Are you wondering how to enhance your WordPress website without coding? Thatโs where WordPress widgets come in. Widgets are essential tools that allow you to add functionality and improve the user experience on your site with just a few clicks.
In this blog, youโll learn:
โ
What are widgets in WordPress?
โ Difference between Plugins and Widgets
โ Top 20 most using WordPress widgets and their benefits
โ Complete list of Elementorโs widgets for building powerful websites
โ How to add Widgets in WordPress
โ Conclusion
Letโs dive in!
What are widgets in WordPress?
WordPress is one of the world’s most popular content management systems (CMS), offering a wide range of customization options. One of the key features that make WordPress so flexible and user-friendly is widgets.
Widgets in WordPress are small blocks of content that can be added to specific areas of your website, such as:
- Sidebars
- Footers
- Headers
- Other widget-ready areas
Widgets make it easy to add features and functionality without writing any code. They are often used to display information like recent posts, social media feeds, search bars, and more.
For example, you can add a “Recent Posts” widget to your sidebar to display the latest blog posts or a “Search” widget to help visitors find content easily.
Difference between Plugins and Widgets
At the early stages, most WordPress users get confused about the difference between plugins and widgets. Plugins are software extensions that add extra features and functionality to your WordPress site. While widgets help you display content or features in specific areas, plugins provide the framework for those widgets to function.ย For a detailed understanding of how plugins work in WordPress check out The Ultimate Guide to Understand Plugins in WordPress.
ย
โ Example: A social media sharing plugin might offer a widget that you can place in the sidebar to display social media icons.
โ Example: A contact form plugin might offer a widget that you can place in the footer to allow visitors to quickly reach out to you.
Benefits of using Widgets
๐น Easy to use โ No coding required
๐น Drag-and-drop interface โ Customize content easily
๐น Enhanced functionality โ Add features like social media feeds, forms, and more
๐น Customizable โ Many themes and plugins offer widget customization
Top 20 most using WordPress widgets and their benefits
Whether you’re using a theme or installing a plugin, these are the most common and primary widgets that can help you display content, engage visitors, and make your site more interactive. Most plugins provide additional widgets to extend their functionality, so understanding these core widgets will help you get the most out of your WordPress setup.
Here are the most popular widgets that site owners use to improve functionality and user experience:
Text Widget
- Add custom text or HTML code to any widget area.
- Great for adding announcements, tips, or shortcodes.
Image Widget
- Display an image from your media library.
- Useful for logos, banners, and featured images.
Navigation Menu Widget
- Add a custom menu to your sidebar or footer.
- Helps users navigate your site easily.
Recent Posts Widget
- Displays your latest blog posts.
- You can adjust how many posts are shown.
Search Widget
- Adds a search bar for quick content discovery.
- Improves navigation and user experience.
Categories Widget
- Displays a list of your post categories.
- Helps visitors browse content by category.
Social Media Icons Widget
- Add social media links to your sidebar or footer.
- Increases social engagement and traffic.
Calendar Widget
- Displays a calendar of your published posts.
- Helps users track your content schedule.
Tag Cloud Widget
- Shows a cloud of your most-used tags.
- Helps users find content by popular tags.
HTML Widget
- Add custom HTML code to any widget area.
- Great for embedding custom scripts or content.
Video Widget
- Embed videos from YouTube or Vimeo.
- Increases visitor engagement with multimedia content.
Contact Form Widget
- Adds a contact form for user interaction.
- Encourages feedback and communication.
Login Widget
- Displays a login form for users.
- Ideal for membership or eCommerce sites.
Testimonial Widget
- Displays customer reviews and testimonials.
- Builds trust and boosts credibility.
Footer Widget
- Customize your website footer with text, links, or images.
- Improves navigation and enhances user experience.
Audio Widget
- Embed audio files like podcasts or music.
- Helps engage visitors with audio content.
Popular Posts Widget
- Displays your most popular posts.
- Helps visitors find trending content.
Sidebar Widgetย
Allows you to place content in a sidebar for better navigation.
Author Bio Widget
- Displays the authorโs bio and image.
- Helps personalize your content and build trust.
Google Maps Widget
- Embed a map to show your business location.
- Improves local search visibility and user trust
Once you’ve mastered these widgets, you’ll have a solid foundation to create a more engaging and functional website. Remember, the right combination of widgets can boost user experience, improve navigation, and increase engagement. To explore more about all the possible widgets available in the WordPress ecosystem, take a look at the extensive list of widgets provided by Elementor below. Exploring these widgets will help you elevate your WordPress customization skills and create a more dynamic and personalized website.
