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Recommending posts in the WordPress sidebar is a great way to promote your best content, increase reader engagement, and improve SEO. There are various methods and plugins that will help you achieve this task. In this article we will discuss a few of them.
1. Introduction to WordPress Sidebars
Before we get into the details, it's worth recalling what a WordPress sidebar is. This is a vertical area on a page that can be used to display various types of information that are not part of the main content. You can add various "widgets" (plugins) to your sidebar, such as featured posts, links to your latest posts, subscription forms, ads, and even custom text.
2. Manually adding featured posts
The easiest way to add featured posts to your WordPress sidebar is to manually add them using the "Custom HTML" widget. Just copy and paste the URL of the featured post and add the appropriate image thumbnail and title.
Please note that this method is time-consuming, especially if you update your featured posts frequently. However, it is perfect for those who want full control over what is promoted.
3. Using the "WordPress Popular Posts" plugin
“WordPress Popular Posts” is one of the most popular plugins for displaying featured posts. It is easy to use and offers many customization options, such as the ability to select the most visited, most commented or newest posts.
After installing and activating the plugin, go to "Appearance" > "Widgets" and drag the "WordPress Popular Posts" widget to the sidebar. Then configure the widget settings according to your preferences.
4. Using the "Jetpack" plugin
“Jetpack” is a versatile plugin that offers various features, including the ability to display featured posts. To do this, you must first install and activate Jetpack, then go to "Jetpack" > "Settings" > "Traffic" and enable the "Featured Posts" feature.
5. Using the "Contextual Related Posts" plugin
The Contextual Related Posts plugin is another option to choose from. It allows you to display featured posts based on content, title and tags, which helps improve user engagement and time spent on the site.
Once installed and activated, go to "Settings" > "Contextual Related Posts" and configure the options according to your needs.
In summary, choosing a method for adding featured posts to your WordPress sidebar depends on your preferences and needs. Regardless of the method you choose, regularly promoting your best content is an effective way to increase reader engagement and improve SEO.