One easy way to generate more exposure for yourself, your business, and your brand is to add an “Author Bio Box” on your blog posts. What’s an “Author Bio Box” in WordPress, and why is it important?
While reading a blog article, you may have noticed a little section at the end of the article with a picture and a short blurb about the author. That’s called an “Author Bio Box.” It’s not just there for decoration; it serves a pretty important purpose. In this article, I’ll explain what an “Author Bio Box” is, why it’s an important part of your content, and how to set one up on your WordPress website.
What is an “Author Bio Box”?
An Author Bio Box is a brief section located at the end of a blog post or article on a WordPress website. It provides interesting and relevant information about the author. Author boxes typically contain a picture, a short bio, and links to the author’s social media or freebies.
When you add an “Author Bio Box,” is like having a mini “About Us” on every blog post on your website. It’s like a virtual introduction and helps readers connect with the person who created the content. Here’s my author box that appears on all of my blog posts.
Why An Author Bio Box is Important
1) Establish Credibility, Trustworthiness, and Authority
Your Author Box is an opportunity to showcase your qualifications and expertise. For instance, you can mention your certifications, years of experience, or any specializations. This helps build trust and credibility.
2) Make a Personal Connection
An Author Box makes your content feel more personal. Customers prefer to engage with businesses and people they feel connected to. The Author Box shows who is behind the website, making your business more relatable. To connect with your audience, you can tell them about your background, values, or interests.
3) Increase Your Visibility
Having an Author Box with your name and picture helps people find and follow you on other social media.
4) Improve Your Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
A well-optimized Author Box can help to improve your website’s search engine Optimization rankings. Search engines often favor websites that are reliable, authoritative, and trustworthy.
5) Organize Multi-Author Websites
An author bio box is particularly important for websites that have content with multiple authors. It allows readers to learn more about the specific author who wrote the article they’re reading. I don’t have a multi-author website. However, I’ve read content on other websites with multiple authors, and it’s always helpful when they have the author bio box.
What to Include in Your Author Box?
When deciding what to include in your author box, here are a few options to consider:
- A Professional Photo
- A Brief Bio
- Your Contact Information
- Link to Where People Cand Find You on Social Media
- Link to a Free Download
Don’t forget to keep your Author Box up-to-date. As you gain more qualifications, experience, and achievements, remember to update your Author Box.
Watch this Video on the WordPress Author Bio Box!
This video explains how to create your author bio box, and it explains the two different ways to get one as outlined below.
Two Ways to Add an Author Bio Box
1) Built Into Your Theme
One of the simplest and easiest ways to add an author info box is to choose a WordPress theme with an in-built author box feature. Many popular themes offer the option to include an author box on your blog posts. The WordPress themes I teach – Spacious, Hestia, Sydney, and Divi – all come with an author box that you can customize.
To show the author box from your theme, first go to your profile under Users–> Your Profile and put in your biographical information. You can also find it under Users —> All Users in the WordPress dashboard. Next, edit the user’s profile and change the ‘Biographical Info’ to add the author’s bio. If you want to show the profile image in the author box, then you need to set up the Gravatar photo. Last, click the ‘Update user’ button.
If you don’t want to bother with setting up a Gravatar, you can use the Simple Local Avatar plugin.
2) Use a WordPress Plugin
If your theme does not offer an author bio box option, there are a few plugins you can use to display an author box. Here are a few of my top picks:
Simple Author Box
by WebFactory Ltd
Simple Author Bio Box is my top plugin choice for Author Bio Box. First, this plugin makes it easy to have a clean, professional-looking author box. It lets you customize just about every aspect of the author bio ox – custom bio, social media link, a custom avatar. In addition, you have complete control over the colors, fonts, and background. As you design your author box, there’s a real-time preview where you can see how your changes will look. While the basic plan is free, there is a pro version if you want even more options. Learn more here: https://wordpress.org/plugins/simple-author-box/
Author Box for Divi
by Andrej
If your website uses the Divi theme, you can create author boxes without extra plugins. Divi has built-in options for this. However, if you want a different look, use the Author Box for Divi plugin. It’s free and easy to set up. (I use it on my Divi websites).
