Display WordPress Custom Posts with a Shortcode Using the Latest Content by Anything Plugin

WordPress is a versatile platform, enabling users to create and manage content efficiently. Custom post types further enhance this flexibility, allowing you to tailor your site to specific needs such as portfolios, testimonials, or products. Displaying these custom posts can be simplified using the Latest Content by Anything plugin. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through displaying your custom posts with a shortcode using this plugin.

Why Use Custom Post Types?

Before diving into the plugin, let’s understand why custom post types are beneficial:

1. Organization: Custom post types help you organize content logically.
2. Functionality: They provide specific features and fields suited to the content type.
3. SEO: Enhanced organization can improve your site’s SEO.

Introducing the Latest Content by Anything Plugin

The Latest Content by Anything plugin is a powerful tool designed to display any WordPress content type, including custom post types, using shortcodes. This plugin is perfect for users who want a simple yet powerful way to showcase their latest content without extensive coding.

Key Features:

• Shortcode Support: Easily use shortcodes to display content.
• Customizable Display: Options to customize the output of your posts.
• Supports All Post Types: Works with standard and custom post types.

Step-by-Step Guide to Display Custom Posts with a Shortcode

Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin

First, you need to install and activate the Latest Content by Anything plugin:

1. Go to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
3. Search for “Latest Content by Anything”.
4. Click Install Now and then Activate.

Step 2: Create or Identify Your Post, Woo Product or Custom Post Type

If you haven’t created a custom post type yet, you can use a plugin like Custom Post Type UI or add the custom post type manually through your theme’s functions.php file. Ensure you have some posts in your custom post type to display.

Step 3: Understand Shortcode Variables

To display custom posts using the Latest Content by Anything plugin, you need to use shortcodes with specific variables. Visit the Latest Content by Anything Docs page for detailed information on the available shortcode variables.

Common Shortcode Variables

Here are some common variables you can use with the shortcode:

• post_type: Define the type of post to display.
• num_items: Set the number of posts to display.
• taxonomy: Define the Taxonomy (Category, Tag, Custom Taxonomy).
• term: Define the Taxonomy Term (Shoes, Jeans etc).
• more examples …

Example Shortcode

Using the variables, you can create a shortcode like this:

[latest_content_by_anything post_type='events' num_items='5']

This shortcode will display the latest five posts from your specified custom post type.

Step 4: Insert the Shortcode into a Post or Page

Once you have your shortcode, follow these steps:

1. Go to the post or page where you want to display the custom posts.
2. Paste the shortcode into the content editor.
3. Save or publish the post/page.

Customizing the Shortcode

For more customization, you can add parameters to the shortcode:

[latest_content_by_anything 
    num_items="5" 
    post_type="post" 
    taxonomy="category" 
    term="news" 
    thumbnail_size="thumbnail" 
    excerpt_length="100" 
    display_titles="true"
    hide_price="false"
]

This shortcode will display the latest five posts from your custom post type, ordered by date in descending order.

Benefits of Using the Latest Content by Anything Plugin

• Ease of Use: Simplifies displaying custom posts without needing to write PHP code.
• Flexibility: Provides numerous options to customize the display according to your needs.
• Efficiency: Shortcodes make it quick to insert content anywhere on your site.
• FREE

Conclusion

Displaying custom posts on your WordPress site is straightforward with the Latest Content by Anything plugin. This plugin offers a user-friendly way to showcase your content dynamically, enhancing the user experience and keeping your site looking fresh.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, the Latest Content by Anything plugin can save you time and effort, allowing you to focus on creating great content. Give it a try and see how it transforms your site!

For more information and to download the plugin, visit the Latest Content by Anything plugin page. Happy blogging!