10 Awesome Shortcodes for Your WordPress Blog: Boost Functionality Without Coding

Introduction

If you’ve ever wished to add dynamic, professional content to your WordPress blog without diving into HTML, CSS, or PHP, shortcodes are your secret weapon. Shortcodes are small, bracketed snippets of code ([like-this]) that let you embed complex elements—like galleries, contact forms, buttons, and more—with just a few clicks. They’re designed to simplify content creation, making WordPress accessible even for non-technical users.

In this guide, we’ll explore 10 powerful shortcodes that can elevate your blog’s design, functionality, and user engagement. From built-in WordPress shortcodes to plugin-based tools, we’ll cover what they do, why they matter, how to use them, and pro tips to maximize their impact. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

  1. Built-in Gallery Shortcode: [gallery]
  2. Audio & Video Embedding: [audio] and [video]
  3. Contact Form Shortcodes (e.g., Contact Form 7)
  4. Custom Button Shortcodes (e.g., Shortcodes Ultimate)
  5. Pricing Table Shortcodes (e.g., Easy Pricing Tables)
  6. Accordion Shortcodes for Collapsible Content
  7. Testimonial Rotator Shortcodes
  8. Social Media Sharing Shortcodes
  9. Countdown Timer Shortcodes
  10. DIY Custom Shortcodes: Create Your Own

What It Does

WordPress comes with a native [gallery] shortcode to display image galleries effortlessly. No plugins required—just upload images to your Media Library, and this shortcode arranges them in a grid, slider, or mosaic.

Why It’s Useful

Galleries are perfect for showcasing products, portfolio items, event photos, or step-by-step tutorials. They break up text-heavy content and make your blog more visually engaging.

How to Use It

  1. Upload Images: Go to Media > Add New and upload your images.
  2. Get Image IDs: Edit an image, and check the URL in your browser’s address bar—look for post=123 (the number is the image ID). Note IDs for all images you want to include.
  3. Add the Shortcode: In your post/page editor, paste: 
    [gallery ids="123,456,789" columns="3" size="medium"]
    • ids: Comma-separated image IDs (required).
    • columns: Number of columns (default: 3).
    • size: Image size (thumbnail, medium, large, full).

Pro Tips

  • Use the Media Library Grid: For a quicker workflow, select images in the Media Library, click “Create Gallery,” and WordPress will auto-generate the shortcode.
  • Enhance with Plugins: For advanced features (e.g., sliders, lightboxes), use plugins like Envira Gallery or NextGEN Gallery, which extend the [gallery] shortcode.

2. Audio & Video Embedding: [audio] and [video]

What They Do

WordPress includes native [audio] and [video] shortcodes to embed audio files (MP3, WAV, OGG) and video files (MP4, WebM, OGG) directly into posts/pages.

Why They’re Useful

Ideal for podcasts, music samples, video tutorials, or promotional clips. They let you host media on your site (or link to external sources) without relying on third-party players.

How to Use Them

For Audio:

[audio src="https://your-site.com/wp-content/uploads/podcast-episode.mp3" controls="true" loop="false" autoplay="false"]
  • src: URL of the audio file (required).
  • controls: Show play/pause buttons (true/false; default: true).
  • loop: Repeat audio (true/false).
  • autoplay: Play automatically (use sparingly—annoying for users!).

For Video:

[video src="https://your-site.com/wp-content/uploads/tutorial.mp4" width="640" height="360" poster="https://your-site.com/thumbnail.jpg"]
  • src: URL of the video file (required).
  • width/height: Video dimensions.
  • poster: Thumbnail image displayed before playback.

Pro Tips

  • Host Externally for Performance: Hosting large audio/video files on your server can slow down your site. Use services like SoundCloud (for audio) or YouTube/Vimeo (for video) and embed via oEmbed (just paste the URL—WordPress auto-converts it!).
  • Add Captions: For accessibility, use the [caption] shortcode or plugins like WP Video Lightbox to add captions.

3. Contact Form Shortcodes (e.g., Contact Form 7)

What They Do

Plugins like Contact Form 7 (CF7) or WPForms let you create custom contact forms (with fields like name, email, message) and generate shortcodes to embed them anywhere.

Why They’re Useful

Critical for audience interaction—let readers ask questions, submit feedback, or request services without leaving your blog.

