Single Staff Member – Hybrid Pages

WordPress Plugin Staff List – Single Staff Member – Hybrid Pages

By default, single staff member page is a dynamic page. Only one page is required to display all individual staff members. This type of page contains shortcode, which allows the server to access database information and generate unique content each time the page is loaded. Low maintenance and simplicity is the main advantage of this approach.
With dynamic pages, you have limited control over page title and other parts of the head section. Page displaying different staff members will render the same head element – not the optimal solution if you are concerned about SEO. To gain explicit control over page title, canonical URL and other meta tags you have to switch to hybrid pages.

Dynamic vs hybrid pages.

Dynamic pages.
Single page is used by all staff members.
Populated with data returned from the database.
Dynamic pages can have ugly or pretty permalinks.
Advantage: Easy to add, low maintenance.
Disadvantage: Limited SEO options.
Hybrid pages.
Individual pages for each of the staff members.
Most or all of the content will be populated with data returned from the database.
Custom, staff member specific sections can be added to some or all of the pages.
Advantage: Custom SEO. Additional content can be added to the individual pages.
Disadvantage: Multiple pages have to be created.

Hybrid single pages.

  • Individual pages have to be created for each of the staff members.
  • Most of the content doesn’t require manual entry. Shortcode is used to populate each of the pages with staff member data.
  • Custom sections if any, require manual data entry and maintenance.
  • Search engine friendly. Page title, canonical URL and social media options can be custom crafted for each of the pages.
  • Custom content can be added to any of the pages to create a mix of dynamic and static content.

Getting ready for hybrid pages.

Basic concepts you may want to get familiar with before starting to work with hybrid pages.
  1. Page names.
  2. Pages or subpages.
  3. Hybrid page shortcodes.
  4. Pretty permalinks as page name.
  5. Custom URL.

1. Page names.

Page name is a part of the permalink usually called a slug.
A permalink is the full URL for a page. It includes your domain name, plus a page name.
Page name is not a page title.
staff-list-page-name
  1. Page title.
  2. Permalink.
  3. Page name.

2. Pages or subpages.

In WordPress, you can publish content either as a parent page or as a child page (subpage).
Hybrid pages will work with both types.
Page permalink: https://mydomain.com/emmanuel-bourne/
Subpage permalink: https://mydomain.com/our-team/emmanuel-bourne/
Page name: emmanuel-bourne

3. Hybrid page shortcodes.

Hybrid page shortcode has two parts:
  1. Single page shortcode.
  2. Hybrid page parameter.
[abcf-staff-grid-a id="6336" staff-name-sp="emmanuel-bourne"]
Single Page Shortcode
single-page-shortcode
Hybrid page parameters.
You can use one or the other.
Parameter staff-id. Replace 5236 with the record id of your staff member.
Parameter staff-name-sp. Replace john-smith with value of the Pretty Permalink field.

4. Pretty permalinks as page name.

Staff Member Data > Options
  • Hyperlinks to hybrid pages are build by merging single page URL with pretty permalink.
  • Page name has to match the content of the “Pretty Permalink” field.
Hybrid page URL: https://mydomain.com/emmanuel-bourne/
WordPress plugin Staff List. Staff member SEO options. Pretty permalink populated with data.

5. Custom URL.

Staff Member Data > Images
Custom URL. Leave this field empty.
WordPress plugin Staff List. Staff member image link. Custom URL is left empty.

Hybrid pages step by step.

  1. Set up single page options.
  2. Change field order.
  3. Create hybrid pages.
  4. Add shortcode to hybrid pages.
  5. Add custom content.
  6. Preview hybrid pages.

1. Set up single page options.

WordPress plugin Staff List. Single Page options, create links to hybrid pages.
Single Page URL.
Enter the hybrid page permalink, minus the page name.
Page: https://mydomain.com/
Subpage: https://mydomain.com/our-team/
Show Link.
Yes, link to hybrid pages.
Link Text.
Enter the text you want to display as a hyperlink.
Add link to staff image.
Checked or uchecked.
Open in a new tab or window..
Checked or uchecked.

2. Change field order.

When Link Text is populated, it adds field type: Single Page Text Link.
Template Options > Field Order – Staff Page
  1. Look for filed type: Single Page Text Link.
  2. Move it up or down to position it.

3. Create hybrid pages.

  • Create and publish pages or subpages.
  • Each of the staff members should have an individual page created.
Hybrid page name has to match the content of the “Pretty Permalink” field.
Page name: emmanuel-bourne
Page permalink: https://mydomain.com/emmanuel-bourne/
Subpage permalink: https://mydomain.com/our-team/emmanuel-bourne/
Hyperlinks to hybrid pages are made by concatenating single page URL and pretty permalink
Template > Single Page Options > Single Page URL + Staff Member Data > Options > Pretty Permalink
WordPress plugin Staff List. Staff member SEO options. Pretty permalink populated with data.

4. Add shortcode.

Add shortcode to each of the hybrid pages.
hybrid page shortcode

5. Add custom content.

You can add custom content above or below the hybrid page shortcode.

6. Preview hybrid pages.

  • Open the staff member page.
  • Click on one of the hyperlinks to single page.
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