WordPress is a popular platform for creating and managing blogs and websites. It offers a wide range of features and one of its powerful capabilities is the ability to create custom post statuses. Custom post statuses allow you to organize and manage your blog posts more effectively, giving you greater control over your content. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of adding custom post statuses in WordPress, explaining each step in simple, plain English. We’ll also discuss the features and benefits of using custom post statuses to enhance your blog’s functionality.

What Are Custom Post Statuses?

Before we dive into the how-to part, let’s clarify what custom post statuses are. In WordPress, a post status represents the current stage or state of a blog post. The default post statuses include “Published,” “Draft,” “Pending Review,” and “Trash.” These statuses help you keep track of your posts and manage their visibility.

Custom post statuses, on the other hand, are user-defined statuses that go beyond the defaults. They allow you to create unique labels for your posts based on your specific needs. For example, you might want to create custom statuses like “Featured,” “Scheduled,” or “Needs Editing” to better organize your content. These custom statuses can be applied to individual blog posts, providing a more flexible way to manage your content.

Why Use Custom Post Statuses?

Now that you understand what custom post statuses are, let’s explore why you should consider using them for your WordPress blog:

1. Enhanced Organization: Custom post statuses help you categorize and manage your blog posts more effectively. You can create statuses that align with your content workflow, making it easier to find and work on specific posts.
2. Improved Collaboration: If you have multiple authors or editors working on your blog, custom post statuses can streamline the editorial process. You can create statuses like “Pending Review” to indicate that a post is ready for review by an editor.
3. Content Scheduling: Custom statuses like “Scheduled” allow you to plan your content calendar more efficiently. You can set posts to be published automatically at a future date and time.
4. SEO Benefits: Organized content can lead to better SEO. Custom statuses help you structure your content and ensure that all posts go through the necessary steps before publication.
5. Clearer Workflow: With custom post statuses, you can establish a clear workflow for your content creation process. This can reduce confusion and ensure that everyone on your team knows the status of each post.

Now that you understand the benefits, let’s get into the step-by-step process of adding custom post statuses to your WordPress blog.

Step 1: Access Your WordPress Dashboard

The first step is to log in to your WordPress dashboard. This is where you’ll make all the necessary changes to add custom post statuses.

1. Open your web browser and type in your website’s URL, followed by “/wp-admin.” For example, if your website is “www.myblog.com,” you would enter “www.myblog.com/wp-admin.”
2. Enter your username and password to access the dashboard.

Step 2: Install a Plugin (if necessary)

To create custom post statuses, you may need to install a plugin. Plugins add additional functionality to your WordPress site. If you’re not sure whether you have the required plugin, follow these steps:

1. In the WordPress dashboard, navigate to the “Plugins” menu on the left-hand side.
2. Click “Add New.”
3. In the search bar, type in “Custom Post Status” or a similar keyword and hit Enter.
4. Look for a plugin that allows you to create custom post statuses. Popular options include “PublishPress” and “Custom Post Statuses.”
5. Click “Install Now” next to your chosen plugin.
6. After installation, click “Activate” to enable the plugin.

Step 3: Create Custom Post Statuses

Now that you have the necessary plugin installed and activated, you can create custom post statuses:

1. In the WordPress dashboard, go to “Settings” on the left-hand menu, and select the “Writing” option.
2. Scroll down to find the section related to custom post statuses. The location of this section may vary depending on the plugin you’re using.
3. You should see an option to “Add New Custom Post Status.” Click on it.
4. A form will appear where you can define your custom post status. Here’s what each field means:
   • Status Name: This is the label for your custom status (e.g., “Featured” or “Needs Editing”).
   • Slug: The slug is a URL-friendly version of your status name, usually in lowercase and without spaces (e.g., “featured” or “needs-editing”).
   • Description: You can add a brief description to clarify the purpose of the custom status.
5. Fill in the fields accordingly and click “Add New Post Status” or a similar button to save your custom status.
6. Repeat this process if you want to create multiple custom post statuses.

Step 4: Apply Custom Post Statuses to Blog Posts

Once you’ve created your custom post statuses, it’s time to apply them to your blog posts:

1. Go to “Posts” in the WordPress dashboard to view your list of blog posts.
2. Select the post you want to assign a custom status to by clicking on its title.
3. In the post editor, look for the “Status” option. This is usually located in the right-hand sidebar or below the main content area, depending on your WordPress theme and plugin.
4. Click on the “Status” dropdown menu to see a list of available statuses, including your custom statuses.
5. Choose the custom status you want to assign to the post.
6. Click the “Update” button to save your changes.

