Status Text: Tags

Overview

Tags are dynamic items that will be replaced by a specific value from the Post, Author, Meta Data etc.

Insert Tags Dropdown

The Insert Tags dropdown option is displayed above the status message text field:

WordPress to Buffer Pro: Tag Dropdown

Autocomplete Suggestions

Autocomplete suggestions are available in WordPress to Hootsuite Pro 2.0.8, releasing Thursday April 29th 2021 23:59 UTC.

When typing in the status message text field, an autocomplete dropdown list of matching Tags will be displayed when you begin typing with a left curly brace.

Continue to type until you see the tag you want to insert, and either:

  • Click the tag,
  • Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to navigate up and down the autocomplete list, highlighting the required tag and pressing the Enter key

For example, to add the Post Title tag:

  • Start typing {ti,
  • Click the resulting tag in the list:
    WordPress to Buffer Pro: Status Tags: Autocomplete

To hide or cancel autocompletion, either press the escape key, or click outside of the list of suggested tags.

Available Tags

The following tags are supported in a status message:

Name Tag Description
Site Name {sitename} Displays your WordPress’ site name
Post Title {title} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Title
Post Excerpt (Full) {excerpt} Displays the full Post / Page / Custom Post Type Excerpt.
Post Excerpt (Character Limited) 2.0.9 and lower: {excerpt_?}
2.1.0 and higher: {excerpt:characters(?)}
Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Excerpt, limited to the given number of characters.
When using the Insert Tag dropdown, you’ll be asked for the number of characters to limit the Excerpt to, which replaces the question mark symbol in the Tag.
When manually typing in the template tag into the status message text field, you’ll need to replace the question mark symbol with the number of characters that you want to limit the Excerpt to.
Post Excerpt (Word Limited) 2.0.9 and lower: {excerpt_?_words}
2.1.0 and higher: {excerpt:words(?)}
Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Excerpt, limited to the given number of words.
When using the Insert Tag dropdown, you’ll be asked for the number of words to limit the Excerpt to, which replaces the question mark symbol in the Tag.
When manually typing in the template tag into the status message text field, you’ll need to replace the question mark symbol with the number of words that you want to limit the Excerpt to.
Post Excerpt (Sentence Limited) 2.0.9 and lower: {excerpt_?_sentences}
2.1.0 and higher: {excerpt:sentences(?)}
Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Excerpt, limited to the given number of sentences.
When using the Insert Tag dropdown, you’ll be asked for the number of sentences to limit the Excerpt to, which replaces the question mark symbol in the Tag.
When manually typing in the template tag into the status message text field, you’ll need to replace the question mark symbol with the number of sentences that you want to limit the Excerpt to.
Post Content (Full) {content} Displays the full Post / Page / Custom Post Type Content.
Post Content (Up to More Tag) {content_more_tag} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Content, up to the <!–more–> tag.  If no tag exists, this tag behaves as the Post Content (Full) tag.
Post Content (Character Limited) 2.0.9 and lower: {content_?}
2.1.0 and higher: {content:characters(?)}
Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Content, limited to the given number of characters.
When using the Insert Tag dropdown, you’ll be asked for the number of characters to limit the Content to, which replaces the question mark symbol in the Tag.
When manually typing in the template tag into the status message text field, you’ll need to replace the question mark symbol with the number of characters that you want to limit the Content to.
Post Content (Word Limited) 2.0.9 and lower: {content_?_words}
2.1.0 and higher: {content:words(?)}
Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Content, limited to the given number of words.
When using the Insert Tag dropdown, you’ll be asked for the number of words to limit the Content to, which replaces the question mark symbol in the Tag.
When manually typing in the template tag into the status message text field, you’ll need to replace the question mark symbol with the number of words that you want to limit the Content to.
Post Content (Sentence Limited) 2.0.9 and lower: {content_?_sentences}
2.1.0 and higher: {content:sentences(?)}
Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Content, limited to the given number of sentences.
When using the Insert Tag dropdown, you’ll be asked for the number of sentences to limit the Content to, which replaces the question mark symbol in the Tag.
When manually typing in the template tag into the status message text field, you’ll need to replace the question mark symbol with the number of sentences that you want to limit the Content to.
Post Date {date} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Publish Date
WordPress to Hootsuite Pro 2.2.9 and later, releasing Thursday December 16th 2021 23:59 UTC, uses WordPress Admin > Settings > Site Language and Date Format options for determining the date output. To change the date format, either change this in WordPress or use the Date transformation in the Applying Transformations section below.
Post URL {url} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type URL
Post URL, Shortened {url_short} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type shortened URL i.e. http://yoursite.com/?p=1
Post Meta Field {custom_field_NAME} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Custom Field Name’s value.  Replace NAME with the name of your Custom Field.  For example, a Custom Field called ‘test’ would use the template tag {custom_field_test}
