What you post in your sidebar is important. It should do two things:
- It should relate directly to the goals of your blog.
- It should help your readers.
It should lead your visitors through your pages and help them with what you want them to do.
Blogs have different purposes and different designs. So there is no 1 size fits all approach but read on and you will find my must haves for your sidebar.
First of all decide what your blog's ultimate goal is at the moment: get more readers, get readers to subscribe to a newsletter, sell a product, get more pageviews.
Secondly decide what your visitor is looking for.
MUST HAVES FOR A GOOD VISITOR EXPERIENCE:
1. Search bar
2. A short profile with your credentials. Credentials could be where you have blogged or books you have written that relate to your niche.
3. Further reading - this could be called 'Popular Posts' "Latest Posts' "Recent Posts' etc and will take the visitor to other posts in your site.
4. If you have many readers from other countries they may appreciate a translate button.
WHAT YOU WANT IS DIFFERENT THAN YOUR VISITOR.
If you want visitors to subscribe to your course or email them you should have an Call to Action i.e an email capture e.g.
Sign Up for my Latest Posts
Get my Newsletter each week
Get my pdf on ....
Sign up for my course on ...If you want visitors to connect with you on social media you could add your icons (if they are not somewhere else on your site)
If you are trying to make money with your blog - your product could be in the sidebar. If you are trying to make money with adsense/ another network or affiliate marketing place 1 or 2 of these in the sidebar. Personally I find more than this becomes a little overwhelming. remember these all take readers off your blog and away from you and they may never return.
WHAT TO REMOVE FROM YOUR SIDEBAR
1. Mega Data - if you are on wordpress this is automatically on your site and must be removed as it
can affect how search engines see your site, as it creates a link to your log in page from every page of your blog. This may be why you have not been getting much organic search traffic.
2. Archives - that are just a list of dates. Who is using this? No one! When I come to your site I cannot use it to search by as it does not give me a list of topics, just a list of dates. The only thing it tells me is how long you have been blogging. If this is important to you put it in your profile i.e "blogging since 2011".
EXAMPLES OF SIDEBARS from the experts who are making big bucks from blogging. ( I figure they have researched and tested what works over many years and are up to date with current trends). So check these out:
copyblogger - Popular articles. (They do not have a profile as they are a business)
Mommy on Purpose - About Carly, with image, add, social media icons, add, link to her best post, search bar, Amazon Affiliate disclaimer, add.
microsoft - has only 1 thing - More News i.e. more articles on their site. (They do not have a profile as they are a well known business)
Maria Forleo - Call to Action, followed by a luverly profile pic with Oprah (giving her massive credibility) and then Top Picks (of her blog). That's it.
What to Include in Your Blog Sidebar. Your sidebar is prime real estate—it guides readers, builds connection, and supports your blog’s goals. Here are key elements to consider including:
YOUR THOUGHTS Did you find this article helpful? I would love to hear your thoughts on what should be in a sidebar in the comments. Have you had a chance to change your sidebar lately or even look at it from the point of view of a visitor to your blog?
microsoft - has only 1 thing - More News i.e. more articles on their site. (They do not have a profile as they are a well known business)
Maria Forleo - Call to Action, followed by a luverly profile pic with Oprah (giving her massive credibility) and then Top Picks (of her blog). That's it.
Problogger - Call to Action(join our newsletter), social media icons, topics, search bar, image links to 3 top blog posts.
A Cup of Jo - Joanna has her pic and Call To action, social media icons, an add, This Month Most Popular, and 1 other add.
A Cup of Jo - Joanna has her pic and Call To action, social media icons, an add, This Month Most Popular, and 1 other add.
Busy Budgeter - now using a horizontal layout but still has the following on her blog home page - large image of her, Call to action (join her program), Where she has been featured, Top post links, join her email list, Best selling products, Topics, Social media icons.
QUICK SIDEBAR DESIGN ROUNDUP FOR YOUR BLOG:
Essential Sidebar Features
Search bar – Help readers find what they need fast
About section – A short intro with your photo and purpose
Email signup – Invite readers to subscribe with a clear call-to-action
Popular posts – Showcase your most-loved content
Categories or tags – Make navigation easy and intuitive
Social media links – Encourage connection beyond your blog
Recent posts – Keep content fresh and visible
Lead magnet or freebie – Offer value (e.g., checklist, guide)
Affiliate or product links – Monetize gently, if relevant
Quote or mission statement – Add warmth and personality
Design Tips
Keep it clean and uncluttered
Use consistent fonts and colors
Prioritize hierarchy—most important items go near the top
Make it mobile-friendly
Use white space to improve readability
YOUR THOUGHTS Did you find this article helpful? I would love to hear your thoughts on what should be in a sidebar in the comments. Have you had a chance to change your sidebar lately or even look at it from the point of view of a visitor to your blog?
Post updated September 2025.
No comments:
Post a Comment
We love your comments