If you run a multi-author WordPress blog or publication, you know how important it is to give credit and recognition to your content creators. One of the best ways to do this is by adding author boxes to your posts.
Author boxes provide information about the article‘s writer, including their name, bio, photo, and social media links. This simple element can go a long way in boosting your authors‘ credibility and helping readers get to know the person behind the content.
While some WordPress themes come with built-in author box functionality, many do not. And even if your theme supports author boxes, the styling and layout may not fit your preferences.
That‘s where WordPress author box plugins come in. These handy tools make it easy to add professional, customizable author boxes to your site without touching a line of code.
To help you find the right solution for your site, we‘ve rounded up the 10 best WordPress author box plugins for 2024. We‘ll cover the key features, pricing, and use cases for each plugin so you can make an informed decision.
But first, let‘s go over some of the factors you should consider when choosing an author box plugin:
What to Look for in a WordPress Author Box Plugin
With so many author box plugins available, how do you know which one is right for your website? Here are a few key factors to keep in mind:
Ease of Use
The best author box plugins are easy to install and configure, even if you don‘t have any coding experience. Look for plugins with a user-friendly interface and straightforward settings.
Customization Options
While a plugin may offer an attractive default author box design, it‘s important to have the flexibility to customize it to match your site‘s branding. Check if the plugin allows you to change colors, fonts, box size/placement, and more.
Multiple Author Support
If you have a multi-author website, you‘ll want a plugin that allows you to display multiple authors on a single post. This is especially useful for sites with staff writers, guest contributors, or collaborative content.
Guest Author Functionality
In some cases, you may want to credit authors who don‘t have an account on your website. Some author box plugins include a guest author feature that allows you to create author profiles without setting up new WordPress user accounts.
Social Media Integration
Connecting your authors‘ social media profiles to their author boxes is a great way to boost their online presence and make it easy for readers to follow them on other platforms. The best plugins support a wide range of social networks and let you choose which ones to display.
Responsive Design
With more and more traffic coming from mobile devices, it‘s crucial to have an author box that looks great on all screen sizes. Opt for a plugin that is fully responsive and won‘t break your site‘s layout on smartphones and tablets.
Performance Impact
As with any WordPress plugin, you‘ll want to make sure your author box plugin doesn‘t slow down your website. Look for lightweight plugins that are optimized for speed and performance.
Price
Author box plugins range from free to premium, with prices varying based on features and support. While there are some great free options available, investing in a paid plugin may be worth it if you need advanced customization options or priority customer support.
Now that you know what to look for, let‘s dive into the top 10 WordPress author box plugins for 2024!
1. Easy Author Box
Easy Author Box is a popular free plugin that makes it simple to add stylish, responsive author boxes to your WordPress posts. With over 100,000 active installations, it‘s a reliable choice for bloggers and publishers.
Key Features
– Supports multiple authors per post
– Includes 13 pre-defined color schemes or create your own custom colors
– Option to display author box at the beginning or end of posts, or both
– Automatically insert author box or use shortcode to place it anywhere
– Add links to authors‘ social media profiles (30+ networks supported)
– Display latest posts from the author
– Fully responsive design that adapts to any screen size
– Lightweight and optimized for performance
Pricing
Easy Author Box is 100% free to use with no premium version available.
Best For
Bloggers and small publications looking for a simple, no-cost way to add author boxes to their WordPress site.
2. Starbox
Starbox is a freemium author box plugin that offers both a free and paid version. The free version includes basic author box functionality, while the Pro version unlocks advanced features like multiple author support, custom layouts, and more.
Key Features
– 5 pre-built author box layouts to choose from
– Option to display author boxes on posts, pages, custom post types, or site-wide
– Show or hide author name, avatar, bio, website link, and social icons
– Add co-authors to posts (Pro version)
– Create additional custom author box layouts (Pro version)
– Include or hide unique author pages
– Supports RTL (right-to-left) languages
– Optimized for SEO with proper microdata
Pricing
The free version of Starbox includes basic features and layouts. Starbox Pro starts at $34 per year for a single site license.
Best For
Websites that want an easy way to add author boxes with the option to upgrade for more advanced functionality as needed.
3. Simple Author Box
As the name suggests, Simple Author Box focuses on providing a straightforward solution for adding author info to your WordPress posts and pages. This freemium plugin offers useful features in its free version plus more options in the premium upgrade.
Key Features
– Automatically insert responsive author box at the end of articles
– Include author name, avatar, bio, website link, and social profiles
– Supports 35+ social media networks with custom icons
– Option to display author box only on posts, pages, or custom post types
– Show author‘s latest or custom selected posts
– Add guest or co-authors (Premium version)
– Remove author box from specific posts/pages (Premium version)
– Priority email support (Premium version)
Pricing
The core Simple Author Box plugin is free. The Premium version starts at $39 per year for use on a single site.