Author Login {author_user_login} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type’s Author’s Username
Author Nice Name {author_user_nicename} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type’s Author’s Nice Name
Author Email {author_user_email} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type’s Author’s Email Address
Author URL {author_user_url} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type’s Author’s URL
Author Display Name {author_display_name} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type’s Author’s Display Name
Author Meta Field {author_field_NAME} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Author Custom Field Name’s value.  Replace NAME with the name of your Custom Field.  For example, a Custom Field called ‘test’ would use the template tag {author_field_test}
Taxonomy: Category Hashtag {taxonomy_category} Displays a list of Categories assigned to the Post / Page / Custom Post Type.  Each Category is preceded with a hashtag, and each Category is separated by a space. Categories with multiple words will have their spaces removed. For example, a Post with the Categories Example A, Example B and Example C would output as #examplea #exampleb #examplec
Taxonomy: Category Hashtag, Retaining Case {taxonomy_category_hashtag_retain_case} Displays a list of Categories assigned to the Post / Page / Custom Post Type.  Each Category is preceded with a hashtag, and each Category is separated by a space. Categories with multiple words will have their spaces removed. For example, a Post with the Categories Example A, Example B and Example C would output as #ExampleA #ExampleB #ExampleC
Taxonomy: Category Hashtag, Underscores {taxonomy_category_hashtag_underscore} Displays a list of Categories assigned to the Post / Page / Custom Post Type.  Each Category is preceded with a hashtag, and each Category is separated by a space.  Categories with multiple words will have their spaces replaced by underscores. For example, a Post with the Categories Example A, Example B and Example C would output as #example_a #example_b #example_c
Taxonomy: Category Name {taxonomy_category_name} Displays a list of Categories assigned to the Post / Page / Custom Post Type.  Each Category is separated by a space.  For example, a Post with the Categories one, two and three would output as one two three
Taxonomy: Category Hashtag with Limit {taxonomy_category:2} Displays up to the given number of Categories assigned to the Post / Page / Custom Post Type.  Each Category is preceded with a hashtag, and each Category is separated by a space and converted to lowercase.  For example, a Post with the Categories One, Two and Three would output as #one #two
Taxonomy: Category Hashtag with Limit, Retaining Case {taxonomy_category_hashtag_retain_case:2} Displays up to the given number of Categories assigned to the Post / Page / Custom Post Type.  Each Category is preceded with a hashtag, and each Category is separated by a space.  For example, a Post with the Categories One, Two and Three would output as #One #Two
Taxonomy: Category Name with Limit {taxonomy_category_name:2} Displays a list of Categories assigned to the Post / Page / Custom Post Type.  Each Category is separated by a space.  For example, a Post with the Categories one, two and three would output as one two
Taxonomy: Tag Hashtag {taxonomy_post_tag} Displays a list of Tags assigned to the Post / Page / Custom Post Type.  Each Tag is preceded with a hashtag, and each Tag is separated by a space. Tags with multiple words will have their spaces removed. For example, a Post with the Tags Example A, Example B and Example C would output as #examplea #exampleb #examplec
Taxonomy: Tag Hashtag, Retaining Case {taxonomy_post_tag_hashtag_retain_case} Displays a list of Tags assigned to the Post / Page / Custom Post Type.  Each Tag is preceded with a hashtag, and each Tag is separated by a space. Tags with multiple words will have their spaces removed. For example, a Post with the Tags Example A, Example B and Example C would output as #ExampleA #ExampleB #ExampleC
Taxonomy: Tag Hashtag, Underscores {taxonomy_post_tag_hashtag_underscore} Displays a list of Tags assigned to the Post / Page / Custom Post Type.  Each Tag is preceded with a hashtag, and each Tag is separated by a space.  Tags with multiple words will have their spaces replaced by underscores. For example, a Post with the Tags Example A, Example B and Example C would output as #example_a #example_b #example_c
Taxonomy: Tag Name {taxonomy_post_tag_name} Displays a list of Tags assigned to the Post / Page / Custom Post Type.  EachTag is separated by a space.  For example, a Post with the Tags one, two and three would output as one two three
Taxonomy: Tag Hashtag with Limit {taxonomy_post_tag:2} Displays up to the given number of Tags assigned to the Post / Page / Custom Post Type.  EachTag is preceded with a hashtag, and each Tag is separated by a space.  For example, a Post with the Tags one, two and three would output as #one #two
Taxonomy: Category Hashtag with Limit, Retaining Case {taxonomy_post_tag_hashtag_retain_case:2} Displays up to the given number of Tags assigned to the Post / Page / Custom Post Type.  Each Tag is preceded with a hashtag, and each Tag is separated by a space.  For example, a Post with the Tags One, Two and Three would output as #One #Two
Taxonomy: Tag Name with Limit {taxonomy_post_tag_name:2} Displays a list of Tags assigned to the Post / Page / Custom Post Type.  Each Tag is separated by a space.  For example, a Post with the Tags one, two and three would output as one two
Depending on your WordPress web site, you may see additional Taxonomies if they are supported by the Post Type that you’re configuring status messages for.

