With the help of WordPress user roles, it is easy to manage how users affect your website. User roles open up a new world of assigning different jobs to the people on your team. Not only can you ensure that individuals are completing certain tasks, but you can also prevent others from making unapproved changes.
What are WordPress user roles?
Permissions are an essential factor to consider when deciding to design your own website. You should make sure that the right people have access to the right content when they need it. It’s also important to make sure that some people cannot access other areas of your website.
With WordPress, there are two levels of user roles that you need to consider. First, you have access to the actual roles including Super Admin, Administrator, Editor, Author, Contributor, and Subscriber. Second, there are features that allow you to customize the permissions for each user on your list.
Features allow you to assign specific tasks to individuals regardless of their assigned role. For example, if you have a contributor who wants to remove comments, you can give them this permission.
To fully understand the benefits and convenience of user roles, you must first understand what each of them encompasses.
highest superior
As the Super Admin, nobody is above you on the website’s food chain. With this role, you can perform all sorts of functions assigned to your site, from posting to editing comments. As a senior position, this role should be reserved for you or a co-owner of the site.
Also note that the super admin doesn’t only have access to the front end of your website. It also gives you access to the back end and performs tasks like accessing all of the sites on your network. That being said, this role needs to be assigned to someone on your team whom you trust the most.
Great admin functions
Here is a list of the standard functions assigned to Super Admins:
- Create and delete websites
- Manage networks
- Manage websites
- Manage network users
- Manage network plugins
- Manage network topics
- Update networks
- Set up new networks
- Manage network options
Administrator
The administrator is a small step down from Super Admin but still retains a lot of control over the website. The main difference between this role and a Super Admin is access to other sites.
Administrators only access all administrator functions within the site to which they are assigned. For example, if you have Site A and Site B, a super administrator can access both while a normal administrator can access one.
This role can be beneficial if you want to have multiple administrators across your network. It’s also a great way to delegate certain tasks to individuals without giving them full permission to do everything.
Administrator functions
Here is a list of the standard functions assigned to administrators:
- Deleting pages or posts (both public and private, published and unpublished)
- Activate certain plugins
- Edit the dashboard
- Import and export articles
- Manage links, categories, options
- Promote and remove users
- Moderate comments
- Change and customize topics
- Install and update themes
- Delete websites
editor
When designing a website, the focus is on the content, as many specialists agree. Your editor probably has one of the most important roles: managing the content right on your website.
Their duties usually revolve around editing, publishing, and deleting posts as needed. However, since they are in control of the content, this is also a role that you want to assign to a trusted person.
In addition to being able to work on their own published content, editors can also work on the content of other editors. Another facet of this role is the management of comments, e.g. B. moderating, editing and deleting.
This role is not as intense as some of the others because these people cannot access the settings for your website. They also have no control over plugins, so they cannot adapt or change your theme or assign new roles.
Editor functions
Here is a list of the standard functions assigned to editors:
- Delete pages and posts
- Edit published and unpublished pages
- Manage links, comments and categories
- Read private and public posts
- Upload data
author
Another role that you can assign to the people who provide content to your site is the role of the author. This task allows authors to create and publish their own content and delete their own posts. This role is unique to other platforms as they can still delete their posts after they have been published.
It is best if this role is reserved solely for the better website writers who make your blog posts. You’ll still need to assign editors as authors can’t categorize their posts without using tags. Another difference between authors and editors is that authors cannot moderate or delete comments.
As expected, this role cannot work with your site’s plugins, themes, or settings, making it a low-risk user role. The maximum power of these people is to delete and add their own posts.
Author functions
Here is a list of the standard functions assigned to authors:
- Edit published posts
- Delete published posts
- Upload data
- Create reusable blocks
- Edit reusable blocks
Contributor
Contributor posts are growing in popularity as they are a great way to network, build backlinks, and attract new audiences. If, as a website owner, you are interested in working with another blogger, this role will come in particularly useful. Individuals, as contributors, can write and save their own posts on your website, but not publish them.
An editor must approve and publish a post. This is a great way to ensure that you are posting quality content. In fact, even writers cannot manage a contributor’s content as they can only edit and customize their own posts.
Another factor to consider with this user role is that contributors cannot categorize their posts but can add tags. One of the downsides to this role is that they don’t have the ability to upload files. For example, if you want to add pictures or videos to your posts, you will need an editor for this task.
Contributing Skills
Here is a list of the standard roles assigned to contributors:
- Delete posts
- Edit posts
- Read posts
Attendees
As the lowest level of user roles, Subscriber is a title that is usually reserved for your dedicated readers. With a subscriber title, individuals can create an account and create a profile page that makes them identifiable.
These people can edit their profiles and add content and change their passwords. However, they do not have access to parts of your website other than to leave a comment.
Subscribers cannot add posts, edit comments, or access the behind-the-scenes areas of your website. Instead, it’s just a way to create an account so that they can leave a comment on your posts.
Subscriber Features
Here is a list of the standard features assigned to subscribers:
- Read
- Edit personal profiles
Customizing roles with functions
Previously, we discussed the importance of skills, as well as assigning specific roles to website contributors. Features allow you to individually approach the things your team has access to.
For example, if you want contributors to add pictures, adjust their skills. Instead of having a one-size-fits-all approach to each of the roles, website administrators can make tailor-made changes. Let’s take a look at some of the most commonly used features that you can modify as needed.
Manage plugins
The plugins on your website are essential for several reasons. They help your website look and function better for an improved user experience. Additionally, plugins can help you get deeper insights into the success of your website, e.g. B. in optimization.
When a member is assigned the management of plugins, they can install or uninstall certain plugins. It also grants them permission to edit and change the settings of any of your plugins, which will affect the way your website works.
Edit posts
Editing of posts is another popular feature that is often changed within user roles. Sometimes website owners prefer a team of professional editors to refine the content before publishing. In other cases, you may want contributors and authors to be able to edit their posts and those of others, too.
Manage topics
Theme management is another function with a lot of responsibility, similar to managing plugins. Your theme relates to the whole structure of your website, so it is an important feature to consider before assigning it. Those with these permissions can uninstall and reinstall themes, customize the layout of your website, and more.
Publishing Permissions
When it comes to publishing content, it’s critical that everything is perfect before it goes live for your customers. Unfortunately, that role is being withdrawn from contributors, which can be challenging for smaller sites. For example, if you have contributors but no editors, you as the site administrator are responsible for editing all of the content.
You may find that adding publish permissions for your contributors can improve content delivery online. This point is especially true if you have regular contributors who know your expectations before it goes live.
Upload files
Another important feature to consider is file uploading, which every content creator needs to do. Adding videos, photos, and other attachments can turn a block of text into an exciting journey for readers. It can be much more efficient to allow authors and contributors to add their own visual content to their posts.
Final thoughts
Assigning WordPress user roles is one of the most important things you need to do when starting a site. By managing which areas certain people have access to, you can optimize the performance of your website and keep it within your standards. With the added benefit of functionality, website owners can customize how each individual can affect their website.