This plugin works for posts made with either the Divi Builder or the Classic WordPress editor. You can change the author’s gravatar image, use your own picture, and add social media links. In addition, you can adjust the Text Color, Background Color, and Border Color. Learn more here: https://wordpress.org/plugins/author-box-for-divi/
Starbox – the Author Box for Humans
by Squirrly UK
We’ve never used Starbox before, but it’s one that Elegant Theme recommends. Starbox is a feature-rich author box plugin, but it is still very easy to use. You can choose your author box’s themes, colors, or options. One of the unique things about the Starbox plugin is that you can set up a “Tabbed Author Bio Box,” with one tab being the usual author information and the other being the latest posts from that author. Learn more here: https://wordpress.org/plugins/starbox/
Conclusion
One of the things that’s challenging about an online business is that it’s hard to “meet” your website visitors and develop a connection. However, adding an “author bio box” to your website is one simple way you can tell readers who you are and what your business offers.
People like to make a personal connection. As a result, they’re more likely to spend additional time on your website if they can quickly learn who you are. It helps establish credibility and trustworthiness. Also, a high-quality author box with all the relevant information will help improve your website’s SEO.
Setting up an “Author Bio Box” only takes a few minutes. Plus, it can be updated easily as your business grows and changes. So, pick one of the plugins and set up your “Author Bio Box” if you don’t already have one!
(Originally Published March 2014; Updated October 2023)
*Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If clicked and purchased, we may receive a small compensation for the recommendation.
love this info. it is perfectly timed. Is there a way to check if a theme I already have, uses/ has author box? Where in my dashboard/info would I look to find out if this option exists? ( I am using parabola theme, which i really like.. but am not an absolute expert re finding all the whistles and bells;)
thanks
Teri
Teri,
Contact the theme designer and ask if they have an author box
Or just use one of the plugins listed above
You will need a Gravatar image for this to work and I see you don’t have one
see my article here:
https://websitecreationworkshop.com/blog/wordpress-tips/what-is-a-gravatar-picture/
heya
yep- thanks.. I went with starbox. cool gig. and, you can actually change the gravatar-avatar within the options in starbox ( assume it changes it in the profile;)… am now trying to figure out how-where it shows up. it is in my blog posts. AWESOME.. now, if I could just figure a better way to manage the optin-form that is mail-chimp, basic copy paste code into the posts- which is less than ideal…– but yeah– I am so glad I discovered your info.. it has been a huge and tremendous help in moving forward with some base level, but important things;)
Teri
Teri,
So glad it’s serving you! And do get your gravatar account hooked up with all your email addresses so we can see your face 🙂
how do I hook up the gravatar? I changed my generic alien, to a live-face, which shows on the website.. it changed in the profile info through the dashboard- but i assume that it doesn’t go.. global?
btw- in the author profile.. linking to book titles? etiquette/worthwhile..?
Teri,
You got your gravatar working! Congrats! Yes it’s global. Yes, link to whatever is appropriate for your author profile. Go for it girl!
yes- I’m a real boy! ( err… girl:)
new question- in the author box- in terms of embedding links..
would it be better to stick a link in to an opt-in form ( I do a lot of blog posts that go through linked in)… so as to get them onto my list, or would it better to use a link to my book?
Assuming best to keep choices minimal- what is the best use of an embedded link in an author box?
thanks so much– this is cool stuff:)
Teri
Check your theme documentation to know for sure
Does this serve the same purpose as Google Authorship and will you get the same sort of display in SERPs.
Thanks.
Anita,
my article was focused on the “human” factor and not the search engine factor. But all roads do lead to Rome. I am not an expert in SEO, but you can check out this article on Google Authorship https://plus.google.com/authorship
Thanks Christina. Really appreciate all the tips and tools you share on your site.
Monica,
Send me a link if you decide to implement an author box!
Excellent video and teaching. Thanks for sharing.
Which software do you use to make your on-screen videos?