Applying Transformations

Tag Transformations require WordPress to Hootsuite Pro 2.0.9. Further tag transformations are available in later versions, as detailed in the below table.

The output of most tags can be transformed by using one or more Tag Transformations.  Using the following data as an example, the table below defines the output each transformation will produce:

  • {title} = Birmingham, West Midlands
  • {date} = 2021-01-01
Transformation Syntax and Notes Output
Uppercase {title:uppercase_all} BIRMINGHAM, WEST MIDLANDS
Lowercase {title:lowercase_all} birmingham, west midlands
Capitalise first letter {title:uppercase_first_character} Birmingham, west midlands
Capitalise first letter of each word {title:uppercase_first_character_words} Birmingham, West Midlands
First word {title:first_word} Birmingham
Last word {title:last_word} Midlands
Convert to Permalink style slug {title:url} birmingham-west-midlands
Convert to Permalink style slug, underscores {title:url_underscore} birmingham_west_midlands
Encode to RFC 3986 (2.1.0+) {title:url_encode} Birmingham,%20West%20Midlands
Date and/or Time (2.1.0+) {date:date(dS F Y)}
Date/time format is specified in brackets, following PHP DateTime Formats.
WordPress to Hootsuite Pro 2.2.9 and later, releasing Thursday December 16th 2021 23:59 UTC, uses WordPress Admin > Settings > Site Language for determining the language to output the date for.
01st January 2021
Character Limit (2.1.0+) {title:characters(4)}
The number of characters is specified in brackets. Some tags cannot use this transformation, detailed below.
Birm
Word Limit (2.1.0+) {title:words(1)}
The number of words is specified in brackets. Some tags cannot use this transformation, detailed below.
Birmingham
Sentence Limit (2.1.0+) {title:sentences(1)}
The number of sentences is specified in brackets. Some tags cannot use this transformation, detailed below.
Birmingham, West Midlands
First and last word transformations delineate using a space.

Applying Multiple Transformations

Multiple transformations can also be applied in the order they are written, from left to right.

Using the same example data as above:

Transformation Syntax Output
Uppercase and Convert to Permalink style slug {title:uppercase_all:url} birmingham-west-midlands
Convert to Permalink style slug and Uppercase {title:url:uppercase_all} BIRMINGHAM-WEST-MIDLANDS

Character Limits

The syntax for character limiting a Template Tag changed in WordPress to Hootsuite Pro 2.1.0, releasing June 3rd 2021 23:59 UTC.  Existing syntax is still supported for backward compatibility, however it’s recommended that you update any older syntax to the newer formatting.

When adding Template Tags to status(es), a maximum character limit can be set by using the characters transformation:

Name Tag Description
Post Title {title:characters(50)} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Title, limited to a maximum of 50 characters.
Post Excerpt {excerpt:characters(50)} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Excerpt, limited to a maximum of 50 characters.
Post Content {content:characters(150)} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Content, limited to a maximum of 150 characters.

For Plugin versions prior to 2.1.0, the following Template Tags can be used:

Name Tag Description
Post Title {title(50)} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Title, limited to a maximum of 50 characters.
Post Excerpt {excerpt(50)} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Excerpt, limited to a maximum of 50 characters.
Post Content {content(150)} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Content, limited to a maximum of 150 characters.

Character Limits can be used on any Template Tags except:

  • Post Date
  • Post URL
  • Post ID
  • Author Email
  • Author URL
  • Taxonomies

Word Limits

The syntax for word limiting a Template Tag changed in WordPress to Hootsuite Pro 2.1.0, releasing June 3rd 2021 23:59 UTC.  Existing syntax is still supported for backward compatibility, however it’s recommended that you update any older syntax to the newer formatting.

When adding Template Tags to status(es), a maximum word limit can be set by using the words transformation:

Name Tag Description
Post Title {title:words(50)} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Title, limited to a maximum of 50 words.
Post Excerpt {excerpt:words(50)} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Excerpt, limited to a maximum of 50 words.
Post Content {content:words(150)} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Content, limited to a maximum of 150 words.

