`publish_post` doesn't work for custom post types, the correct hook (action hook) is `publish_{$custom_post_type}`. You should use `add_action()` as this is an action hook. I also tend to make use of the `transition_post_status` hook which is a much more universal hook as it fires everytime a post's status is changed regardless. You can use `$old_status` and `$new_status` to check the previous and new status of a post then do something. For a new post, you can something like this: (*Requires PHP 5.3+*) add_action( 'transition_post_status', function ( $new_status, $old_status, $post ) { if( 'publish' == $new_status && 'publish' != $old_status && $post->post_type == 'my_post_type' ) { //DO SOMETHING IF NEW POST IN POST TYPE IS PUBLISHED } }, 10, 3 ); EDIT ---- For post edits/updates, using `transition_post_status`, you can do add_action( 'transition_post_status', function ( $new_status, $old_status, $post ) { if( 'publish' == $new_status && 'publish' == $old_status && $post->post_type == 'my_post_type' ) { //DO SOMETHING IF A POST IN POST TYPE IS EDITED } }, 10, 3 ); For further reading regarding post status transition, you can check out [the codex][1] [1]: http://codex.wordpress.org/Post_Status_Transitions