10 Techniques To Display Featured Articles in WordPress Blog

Today I researched a few integration options that I thought would interest other bloggers. One thing that I found that many bloggers are interested in integrating into their site is the Featured Article option.

Featured Article gives your site a professional appearance, and once you have created 3 or 4 posts under this area you will see the benefits of it.

Today I will introduce a few ideas on how to set up the featured article option and what plugins that should be used.

 

1. Simple Sticky Post in WordPress

Simple sticky post is the simplest way to display featured articles in your blog. Typical way for the new bloggers, yet it is easy, simple and effective.

With this method, you can show (simple image, post title and post excerpt) from the selected category. Example as below.

www_freethemelayouts_com_blog

So how can we display this simple sticky post in our theme?

Follow these simple steps:

    1. To show featured post only in the home page, you can use the code below.

[sourcecode language=”css”]<?php if(is_home() !is_paged()): ?>
<?php // Featured posts go here.
include (TEMPLATEPATH . “/featured.php”); ?>
<?php endif;?>

[/sourcecode]

    1. Adding the new template where we can call the feature post from. Simply add the new template to your wordpress directory under the name ( featured.php ). This file will contain the featured post elements (Numbers, Category, Style, etc..).
    2. To add the code that shows the featured post content (featured post image – featured post title – excerpt – and the featured category). Look at the example code below.

[sourcecode language=”css”] <!– start Featured –>
<?php query_posts(“showposts=1&cat=6″); ?>
<?php while (have_posts()) : the_post(); ?>
<div id=”featured”>
<div id=”featured2″>
<div id=”featurediv”>
<div class=”epic”>
<a href=”<?php the_permalink() ?>” rel=”bookmark” title=”Continue reading <?php the_title(); ?>”><img src=”<?php $values = get_post_custom_values(“Thumbnail”); echo $values[0]; ?>” alt=”Continue reading <?php the_title(); ?>” /></a>
</div>
<div class=”etext”>
<div class=”ehead”>
<h2><a href=”<?php the_permalink() ?>” rel=”bookmark” title=”Continue reading <?php the_title(); ?>”><?php the_title(); ?></a></h2>
<div class=”entryinfo”><?php edit_post_link(‘Edit’, ”, ‘ |’); ?> Posted by <strong><?php the_author(); ?></strong> on <?php the_time(‘d M Y’); ?> under <?php the_category(‘, ‘) ?> | <?php comments_popup_link(‘0 Comments’, ‘1 Comment’, ‘% Comments’); ?>
</div>
</div>
<div class=”post”>
<?php the_excerpt(); ?>
</div>
</div>
<div class=”clearer”></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<?php endwhile; ?><!– end Featured –>[/sourcecode]

  1. You can change the number of sticky posts or featured posts from the code above, Also you can select the category where you can call posts from.

I would consider this the simplest way to show Featured article in WordPress blog.

 

2. Featured Content Gallery

www_featuredcontentgallery_com

Featured Content Gallery is the first plugin released for displaying sliding feature article in your wordpress blog. It creates an automated sliding gallery with latest featured articles added to your site. It is based on one sliding gallery with two arrows in the sides that allows visitors to rotate between different featured posts.

Finally, A very powerful back-end for user to change the option of the sliding gallery (width, height, color, etc.).

Features:

  • Single category only supported.
  • Height, Width and Text Overlay values can be configured.
  • Can be displayed on the WordPress Blog by using one line php statement.

 

3. D13Slideshow

d13slideshow

D13Slideshow plugin is another wordpress plugin to display featured posts in your blog. It creates an animated slide-show of maximum of 10 posts.

By inserting the code into your wordpress template you will be able to display the featured articles in a tasteful manner by using customized settings from the powerful admin backend that is offered. This plugin is different from other plugins in using the prototype and scriptaculous JavaScript libraries.

Features:

  • The ability to select posts by drop-down or text entry.
  • Improved HTML and CSS.
  • Improved support for Internet Explorer.

 

4. J Post Slider (DemoDownload)

serie3_info

J- post- slider plugin designed to show feature post in fancy appearance in j-qurey box. Sliding images with Excerpted text to overlay it in many different positions, Mouse-over stop the animation.

A powerful back-end where you can change the slider setting, colors, opacity, rotating time etc.

Features:

  • Choosing Number of featured articles.
  • Post order ( latest , random , Oldest ).
  • Images for animation box.
  • Rotating time and speed.
  • Post excerpt.
  • Select the featured category.