Complete list of Elementorโs widgets for building powerful websites
Elementor is one of the most popular WordPress page builders, offering over 50+ widgets for customizing your site. Hereโs a simple breakdown:
โญ Basic Widgets
- Heading โ Adds a headline.
- Text Editor โ Add and format text.
- Image โ Display an image.
- Video โ Embed a video.
- Button โ Create a clickable button.
- Divider โ Add a line separator.
- Spacer โ Add space between elements.
- Google Maps โ Embed a Google Map.
- Icon โ Insert an icon.
- Image Box โ Display an image with text.
- Icon Box โ Display an icon with text.
- Star Rating โ Add a star rating.
- Image Carousel โ Display images in a slider.
- Gallery โ Display multiple images.
- Testimonial โ Show customer reviews.
- Social Icons โ Add social media links.
- Shortcode โ Add shortcode content.
- HTML โ Add custom HTML code.
- Menu Anchor โ Link to a specific section.
- Sidebar โ Display a sidebar.
๐ Pro Widgets (Available in Elementor Pro)
- Posts โ Display recent posts.
- Portfolio โ Showcase a portfolio.
- Slides โ Create a slideshow.
- Form โ Add a contact or subscription form.
- Login โ Add a login form.
- Call to Action โ Create a clickable CTA section.
- Media Carousel โ Display media in a carousel.
- Countdown โ Add a countdown timer.
- Price Table โ Display product pricing.
- Price List โ Create a price list.
- Flip Box โ Create a box that flips on hover.
- Testimonial Carousel โ Add rotating testimonials.
- Reviews โ Display customer reviews.
- Facebook Comments โ Add Facebook comments.
- Facebook Embed โ Embed Facebook content.
- Facebook Page โ Display a Facebook page.
- Blockquote โ Display a quote.
- Animated Headline โ Add an animated headline.
- Hotspot โ Create clickable hotspots.
- Share Buttons โ To create Social media sharing icons.
๐จ Theme Widgets
- Site Logo โ Display your site logo.
- Site Title โ Show your site title.
- Page Title โ Display the current page title.
- Nav Menu โ Add a navigation menu.
- Search Form โ Insert a search bar.
๐ WooCommerce Widgets
- Product Title โ Display product title.
- Product Price โ Show product price.
- Product Stock โ Display stock status.
- Product Meta โ Show product details.
- Add to Cart โ To add a product/service to the cart.
๐งฉ Dynamic Content Widgets
- Dynamic Title โ Display a dynamic title.
- Dynamic Image โ Show a dynamic image.
๐ฏ Marketing Widgets
- Countdown Timer โ Display a countdown.
- Popup โ Create a popup window.
- Share Buttons โ To Add social share icons.
๐ Advanced Widgets
- Accordion โ Create expandable content.
- Toggle โ Add a toggle switch.
- Tabs โ Add content in tabs.
How to add Widgets in WordPress
- Using the WordPress Dashboard:
Go to Appearance โ Widgets from the WordPress dashboard.
Choose the widget you want to add.
Drag and drop it into the desired widget area (sidebar, footer, etc.).
Customize the settings as needed.
Click Save.
- Using a Page Builder (like Elementor, Divi, or SeedProd):
Open the page with your preferred page builder.
Look for the Widgets panel (in Elementor, this is on the left sidebar).
Search for the specific widget you want to add.
Drag and drop the widget into the desired section of the page.
Adjust the widgetโs settings (like content, style, and advanced options).
Click Update or Publish to save the changes.
Best Practices for using WordPress widgets
โ
Use widgets to simplify navigation and improve user engagement.
โ
Avoid adding too many widgets to keep your site fast and clean.
โ
Place important widgets (like search bars and menus) in visible areas.
โ
Test widget functionality on mobile and desktop views.
Conclusion
Widgets are a powerful tool for customizing your WordPress site without coding. Elementorโs extensive collection of 86+ widgets gives you endless design possibilities. Whether you want to add a contact form, display recent posts, or improve social media engagement, widgets make it easy.
๐ก Pro Tip: While Elementor offers a wide range of widgets, other popular plugins like WPBakery, SeedProd, and Divi provideย multiple advanced widgets. Exploring different widget providers can give you more flexibility and customization options to meet your siteโs specific needs.
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