Do you recommend that software or another for total beginners?
Steve,
I use Camtasia on a PC to make my videos. If you are on a Mac use Screenflow
I installed the wp-author-box-lite plugin. When I set up my profile for this, will it automatically attach to all posts previously posted without it?
Thank you for all of the great info!
Lana,
I do believe that it should show up. But you will have to see.
Now you just need your gravatar photo . See this: https://websitecreationworkshop.com/blog/wordpress-tips/what-is-a-gravatar-picture/
I set up my avatar and tested it on my blog. I don’t have my about information complete yet, but the avatar, my name, and the latest post list did show up on my previous posts. I really appreciate your help, thank you Christine. (p.s. is there a way to pm you?)
Christina,
I just sent this article and video to my web master. I asked him to do it before but I just looked at my dashboard of my wp blog and I see there is no plugin installed for this.
Thanks for the valuable information!
Susan
Absolutely fabulous as always Christina!
It’s a little embarrassing to admit! But I’d actually forgotten just “how'” useful and practical, the information you provide on your blog is, and your always exceptionally well done videos!
You know, as if you don’t have enough on your plate already! But you should seriously consider putting together a course for beginners, on “how to” make those really cool videos that you make with your family as cast members! They’re great!
And always entertaining!
And you could show us how you put those really cool intros on the beginning of them, and edit them etc! Just saying!
Otherwise, I’ll definitely be sharing more of your extremely helpful content on social media. Great job and keep this extremely valuable content coming!
Mark
Thanks for the kudos on our fun wacky marketing videos
I should consider a special session on how we did that. They sure are fun to do
🙂
Just to be totally sure that I understood your instructions. Since I already have my gravatar, do I just fill out my info in the profile section of my dashboard, then simply install the plugin and refresh my site?
And it should start including my signature in all of my future posts? Will it also automatically start appearing on all of my past posts as well? Thanks!
Mark
Since I don’t know the specifics of your site and your theme I cannot guarantee anything.
Just try it and see what happens
Hi Christina – You imply that Genesis-Prose has the Author Box capability built-in, but I can’t find it. Where is it located, please?
Diana
It’s under the users-> profile
for genesis themes
There is a heck box to turn it in
We are glad to hear that you consider StarBox is a must try AuthorBox plugin. – Squirrly Team
Andreea,
The fact that you came to my blog and commented about your StarBox plugin makes me want to promote it even more! It shows that you all as a company, are very attentive to your users!
Everyone check out StarBox here
http://wordpress.org/plugins/starbox/
I looked at 3 different author boxes..i chose starbox, for several reasons.. and now i am even more glad that i did:0 I like authors that walk their talk, in terms of connecting with their audiences and being real people:)
Hi Christine thanks for the post I was just in the middle of installing this wordpress plugin on my new site and was having trouble with the photo upload, but this has explained it perfectly. Much appreciated. Cheers Kim 🙂
Here is another plugin to create an author box on your website
https://wordpress.org/plugins/author-box-creator/
THANK YOU Christina. I read this a couple of hours ago and got to work right away! Brilliant timing. I always value your contributions. I might play with the wording more but at least it’s up there! http://www.thelifemasteryacademy.com/happiness-inside-job/
Thank you Christina.
I guess I have an author box on my website. I never knew what it was called. Nevertheless, it shows up at the bottom of each page.
Yes some themes build it in. It’s a nice feature to have 🙂
Hi Christina
I think I have an author box at the bottom of my website, especially since it shows up on every page. I never knew it was called an author box.
Hi Christina,
Thanks for this great info! I updated my Gravatar account and added an author bio to my profile. I’m wondering how to set up the direct link in the bio box as you and Jecica have done. I am thinking there is some code involved as I don’t see a place when I am updating my profile to make the url a link for direct access. Thanks!
Marg,
yes you have to put in html code. So just make the link in a test page, then copy the code over. I teach this in the Website Marketing Workshop that you may want to join if you need further help. https://WebsiteMarketingWorkshop.com
A heartfelt thank you for this blog—it’s a ray of sunshine in my day!