RWC Author Status – Let Authors Share Their Voice

RWC Author Status is a powerful WordPress plugin that allows authors to display and update their status on their posts. Whether you’re a blogger, contributor, or a multi-author website owner, this plugin enhances engagement by letting authors share updates, thoughts, or availability directly within their posts.

What’s new in version 2.0

With version 2.0, we have introduced several new features, including:

– AJAX-powered status updates,
– [/] Shortcode support,
– Customizable display options, and
– An intuitive admin settings panel.

You can now choose where to display the author status—before or after the post content—or insert it manually using the [/] Shortcode.

🔥 Key Features

✅ [/] Shortcode Support – Easily display author status anywhere using [wp-author-status].
✅ AJAX-Powered Updates – Update author status dynamically without reloading the page.
✅ Auto & Manual Insertion – Choose whether to display the author status automatically or place it manually via [/] Shortcode.
✅ Choose where to display – Display the author status either before or after the content.
✅ Customizable Display – Show or hide the author’s name, post count, gravatar, and time since status update.
✅ Background Color Options – Select from five different background colors for a visually appealing look.
✅ Admin Settings Page – Effortlessly manage all author status options from a dedicated settings panel.
✅ Widget Support – Add the [/] Shortcode inside a widget to display the author status in the sidebar or footer of single post.
✅ Customizable Status Updates – Authors can easily set and update their statuses from their dashboard.

📌 Adding the [/] Shortcode in a Widget

To show the author status in a widget-ready area like the Sidebar or Footer, follow these steps:

1️⃣ Classic Widget Editor:

• Navigate to Appearance → Widgets in your WordPress dashboard.
• Drag and drop a Text or Custom HTML widget into your desired widget area.
• Paste the [/] Shortcode [wp-author-status] inside the widget and save.

2️⃣ Block Widget Editor:

• Navigate to Appearance → Widgets in your WordPress dashboard.
• Add a [/] Shortcode block to your preferred widget area.
• Paste the [/] Shortcode [wp-author-status] and save.

🚨 Note: To ensure proper display, add the [/] Shortcode inside the Single Post Sidebar.

📌 [/] Shortcode Attributes

The [wp-author-status] [/] Shortcode includes two optional attributes: status and colors.

👉 status Attribute

• The status attribute allows you to override the saved author status and display a custom message.
• If the status attribute is used, the [/] Shortcode will display the provided text.
• If omitted, it will fetch and display the saved author status from the database (or show a placeholder if no status is available).

👉 colors Attribute

• If you include the colors attribute, the [/] Shortcode will display the author status with the chosen color combination.
• The available color combinations are:
  – bp – Blue, Purple
  – tb – Teal, Blue
  – gy – Green, Yellow
  – dp – Dark Purple, Light Purple
  – db – Dark Blue, Light Blue
• If the colors attribute is omitted, the default color combination (Blue, Purple) will be used.

📌 How to Insert the [/] Shortcode in Single Posts (If Automatic Insertion is Disabled)?

By default, RWC Author Status can automatically display the author status before or after the post content. However, if automatic insertion is disabled, you can manually insert the [/] shortcode inside your single post template.

🔹 Method 1: Add the [/] Shortcode in the Post Content

• Simply paste the following [/] Shortcode inside any post where you want to display the author status:
  [wp-author-status]

🔹 Method 2: Add the [/] Shortcode in the Theme Files

• If you want to display the author status inside your single.php template, add the following PHP code where you want the status to appear:
  

This ensures that the author status appears on all single post pages without relying on automatic insertion.

🎯 Who Can Benefit from RWC Author Status?

– Bloggers & Writers – Share quick updates, thoughts, or availability status with your audience.
– Multi-Author Websites – Helps readers stay updated on their favorite authors’ latest activities.
– News & Media Sites – Allow journalists and content creators to engage with readers dynamically.
– Membership & Community Sites – Users can showcase their latest thoughts or announcements.

Usage

1. Automatically Display Author Status
   The plugin will automatically insert the author’s status before or after post content (configurable in settings).
2. Using the [/] Shortcode
   Manually display an author’s status anywhere on your site by adding:
   [wp-author-status]
3. Updating Author Status
   Authors can update their status from the WordPress dashboard. The updated status will be reflected immediately on their posts.