We all know that one of the main benefits of using WordPress is that it has a fantastic community of developers and a vast amount of plugins to fit every need. With the total number of plugins eeking ever closer to twenty-thousand, there is sure to be a plugin or sidebar widget to out there to do what is it that you want done.
However, sometimes you want more features, more flair, and something a little more unique in your site’s sidebar. That is why I have put together this list of great premium sidebar widgets. The are all relatively inexpensive and can add a more custom feel to your website or blog. As always, please feel free to share any other widgets that I may have overlooked in the comments sections.
Who’s Online?
Who’s online is a great sidebar widget to display to your readers exactly how many other people are on the site. Many popular blogs like Business Insider use similar tools to show the same information. You can also use it on your admin section for a quick current traffic reference. It is basically a much cheaper, with less features albiet, option to ChartBeat.
Cost: $5
Tabs Widget
This is a great option to help your readers serendipitously discover other posts on your website. The widget allows unlimited tabs and you can set the display option to show which ever categories you would like. You can even have tabs to display recent comments, most popular posts, and recent twitter updates.
Cost: $16
Advanced Social Widget MailChimp Edition
Oftentimes I come across WordPress sites that use multiple sidebar widgets to manage and promote their social profiles. This can lead to a cluttered and disorganized design that can confuse users and ultimately cause lost social follows. With this plugin all of your social networks are in one place and users can follow, like and +1 your site without being redirected. The widget also allows users to sign up to your newsletter using a slick MailChimp integration.
Cost: $10
About Me
It can be hard to get readers to navigate over to a separate about me page. This widget addresses that issue and displays your personal details directly on the sidebar. This a great way to promote personal branding and to share with readers your bio, picture, and a link to your profile.
Cost: $5
Twitter Trending Widget
This is another option to help your users find other articles on your site. The widget has a great, custom looking design that really pops in the sidebar. It pulls information from twitter and displays the hottest and most shared pieces of your content. The widget also scales very well to any size sidebar.
Cost: $7
About Corey Rab