How to Use Them (Example with Contact Form 7)

  1. Install the Plugin: Go to Plugins > Add New, search for “Contact Form 7,” and activate it.
  2. Create a Form: Navigate to Contact > Add New, customize fields (e.g., name, email, message), and save.
  3. Copy the Shortcode: After saving, CF7 displays a shortcode like [contact-form-7 id="123" title="Contact Us"].
  4. Embed It: Paste the shortcode into a post, page, or widget.

Pro Tips

  • Fight Spam: Enable CF7’s built-in anti-spam (e.g., CAPTCHA) or use reCAPTCHA via the Really Simple CAPTCHA plugin.
  • Customize Notifications: Set up email alerts so you’re notified when someone submits a form.

4. Button Shortcodes (e.g., Shortcodes Ultimate)

What They Do

Plugins like Shortcodes Ultimate or MaxButtons let you create custom buttons with text, links, colors, sizes, and styles (e.g., flat, rounded, 3D).

Why They’re Useful

Buttons boost click-through rates (CTRs) for calls-to-action (CTAs) like “Read More,” “Download Now,” or “Subscribe.” They’re more eye-catching than plain text links.

How to Use Them (Example with Shortcodes Ultimate)

  1. Install the Plugin: Activate Shortcodes Ultimate.
  2. Insert a Button: In the post editor, click the “Shortcodes” button, select “Button,” and customize:
    • Text: “Download Ebook”
    • Link: https://your-site.com/ebook
    • Style: Flat
    • Background Color: #2c3e50 (dark blue)
    • Size: Large
  3. Generate Shortcode: The plugin outputs: 
    [su_button url="https://your-site.com/ebook" style="flat" background="#2c3e50" size="large" icon="icon: download"]Download Ebook[/su_button]

Pro Tips

  • Match Brand Colors: Use your brand’s hex codes for consistency. Tools like Canva’s Color Wheel can help.
  • Add Hover Effects: Plugins like Shortcodes Ultimate let you enable hover animations (e.g., color shift, shadow) to make buttons interactive.

5. Pricing Table Shortcodes (e.g., Easy Pricing Tables)

What They Do

Plugins like Easy Pricing Tables or WP Table Builder let you create comparison tables for products, services, or membership plans.

Why They’re Useful

Perfect for affiliate marketers, SaaS blogs, or anyone selling multiple tiers of a product. They simplify decision-making by highlighting features, prices, and benefits side-by-side.

How to Use Them (Example with Easy Pricing Tables)

  1. Install the Plugin: Activate Easy Pricing Tables.
  2. Build a Table: Go to Pricing Tables > Add New, add plans (e.g., “Basic,” “Pro,” “Enterprise”), and customize features/prices.
  3. Embed the Shortcode: Copy the generated shortcode (e.g., [easy-pricing-table id="456"]) and paste it into your post.

Pro Tips

  • Highlight the “Best Value” Plan: Use a different color or “Popular” badge to guide users toward your preferred option.
  • Keep It Simple: Avoid overcrowding tables with too many features—focus on what matters most to your audience.

6. Accordion Shortcodes (e.g., Accordion Shortcodes)

What They Do

Accordion shortcodes (via plugins like Accordion Shortcodes or Elementor) create collapsible content panels. Users click a title to expand/collapse text, saving space.

Why They’re Useful

Ideal for FAQs, product specifications, or long-form content (e.g., “How It Works” guides). They keep pages clean and organized.

How to Use Them

Example with the free Accordion Shortcodes plugin:

[accordion]  
  [accordion-item title="How do I get started?"]  
    Sign up for an account, then follow our onboarding guide.  
  [/accordion-item]  
  [accordion-item title="Is there a free trial?"]  
    Yes! Get 14 days of full access with no credit card required.  
  [/accordion-item]  
[/accordion]

Pro Tips

  • Start with One Panel Open: Use [accordion open="1"] to expand the first item by default (improves UX).
  • Use for Mobile Optimization: Accordions prevent long scrolling on mobile devices—critical for retaining mobile users.

7. Testimonial Rotator Shortcodes

What They Do

Plugins like Testimonial Rotator or Strong Testimonials let you display customer reviews, testimonials, or quotes in a rotating slider or grid.