 

5. Featured articles plugin for WordPress (With Moo Tools)

www_php-help_ro

Featured Article Plugin With Moo tools is designed to give wordpress special appearance with sliding-show and navigation between featured articles.

This plugin is different from the others as it contains dot like navigation where you can select specific post instead of clicking next and previous.

It features a powerful Admin back-end where you can control the following;

  1. Number of featured articles to display.
  2. The order in which they will appear.
  3. The plugin Always calls the first image from the Featured post if there.

Features:

  • Add Featured Post Section Title.
  • Limit the number of character For description.
  • Featured Articles Number To display.
  • The display order (Random, New, old).
  • Thumbs Display.

 

6. WordPress Featured Content Slideshow

www_iwebix_de

I consider this plugin to be one of the best wordpress plugins to use for displaying featured article in your blog. It shows up to five featured posts in very awesome slide-show appearance (You can see the Demo Link Above).

On the left side of the slide-show it displays an image for every post while on the right side, there are all the titles (and a small description under the title) of the Posts.

The slide-show highlights the active post and repeats automatically after getting to the 5th-Post.

You have a strong administration area to adjust the category,the number of posts, the width and height, and colors.

Features:

  • Titles and small description for every featured post.
  • Navigation possibilities (when hitting a Title the Image appears).
  • An image for every different featured post.
  • A powerful administration back-end for posts and styles of the slide-show.
  • Java-script effects.

 

7. Featured Content Slider For WordPress

www_iwebix_de_featured-content-slider

Wp Featured Content Slider Similar to simple featured post as previously explained above. However, it has a nice java-script slide-show/slider for wordpress. It can be integrated anywhere on your Blog/Website.

Based on calling specific post (excerpts) from the selected category, adding post image thumbs beside it in a way that looks very nice.

Features:

  • Featured Posts with (excerpts).
  • A nice Image next to the Text (Selected Via Custom Field).
  • An Administration Setting for Category and Post Items.
  • A Java script / css Effect when sliding to another Post.
  • Arrows for navigating through the Posts.

 

8. Featured Content Slider Using (jQuery)

FeaturedContentSliderjQuery

This tutorial will show you how to add sexy featured content slide-show to your wordpress site using jQuery UI library.

Click here for tutorial

 

9. Slick Auto-Playing Featured Content Slider

fc-preview

Based on Coda slider Jquery Plugin. Simple Easy and beautiful.

Click here for tutorial

 

10. Easy Image with Content Slider (Demo)

EasySliderjQuery

Easy image with content slider enables images to slide with nice appearance based one JavaScript and css.

This tutorial will show you how to add easy image slider to your wordpress blog with simple instructions .

Click here for tutorial

 

Some awesome example websites with featured articles layout for your inspiration:

WParchive.com

wparchive_com

 

WpElites.com

wpelites_com

 

NaldzGraphics.net

naldzgraphics_net

 

CSSJockey.net

www_cssjockey_com

 

Glow theme from Elegant themes

www_elegantthemes_com_preview_Glow

 

Web2Today.com

web2today_com

56 thoughts on “10 Techniques To Display Featured Articles in WordPress Blog

  1. Mike - December 10, 2009 at 11:36 pm

    Very Nice Article

    I love 6. WordPress Featured Content Slideshow Ill try to integrate it in my blog

  2. PS3 Lovers - December 11, 2009 at 1:35 am

    I liked the article very much. Especially the Easy Slider jQuery plugin

  3. Indrek - December 11, 2009 at 2:27 am

    Thanks for the list!
    I’ve been thinking about adding such a feature on my blog and your post is right what I needed.

  4. bloggerspeed - December 11, 2009 at 8:03 pm

    I used to use Featured Content Gallery. But I was bored for a while. Now I’m here, I didn’t know there are many other ways to do this thing. I’ll give them a shot to see which one which perform best to my site. It’s a nice list Ahmed:-)

  5. Husien Adel - December 12, 2009 at 7:12 pm

    Congrat.. Ahmed

    thanks a a lot for the great article , I like it so much and be very happy to know that you egyptian too like me 🙂
    Keep going bro ..

