How to Allow Other Authors to Add Books to your WordPress Website

The RS WP Book Showcase plugin by RS WP Themes is an excellent tool for creating beautiful book galleries on your WordPress site, complete with advanced search options and various layouts. One of its standout features is the ability to let other authors sign up and add their books to your website, making it perfect for creating a shared book directory or a community-driven literary platform. With this plugin, you can manage the entire process while keeping full control over who gets to contribute and what gets published.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to allow other authors to add their books to your site using the RS WP Book Showcase plugin. We’ll cover how authors register, how they submit books, and how you can review and approve everything.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin

First, get the RS WP Book Showcase plugin from the official website (rswpthemes.com) or your WordPress plugin library. Install it on your WordPress site and activate it. Once activated, the plugin sets up everything you need to start accepting author registrations and book submissions.

Step 2: Set Up the Author Registration Page

The plugin provides an easy way to add a registration form to your site so authors can sign up. Here’s how to do it:

1. Create a New Page: In your WordPress dashboard, go to the section for pages and create a new one. Name it something like “Author Registration.”
2. Add the Registration Feature: In the page editor, insert the plugin’s special code for the registration form (provided in the plugin documentation) and save the page.
3. Make It Look Good (Optional): You can tweak the form’s appearance by adjusting its style to match your site’s design.

Now, authors can visit this page on your website to register.

Step 3: The Author Registration Process

When authors use the registration form, they go through a clear process to join your site:

1. Fill Out the Form: Authors enter their first name, last name, email address, website (if they have one), Amazon Author Page URL, a short bio about themselves, and a password. The password needs to be at least 8 characters long and include both letters and numbers. The Amazon Author Page URL must follow the correct format (like https://www.amazon.com/author/yourname).
2. Submit and Wait: After submitting the form, authors can only try registering up to 5 times per hour to prevent spam. If they exceed this, they’ll need to wait an hour before trying again.
3. Verify Their Email: Once the form is submitted successfully, authors receive an email with a special link. They must click this link to confirm their email address.
4. Admin Review: After email verification, the author’s details appear in your WordPress dashboard for review. You’ll see their name, email, website, Amazon Author Page URL, and bio. You can then:
   • Approve: Allow them to start adding books.
   • Reject: Remove their account if they don’t meet your criteria.

Approved authors get an email letting them know they’re ready to contribute, and you’ll receive a notification whenever a new author signs up for review.

Step 4: Using a Third-Party Registration Plugin (Optional)

If you don’t want to use the plugin’s built-in registration form, you can use a third-party plugin like Ultimate Membership Pro for user registration. Here’s what to do:

• Set Up the Third-Party Plugin: Install and configure your preferred registration plugin to allow authors to sign up on your site.
• Approve Users in Their System: Use the third-party plugin’s system to approve new users as needed.
• Manually Assign the Role: After approving an author, go to Users in your WordPress dashboard, find the new user, and edit their profile. Change their role to “Book Author” manually. This gives them permission to add books using the RS WP Book Showcase plugin.

This approach requires extra steps but works if you already rely on another registration system.

Step 5: Book Submission by Authors

Once authors are approved (either through the plugin’s form or manually), they can start adding books:

1. Access Their Dashboard: After logging in, approved authors are taken to a simplified dashboard focused on books. They only see options related to their own work, keeping things straightforward.
2. Submit a Book: Authors can add a new book by entering details like the title, book name, price, and ISBN. When they submit it, the book is marked as “pending” until you review it.
3. Notification to You: You’ll get an email alerting you to the new book submission, with a link to check it out.

Step 6: Reviewing and Managing Book Submissions

As the site owner, you have full control over which books get published:

1. Check Pending Books: In your WordPress dashboard, go to the books section and find the “Pending Books” area. You’ll see a list of all submitted books waiting for review.
2. Review the Details: Each entry shows the book’s title, author, price, ISBN, and submission date. You can click the title to see more details if needed.
3. Approve or Reject:
   • Approve: If you like the book, approve it to make it live on your site. The author gets an email saying their book is published.
   • Reject: If it’s not a good fit, reject it, and it’s removed. The author is notified of the decision.

This process ensures only the books you want appear on your site.

Helpful Features for Everyone

The plugin includes features to make the experience smooth and secure:

• Spam Protection: Limits on registration attempts and email verification keep unwanted users out.
• Simple Interface: Authors only see what they need, making it easy for them to focus on their books.
• Amazon Integration: Authors’ Amazon Author Page URLs are linked to their profiles, connecting their work to their Amazon presence.
• Email Updates: Everyone stays informed with automatic emails at every step.

Tips for Success

• Promote the Sign-Up Page: Add a link to your registration page in your site’s menu or footer so authors can find it easily.
• Explain the Rules: On the registration page, let authors know what you expect, like the right format for their Amazon Author Page URL.
• Stay on Top of Reviews: Regularly check the pending authors and books sections to keep your site active and up to date.

Conclusion

With the RS WP Book Showcase plugin, you can turn your WordPress site into a lively platform where authors contribute their books. Whether you use the built-in registration form or a third-party tool, the process is designed to be secure, simple, and fully manageable. It’s a great way to build a book review site, a literary community, or even an online bookstore with contributions from authors worldwide.

Start today by installing the plugin and inviting authors to share their books with your audience!