process applies to other iPad or iOS apps as long as you can find the correct app listing and ID.
Quick Answer
To add an iPad app link to a WordPress review post, create the post, look up the app through the app-link tool, save the app icon as the featured image, copy the app's iTunes ID, and insert it into the app shortcode using the format [app ext IDNUMBER].
You also want to set the correct categories and tags so the post shows up in the right places on the site. For an iPad app review, that usually means using review-related categories plus iPad, iOS, or iOS apps where appropriate.
Start The WordPress Post
The first step is to log into the WordPress backend and create a new post. In the video, I used a review post for Invoice2go, an iPad app, as the example.
The title can be simple and direct. Something like “Review: Invoice2go for iPad” is enough. The important part is that the post is clearly tied to the app being reviewed, not just a vague app-link test.
Find The App Listing
Inside the WordPress editor, there is a small app-link tool in the toolbar. Clicking it opens a separate lookup window. In my case, that window opened behind the main browser window, so if nothing appears right away, check behind the active window.
From there, change the dropdown to iPad, set the country to USA, and search for the app name. For this example, I searched for Invoice2go.
The lookup result gives you the app listing information you need, including the iTunes app ID. That ID is the important part because the shortcode uses it to pull in the app information.
Use The Correct App ID
Once the app appears in the lookup results, copy the app ID and keep it somewhere temporary, like Notepad. You will need that number for the shortcode inside the WordPress post.
In this example, I preferred linking to the paid version of the app instead of the free one because the app-link system could generate a small affiliate percentage. The practical point is to make sure you are linking to the version of the app you actually want readers to use.
- Search for the app by name.
- Confirm whether you want the paid or free listing.
- Copy the iTunes app ID.
- Use that ID in the app shortcode.
Add The App Icon
The app icon matters because it becomes the image that appears on the site and on related listings. In the example, I tried dragging the image from the app listing, but that did not work cleanly, so I used a screen grab instead.
After saving the image to the desktop, upload it through WordPress and set it as the featured image. Then copy the uploaded image URL and add it to the custom field named image.
For this setup, both pieces matter: the featured image should be set, and the image custom field should contain the correct image URL.
Set Categories And Tags
After the image is in place, set the post categories. Since this is a review, it should go under the review section. Because the example is an iPad app, it also makes sense to include iPad and iOS app-related categories if those exist on the site.
Tags should be plain and useful. For the Invoice2go example, tags like Invoice2go, iPad, and iOS make sense. The goal is to help the site organize the post without overthinking it.
Insert The App Shortcode
The actual app embed is handled with a shortcode. The format shown in the walkthrough is [app ext IDNUMBER], with the copied app ID replacing IDNUMBER.
After adding the shortcode, save the post as a draft and preview it. The preview is important because not every app listing displays the same way.
Why The Preview May Look Different
One thing I noticed with Invoice2go is that the app embed did not show a full set of images. It displayed more like a simple box instead of a larger app preview.
To make sure the shortcode was working, I tested it with another app ID, using Apple's Remote app as the example. That listing showed the larger preview with images, which confirmed the setup was correct.
So if your app link looks smaller or less complete, it may not be a WordPress problem. It may simply be that the iTunes listing does not have all the images or data the embed expects.
A Small Layout Fix
In the preview, the app box appeared a little too high in the post because there was not enough text above it. The quick fix was to add more description before the app shortcode so the layout had room to breathe.
In the video, I also showed an old workaround of adding periods on extra lines and turning them white. That technically creates spacing, but today I would treat that as a last resort. A better post should have enough real description and review text to support the layout naturally.
Key Takeaways
- Use the app-link lookup tool to find the correct iPad or iOS app listing.
- Copy the iTunes app ID and insert it into the [app ext IDNUMBER] shortcode.
- Set the app icon as the featured image and add its URL to the image custom field.
- Choose useful categories such as Reviews, iPad, iOS, or iOS Apps when they fit the post.
- Preview the draft because some app listings show full images while others may only display a smaller box.
- If the app embed looks incomplete, test another known app ID before assuming the shortcode is broken.
Watch the Video
The video above above if you want to see the full WordPress workflow, including the app lookup window, image upload, shortcode placement, and preview testing.