  6. New Designer Knowles Fashion - December 14, 2009 at 6:44 am

    Hello I found this webpage by chance, I was flipping through for New Designer Fashion when I found your blog, I must say your blog is very intriguing I truely think the content, its astounding!. I don’t have the time in this instance to totally browse your site but I have saved the location of it and also signed up for your RSS feeds. I will be back when I free up some time. Bravo for a great website.

  7. John - December 28, 2009 at 6:41 pm

    These are really nice 10 techniques to display the articles in word press theme.

  8. Oro - January 18, 2010 at 7:21 am

    Thanks, i recent discover this site, i like..thanks

  9. Marketing and Advertising - June 28, 2010 at 2:54 pm

    One of the interesting features of the WordPress widget is the fact that is open source so improvements are to be expected. It works on both WordPress blogs and other sites that use the WordPress engine. Now travelers do not need to worry about the need of switching to a WordPress hosting or vice-versa just to get the widget to work.
    .-= Marketing and Advertising´s last blog ..Company Logos =-.

  10. Jasmine - September 19, 2010 at 2:07 pm

    Nice list of techniques to display featured articles… anyway, my favorite is J Post Slider. I think it’s sleek and easy to use.

    Good stuff. 🙂
    .-= Jasmine´s last blog ..Weebly Free Web Hosting Review =-.

  11. Roch - April 16, 2011 at 9:58 am

    What I am looking to do is similar. I am looking to have a static page as well as the blog appear on the main page of my wordpress site. Right now going to the settings section will only allow me to do one or the other. any feedback would be appreciated.

  12. Hahnefeld - May 25, 2011 at 2:54 am

    “J Post Slider” is a hot concept for our blog! Thanks a lot for the good article and the facts about info sharing!

  13. Fumiko Kozar - June 20, 2011 at 6:47 pm

    You’re appropriate: keywords and phrases with out impressive content friendly design, means nothing at all. I’m at the starting in Inbound Marketing and discover your write-up quite quick and concise. Thank you!

  14. floral - August 6, 2011 at 6:42 pm

    u really got a nice collection..keen to add any one of them to my site!

  15. michal peter - October 18, 2011 at 9:10 am

    What I am looking to do is similar. I am looking to have a static page as well as the blog appear on the main page of my wordpress site. Right now going to the settings section will only allow me to do one or the other. any feedback would be appreciated.

  16. lv bags pter - October 18, 2011 at 9:12 am

    “J Post Slider” is a hot concept for our blog! Thanks a lot for the good article and the facts about info sharing!

  17. Louis Vuitton - November 2, 2011 at 5:05 pm

    Edfort wasn’t able to mount another charge as the two halved the next two holes and Beirne walked away with a 3 & 2 victory.

  18. fix - November 22, 2011 at 5:54 am

    you should fix your Subscribe To Our cause its hovering over newsletters. good luck.

  19. abercrombie fitch sale - November 24, 2011 at 5:16 pm

    I like the great blog,and I like the abercrombie and fitch outlet too.I hope

    you can come to my blog abercrombie & fitch outlet to have a look,you may find

    a lot of cheap and beautiful things in our online store.

  20. Abdullah Ghafar - February 28, 2012 at 1:28 pm

    Thanks for the great info. Trust me i was looking for featured box but in here i got that link of moo tools 😀 thanks alot

  21. Shani - March 17, 2012 at 11:32 pm

    Ugh, why is it so hard to find a simple plugin that depicts picture boxes of featured articles as a gallery? Everything on here has flash. I just want something simple and static. Does anyone have any advice?

  22. jenny - May 24, 2012 at 8:58 am

    awesome tips and tricks recommended for all word press bloggers

  23. webduos.com - July 1, 2012 at 1:39 am

    Thanks for the great info. Trust me i was looking for featured box but in here i got that link of moo tools 😀 thanks alot

  24. jenny - August 28, 2012 at 10:33 am

    awesome plugin collection for wp content i ever seen

  25. Dnust - November 1, 2012 at 10:17 pm

    I have experimented some of them on my site. Even it work well for the newbies. Thanks!

  26. Bruce - November 2, 2012 at 10:50 am

    Thanks for your time featuring these great Feature Articles for WordPress.

  27. Lavneet Sharma - January 3, 2013 at 9:45 pm

    Thanks for the collection. I was really searching for some featured slider for my blog. 😉

  28. Mehreen - June 26, 2013 at 6:16 pm

    Very informative wordpress tutorial for featured post. I have used your Jquery Plugin for my website.

    Thanks man…

Share your thoughts with the community