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Custom Related Posts is a friendly plugin for linking posts together on WordPress. You get to choose which posts are linked, and you can link them both ways. It’s great because you have full control.
You can use a shortcode, widget, or block to show related posts. It works with the Classic Editor and the Gutenberg Block Editor. Plus, you can even import from XML using post IDs!
Custom Related Posts WordPress Plugin Features
- Manually add related posts to any post, page, or custom post type.
- Gain full control over related links, deciding if they go both ways.
- Activate the plugin for specific post types.
- Define relationships directly on the post edit page.
- Display related posts using a shortcode, widget, or block.
- Optionally show featured images in various sizes.
- Import related posts from XML using post IDs.
Custom Related Posts WordPress Plugin Review
I’ve recently been using the Custom Related Posts plugin on my WordPress site. This plugin lets me manually add related posts to any of my content. I love how it gives me full control over which posts are related. It’s also flexible because it works with both the Classic Editor and Gutenberg Block Editor.
Another thing I like is how easy it is to display related posts. I can use a shortcode, widget, or block. It even allows showing featured images in any size, which makes my posts look nice. The plugin also lets me import from XML using post IDs.
Here’s a quick look at some key features:
- Choose which post types activate the plugin
- Define relations in one or both ways on the post edit page
- Compatible with Classic Editor and Gutenberg Block Editor
The plugin has a solid average rating of 4.86 from 44 ratings, so many users are happy with it. If you need help, there’s documentation available. Plus, it’s under active development, so new features may come soon!
| Feature | Free version | Premium version |
|---|---|---|
| Active for chosen post types | ✔ | ✔ |
| Define relations both ways | ✔ | ✔ |
| Shortcode, widget, block display | ✔ | ✔ |
| Show featured images | ✔ | ✔ |
| Import from XML by post IDs | ✔ | ✔ |
| Compatible with Classic Editor | ✔ | ✔ |
| Compatible with Gutenberg | ✔ | ✔ |
| Email support | ✘ | ✔ |
| Pro updates | ✘ | ✔ |
| Life-time usage | ✔ | ✔ |
“Custom Related Posts” Pros and Cons
The “Custom Related Posts” plugin for WordPress lets you add related posts to your content manually. This guide will talk about the good and bad points of using this plugin.
Pros
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Cons
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“Custom Related Posts” Functionality and Features
The “Custom Related Posts” plugin for WordPress helps site owners add related posts to their content. This makes it easier for readers to find related articles, keeping them on your site longer.
Active for Multiple Post Types
This plugin allows you to choose which post types it works with. You can set it for posts, pages, or custom post types. This means more control over where related posts appear.
By selecting specific post types, you make sure related posts show up only where they are needed. This keeps your site organized. It’s easy to change these settings in the plugin’s options.
Being able to control post types adds flexibility. You can tailor related posts to fit different parts of your site.
This feature is very handy for sites that have various content types. It makes managing related posts simpler and more effective.
Manual Definition of Relations
You have full control over related posts. You can manually add related posts on the post edit page. This helps you pick the best posts for your readers.
Choosing related posts manually ensures they make sense. You know your content best, so this lets you highlight the most relevant posts.
You can also decide if the relationship goes both ways. This means each post can link back to the other, creating a strong connection.
By setting relations manually, you can keep your content closely linked. This makes a better experience for your visitors.
Display Options
You can show related posts using a shortcode, widget, or block. This gives you different ways to display related posts on your site.
Shortcodes let you add related posts anywhere in your content. Widgets are perfect for showing related posts in sidebars or footers.
Blocks are great for Gutenberg users. They allow you to add related posts easily within your page’s layout.
These display options make it easy to show related posts in a way that fits your site’s design. This helps keep your site looking neat and attractive.
Featured Images
You have an option to show featured images with related posts. This makes them look more appealing. You can choose any size for the images.
Using images with related posts grabs attention. It encourages readers to click on the links.
Adjusting the image size is easy. You can choose the best size that fits your site’s design.
Showing featured images with related posts can improve user engagement. It makes your site look more professional and appealing.
Import from XML
With this plugin, you can import related posts from an XML file. Just use the post IDs to set up your related posts.
