If you’ve ever used WordPress, you know it’s a fantastic tool for creating websites. Out of the box, WordPress gives you posts (like blog articles) and pages (like an “About Us” section). But what if you want something more specific, like a portfolio, an event calendar, or a product catalog? That’s where custom post types come in. They let you create tailored content sections for your website, making it truly your own.
What Are Custom Post Types in WordPress?
Think of custom post types (CPTs) as special buckets for different kinds of content. By default, WordPress has two main buckets: “Posts” for things like news or blog updates, and “Pages” for static stuff like your homepage. A custom post type is just a new bucket you create for a specific purpose. For example:
- A “Portfolio” bucket for showcasing your work.
- An “Events” bucket for listing upcoming activities.
- A “Products” bucket for an online store.
These buckets help organise your content and make your website work the way you want it to. Below is an example of a website we developed for a client to organise their projects, which illustrates this. Projects are kept separate and have their own custom fields and template to display each project. A project overview displays all projects which can be filtered and displayed in multiple ways across the website.
Why Use Custom Post Types?
Custom post types give you flexibility. Let’s say you’re a photographer building a website. Sure, you could use regular posts to share your photos, but they’d mix in with your blog articles.
With a custom post type called “Gallery,” you can separate your photo projects from your blog. Visitors can then browse your gallery without digging through unrelated content. It’s cleaner, more professional, and easier to manage. An archive can also be created and used to display the content in multiple ways.
Here are some cool things CPTs can do:
- Match your needs: Whether you’re a chef sharing recipes or a teacher posting lesson plans, CPTs adapt to your ideas.
- Provide a custom admin with custom fields that can then be displayed using a specific template, for a consistent look and feel.
- Improve user experience: Visitors find what they’re looking for faster.
- Boost creativity: You’re not stuck with just posts and pages—you can dream up anything!
Making Your Website Unique
Once you’ve got your custom post type, you can customise how it looks. WordPress themes control the design, so you might:
- Use a page builder like Elementor to display your CPT content.
- Add custom fields (with plugins like Advanced Custom Fields) to include extra details—like “Event Date” or “Product Price.”
- For example, imagine you run a cooking blog. You create a “Recipes” CPT. Each recipe could have fields for ingredients, cooking time, and difficulty level. Your visitors see a neat recipe page, separate from your regular blog posts. That’s the power of CPTs!
Real-Life Examples
Here’s how different people might use custom post types:
- A Band: Using “Tour Dates” CPT to list upcoming shows with dates and locations.
- A Store Owner: Using “Products” CPT to display items for sale, with prices and photos.
- A Teacher: Using “Lessons” CPT to share class materials, organised by topic.
- An Artist: To store and display work in a “Portfolio” CPT, organised by type of artwork or by date
- An Equipment Hire Business: To store and display an “Equipment” CPT, organised by equipment type
Custom post types are like a secret weapon for WordPress. They let you go beyond basic blogs and build very custom websites. We specliase in WordPress and use custom post types extensively, paired with advanced custom fields to provide a seamless way to administer your website content and data.
If you are planning on a new WordPress website talk to us today for expert, friendly advice.