For Plugin versions prior to 2.1.0, the following Template Tags can be used:

Name Tag Description
Post Title {title(50_words)} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Title, limited to a maximum of 50 words.
Post Excerpt {excerpt(50_words)} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Excerpt, limited to a maximum of 50 words.
Post Content {content(150_words)} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Content, limited to a maximum of 150 words.

Word Limits can be used on any Template Tags except:

  • Post Date
  • Post URL
  • Post ID
  • Author Email
  • Author URL
  • Taxonomies

Sentence Limits

The syntax for sentence limiting a Template Tag changed in WordPress to Hootsuite Pro 2.1.0, releasing June 3rd 2021 23:59 UTC.  Existing syntax is still supported for backward compatibility, however it’s recommended that you update any older syntax to the newer formatting.

When adding Template Tags to status(es), a maximum word limit can be set by using the sentences transformation:

Name Tag Description
Post Title {title:sentences(1)} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Title, limited to a maximum of 1 sentence.
Post Excerpt {excerpt:sentences(2)} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Excerpt, limited to a maximum of 2 sentences.
Post Content {content:sentences(3)} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Content, limited to a maximum of 3 sentences.

For Plugin versions prior to 2.1.0, the following Template Tags can be used:

Name Tag Description
Post Title {title(1_sentences)} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Title, limited to a maximum of 1 sentence.
Post Excerpt {excerpt(2_sentences)} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Excerpt, limited to a maximum of 2 sentences.
Post Content {content(3_sentences)} Displays the Post / Page / Custom Post Type Content, limited to a maximum of 3 sentences.

Sentence Limits can be used on any Template Tags except:

  • Post Date
  • Post URL
  • Post ID
  • Author Email
  • Author URL
  • Taxonomies

URL: Google Analytics UTM Parameters

To add Google Analytics UTM Parameters with a status text’s URL:

  • Add the parameters immediately after the {url} tag. For example:
    {url}?utm_source=source&utm_medium=medium&utm_campaign=campaign

All in One SEO Pack

When the All in One SEO Pack Plugin is installed and active, the following additional tags are available:

Name Tag Description
Meta Title {aioseo_meta_title} Displays the Post’s Meta Title, as it would be output in the <title> element
Meta Description {aioseo_meta_description} Displays the Post’s Meta Description, as it would be output in the <meta> element

The Events Calendar

Refer to the Documentation for available tags.

Events Manager: Events

Refer to the Documentation for available tags.

Events Manager: Locations

Refer to the Documentation for available tags.

Modern Events Calendar

Refer to the Documentation for available tags.

When the Featured Image Caption Plugin is installed and active, the following additional tags are available:

Name Tag Description
Caption {featured_image_caption_caption} Displays the Caption defined in the Featured Image Caption metabox.
Source Text {featured_image_caption_text} Displays the Source Text defined in the Featured Image Caption metabox.
Source URL {featured_image_caption_url} Displays the Source URL defined in the Featured Image Caption metabox.

Rank Math SEO

When the Rank Math SEO Plugin is installed and active, the following additional tags are available:

Name Tag Description
Meta Title {rank_math_meta_title} Displays the Post’s Meta Title, as it would be output in the <title> element
Meta Description {rank_math_meta_description} Displays the Post’s Meta Description, as it would be output in the <meta> element

SEOPress

When the SEOPress Plugin is installed and active, the following additional tags are available:

Name Tag Description
Meta Title {seopress_meta_title} Displays the Post’s Meta Title, as it would be output in the <title> element
Meta Description {seopress_meta_description} Displays the Post’s Meta Description, as it would be output in the <meta> element

Taxonomies

When using any taxonomy based template tag, such as {taxonomy_category}, you can optionally specify the maximum number of Terms that should be output on the status message.  This is useful if, for example, your Post has several Terms, and outputting all of them would result in a status message that is too long for a given social network.

