Wordpress4SmallBiz

As you cruz around this site or any other site that talks about WordPress, you’re bound to hear and see the word “Widget”.    While the word itself seems unassuming and maybe even a little confusing, the power of WordPress Widgets is simply Awesome.

In a nutshell:  WordPress Widgets provide a simple way to arrange the various elements of your sidebar content without having to change any code.  I like to put it another way…WordPress Widgets make MAGIC!  With a simple point and click action, you can move things (widgets) around, in and out of your sidebar.

WordPress Widget Magic!

Still not sure what I’m talking about?  Let’s use the WordPress4SmallBiz site.  To create the right hand sidebar, I used two Text Widgets and a Page Widget.  The first text widget is titled “Rule Your Domain” and has a little marketing blurb and image in it.  The next text widget is called “Keep Up To Date” and has a sign-up box where you can enter an e-mail address to receive updates from this site. And finally I used a “Page” widget to highlight some informational pages about this site.

Here’s what this looks like:

Oh…and please make a note…that by the time you’re reading this, the sidebar will probably have changed.  That’s because I may have wanted to add something or change the content to highlight something that I think is more relevant and important at this moment!

But that’s exactly why Widgets make magic!  Just point, click, add some content, save and just like Magic…my sidebar has changed!

There are lots of widgets to choose from…for just about anything  you can think of, there is probably a widget.  Want to add your soical netorking links, show most recent comments from your blog, showcase a video, add a tag cloud…the list goes on and on.

Where are My Widgets?

You get access to your widgets from your WordPress Admin panel.  When you click on “Appearance”, you’ll find “Widgets” in the drop down menu.  Click on that and you will be taken to the Widgets page.  It’s here that you can work the point, click, save MAGIC.

You can find a list of WordPress Widgets here.  And if you’d like to see Widget Magic in action, here’s a quick demo from WordPress.tv on how to add a Text Widget!

Now…go make some Widget Magic!