Being running a Multi-Authors blog, I try to find ways and develop ideas to serve our blog authors. In this post I am going to talk about adding custom fields to user profiles in WordPress, this is a very simple to use code, and it can be very useful for Multi-Authors blogs that accepts guest posts.
The main reason that you should use this technique is to store the guest author’s data so you can easily display it wherever you want, for example: The Author Box that has information about the post authors below each post.
However, many other WordPress developers talked about this before, they even show different techniques. But, I need to publish this info on the blog for two main reasons; my first reason is to show you how we do it here at FamousBloggers.net, and the second reason is I will writing more about running and developing Multi-Authors blogs in the future, so I will be linking to this post as a reference.
Adding Custom Fields in WordPress User Profiles
These are the fileds I’ve added to the user profile by using the user_contactmethods filter, you can change it to whatever fits your needs:
Add this code to your theme’s function.php file, or custom_functions.php file if you are using Thesis Theme.
As you can see, it’s pretty simple to insert new custom fields into the WordPress user profile. Now, if you check your WordPress profile, it should look like this:
Note: If you are wondering how to remove the website field from the user profile, then just don’t! I am not able to find a working way to do it, if you know how that can be done without touching the WP core files, then I appreciate if you drop me a line!
Why adding the Blog Title Custom Field
You will notice that I’ve added a few custom fields to store social profiles, and a new filed for “Blog Title“, this is where the author should put the title of the best keyword for her/his blog, so instead of the traditional way of crediting the author’s link “author blog” or “visit blog” which is very static. In my case, I was able to present a better SEO experience for authors being linking to their blogs this way “visit <Blog Title>“.
Display the Fields Values
Now that you’ve added the new fileds, the next step is to display them on the blog, here is an example on how to display a field inside the loop (In this example I am adding a link to the author’s blog using the blog title as the keyword and title for the link):
If you are using Thesis Theme, then you probably should go and check:
- My post on how to customize WordPress author archive page in Thesis.
- My Thesis BlogSkin that was developed for multi-authors blogs.
If you want more tips, tricks and good advice on how to run and customize your multi-authors blog, then keep an eye open on the blog, or subscribe to our blog feed.
irfanali December 26, 2012 at 11:33 am
Hi Francis,
As far as differentiating, do you mean when you post a guest post on your blog?
I created a new user account on my blog with the name “Guest Author.” Then whenever I publish a guest post, I change the author (in the blog editor) to “Guest Author” so that everyone can see that it was written by a guest and not me.
simon August 25, 2012 at 3:58 am
Remove fields:
function extra_contact_info($contactmethods) {
unset($contactmethods['aim']);
return $contactmethods;
}
add_filter('user_contactmethods', 'extra_contact_info');
Craig August 15, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Is there a way to do this with an image upload field?
Hesham Zebida August 15, 2012 at 5:13 pm
I am sure there is a way, but I haven’t tried it. I prefer using gravarat.com’s image as it’s the most popular way to get author’s photo.
However, maybe take a look to this resource at wordpress.stackexchange.com, it may give you some ideas!
Raaj Trambadia June 27, 2012 at 1:49 pm
Hey Hesham. Thanks for the code. I’d like to edit it a bit for THESIS USERS because I was having some problem putting it in my Thesis Author Box. Here’s what I changed -
Adding —- —- after <?php (at the end). Before doing this, my custom_functions.php was messed up.
Thought I'd share some coding knowledge
Hope it helped. Thanks again!
Hesham Zebida June 27, 2012 at 7:28 pm
I didn’t get your code!
Raaj Trambadia June 28, 2012 at 5:35 am
I typed the code! I don’t know why it didn’t show up in the comment :O
Anyways, here’s what I changed -
Proud Owner Of: <a href="” title=”">
(Hope you can see it here in the comment).
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Raaj Trambadia June 28, 2012 at 5:41 am
Aah! It’s not showing up! Damn! Here’s the link to the image for the change in the code -
http://www.thesislove.com/testing/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Untitled.png
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Hesham Zebida June 28, 2012 at 5:55 am
You just need to use the code tag!
Raaj Trambadia June 28, 2012 at 5:58 am
LOL. Just went out of mind that I can even use code tags in comments
Anyways, that code (in the picture) works with Thesis. Before putting the few extra things in the code you provided, my custom_functions.php got messed.
