WordPress has quickly become the most popular blog hosting website, especially for small-business owners. It’s reasonably priced, easy to use and offers a wide range of functionalities that any industry can benefit from. But with so many options, it’s important to simplify your blog and choose a limited number of features, so you don’t overwhelm your audience with clutter. Here are five WordPress widgets that will improve reader experience on your blog.
Contact Info
Even if it’s on your website, always make contact information available on your blog. This makes it easy for customers, and potential customers, to get in touch with your business. Include a link to your website, so they can easily navigate your online presence.
Rather than a contact form, include an email address, and phone number. People prefer to contact a business directly, using a method they are familiar with. Contact forms often worry people, as they feel no one will see their comment.
No matter what, easily accessible contact information will ensure less aggravation and a better user experience on your blog.
Our favorite contact form plugins for WordPress includes Gravity Forms & Contact Form 7
Recent or Most Popular Posts
When someone visits your blog, you want them to stay for as long as possible. If they clicked on a link to a specific article, they will only see that article, and not the full site. Showing them previous posts that may interest them will ensure they stay for longer.
This will also further solidify your company’s reputation as an industry expert, by exposing readers to as much content as possible. If you have interesting information to share, you want to make it easy to find.
If your company is on Twitter, you want readers of your blog to know. Your Twitter handle should be prominent on your website, so make it the same on your blog. Social media is usually where people first see blog posts, so make sure they are following you so they can receive future posts.
It will also help to remind them to follow you. Aside from showing your Twitter handle and feed on the side menu, mention in blog posts that you are on Twitter, and ask readers to join the conversation. Sometimes, little reminders can go a long way.
Facebook “Like” buttons
Much like Twitter, you want your readers to know how to find you on Facebook. But Facebook “Like” buttons don’t just show people how to find you on Facebook, it allows them to automatically like the blog post. This will then be shared with their friends, increasing your blog’s reach.
Having a Facebook “Like” button should not take away from your efforts on social media. Make sure to always share your posts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and any other social networks you are a part of. These widgets should complement your social presence, not replace it.
Follow Blog
This is the most important widget of all, as it allows readers to follow your blog. You can put time and effort into generating strong content, but if you do not make it easy for your readers to subscribe to your posts, you miss a huge opportunity for readership.
The Follow Blog button not only allows WordPress members to follow your blog, it also allows those without accounts to follow. If someone does not have a WordPress account, they can simply enter their email address to receive updates every time you publish a blog post.
There are so many widgets on WordPress to choose from, these are just some of the key ones. Find what works for your audience, based on how they want to use your blog.
What WordPress widgets do you use? Add your favourites in the comments below.