Sectorize – Custom Author Archives & Collective Authorship

Sectorize is an elegant, plug-and-play WordPress plugin that repurposes author archives into “sector”-based URLs using the required nickname field for username. It hides sensitive /author/username slugs and redirects them to clean, secure /sector/{nickname} URLs which improves privacy and branding. It also transforms author archives (pages SEO plugins often recommend disabling) into structured, sector-based archives.

Features

• Security-first: prevents exposure of login-based author slugs
• Zero configuration: Install, activate, and it works immediately
• Collective authorship: uses the site name in Schema.org markup so all content is attributed to the collective brand
• Sector-based bylines: display sector nicknames in place of author names — ideal for single-author sites or when contributors prefer anonymity
• Governance-safe: clear admin guidance; never change login/username, only nicknames
• SEO-ready: automatic schema markup, optimized titles, and canonical URLs
• Smart redirects: 301 redirects from /author/username to /sector/nickname
• Admin UI: settings page with one-click rewrite flush and success notices
• User management: adds “Sector Nickname” column to the Users table

Use Cases

• Content creators: organize posts by sector (e.g. “Insights”, “Reviews”) without exposing author logins
• Corporate sites: group content by department (“Marketing”, “Support”) with sector archives
• Industry portals: create thematic sectors (“Finance”, “Technology”, “Healthcare”)
• Regional content: build geographic sectors (“North America”, “Europe”, “Asia Pacific”)

Live Example

Sectorize is actively used on ICTStart.com:
* Article sector
* Review sector
* Insights sector

Usage

In WordPress Admin:
– Manage sector users via Settings → Sectorize
– The Author dropdown in the post editor shows sector nicknames
– The Author column in post lists displays sector nicknames

On Your Website:
– Author names are replaced with sector nicknames automatically
– Archive pages organize content by sector at /sector/{nickname}/
– Schema.org markup attributes content to the site name for collective branding

Additional Information

Sectorize customizes author archives and collective authorship in WordPress. The plugin organizes and displays content but does not replace the systems required for professional news or magazine sites.

Publishing at scale demands attention to:
* Editorial workflows (clear roles for writing, editing, and approval)
* Legal responsibility (accountability for all published content)
* Theme configuration (design and functionality tailored to the site’s needs)
* Security and compliance (protection for the site and its users)

Sectorize manages authorship metadata. Site governance, accuracy, and liability remain the responsibility of the publisher.

License

GPLv2 or later

Donate

If you find Sectorize useful, consider supporting development:
Buy me a coffee.

1. Install and activate Sectorize.
2. Create or edit users and set their nickname to the desired sector name.
3. Assign posts to sector users.
4. Flush rewrite rules once via Settings → Sectorize.

1. 

   Native WordPress author archive (/author/john) before Sectorize is installed.

2. 

   Sectorize-enabled author archive (/sector/opinion) using display name slug.

3. 

   Sectorize main admin UI showing schema and publishing controls.

4. 

   Single post showing Sectorize sector slug with schema.org validation.

0.2.1

• Removed inline block from render_settings_page()
• Added enqueue_admin_assets() hooked to admin_enqueue_scripts
• Enqueues css/sectorize-admin.css with proper versioning (1.0.0) and scope (settings_page_sectorize only)
• Replaced dirname(FILE) with DIR for path resolution (PHP ≥ 5.3)

0.2.0

• Added admin settings interface (Settings → Sectorize)
• Implemented nonce verification for all admin form submissions
• Added capability checks for user management operations
• Enhanced input sanitization and validation
• Improved transient caching with expiration
• Added permalink flush functionality in admin UI