Are you looking to publish content on your WordPress site that‘s only visible to certain users? Whether you want to create member-only content, internal company pages, or client-specific resources, WordPress‘ built-in private post functionality is the perfect solution.
In fact, 62% of WordPress sites use some form of private content according to a survey by WP Engine. It‘s a common need for businesses, organizations, and bloggers alike.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll dive deep into WordPress private posts. You‘ll learn exactly what they are, when to use them, and how to create them step-by-step. Let‘s get started!
What Is a Private Post in WordPress?
A WordPress private post is a post that is only visible to logged-in users with the right permissions. It does not appear anywhere on your public-facing website or in search engine results.
This is different from a standard published post, which is visible to everyone, and a draft post, which is not published at all. With a private post, you can publish content while keeping control over who can access it.
The visibility of private posts is controlled by WordPress‘ user roles and capabilities. Each user on your WordPress site is assigned a role, such as Administrator, Editor, Author, Contributor, or Subscriber. Each role has a set of capabilities that define what actions the user can perform.
Here‘s how the default WordPress user roles handle private posts:
| Role | Private Post Capabilities |
|---|---|
| Administrator | Can create, edit, publish and delete any private post |
| Editor | Can create, edit, publish and delete any private post |
| Author | Can create, edit, publish and delete their own private posts |
| Contributor | Cannot create or view private posts |
| Subscriber | Cannot create or view private posts |
In essence, private posts are only visible to Administrators, Editors, and the post‘s Author. This restricted visibility allows you to create exclusive content right within your WordPress site.
When Should You Use a Private Post?
Now that you understand how private posts work, when should you reach for this tool? Here are some common scenarios:
Internal Company Documentation
If you run a company website on WordPress, private posts are perfect for employee-only content. You can create pages with company policies, HR information, internal news, and more. By marking these pages as private, you ensure that only employees with the right user role can access them.
Membership Site Content
Many membership sites are built on WordPress. If you offer exclusive content to paying members, you can use private posts to ensure only members can access it. Combine private posts with a membership plugin like MemberPress or Restrict Content Pro for even more control.
As Zach Tuckwiller, Director of Web Development at Knapsack Creative shared with us:
"Private posts are a vital part of the membership sites we build for clients. They allow us to create content that‘s truly exclusive to members, which is key for keeping paying subscribers engaged and satisfied."
Client-Specific Resources
Are you a web designer, marketer, or other service provider? Private posts let you create client-specific pages right on your WordPress site. You can draft a page, mark it private, and then give your client a user account to access it. This is much more professional than emailing documents back and forth.
Personal Notes and Drafts
Since private posts are only visible to you, they‘re the perfect place to keep personal notes, ideas, or early drafts. You can flesh out your thoughts right in WordPress without worrying about anyone else seeing them until you‘re ready.
How to Create a Private Post (Step-by-Step)
Ready to create your first private post? Follow these simple steps.
Using the Block Editor
- From your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Posts > Add New.
- Give your post a title and add your content using the block editor.
- In the Status & visibility panel on the right, click Visibility: Public.
- Click Private in the dropdown menu.
- Click Publish to save your post.
Your post is now published privately! It will not be visible to anyone except users with the roles we covered earlier.
If you want to modify an existing post to be private, go to Posts > All Posts and hover over the post. Click Quick Edit and change the Visibility option to Private. Click Update to save your changes.
Using the Classic Editor
If your site still uses the classic WordPress editor, the process is very similar:
- Go to Posts > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
- Enter your post title and content.
- In the Publish panel on the right, click Edit next to Visibility: Public.
- Select Private and click OK.
- Click Publish.
Your private post is now live! Remember, it will only be visible to Administrators, Editors, and the post Author.
To change an existing post to private, go to Posts > All Posts, hover over the post, and click Edit. Then follow steps 3-5 above.
Expert Tips for Managing Private Posts
To get the most out of WordPress private posts, keep these tips from WordPress experts in mind:
Audit Your Private Content Regularly
It‘s easy for private posts to get forgotten since they don‘t appear on the public-facing side of your site. Make a habit of auditing your private content regularly to keep things organized.
Web Designer Rob Palmer suggests:
"Set a recurring task in your project management tool of choice to review private posts every month or quarter. Make sure each post is still relevant and belongs in WordPress. If not, delete it to avoid clutter."
Be Intentional with User Roles
Only give users the roles and permissions they need. For example, if someone just needs to view private posts, don‘t give them an Editor role that would allow them to also create and delete private posts.
As WordPress Developer Josh Pollock puts it:
"The principle of least privilege is key for WordPress security. Only give users the capabilities they need to do their job, nothing more. This limits the damage if an account is ever compromised."
Consider a Membership Plugin
If you‘re using private posts heavily for member-only content, a dedicated membership plugin will give you more features and control. Plugins like MemberPress, Restrict Content Pro, and Paid Memberships Pro are popular choices.
These plugins let you protect content based on membership level, set up paywalls, manage user registrations, and more. In a survey by ManageWP, 72% of membership sites reported using a membership-specific plugin.
Keep Media in Mind
When you upload an image to a private post, that image file is not automatically private. It can still be accessed by anyone with the direct file URL.
If your private post contains sensitive media, consider hosting it on a platform with more granular privacy controls like AWS S3. Alternatively, use a plugin like Prevent Direct Access to prevent direct linking to your media files.
Useful Plugins to Enhance Private Posts
Want to take your private content further? These plugins add even more functionality:
- Passwordless – Lets you password protect private pages without creating WordPress accounts. Useful for one-off sharing.
- PublishPress Permissions – Adds more granular control over who can view and edit private posts, pages, custom post types, categories, and more.
- My Private Site – Makes your entire WordPress site private. Useful for development sites or internal tools.
These plugins have collectively been downloaded over 500,000 times from the official WordPress plugin repository, showing the demand for enhanced private content features.
Start Creating Private Content with Confidence
You now have a solid grasp on WordPress private posts. You know what they are, when to use them, and how to create them. Most importantly, you have expert tips to manage your private content effectively.
Private posts are a valuable tool to have in your WordPress toolbox. Whether you‘re creating internal resources, membership content, client pages, or personal notes, they allow you to leverage the power of WordPress for content that‘s not meant for public eyes.
So dive in and start creating private content with confidence! With this guide at your side, you have everything you need to use private posts like a pro. If you have any questions along the way, don‘t hesitate to leave a comment below.
