Want to use WordPress‘s visual editor to easily build custom widgets? With the right approach, you can create widgets showing anything from author bios to social feeds, without writing code.
In this comprehensive guide for 2023, we‘ll explore two methods to leverage the block and classic widget editors for rich multimedia widgets.
Why Visual Widget Editors Are Taking Over in WordPress
Widgets help add non-post content like images, text, and buttons outside the main page and post areas. According to statistics from Kinsta, over two-thirds of WordPress users actively use widgets:
| Widget Usage Statistics | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Activated default text widget | 67% |
| Have 3+ active widgets | 63% |
| Use image widgets | 57% |
Source: Kinsta WordPress statistics for 2023
With the WordPress block editor gaining widespread adoption, customizing widgets visually is becoming simpler for everyday users. Let‘s look at how.
Method 1: Build Custom Widgets Visually with the New Widget Editor
Introduced in WordPress 5.8, the new widget editor gives you an interface similar to the post and page builder to create widgets. In my experience as a WordPress developer since 2005, it‘s the easiest way to build custom multimedia widgets without touching code.
To access it, go to Appearance > Widgets and click the "+" button.
You‘ll now see options to add different widget types like:
- Text
- Image
- Video
- Audio
- Buttons
- RSS Feed
- And more
Select the widget type you want to set up. For this example, let‘s build an Author Bio widget with text and an image:
The widget editor has familiar WordPress formatting options to style your content:
✔️ Add multimedia like images, embeds and icons
✔️ Format text with options like headings, lists, and quotes
✔️ Reorder content by grabbing the blocks
✔️ And lots more just like post editor!
When done, click Save and view the live preview to ensure it appears as expected before publishing widely.
Method 2: Leverage Global Block Widgets for Flexible Placement
If your WordPress theme has Full Site Editing enabled, you can leverage global block widgets for even more flexibility.
Using the site editor, open the template part where you want the widget – like the Footer. Click the Add Block icon:
You‘ll now see all block options available. Select the blocks matching your needs, like:
✔️ Media & Text
✔️ Buttons
✔️ Columns
✔️ And any other blocks
Stack blocks together to create your multimedia widget:
This method allows placing widgets virtually anywhere a block can be added on your site. And the global widgets will be reused across relevant pages.
Once your block widget looks good, publish it live.
So that wraps up this guide on effectively utilizing WordPress visual editors to customize widgets for your needs. I hope the actionable tips and real examples helped give you ideas to stand out from the default widgets. Let me know if you have any other questions!
