This document discusses using widgets for content management in WordPress. It describes what widgets are, where they can be used, and provides two case studies of how organizations have creatively used widgets on pages. Widgets allow for both static and dynamic content and features. They provide a simple way for non-technical users to control design and structure. The document recommends widgets for secondary navigation, content that appears on multiple pages, and anything subject to change, like schedules or contact information.

1. Creative Use of
Widgetsfor Content Management
Jessica Gardner
WordCamp North Canton
May 9, 2015

2. Jessica Collura Gardner
b. Cleveland, 1976
jessica@btwrx.com

8. widget
whatsit?
calendar
mailing list signup
text (including code!) images
navigation menu
plugin functions
admin loginblog archives
STATIC AND DYNAMIC CONTENT & FEATURES
“…a simple and easy‐to‐use way of giving design and structure control of the WordPress Theme to the user.”
(http://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_Widgets)

9. widget
wheresit?
widget area, fka “sidebar”
which widgets?
themes
plugins

10. WordPress 2015 Theme

11. WordPress 2015 Theme + Jetpack

12. g{xÉÜxà|vtÄ tÑÑÄ|vtà|ÉÇá
Secondary navigation
Anything you want on multiple pages
Anything that is subject to change
hours
schedules
contact
mailing list signup

13. More widget areas?
functions.php (in your CHILD THEME!)
layout builders (plugin)
shortcodes (plugin)

14. case study 1:
widgets on pages
layout builder w/ widgetized areas

15. 93/114 pages have this little menu:
8 sub‐sections 65 procedures
plus a specialized
menu based on
the sub‐section

18. Case Study #2
Widgets on Pages
Per‐Page Sidebar
Widgets in Widgets!

19. built into theme
10 Subsections
with custom menus

22. 1 7

26. 20/20 Hindsight

27. why?