To specify the maximum number of Terms, use the following format:

{taxonomy_category:n}

n is an integer number of the maximum number of Terms to output.  For example, if we wanted to output up to 2 Categories, we would use {taxonomy_category:2}

WooCommerce

When defining status(es) for Products in WooCommerce, the following additional tags are available:

Name Tag Description
Product Price {woocommerce_price} Displays the Product’s Price
Product Regular Price {woocommerce_regular_price} Displays the Product’s Regular Price
Product Sale Price {woocommerce_sale_price} Displays the Product’s Sale Price
Product Sale Price Date From {woocommerce_sale_date_from} Displays the Product’s Sale Price From Date
Product Sale Price Date To {woocommerce_sale_date_to} Displays the Product’s Sale Price To Date
Product SKU {woocommerce_sku} Displays the Product’s SKU
Product Quantity {woocommerce_quantity} Displays the Product’s Quantity
Product Weight {woocommerce_weight} Displays the Product’s Weight
Product Dimensions {woocommerce_dimensions} Displays the Product’s Dimensions
Product Average Rating {woocommerce_rating} Displays the Product’s Average Rating
Product Review Count {woocommerce_reviews} Displays the Product’s Review Count

Yoast SEO

When the Yoast SEO Pack Plugin is installed and active, the following additional tags are available:

Support for Facebook and Twitter fields is available in WordPress to Hootsuite Pro 2.3.2, releasing Thursday February 3rd 2022 23:59 UTC.
Name Tag Description
Meta Title {yoast_seo_meta_title} Displays the Post’s Yoast SEO Meta Title, as it would be output in the <title> element
Meta Description {yoast_seo_meta_description} Displays the Post’s Yoast SEO Meta Description, as it would be output in the <meta> element
Twitter Title {yoast_seo_twitter_title} Displays the Post’s Yoast SEO > Social > Twitter Title, if defined in the Post’s Yoast SEO settings.
Twitter Description {yoast_seo_twitter_description} Displays the Post’s Yoast SEO > Social > Twitter Description, if defined in the Post’s Yoast SEO settings
Facebook Title {yoast_seo_open_graph_title} Displays the Post’s Yoast SEO > Social > Facebook Title, if defined in the Post’s Yoast SEO settings
Facebook Description {yoast_seo_open_graph_description} Displays the Post’s Yoast SEO > Social > Facebook Description, if defined in the Post’s Yoast SEO settings

Shortcodes

Shortcodes can be used within the status text.

Where possible, WordPress to Hootsuite Pro will attempt to remove HTML produced by shortcodes used within the status text. This can, however, result in incorrect text layout or other unforeseen issues.  In these instances, it is the responsibility of the shortcode provider to ensure that their shortcode provides a text-only output option.

If you’re using a PODS shortcode, you must include both the name and field attributes as a minimum.  For example, if your Post Type is called show and your PODS field is called line_up, you would use [pods name=”show” field=”line_up”]

Twitter Profile Mentions

To include a linked Twitter username in status text, enter the username in the format @username:
WordPress to Buffer Pro: Status Text: Twitter Profile Mention

In the above example, the status on Twitter will display the following:
WordPress to Buffer Pro: Status Text: Twitter Profile Mention: Twitter Result

Due to Twitter API costs, autocomplete suggestions for Twitter usernames is deprecated. The above will continue to work.

Spintax

Spintax can be used within the status text, to help randomize the text content that’s output.

It’s best to think of spintax as a way of generating unique sentences, by specifying one or more words within a sentence, where each word has two or more choices.

Spintax Example

For example, a sentence might be:

Writing content is a lot of fun.

Using spintax, we can use:

{Writing|Creating} {content|articles} is a {lot of fun|rewarding experience}

WordPress to Hootsuite Pro will then, at random, generate a variation for the status text.  In this case there are 8 possible variations:

Writing content is a lot of fun
Creating content is a lot of fun
Writing articles is a lot of fun
Creating articles is a lot of fun
Writing content is a rewarding experience
Creating content is a rewarding experience
Writing articles is a rewarding experience
Creating articles is a rewarding experience

Spintax must contain two or more choices e.g. {Writing|Creating}.  Whilst e.g. {Writing} may validate in your own spintax validator, WordPress to Hootsuite Pro will treat this as a Status Tag, and not perform any spintax or removal of braces.

Nested Spintax Example

Spintax can also be nested.  For example:

{Hello|Hi}, {{Joe|Steve}|Tim|Tom}

WordPress to Hootsuite Pro will then, at random, generate a variation for the status text.  In this case there are 8 possible variations:

Hello, Joe
Hello, Steve
Hello, Tim
Hello, Tom
Hi, Joe
Hi, Steve
Hi, Tim
Hi, Tom

Using Tags

Tags can also be used within spintax.  For example:

{Written|Produced} by {{author_user_nicename}|{author_user_displayname}}

WordPress to Hootsuite Pro will then, at random, generate a variation for the status text.  In this case there are 8 possible variations (assuming the Author’s nicename = Steve and the Author’s Display Name = Steve Jobs):

Written by Steve
Written by Steve Jobs
Produced by Steve
Produced by Steve Jobs
Writing content is a rewarding experience