Today, we’re going to be looking at some of my favorite WordPress widgets. Many WordPress plugins provide widgets as a way to modify and extend the functionality of your site without having to touch a single line of PHP. Widgets are a great way to supercharge your website’s look and feel. Let’s take a look at 4 great widgets in this Part 1 series!
Sidebar Login
Typically, when you log into a WordPress site you’re greeted by a page that looks like this.
This form works well for most but what if you want to embed a login form directly into any page? Sidebar Login makes it easy. After a quick install you’ll be able to drag-and-drop a login form directly into any of your widgetized sidebars. Sidebar Login supports conditional logic which allows you to display additional authenticated-only hyperlinks.
Amr shortcode any widget
Let’s say you have a page full of text content. And in that page of content you have a section related to a particular post category. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to quickly insert and showcase these posts directly within your page’s content? Amr shortcode any widget allows you to quickly turn any widget into an insertable WordPress shortcode. A shortcode is typically made up of a single line of bracketed text. Insert this shortcode anywhere on the page and watch as it magically transforms into your full widget experience. No coding required! Not only can you insert widgets, you also can add widget groups, and even whole sidebars into the page!
Dynamic Widgets
This plugin is the real deal. It might not have the greatest looking UI but that won’t matter when you get into the meat and potatoes of this plugin. Want to display a widget matching a specific set of requirements? No problem. Just take a look at the display controls which you can adjust.
This plugin makes it a snap for creating a targeted approach with your content. You now have complete control over your widgets and how they appear on your site.
Cyclone Slider 2 Widget
Finding a free slideshow for WordPress can sometimes be a bit tricky. Most offer limited features (additional features are unlocked with a paid version) which compromise the experience. I’ve found Cyclone Slider 2 to be one of the most feature-rich sliders that’s freely available. This plugin includes a handy widget which allows you to quickly insert beautiful slideshows directly into the sidebar. It’s not complicated, and it works.
These are just some of the many widgets that are freely available. Do you have a favorite widget? Let me know in the comments.