Why They’re Useful

Social proof builds trust! Testimonials validate your expertise and encourage new readers to engage with your content or products.

How to Use Them (Example with Testimonial Rotator)

  1. Install the Plugin: Activate Testimonial Rotator.
  2. Add Testimonials: Go to Testimonials > Add New, enter the quote, author name, and avatar.
  3. Create a Rotator: Go to Testimonials > Rotators, select testimonials, and customize the display (slider, grid, list).
  4. Embed with Shortcode: Use [testimonial_rotator id="789"] to add the rotator to your post.

Pro Tips

  • Include Author Details: Add job titles, company names, or locations to make testimonials more credible.
  • Auto-Rotate: Set the rotator to slide testimonials automatically (e.g., every 5 seconds) to keep content dynamic.

8. Social Media Sharing Shortcodes (e.g., Social Warfare)

What They Do

Plugins like Social Warfare or Shareaholic generate shortcodes for social sharing buttons (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.). Users can share your content with one click.

Why They’re Useful

Increases content reach and drives traffic. Social shares also signal to search engines that your content is valuable, boosting SEO.

How to Use Them (Example with Social Warfare)

  1. Install the Plugin: Activate Social Warfare.
  2. Customize Buttons: Go to Social Warfare > Display Options, choose networks, sizes, and positions (e.g., above/below content).
  3. Embed with Shortcode: Use [social_warfare] to manually place buttons in specific posts/pages.

Pro Tips

  • Track Shares: Use Social Warfare’s built-in analytics to see which networks drive the most shares.
  • Add Share Counts: Display share numbers (e.g., “1.2k Shares”) to leverage social proof.

9. Countdown Timer Shortcodes (e.g., Countdown Timer Ultimate)

What They Do

Plugins like Countdown Timer Ultimate or T(-) Countdown let you add countdown timers to create urgency (e.g., “Sale Ends In: 3 Days 5 Hours”).

Why They’re Useful

Perfect for limited-time offers, product launches, or event reminders. Urgency encourages quick action from readers.

How to Use Them

Example with Countdown Timer Ultimate:

[countdown date="2024-12-31" time="23:59:59" format="dHMS" label="Sale Ends In: "]
  • date/time: Target end date/time.
  • format: Display days (d), hours (H), minutes (M), seconds (S).

Pro Tips

  • Pair with a CTA: Place the timer above a button like “Shop Now Before It’s Gone!”
  • Test Different Messages: Experiment with labels like “Early Bird Pricing Ends In” or “Webinar Starts In” to match your goal.

10. DIY Custom Shortcodes: Create Your Own

What They Do

For advanced users, you can code custom shortcodes to automate repetitive tasks (e.g., displaying the current year, your logo, or a custom greeting).

Why They’re Useful

Tailor shortcodes to your unique needs—no plugin required! For example, a [current_year] shortcode ensures your copyright date always updates automatically.

How to Create One

Add this code to your child theme’s functions.php file (or use a plugin like Code Snippets to avoid breaking your site):

// Custom shortcode to display current year  
function current_year_shortcode() {  
  return date('Y');  
}  
add_shortcode('current_year', 'current_year_shortcode');

Now, use [current_year] in posts/pages to display “2024” (or the current year).

Pro Tips

  • Sanitize Inputs: If your shortcode accepts user input (e.g., [greet name="John"]), use esc_html() to prevent security risks: 
    function greet_shortcode($atts) {  
  $atts = shortcode_atts(array('name' => 'Guest'), $atts);  
  return 'Hello, ' . esc_html($atts['name']) . '!';  
}  
add_shortcode('greet', 'greet_shortcode');
  • Use a Child Theme: Never edit the parent theme’s functions.php—updates will erase your changes.

Conclusion

Shortcodes are a game-changer for WordPress bloggers, turning complex tasks into simple, repeatable actions. Whether you’re embedding a gallery, adding a contact form, or creating custom buttons, shortcodes save time and make your blog look professional—no coding required.

Start with 1–2 shortcodes (e.g., [gallery] and a contact form) to get comfortable, then experiment with plugins like Shortcodes Ultimate or Elementor for advanced features. Remember: the best shortcodes are those that align with your blog’s goals (e.g., growing email lists, boosting sales, or improving UX).

References