Useful Methods to Add Social Media Icons to WordPress Header or Footer

Benefits of Adding Social Media Icons to WordPress Header and Footer

Placing social media icons in the header and footer is highly effective for several reasons:

  • Improved SEO: Adding social media icons can enhance your website’s SEO, potentially elevating your site’s rank in search results.
  • Increased Engagement: You have the opportunity to build relationships with potential clients, keeping them informed about your products, services, and updates.
  • Efficient Use of Space: Social media icons take up minimal space, allowing you to allocate more room for essential content on your website.

For all these benefits, integrating social media icons into your WordPress header or footer is crucial for your business growth. Let’s explore two straightforward methods for doing this.

Detailed Methods to Add Social Media Icons to WordPress Header and Footer

Method 1: Customize Your Site Appearance

This is one of the simplest ways to add social media icons to your WordPress header or footer. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Create or Edit WordPress Menus

  • Navigate to Appearance -> Customize.
  • Select Menus. You can create a new menu or modify an existing one. For example, create a new menu named “Social” by clicking Create New Menu and selecting Footer Menu.
  • Click Next to proceed.

Step 2: Add Items

  • Click the Add Items button.
  • Enter the URL and Link Text for the social icons you want to include.
  • Repeat this process for additional icons.
  • Once done, click Publish to save your changes.

You can check your modifications by visiting the front end of your website.

Method 2: Use a Plugin

Using a plugin is another effective way to add social media icons. We recommend the Social Icons Widget & Block by WPZOOM. Here’s how to set it up:

  1. Install and Activate the Plugin: If you’re unsure how to do this, follow our guide on How To Install A WordPress Plugin For Beginners.
  2. Go to Appearance -> Widgets.
  3. Add the Social Icons widget to your Footer/Header.
  4. Click on each social icon to edit the URL, color, Kit, and other settings. Don’t forget to click Save after making changes.

Method 3: Manually Add Social Media Icons

This method allows for greater customization but requires basic HTML knowledge. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Download Social Media Icons

  • Search for and download the official social media icons. Use Images -> Tools -> Usage Rights -> Labeled for reuse to avoid copyright issues.

Step 2: Upload Icons

  • From the Admin Dashboard, select Media.
  • Click Add New to upload the downloaded icons.

Step 3: Add a Custom HTML Widget

  • Go to Appearance -> Widgets.
  • Click the plus sign (+) to add a Custom HTML widget in your desired header/footer location.

Step 4: Insert HTML Code

  • Copy and paste the following code into the widget, replacing [Paste SM Icon Direct Link here] with the URL from Step 2:
<a href="web address like address of facebook page, twitter, etc.">
    <img border="0" alt="alternate text" src="[Paste SM Icon Direct Link here]" width="100" height="100">
</a>
  • Click Update to save your changes.

You can preview your social media icons before publishing by selecting the Preview option. Once satisfied, publish your site and refresh to see how it looks.

Download Resources

To help you get started, you can download a set of official social media icons here. (Replace this placeholder link with the actual download link for the icons.)

In Summary

We hope these detailed instructions help you add social media icons to your WordPress header or footer effectively. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section below. Additionally, if you’re looking for stylish WordPress themes to enhance your website, check out Free WordPress Themes for options that suit your needs both aesthetically and financially. Thank you for your time!


Feel free to replace the placeholder link in the “Download Resources” section with the actual URL where users can download the social media icons!

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