Are you looking to incorporate custom post types for your WordPress blog posts? Post types play a crucial role in organizing your articles according to their position in the editorial workflow. They help streamline the management of your own posts as well as those submitted by other authors. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of adding custom post types to your WordPress blog posts.
What is custom post type?
Post type in WordPress allows users to designate a specific workflow status to a blog post. For example, while you’re in the process of writing a post, you’d typically set its status to ‘Draft’. Once the post is ready for publication, the status changes to ‘Published’. You can view the post status of all your blogs by navigating to Posts » All Posts in your WordPress admin dashboard. WordPress comes with default post types, including:
– Draft: The post is saved but not yet published.
– Auto Draft: WordPress automatically saves a draft as you work, allowing easy undoing of changes.
– Pending Review: A complete post submitted for review but not yet published; typically requires an editor’s approval.
– Future: The post is scheduled for future publishing.
– Private: A blog post not visible to the public; by default, only admins and editors can view private posts created by other users.
– Trash: The post is moved to the trash.
– Inherit: Occasionally used when a post inherits the status of its parent page, often for post attachments like images and videos.
Why Add Custom Post Type for Blog Posts in WordPress?
Custom post types can be a valuable addition to your WordPress setup. For example, if you accept guest posts on your WordPress blog, you might consider creating types like ‘User Submitted’ or ‘Not Suitable’ for guest blogs that don’t perfectly align with your website’s content. This can help you effectively manage all the posts on your WordPress website, even when dealing with multiple bloggers. Even as a solo blogger, you can utilize custom types to organize your own posts and ideas. For instance, you could create a ‘Brainstorm’ status to record all your ideas directly in the WordPress dashboard. With these advantages in mind, let’s delve into the process of adding custom post types for your blog posts in WordPress.
How to Add Custom Post Type in WordPress
The most straightforward method for creating custom post types in WordPress is by using the PublishPress Planner plugin. This free plugin empowers you to establish as many custom types as you need, complete with assignable colors and icons for easy identification in the PublishPress editorial calendar. To get started, simply install and activate the plugin. If you require assistance with this step, refer to our guide on installing WordPress plugins. Once activated, navigate to Planner » Settings. On the Settings page, select the ‘Types ’ tab to begin the configuration process.
Configuring the PublishPress Planner Plugin
First, you’ll need to configure a few settings. By default, PublishPress allows you to use the same types for both pages and posts. However, you have the option to use custom post types exclusively for either pages or posts. To make this adjustment, uncheck the box next to ‘Pages’ or ‘Posts’. If it’s not already enabled, open the ‘Show the status dropdown menu on the post editing screen’ dropdown and select ‘Enabled’. This feature enables users to modify the post status within the WordPress block editor. After making these changes, be sure to click ‘Save Changes’.
With the initial setup complete, you’re now ready to create custom post types.
Customizing Default Post Types for Blog Posts
PublishPress Planner comes with default types that you can add to your WordPress blog posts. These types already come with predefined colors and icons. PublishPress Planner displays this information within its content calendar, making it easy to identify posts with a quick glance. To edit any default status, simply hover over it and click the ‘Edit’ link that appears. This opens an editor where you can adjust the status name, slug, icon, and color. Once you’ve made the desired changes, click ‘Update Status’. To remove a custom post status, hover over it and click ‘Delete’ when the option appears.
Creating Custom Post Types in WordPress
PublishPress also offers the flexibility to create your own custom types. To get started, click on the ‘Add New’ tab. A form will appear, allowing you to enter a name for the status. This name will be visible in the page or post editor as well as the ‘Quick Edit’ menu. It’s advisable to use a descriptive name, especially if you manage a multi-author WordPress blog. This helps other users understand how to use each status and enhances the editorial workflow, reducing potential confusion.
Next, you can provide a description that will appear on the Planner » Content Calendar screen. If you’re creating multiple types, the description can serve as a helpful reminder for yourself and other users. If you share your WordPress dashboard with other writers and guest bloggers, this description can also be a useful way to convey information about the new workflow. Following that, select a color and an icon to represent the status in your content calendar. Click on ‘Select Color’ or ‘Select Icon’ and choose your preferred options from the pop-up. Once you’re satisfied with the custom post status setup, click ‘Add New Status’. Repeat these steps as needed to create additional custom types.
Adding a Custom Status to a Page or Post
After creating one or more custom types, you can assign them to any page or post. While inside the content editor, open the ‘Post Status’ dropdown in the right-hand menu and select the custom post status you wish to use for the WordPress blog post. Alternatively, you can utilize the Quick Edit feature, a convenient option for editors or admins needing to swiftly change the status of multiple pages or posts. To use Quick Edit, navigate to either Pages » All Pages or Posts » All Posts. Hover over the item you want to modify and click ‘Quick Edit’ when it appears. Open the ‘Status’ dropdown and select the desired status, then click ‘Update’ to save your settings.
Planning Your Content with Custom Post Types
As mentioned earlier, PublishPress displays post status icons and color labels within its content calendar. This feature is handy for bulk scheduling posts in WordPress and implementing effective content-dripping campaigns on your WordPress site. To access the calendar, go to Planner » Content Calendar in the WordPress dashboard. Here, you’ll find all your pages and posts. To learn more about a specific blog post, simply click on it. A popup will open, displaying post type, categories, tags, author information, and other relevant details.
To view all pages and posts associated with a specific status, open the dropdown initially labeled ‘All types’ and select the desired post status. This is a valuable method for identifying unscheduled posts or posts needing editing or assignment.
We hope this tutorial has provided valuable insights on adding custom post types for your blog posts in WordPress. You may also be interested in exploring our guide on monetizing your WordPress blog or discovering the best WordPress SEO plugins and tools. If you found this article helpful, consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more WordPress updates and tips.