This is useful if you have many posts to link. It can save you a lot of time compared to adding each related post manually.
Importing from XML ensures that your related posts are set up correctly. It reduces errors that can happen with manual entry.
This feature also makes managing related posts easier. It’s perfect for larger sites with lots of content.
Compatibility
This plugin works with the Classic Editor and Gutenberg Block Editor. It fits into any workflow, no matter which editor you prefer.
Using the plugin with both editors ensures that you won’t have compatibility issues. This makes it easier to manage related posts.
You don’t have to change your editing habits. The plugin adapts to your needs, making it user-friendly.
This compatibility feature ensures that you can keep using the editor you like. It also means your related posts will work seamlessly across your site.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)
Do you offer any support?
How To Install This WordPress Plugin?
Installing the “Custom Related Posts” plugin is easy and quick. Just follow these simple steps to get it up and running.
- Upload the custom-related-posts directory to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory on your WordPress site.
- Go to the WordPress admin dashboard.
- Navigate to the ‘Plugins’ menu and find the “Custom Related Posts” plugin.
- Click the “Activate” button to activate the plugin.
- Once activated, check out the getting started documentation for further setup.
Changelog
Here is a summary of the updates and changes made to the ‘Custom Related Posts’ WordPress Plugin over various versions.
1.7.2
Fix: Block editor error if related post is broken.
1.7.1
Fix: Prevent deprecation warning.
1.7.0
Feature: Manually set order for related posts (Block Editor only).
Feature: Setting to disable pinning of related posts images.
Improvement: Image responsive sizing in some situations.
Fix: Prevent PHP 8 deprecation notice related to usort.
1.6.6
Fix: Block editor preview broken in WordPress 5.8.
1.6.5
Fix: Problem when unpinning CRP sidebar in Gutenberg.
1.6.4
Fix: Allow removing of relations to permanently deleted posts.
1.6.3
Fix: Prevent PHP notice in WordPress 5.5.
1.6.2
Feature: Limit by post type when searching for relations.
1.6.1
Feature: Thumbnails in output are links as well.
Improvement: Bring back shortcode button for TinyMCE.
Fix: Class name error for list item title.
Fix: PHP notice for missing variable.
1.6.0
Feature: Show featured image for related posts.
Feature: Setting to disable relation caching.
Improvement: New settings page.
Improvement: Filter hook for search arguments.
Fix: Deleting related post to post type that has been disabled.
1.5.1
Fix: Relations not loading correctly in Gutenberg.
1.5.0
Feature: Gutenberg compatibility.
1.4.1
Fix: PHP 7 Warning.
1.4
Feature: Setting to open links in a new tab.
Improvement: WordPress 4.8 compatibility.
Improvement: $relation variable available in plugin hook.
1.3
Improvement: Settings for searching related posts.
1.2
Fix: Firefox compatibility problem.
1.1
Feature: Import relations from XML.
1.0
Very first version of this plugin.
Customer Review of ‘Custom Related Posts’ WordPress Plugin
Here’s what users are saying about the ‘Custom Related Posts’ WordPress Plugin. See why many are pleased with its features and support.
I have used this plugin for more than 3 years now and I am very pleased with it. I don’t want a plugin that chooses compatible posts itself, thus slowing my page down. Rather I want one where I can do the choosing and the plugin puts it on the page with minimum fuss. Which is exactly what this plugin does. What’s more, when I had a minor layout issue, and ask for support, I got a quick answer that resolved the issue. So thanks for a useful plugin that simply works.
Simple and light, it is all I need for my project. The Gutenberg integration is pretty cool and UI is easy to work with. Thank you.
Simple and flexible. Really appreciate it.
I want to control the links as needed. This plugin provides that functionality with a simple implementation. It is a bit basic in appearance, but with a bit of CSS work, you can make it look as you want quite easily.
It is a good plugin, simple and objective, but, the HTML is not encapsulated, the title is out of markup, this made my formatting a bit more complex.
Thank you for plugin and documentation! P.S. but add wrapper div 😉 div.crp-list-wrapper- h3.crp-list-title- div.crp-list
