Over 60 million websites worldwide use WordPress as their content management system, including more than 33% of the world’s top 10,000 websites.  It’s the perfect tool for businesses of all sizes to manage their websites, publish blogs, and lots of other vital functions that can help them reach potential customers. If you’re using it for your website, at some point you’ll probably need to add a WordPress admin – someone with permission to make major changes to your site.

WordPress User Roles

When you add new users to your WordPress site, you can assign them roles that will restrict the actions they will be allowed to perform.  Be aware that when you add new users, depending on which role you assign them, they may be able to delete pages or posts, change plugins and themes, or otherwise have full access to your site.  Before you assign someone an admin role, be sure you trust the person with your site.

Adding Users to a WordPress Site

Before you add users, you’ll need to have your own account and be assigned the Administrator role.  WordPress makes it simple for admins to add new users:

1. Login to your site.
2. Go to “Users” and click “Add New.”
3. Fill in the required info and choose a temporary password for your new user.
4. Check the box that says “Send this password to the new user by email,” and select the role. The admin role will give a user complete access to your site with the ability to perform the same actions as you.  There are also some other roles you can assign:
   • Subscriber – This role only allows a user to comment on existing posts.
   • Contributor – This type of user will be allowed to access the WordPress platform, where they can create and edit their own posts.  Once they’re happy with a post, they can submit it to an admin for review, but will not be able to publish it on their own.
   • Author – Users in this role can edit, publish, and delete their own posts and upload files or images.
   • Editor – This user will have the ability to view, edit, publish, and delete posts or pages, moderate comments, and perform a number of other tasks.
   • Administrator – Users with this role are able to do everything: Create, edit, and delete any content; Manage plugins and themes; Edit code; Delete other user accounts (including yours).
     • Administrator is the most powerful user role. If you give someone else this user role, you’re essentially giving them the keys to your castle. So be careful!
5. To assign an admin, select that role from the drop-down menu.  Once your new user logs in, they will be able to change their password and other information. 

It really is that simple!  The new admin will be able to manage all of the content on your site.  For more tips on how to get the most out of your WordPress site, be sure to check back with the TIC blog for all the inside info about today’s most powerful online marketing platforms!