How to Create a WordPress Custom Post Type

If you have a WordPress website you might be looking for a way to further customize your post options. One of the ways you can do this is through custom post types. So, what exactly is a custom post type? Well, in the simplest terms, a custom post type is a feature in WordPress that allows you to create and manage content of different types. These types can range from blog posts, pages, to more specific things like products, reviews, or testimonials.

The default WordPress installation comes with certain predefined post types. However, if you want to add more specific types, you need to create custom post types. This might sound intimidating but don’t worry, WordPress makes it incredibly easy with plugins such as the Custom Post Type UI Plugin. This plugin is a powerful tool that simplifies the process of how to create a WordPress custom post type and manage it!

Table of Contents

• What Are WordPress Custom Post Types?
• What is the Custom Post Type UI Plugin?
• Benefits of Using A Custom Post Type In WordPress
• Installing The Custom Post Type UI Plugin
• How To Create A Custom Post Type With The Custom Post Type UI Plugin
• Utilizing Your WordPress Experience With Custom Post Types
  • Other WordPress Posts

What Are WordPress Custom Post Types?

Custom post types provide a more organized and professional appearance to your website, making it easier for you and your website visitors to navigate and find content. 

They also make it easier to manage your content, especially if you run a website with diverse content types. For example you might want to display a Portfolio or a Course as a post type but not want to have it merged with your blog posts. Custom Post Types is an easy way to accomplish this.

Now that you have a basic understanding of what a custom post type is, let’s dive deeper into the Custom Post Type UI Plugin.

What is the Custom Post Type UI Plugin?

The Custom Post Type UI Plugin is a WordPress plugin designed to make creating and managing custom post types easier. It provides an easy-to-use interface where you can define your custom post types, their labels, and other settings. The plugin even allows you to create custom taxonomies, which are a way of grouping posts and custom post types together.

This plugin is an excellent tool for WordPress users who want to extend their content beyond the default post types. It’s perfect for those who want to add more specific content types to their website, such as portfolios, products, testimonials, or reviews, without having to touch a single line of code. The Custom Post Type UI Plugin eliminates the need for any coding knowledge, making it accessible to all WordPress users, regardless of their technical abilities.

The Custom Post Type UI Plugin is not just about creating custom post types; it’s also about managing them. Once you’ve created your custom post types, you can easily manage them from the WordPress admin area. You can add, edit, delete, and even import and export custom post types.

Now, let’s look at some of the benefits of using a custom post type in WordPress.

Benefits of Using A Custom Post Type In WordPress

Using custom post types in WordPress comes with a plethora of benefits. For starters, they provide a more organized and easy-to-navigate website. By categorizing your content into specific post types, you make it easier for your website visitors to find what they’re looking for. This can greatly enhance the user experience and potentially increase your website traffic.

Custom post types also make it easier for you to manage your content. If you run a website with diverse content types, managing them all under the default ‘posts’ or ‘pages’ can be overwhelming. With custom post types, you can easily categorize and manage your content, making your job a lot easier.

Another benefit of using custom post types is the ability to create more specific and relevant content. For example, if you run a designer website, you can create a ‘portfolio’ post type. This allows you to add specific details from your portfolio without mixing them with your blog posts, providing more value to your website visitors. Now that you understand the benefits, let’s move on to installing the Custom Post Type UI Plugin.

Installing The Custom Post Type UI Plugin

The process of installing the Custom Post Type UI Plugin is straightforward. 

1. From your WordPress dashboard, navigate to ‘Plugins’ 
2. Click on ‘Add New’
3. Search for ‘Custom Post Type UI’ in the search bar and hit enter. 
4. The plugin should appear in the search results. 
5. Click on ‘Install Now’ and wait for the plugin to install. 
6. Once installed, click on ‘Activate’
7. And you’re good to go!

Once activated, the plugin will add a new menu item to your WordPress admin area. From here, you can create and manage your custom post types. Now, let’s get to the heart of this article: creating a custom post type with the Custom Post Type UI Plugin.

How To Create A Custom Post Type With The Custom Post Type UI Plugin

Creating a custom post type with the Custom Post Type UI Plugin is a simple process. 

1. First, navigate to the ‘CPT UI’ menu item in your WordPress admin area
2. Click on ‘Add/Edit Post Types’. Here, you’ll see fields for entering the details of your new custom post type.
3. Start by entering the slug for your post type in the ‘Post Type Slug’ field. For example, “Portfolio.”
4. This will be used in the URL for your new post type. 
5. Next, enter the plural and singular names for your post type in the respective fields. These will be used in the WordPress admin area.
6. In the ‘Settings’ section, you can customize various aspects of your post type, such as whether it should be public, whether it should have an archive and more. 
7. Once you’ve entered all the details, click on ‘Add Post Type’.
8. And voila! You’ve just created your first custom post type.

Remember, you can always go back and edit your custom post types. Just navigate to:

1. ‘CPT UI’ > ‘Add/Edit Post Types’
2. Select your post type, make your changes
3. Click on ‘Save Post Type’.
4. Easy, right?

Utilizing Your WordPress Experience With Custom Post Types

By now, you should have a good understanding of how to create and manage custom post types in WordPress using the Custom Post Type UI Plugin. Custom post types are a powerful tool for enhancing your WordPress experience, both from a content management perspective and a user experience perspective.

With the Custom Post Type UI Plugin, creating and managing custom post types is a breeze. And the best part is, you don’t need any coding knowledge to do it! So, what are you waiting for? Start creating your custom post types today and elevate your WordPress experience.