Blogging on WordPress is simple and quick. Between the site’s easy to use blogging platform and plug-ins, there’s virtually nothing a WordPress blogger can’t do.
However, not all WordPress blogs are equal. Some are just too plain for their own good and seem thrown together in a hurry. But others can appear more professional with a truly unique look.
Part of creating that great look involves emulating trends among popular sites. After all, there’s a reason they’re getting the clicks.
While it’d be easy to feel like you can never create a professional looking site, don’t give up! Adding blog management tools to your WordPress sidebar is a great way to beef up your blog’s appearance.
Not sure where to start? Here are five must-have inclusions on any WordPress sidebar.
1. Related Articles
Have you ever browsed Wikipedia looking for a specific piece of information, clicked on a keyword, then looked at your clock to see it’s been 90 minutes? We’re guilty of that one, ourselves.
However, that mysterious phenomenon isn’t exclusive to Wikipedia. In fact, you can use it for your blog! It all comes down to related content.
Offering up related content alongside an article is a great way to get a user to spend more time on your blog. If a visitor likes what they’ve seen, give them the chance to see more. Otherwise, you may lose out on countless clicks.
2. A Short Bio Or Mission Statement
What keeps visitors coming back to a site day in and day out? Yes, the content plays a role, but that’s only part of the puzzle. It likely comes down to writing style and personality.
People want to feel a connection to those who create the content they love. Write a short bio on yourself or your website to clue visitors into your life. Make it short and snappy.
Include details about yourself, what you write about, why you love writing, and where visitors can find you elsewhere.
3. Social Links
If you’re looking to make money blogging, you’ll need to pay attention to SEO. And part of your SERP ranking will come from your social channels.
Make sure to include social buttons to all of the relevant channels. That way, visitors can easily find your brand all across the internet.
4. Contact Info Or CTA
Smaller brands listen up, this tip is for you.
Every blog needs a CTA or call-to-action. It’s the CTA that tells the user why he or she needs to use your product or service.
Make sure your blog features contact info and an area for a user to sign up (if applicable). The easier it is to spot, the better. Don’t make users hunt for a way to give you money, make it easy for them.
5. A Search Bar
Along those lines, it’s important to point out that one of the worst things a blogger can do is make their reader search for info. Imagine finding out about a great service only to discover that there’s no way to contact the company and sign-up.
This is pretty much how your readers feel all the time if you don’t have a search bar. They’re easy to implement but invaluable in saving your audience time.
Need Help With Blog Management?
Implement each of these blog management tools into your sidebar, and you’ll have a well-designed, easy to use the sidebar in no time. Of course, then there’s the issue of actually implementing them.
Whether you don’t have the time or just don’t know how upgrading your site can be tough.
That’s where we come in! Contact us today and let us help you transform your site into something you can be proud of.
