Guest Post Frontend Submitter

A WordPress plugin that enables front-end guest post submission with a simple shortcode.

Introduction

Guest Post Frontend Submitter allows visitors to submit posts from the front-end of your WordPress site. It's perfect for blogs that accept guest contributions, community websites, or any site that wants to encourage user-generated content.

Features

• Simple shortcode to display the submission form anywhere on your site
• Customizable form fields including title, content, excerpt, and featured image
• Security features to prevent spam submissions
• Admin settings to control post status and category
• Email notifications with one-click approve/reject actions
• Responsive design that works on all devices
• Lightweight and optimized for performance
• Developer-friendly with hooks and filters for customization

Installation

Via ZIP File

1. Download the ZIP file from the GitHub repository
2. Go to WordPress Admin > Plugins > Add New
3. Click "Upload Plugin" and select the ZIP file
4. Click "Install Now" and then "Activate"

Via GitHub

1. Clone the repository to your WordPress plugins directory:

   cd wp-content/plugins/
   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/guest-post-frontend-submitter.git
   

2. Go to WordPress Admin > Plugins
3. Activate "Guest Post Frontend Submitter"

Usage

Basic Shortcode

Add the submission form to any page or post using the shortcode:

[guest_post_form]

Enhanced React Form

For the enhanced React-based form with TailwindCSS styling:

[guest_post_react_form]

Shortcode Attributes

Customize the form with these optional attributes:

• title - Form title (default: "Submit a Guest Post")
• success_message - Message displayed after successful submission
• button_text - Submit button text (default: "Submit Post")
• show_excerpt - Show excerpt field (yes/no, default: yes)
• show_featured_image - Show featured image upload field (yes/no, default: yes)

Example:

[guest_post_form title="Share Your Story" button_text="Submit Your Post" show_excerpt="no"]

Configuration

1. Go to WordPress Admin > Guest Post Submitter > Settings
2. Configure the general settings, submission limits, email templates, anti-spam features, and more
3. Save your changes

Troubleshooting

Form Not Displaying

• Make sure the shortcode is correctly formatted: [guest_post_form]
• Check if there are any JavaScript errors in the browser console
• Try switching to a default WordPress theme to rule out theme conflicts

Email Notifications Not Working

• Check your spam folder
• Verify that your WordPress site can send emails (try a plugin like Check Email)
• Make sure the notification email address is correct in the settings

Submissions Not Saving

• Check if your server has proper permissions to write to the database
• Verify that the post status setting is correct
• Check for any error messages during submission

FAQ

Can I customize the submission form?

Yes, you can customize the form using shortcode attributes and the Form Style settings. You can also use CSS to further customize the appearance.

How do I moderate submissions?

You can moderate submissions through email notifications, the dashboard widget, or the Submissions page. You can approve or reject posts with a single click.

Can I limit the number of submissions?

Yes, you can limit the number of submissions per IP address per day in the Submission Limits settings.

How do I prevent spam submissions?

The plugin includes several anti-spam features: reCAPTCHA, honeypot, domain blocking, keyword filtering, and OpenAI Moderation.

Can I add guest post authors to my email list?

Yes, the plugin integrates with Mailchimp and ConvertKit to add guest post authors to your email list with their consent.

Development

Prerequisites

• Node.js and npm
• WordPress development environment

Setup

1. Clone the repository
2. Install dependencies:

   npm install
   

Build

To build the React components:

npm run build

For development with hot reloading:

npm start

License

This plugin is licensed under the GPL v2 or later.

Credits

• WordPress Plugin Boilerplate
• TailwindCSS
• React