Best For
Bloggers and businesses who want an uncomplicated yet customizable author box solution, with the ability to unlock more features for a reasonable price.
4. Molongui Author Box
Molongui Author Box is a feature-rich plugin that provides extensive control over the design and content of your author boxes. It‘s a great choice for sites that want to display lots of author information in a stylish format.
Key Features
– 20+ pre-designed author box templates or create your own
– Display author name, avatar, title, bio, social icons, and more
– Supports guest authors and co-authors
– Automatically insert boxes or use shortcodes to embed anywhere
– Customize colors, typography, spacing, borders, and more
– Responsive, touch-enabled design
– Option to show related or latest posts by the author
– Visual Composer integration and widget-ready
Pricing
Molongui Author Box is a premium-only plugin. A regular license costs $23 and includes 6 months of support and updates.
Best For
Publications that want an advanced author box solution with a wide range of customization options and unique features not found in most free plugins.
5. WP Post Author
WP Post Author is a lightweight plugin that adds simple yet attractive author boxes to your WordPress posts. While it may lack some of the bells and whistles of other plugins, it‘s a solid choice if you just need basic author info.
Key Features
– Automatically display author box at the end of posts or manual placement via shortcode
– Include author name, avatar, website, bio, and social profiles
– Show or hide author title and email
– Choose between square or rounded avatar image
– Custom background color settings
– Responsive, mobile-friendly design
– WordPress multisite compatible
Pricing
WP Post Author is completely free with no premium version available.
Best For
Website owners who want a free, no-frills author box without any complicated settings or layout options.
How to Add an Author Box in WordPress
Now that you‘ve seen some of the top WordPress author box plugins, you may be wondering how to actually install and set one up on your site. Let‘s walk through the basic steps.
For this example, we‘ll use the free Easy Author Box plugin:
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New.
- Search for "Easy Author Box".
- Click the "Install Now" button next to the plugin, then click "Activate".
- Go to Users > Your Profile to fill in your author bio, website, and social media links.
- Navigate to Posts > All Posts and edit a blog post. Scroll down and you should see a new "Easy Author Box" section where you can customize the settings for that particular post.
- Publish or update the post, then view it on the front end of your site. The author box should appear at the end of the post content.
That‘s it! Of course, the exact setup steps will vary slightly depending on which author box plugin you choose. But in general, the process involves installing a plugin, configuring your author profiles, and customizing the plugin settings.
Most of the plugins on our list also offer shortcodes or widgets that let you manually insert author boxes anywhere on your site. This is handy if you want to display them in your sidebar, footer, or other areas besides the end of your posts.
Tips for Using Author Boxes Effectively
Adding author boxes to your WordPress site is a great first step, but there are a few best practices to keep in mind to make the most of this feature:
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Use high-quality, professional author photos. Putting a face to your authors‘ names helps build trust and connection with readers.
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Keep author bios concise but informative. Use this space to highlight your authors‘ expertise, credentials, and personality. Aim for around 50-100 words.
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Include relevant links in author boxes, such as the author‘s website, social media profiles, or other related content they‘ve written. This helps interested readers discover more of their work.
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If you have multiple authors, consider creating a dedicated "About" or "Meet the Team" page that showcases everyone‘s full bios and links to their author archive pages.
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Make sure author boxes are mobile-friendly and don‘t interfere with your content‘s readability. Test them on various devices to ensure a smooth user experience.
By following these tips and choosing the right author box plugin for your needs, you can enrich your WordPress site with useful author information and give your content creators the recognition they deserve.
Wrap Up
Author boxes are a valuable addition to any WordPress site that publishes content from multiple writers. They provide a way to showcase your authors‘ expertise, build their personal brand, and form stronger connections with your audience.
In this post, we covered 10 of the best WordPress author box plugins for 2024, ranging from simple and free to feature-packed premium options. Whether you‘re a solo blogger or run a major online publication, there‘s a plugin on this list that will suit your needs and budget.
When selecting an author box plugin, remember to consider factors like ease of use, design flexibility, multi-author support, and performance. And don‘t forget to follow best practices when setting up and displaying author boxes on your site.
By taking the time to choose the right plugin and implement it thoughtfully, you‘ll enhance your content‘s credibility and give your authors the kudos they deserve. Your readers will appreciate being able to learn more about who‘s behind your site‘s valuable content.
Do you have a favorite WordPress author box plugin? Let us know in the comments!
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