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How to Display the WordPress Author Name on a Blog Post

“Content builds trust, and trust builds loyal audiences.” – Ann Handley

In a world full of content, readers want to know more about who is writing the things they are reading. If you are setting up a profile as a freelancer or creating a blog for your business, the author byline in WordPress will help you create trust, transparency, and brand authority.

Whether you are using a paid theme or a lightweight builder, knowing how the WordPress theme shows the author for boosting user engagement and enhancing overall SEO performance is vital.

This guide explores three ways to add author information to your WordPress blog: theme settings, author plugins, and manual coding.

 

Why Displaying Author Names Matters

1. It Establishes Trust and Personal Connection

According to the NNG article on bylines, a visible author byline helps show credibility and responsibility, especially if the author has established expertise. Readers are more likely to trust and interact with content when they know who created it and can see relevant credentials or background history and experience. This is especially the case for opinion or expert content.

For example, a website can effectively build trust by showcasing an expert’s profile alongside customer testimonials, using the power of graphics to make this information visually engaging and easy to connect with.

2. It Improves SEO and Your Credibility

Google’s E-E-A-T guidelines show the importance of authorship and credibility. A full author box can help with SEO and gives you the capability to do schema markup to improve search results with a professional snippet.

Displaying a clear author byline builds trust with readers and signals content authenticity to search engines. Including detailed author information also encourages accountability and improves engagement on your WordPress blog. It’s a smart way to optimize your WordPress content for both user experience and SEO performance.

Now, we’ll explore the three effective ways to add author information to your WordPress blog to enhance credibility, build reader trust, and improve SEO.

 

Method 1: Display Author Name Using WordPress Theme Settings

Choosing the simplest WordPress themes also means selecting those that neither require a WordPress author box plugin nor coding.

Process for Allowing Author Display

• Go to Appearance > Customize
• Open Blog > Single Post or equivalent section
• Toggle “Show Author” or “Author Info.”
• Save and preview

Many popular themes already support author bylines, including:

• Astra
• GeneratePress
• OceanWP
• Kadence

In these themes, author names usually appear alongside post dates and categories.

Example

When you start a new company and choose a startup-focused WordPress theme, you’ll often find that the author byline is displayed by default. This built-in feature helps you establish credibility and transparency with your audience right from the beginning.

Pros:

• Super beginner-friendly
• Built-in design consistency
• Doesn’t slow down your site

Cons:

• Limited customization options
• Not all themes offer author display toggles
• May not support advanced author bio or social links without additional plugins or coding

 

Method 2: Display Author Name Using Code (Manual Method)

Manual addition of author info can be accomplished in WordPress for users who are comfortable with simple PHP theme modifications.

Where to Add the Code:

single.php or content-single.php

Functions like:

the_author()
get_the_author_meta('display_name')

Example Use Case

Running a custom portfolio site to showcase your freelancer profile? You want to control how and where the author name appears, for instance, alongside job title, profile photo, and contact form.

Hence, manual coding of the author box gives you full control over its design and takes away any plugin clutter.

Pros:

• Complete customization
• Lightweight solution
• Great for advanced users

Cons:

• Users must have technical knowledge
• Theme updates could overwrite changes

This method is especially effective for personal or portfolio blogs where highlighting the author’s identity and credentials helps reinforce your professional brand. It allows for seamless integration with your theme’s design, ensuring a consistent user experience across your site.

Additionally, manually added author information can be structured for rich snippets, enhancing visibility in search engine results.

 

Method 3: Using Plugins to Display Author Name

If you’re not comfortable with code or your theme doesn’t support author bylines, plugins can offer a user-friendly alternative.

1. Simple Author Box

Features:

• Adds a responsive author box at the end of posts
• Supports social icons and Gravatar images
• Fully customizable via the WordPress Customizer

How to Use:

1. Go to Plugins > Add New.
2. Search for a Simple Author Box.
3. Install and activate.
4. Configure via Appearance > Simple Author Box.

2. WP Author Bio

Features:

• Easy author box display
• Supports multiple authors
• Lightweight and straightforward

3. Co-Authors Plus (for Multi-Author Posts)

Features:

• Allows assigning multiple authors to a single post
• Integrates well with existing WordPress users
• Requires theme modifications for full integration

Pros:

• Easy to set up
• No coding required
• Customizable with widgets and shortcodes

Cons:

• Additional plugin overhead
• May not be compatible with all themes
• Some features may be locked behind premium versions

You can style the author bio using the Tailwind UI or browse beautifully designed Tailwind blocks to speed up your web development process.

Many of these blocks follow structured designs similar to a resume template, making them ideal for clean and professional author sections.

These WordPress author box plugins allow you to fully customize how the WordPress author byline appears on your posts. From adjusting layout, colors, and typography to choosing the position, these plugins give you complete control over the appearance and functionality of your author information without any coding.

Summary Checklist

Here’s a quick checklist to help you set up your WordPress author byline:

• Confirm that your WordPress theme displays the author
• Install a trustworthy WordPress author box plugin if required
• Add author information manually in the WordPress user profile
• Use the Tailwind blocks or design tools to create visuals
• Link to social media, portfolio, or freelancer profile

 

Add the Author, Build the Trust

Now you know how to easily display author information on your blog and style it, regardless of your technical level. Ultimately, your blog content becomes more credible when it is associated with a recognizable face, name, and personality.

The three simple ways to display an author bio in your WordPress blog posts are:

• Theme options (easy)
• Custom code (manual)
• Author plugins (flexible)

Don’t let some of your best content go unnoticed or untrusted. Add an author area that shows your brand, professionalism, and personality.

 

FAQs

1. What if my theme doesn’t support author names at all?

You can either switch to a theme that does, manually add code, or use a plugin like Simple Author Box to enable author name display.

2. Can I show the author name only on blog posts, not pages?

Yes, you can. In your code, you can conditionally display the author name using:

php

CopyEdit

if (is_single() && 'post' == get_post_type()) {

the_author();

}

3. How do I change the display name of an author?

Go to Users > All Users, edit the user, and set a new Display Name. Then choose it from the dropdown labeled “Display name publicly as.”

4. How do I link the author name to their archive page?

Use this code:

php

CopyEdit

<a href="<?php echo get_author_posts_url(get_the_author_meta('ID')); ?>">

<?php the_author(); ?></a>

5. Will plugins slow down my website?

Not significantly, if you choose lightweight plugins from reputable developers. Always check reviews and test plugin performance using tools like GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights.

6. How can I show the author’s name in WordPress without coding?

Use your theme settings under Appearance > Customize, or install a WordPress author box plugin.

7. Which is the best plugin to add an author bio in WordPress?

Simple Author Box and Molongui Author Box are popular author box plugins that add bio, avatars, and social links.

8. Can I manually add an author name using code?

Yes, by editing your single.php or content-single.php file and using functions like the_author().

9. Why is it important for an author’s name to show?

It establishes trust, improves SEO, and adds credibility by displaying who wrote it all.

10. Where should I position the author box?

The best placement is after the content of the post, or below the title where the readers are expecting it.