10 Minutes to a Better WordPress Sidebar

Sidebar: Key elements of website design

Do you often follow the sidebar of your website? It is often overlooked, but it is crucial. The sidebar affects user navigation and website aesthetics. Designed properly can improve the user experience, otherwise it will be counterproductive.

Although there are no hard and rigid regulations, the following principles should be followed when designing WordPress sidebar:

• Simple first: The overly long sidebar looks bulky, affecting page browsing. Simplify to essential elements to enhance the aesthetics and functionality of the page.
• Contains core elements: Usually includes a brief author introduction, search bar, and contact information.
• Achieve website goals: The sidebar is a valuable space that is used to achieve website goals. For example, guide users to subscribe to mailing lists, donate through PayPal, etc.
• Interact with readers: Contact with readers through a brief author introduction and contact information (social media, email, etc.).

10 minutes to optimize WordPress sidebar

The following steps can optimize your sidebar in 10 minutes without the need for advanced technical knowledge:

Step 1: Simplify the sidebar (1 minute)

Remove unnecessary default widgets, such as Meta or Archives widgets. In the dashboard, click "Appearance" > "Widgets", select the widget you want to delete, and click "Delete" in the drop-down menu.

Step 2: Download the practical gadget (3 minutes)

Download appropriate gadgets as needed, such as the Twitter timeline gadget that displays Twitter feeds (provided by Jetpack), and the picture gadget that displays avatars. The WordPress plugin directory provides a variety of gadgets.

Step 3: Plugin comes with gadgets (3 minutes)

Many plugins include widgets, such as the MailChimp for WordPress plugin provides a mail subscription form widget, and Jetpack also includes several utility widgets. View all available widgets in Appearance > Widgets.

Step 4: Make the most of the default gadget (2 minutes)

WordPress offers many default widgets that can be used in combination with downloaded widgets. For example, use the text widget and the picture widget to display avatar and author introduction.

Step 5: Create a custom button (1 minute)

Create buttons with text widgets, just add the following code:

<a href="https://www.php.cn/link/8b5578656a9a3c888090fb81c2869c63" class="button">按钮文本</a>

Replace "https://www.php.cn/link/8b5578656a9a3c888090fb81c2869c63" with the target link .

Quick Sprout uses the sidebar to place eye-catching subscription forms.

Copyblogger optimized sidebar, including subscription forms and topic selection areas.

Advanced skills:

• Use sidebar plug-ins: Such as Simple Page Sidebars, Sidebar Manager Light, Custom Sidebars, WP Dynamic Sidebar, etc., to get more control and flexible functions.
• Custom Widgets: Create static or dynamic widgets to achieve more advanced control (code required).

FAQ:

• How to add a new sidebar? Edit the theme's functions.php file and register a new sidebar.
• How to customize the sidebar appearance? Add custom CSS code in Appearance >Custom>Attach CSS.
• How to remove the sidebar? Remove the widget in Appearance > Widgets, or edit the theme file to remove the sidebar code.
• How to add different sidebars to different pages? Use plug-ins such as "Custom Sidebars".
• How to make the sidebar responsive? Add media query in the theme CSS.
• How to add images, social media icons, search bar, contact form or email subscription form? Use the corresponding widget or plug-in.

Through the above steps, you can easily optimize the WordPress sidebar to improve the website user experience.

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