So, you’ve got a WordPress website. Maybe it’s a glorious digital masterpiece, maybe it still vaguely resembles a GeoCities page from the late 90s. Either way, at some point, you might realize the crushing weight of managing the entire thing yourself is starting to feel less like “solopreneur hustle” and more like “slow descent into digital madness.”

You need help. You’ve found a brave soul (a virtual assistant, a content contributor, or perhaps just your slightly-too-enthusiastic nephew) willing to venture into the backend of your online kingdom. But how do you grant them access without handing over the keys to the entire castle (and risking them accidentally deleting your “About Us” page, which, let’s be honest, is probably a novel)?

Enter the surprisingly simple process of adding a new user to WordPress. It’s less complicated than explaining cryptocurrency to your grandma, and almost as rewarding.

Why Subject Your Website to Another Human?

Good question. Aside from sheer desperation for a few hours off, legitimate reasons include:

  • Content Contributors: Someone else is writing your brilliant blog posts (or, you know, just blog posts).
  • Editors: They fix the typos in those blog posts before the internet permanently archives your grammatical sins.
  • Virtual Assistants: Bless their souls, they handle the tasks you keep putting off until 2 AM.
  • Developers/Designers: If you ever decide to make your website look less like a digital relic (and, hey, we can help with that!), they’ll need access.

Whatever the reason, giving someone their own login is infinitely better than sharing your admin password. Seriously. Don’t do that. It’s the digital equivalent of leaving your spare key under the welcome mat that says “Come On In!”

The Not-So-Grim Steps to Adding a New WordPress User

Alright, deep breaths. You won’t need a shovel or an alibi for this. Just follow these steps:

  1. Log in to Your WordPress Admin Dashboard: You know the place. The backend. The digital control center where all the magic (and occasional frustration) happens.
  2. Navigate to Users > Add New: Look at the left-hand sidebar. Find “Users” and hover over it. A little menu will pop out. Click on “Add New.” Don’t be scared; it won’t bite.
  3. Fill in the Blanks (Mostly): You’ll see a form. It’s not a pop quiz, just fill in the required fields marked with that intimidating little red asterisk.
    • Username (Required): Pick something sensible. Their first name, first initial last name, something they’ll actually remember. Avoid “Admin2” or “Intern_Final_V3.”
    • Email (Required): PAY ATTENTION HERE, SOLOPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESSES! This should be a professional email address associated with their identity, not a random Gmail account they created for online gaming. Using professional email for everyone who touches your website screams “We Are A Legitimate Operation,” not “We Still Use AOL Dial-Up.” (If their email is currently @aol.com, maybe we should talk about that free email setup offer…).
    • First Name / Last Name: Optional, but helpful for keeping track of your digital workforce.
    • Website: Also optional. Unless their personal website is a masterpiece of modern design, maybe leave this blank for now.
    • Password: WordPress will auto-generate a strong one. It will look like a random string of characters that only a highly intelligent squirrel could decipher. USE IT. Or, let them set their own, but strongly encourage something that isn’t “password123” or their cat’s name. Seriously. The internet has seen enough weak passwords to last a lifetime.
    • Send User Notification: Keep this checked. It sends them an email with their login details. Saves you a step (and potential awkward “So, uh, what’s my password again?” conversations).
  4. Assign a Role (Choose Their Digital Fate): This is important. It determines what they can and cannot do on your website. Don’t just make everyone an Administrator unless you enjoy living dangerously.
    • Subscriber: Can only manage their profile. Basically useless for website management tasks.
    • Contributor: Can write and manage their own posts but can’t publish them. Good for guest bloggers you don’t entirely trust yet.
    • Author: Can write, manage, and publish their own posts. For trusted content creators.
    • Editor: Can manage all posts, pages, categories, and tags. Can also moderate comments. Good for content managers.
    • Administrator: Has access to everything. They can install plugins, delete themes, and potentially break your entire site. Assign this role only to people you would trust with your firstborn and your secret stash of questionable snacks.
    • [Any Custom Roles from Plugins]: Some plugins add extra roles. Understand what those roles can do before assigning them.
  5. Click “Add New User”: The big blue button. Press it. The user is created. It’s done. You didn’t break anything (probably).

Post-Creation Protocol:

  • Securely Share Credentials: While the email notification helps, ensure they understand how to log in and that they should keep their password safe.
  • Explain Their Role: Clearly communicate what their responsibilities are and what they can and cannot do on the site. Avoid accidental digital arson.

Adding users to WordPress isn’t a walk in a graveyard, even with our slightly morbid sense of humor. It’s a straightforward process that can help you delegate tasks and grow your online presence without losing your mind (entirely).

If this still feels too complex, or if the state of your current website goes way beyond just needing extra hands in the backend, remember, we specialize in taking online messes and turning them into professional, effective digital assets. We’ve seen worse. Probably.

Reach Out to Us