Step 5: Filter and Manage Posts by Custom Status

Custom post statuses are most useful when you can easily filter and manage your blog posts based on these statuses:

1. To filter posts by custom status, go to the “Posts” menu in the WordPress dashboard.
2. Above the list of posts, you should see a “Filter by” dropdown menu. Click on it, and you’ll find your custom statuses listed there.
3. Select a custom status, and WordPress will display only the posts with that status.
4. You can also bulk edit posts by selecting multiple posts and using the “Bulk Actions” dropdown menu to change their status.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding PublishPress Custom Post Statuses:

Accessing Your WordPress Dashboard:

1. Log in to Your WordPress Site: Open your web browser and type in the address of your WordPress site, followed by “/wp-admin.” This will take you to the login page. Enter your username and password to log in.
2. Dashboard Overview: Once you’re logged in, you’ll see your WordPress dashboard. This is your control center, where you can manage everything related to your site.

Installing the “PublishPress” Plugin:

1. Go to the Plugins Section: In your dashboard, look for the “Plugins” option on the left-hand menu. Click on it.
2. Click “Add New”: You’ll see a “Add New” button at the top of the page. Click on it to search for plugins.
3. Search for “PublishPress”: In the search bar on the right, type “PublishPress” and hit Enter. Look for the plugin in the search results.
4. Install and Activate: When you find the “PublishPress” plugin, click the “Install Now” button. After it’s installed, click “Activate” to make it work on your site.

Adding Custom Post Statuses:

1. Go to “PublishPress” Settings: In your dashboard, you’ll now see a new option called “PublishPress” on the left-hand menu. Click on it to access the plugin’s settings.
2. Create a New Status: Look for an option like “Statuses” or “Custom Statuses” and click on it. Then, click “Add New.” This is where you’ll create your custom post status.
3. Name Your Status: Give your custom status a name that makes sense to you. For instance, if you’re creating a status for posts that are ready to be published, you could name it “Ready to Publish.”
4. Choose a Color (Optional): You can also pick a color for your custom status to make it visually distinct. This helps you quickly identify posts with this status.
5. Save Your Status: Click the “Save” or “Add New Status” button to create your custom post status.

Assigning Custom Statuses to Blog Posts:

1. Edit a Blog Post: To assign your custom status to a blog post, open the post for editing. You can do this by going to “Posts” in your dashboard and clicking on the post’s title.
2. Change the Status: In the post editor, you’ll see a section where you can change the post status. Open the dropdown menu and select your custom status (e.g., “Ready to Publish”).
3. Update the Post: After selecting the status, click the “Update” or “Save” button to save your changes.

Editing and Deleting Custom Post Statuses:

Sometimes, you might need to make changes to your custom post statuses or remove them.

1. Go to “PublishPress” Settings: Return to the “PublishPress” settings in your dashboard.
2. Edit a Status: Find the list of custom statuses you’ve created. To edit one, click on it. You can change the name or color here.
3. Delete a Status (Optional): If you want to delete a custom status, there’s usually an option for that within the status editing screen.

Using Custom Post Statuses Effectively:

Now that you have custom post statuses set up, here are some practical tips for using them effectively:

• Plan Your Workflow: Decide how you’ll use custom statuses in your content creation process. For example, you might have statuses like “Ideas,” “Draft,” “Editing,” “Scheduled,” and “Published.”
• Color Coding: Use colors wisely. Make sure the colors you choose are easy to distinguish. For instance, use red for “Needs Editing” and green for “Ready to Publish.”
• Team Collaboration: If you work with a team, let everyone know how you’re using custom statuses. This ensures everyone’s on the same page.
• Review and Update: Periodically review your custom statuses and adjust them as needed. Your workflow may evolve, so your statuses can too.

Features of the “PublishPress” Plugin:

The “PublishPress” plugin offers several features that can make your life easier when managing custom post statuses:

• Notifications: You can set up notifications to alert you and your team when a post reaches a certain status.
• Editorial Calendar: See all your posts and their statuses in a calendar view, helping you plan content effectively.
• Content Permissions: Control who can see and edit posts with different statuses.
• Reminders: Set reminders for deadlines or important tasks related to your posts.
• Checklists: Create checklists for each post to ensure you’ve completed all necessary tasks before publishing.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

1. Too Many Custom Statuses: Don’t go overboard with creating custom statuses. Keep them meaningful and manageable. Too many statuses can become confusing.
2. Not Training Your Team: If you work with others, make sure they understand how to use custom statuses properly. Miscommunication can lead to chaos.
3. Forgetting to Update: Remember to update the status of your posts as they progress through your workflow. Outdated statuses can cause confusion.
4. Neglecting Regular Maintenance: Periodically review your custom statuses and make adjustments as needed. Your content strategy may change over time.

Conclusion

Adding custom post statuses to your WordPress blog can greatly improve your content management and organization. By following these simple steps, you can create custom statuses that align with your content workflow and editorial process. This not only enhances your blog’s readability and visibility but also makes it more accessible to search engines.

Custom post statuses offer a flexible way to manage your content, ensuring that each post goes through the necessary steps before publication. Whether you’re a solo blogger or part of a team, this feature can help streamline your content creation process and boost your blog’s overall performance. So, why wait? Start customizing your post statuses today and take your WordPress blog to the next level!