Thanks
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Hesham Zebida June 28, 2012 at 6:00 am
I see!
There must be something wrong.Thanks for the code.
Raaj Trambadia June 28, 2012 at 6:03 am
Hahah
My pleasure! (Nice way to teach without writing 
)
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James April 2, 2012 at 6:46 pm
I had a question would you know how I could email data collected in the custom profile fields? I am looking for customers to have the ability to provide information to us using the custom fields created in their profile. I was hoping to find a way to trigger an email each time new data was saved? There is currently not a plugin that you can get and store data that is unique to the user for this purpose.
Hesham Zebida April 2, 2012 at 6:59 pm
Hi James,
I am not sure, but I did a quick search, and here is what I found, maybe this idea could work for you some how, check Send automatic mail to WordPress Admin when user/member changes/adds profile post at stackexchange.
Or WordPress Function: Every time a user updates his/her profile an email is sent to the site.
However, I think you need a custom code for this as I don’t know any ready plugin dose this job!
I hope this helps.
Mike January 14, 2012 at 1:59 pm
First off I want to say thank you for this. I know enough html/php to get by but not the advanced stuff.
I’m trying to add links to authors profiles like you show, however, when I try the if statement it doesn’t work correctly.
*** code removed by editor.
That works for me however I would like to use the if statement to take it off for authors that don’t fill in that information. I tried using the code in the example you gave however that didn’t work. do I need to add more to it?
Thanks for the help
Hesham Zebida January 15, 2012 at 9:56 pm
Hi Mike, why don’t you try to learn how to write an if statement, it’s easy and you can find it by a simple search in Google!
Mika Castro December 12, 2011 at 10:22 pm
Thanks for the tips! I have seen what the custom field can do, but I am bit novice. I need to add a custom piece of text to each post. How do I do this? With custom fields I have to add the number and url each time as I can’t leave the value empty.
Hesham Zebida December 13, 2011 at 12:01 am
Assign custom fields to a post is a little different than the profile custom fields I am talking about here in this post!
You can read about custom fields at the WP codex, this should help.
Chandan December 5, 2011 at 11:02 am
Hi Hesham, awesome tips. Is there any plugin available for custom field?
Hesham Zebida December 13, 2011 at 12:06 am
Try this plugin, just be aware it still a beta and I haven’t used it before, it’s called Developer’s Custom Fields pluign.
Mr.Bhavesh December 14, 2011 at 1:26 am
Hey Hesham Zebida, thanks for the plugin.Its awesome!!!
Jed P. December 4, 2011 at 3:44 pm
Finally ..I got what I wanted ….Thanks for this amazing short guide.
Azhar from medical billing services December 4, 2011 at 9:03 am
Thanks Hesham this post is milestone is learning wordpress at professional level. I am newbie in this field.
James December 4, 2011 at 7:29 am
great post, thank you, could you please write the post about best adsense options fro multiple author blogs.
James
Raj December 4, 2011 at 2:06 am
I do agree that custom fields have always confused me! Thanks for this introduction, let me figure out if I can use it somewhere..
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Adrian December 4, 2011 at 12:36 am
Useful tutorials! I know few people who know how to use this custom fields WP. It would really be great especially if this actually offers great SEO benefit to the authors. At least their hardwork will pay off.
Mark from Organic SEO Services December 3, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Hesham,
That’s awesome Bro. I was recently wondering how to do that, but you know, its just one of those things that was on the back burner that I didn’t read about yet.
And here you just delivered it to my door step
I love customizing scripts and Wordpress or its themes are no exception.
Mark
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Devesh December 3, 2011 at 5:32 am
Hi Hesham,
Awesome tip, man. Very useful for multi author blogs and this makes author profile even better.
Thanks for sharing.
Kostas December 3, 2011 at 5:23 am
Hi Hesham
Even though I use blogskin which has these options it’s a great share for all our fellow bloggers who accept guest posts…
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Hesham Zebida December 13, 2011 at 12:09 am
I am trying to free some time to write more information about building multi-authors blogs, so I needed to publish some basic posts that I will use to link at while we go more advanced.