Here is something I get asked a lot – how can I add an image to my WordPress sidebar?
This video shows you how:
In the video, I’ll show you how to upload the widget using the WordPress Media Library, grab the URL for the uploaded image, and then use a WordPress Text Widget to display your image in the sidebar.
In this case I’m using the Expand2Web SmallBiz WordPress theme, but this tip will work with any WordPress theme that is widget enabled.
Here is the code snippet I used in the video for the sidebar widget:
<a href="#"><img src=" " /></a>
Just put the URL of your image in between the quotes of the image source tag.
Note: You should resize the image to the width of your sidebar before uploading. In this case the image is 200px wide. The width of the sidebar will depend on your WordPress theme.
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{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
This video tutorials are awesome! Thank you – it worked like a charm!
Hi Don,
I just discovered your site and all I can say is WOW!
I’m trying to figure out how to set up my website. I know I’m not a pro, but I need a pro-looking website for my landscape design company. I just don’t have any $$ now.
I don’t know if I can do it on my own, but I think I’m going to try with your help. I know a little bit of html and already have a WP blog.
By the way, how do I find out if I set up my WP on .org or on .com? I haven’t done much on it so it would be easy to move.
I need to set up my own host and domain name, too. I’m going to check out BlueHost.
Thanks for all the info!
Lynn
Hi Lynn,
Thank you!
Well, if you are on WordPress.com you probably have a URL like yoursite.wordpress.com. If you are self-hosting your WordPress then you will have your own URL like yoursite.com.
Since you mentioned that you still need a domain name you are probably hosted on WordPress.com. Let me know your URL so we can check out your blog.
-Don
p.s. Here is an article I wrote comparing WordPress.com vs WordPress.org that covers the differences.
Lynn, you may think that you don’t have any $, but you can make more money, you can’t find more time. The theme will save you HOURS and deliver a one of a kind look for your business. You are a designer – don’t show your clients a generic site – use the web to showcase your design talents – you wouldn’t have plastic flowers in your window boxes would you? Good luck!
I have a short-cut. I create a new post – add the image – then switch over to the html view – grap the code and put it in the text widget.
Phyllis,
Thank you for the short cut!
Very smart!
That’s a good one Phyllis – it cuts out the need to switch over to the Media Library and then back to the page – thanks for sharing it!
-Don
Thank you! WordPress is awesome!! Your tutorials are awesome!
Very good and short. Nice.
Don … thank you! This has been incredibly helpful. I’d love to reference any of your other tutorial videos, if you’ve got a series of them.
Jean, Rope – thank you!
Shivanee – my pleasure. I do have a series of how-to videos and tutorials for WordPress. You can see more of them here: WordPress Video Tutorials
If there is anything in particular you would like to see, let me know. I’m always looking for new tutorial ideas!
many thanks
so helpful
good video, very easy to follow, thank you!!!!
Thaks for the great info man, really appreciated!!
Really very helpful and easy to understand through your video. Thanks
That was so easy with your help, Thanks,
Love your tutorials. My current blog is on Blogger and I have spent hours hacking the snot out of it! I try to figure out the name of what I want to do, then do searches until I find a site to teach me. I am a total newbie with major time and money crunches and I am tired of learning this way.
I just started my first WP blog, with hopes of creating a site that is more sophisticated and appropriate for ad space. When I get this mastered, I hope to convert the existing blog to WP. Your video tutorials have been invaluable! I know this is a business for you, but you are also providing a great service for those of us who have to sweat about the smallest purchase. Thank you for posting your videos on You Tube and here!
@kurtmarcus, Pilar, Sebastian, TJ Harris, Larua, Anara – thanks guys! I really appreciate you taking the time to leave me a comment.
Hey Don,
First, thank you for this option. Now the problem is that I am a total newbie to wordpress. It is hosted at 1and1. I am learning, slowly, how to use it, however do not know coding. I had a friend update the wordpress to 3.0.1, but now I can’t see certain pages, can’t see comments, and can’t seem to upload plugins?? Help!
Hi Kirk,
You might want to have him back out that upgrade. I’m not sure why pages would be missing… You should call 1and1 support so they can look into the permissions on your site.
Thanks for the tutorials! I was having a lot of difficulty but the site is coming along now. Although Wordpress is pretty easy to use, it is not intuitive and as a beginner I was quickly overwhelmed. Thanks again.
You’re most welcome Nataki!
Hi Don
Thank-you so much for this easy tutorial – couldn’t get my image to display at first but then I re-ran your video until I figured it out!
Thanks
Marie
hi don
its so wonderful to discover your blog and the tutorial was what i was looking for. i also wanted to know how to upload image on my wordpress but i just couldnt get the hang.
i tried uploading a facebook and twitter pluf in but i messed everything up.
im new to the game and i really appreciate what you are doing. i hope to be around for many of such tutorials. please if you have the chance you can visit my site and take a look and give a suggestion how im going to make it look professional.
thanks
felix
Great tip, Don. Thanks!
hi boss
gr8 video
really helpful and to the point
cant say much apart from that
owais khan
Wow! Magic Video. Thank You. Have a Nice time.
I was missing the “Image Widget” in my dashboard Twenty-Ten theme and couln´t figure out how to place an image in the sidebar. But this video was very helpfull – it solved a problem I have been trying to figure for long.
thank you very much for making it avalable.
best wishes
Per
Thank you Don for the helpful video. I found yours was one of the easiest to follow.
Hey Don – Quick Question: Why did you wrap the img code between the href tags? Doesn’t Wordpress recognize the standard ? Sorry, I am just working to understand your strategy.
Hi Mike,![]()
tag for the image, and the
tag for the hyperlink.
You don’t need the href tags unless you want the image to be a hyperlink that you can click on. So there are two tags there – the
It is standard HTML, nothing to do with WordPress.
man you reaily help out with the image widgets
Hi Don,
I am currently setting up my wordpress blog expressly for promoting my upcoming books to be published online. Handling the marketing will be easier using your tutorials. Thanks so much for the information that is clear cut and manageable by novices such as myself.
I have never built a website before but I have now, thanks to this theme package!
Question – I have added a image to my homepage sidebar but it added these images to all my pages. Say if I wanted a different image on every page, how would I do that?
Thanks.
James,
if you drag a widget into the “Default Sidebar: it will be added to all pages except for your Contact, Find Us, and Blog Page. Those 3 have their own dedicated Sidebar area. http://userguide.expand2web.com/how-can-i-remove-the-default-social-media-widgets/
If you you would like to have a WordPress page with a unique Sidebar you can use the “Optional Sidebar 1″ or “Optional Sidebar 2″ template. http://userguide.expand2web.com/using-the-optional-sidebar-1-and-2/
For more tutorials visit the SmallBiz User Guide or email me directly at thomas@expand2web.com
Don,
I am trying to get the book add image on the right of this site http://danariely.com/ to my fathers author site. How do I add two links to one image in Wordpress?
Thank you very much for making such a nice video.