![\"add](\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/social-media-resource1.png\")
<\/p>\nSocial media is a field that\u2019s exploded over the past decade, to the point where not having a presence online can negatively impact your business. Just running a website isn\u2019t enough \u2013 you also need to make sure it\u2019s integrated with your social media accounts.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s plenty you can do to lead visitors from your site to your social media channels. However, the best approach for WordPress users is to install a dedicated plugin or two. With thousands of options to choose from \u2013 both free and premium \u2013 it should be easy to find a solution that suits your needs.<\/p>\n
This post will explore how to add social media icons to your website, and will also round up a few plugins that can help you out. Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n
Before we begin, it\u2019s worth pointing out that you can add social media icons to your website\u2019s header using one of the plugins we\u2019ll talk about later. However, there\u2019s often a much easier way to do this, without requiring you to install any additional tools.<\/p>\n
The first place you should check for a solution is your current theme. Many themes include options for adding social media icons to your website, and also let you select the display area:<\/p>\n
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If your theme doesn\u2019t offer this setting, there are three paths you can follow. You can use a plugin (again, we\u2019ll go through our top options later), edit your current theme, or you can choose a new theme. If you opt for the latter, you\u2019ll want to look for something flexible but well suited to your niche.<\/p>\n
For developers, the Genesis Framework<\/a> is a solid option. Alternately, non-coders will love the ease of use that a multi-purpose theme like Avada<\/a> or Divi<\/a> provides. All three will enable you to easily place social media icons in your site\u2019s header section.<\/p>\n Along with your header, you may also want to add social media icons to your WordPress menus. This is a sound idea, since menus are highly visible to all of your site\u2019s traffic.<\/p>\n As with your header, your current theme may enable you to link to your social media accounts from your menu. Many themes include this as a standard feature, including the default options like Twenty Fifteen<\/a>:<\/p>\n If you need to add custom social media icons to a theme that doesn\u2019t include this functionality, there are a few simple steps<\/a> you can take. You\u2019ll want to use the Font Awesome<\/a> library of icons, and:<\/p>\n Of course, for those lacking much technical experience, this process can be a little challenging. So let\u2019s look at a selection of WordPress plugins that can accomplish the same thing.<\/p>\n As you\u2019ve seen, there are various methods for adding social media icons to WordPress. However, practically all of them pale in comparison to using a suitable plugin.<\/p>\n After all, plugins usually allow for detailed customization, are much easier to use than manual techniques. Let\u2019s take a look at a few tools you can try out.<\/p>\n First up, Easy Social Share Buttons for WordPress<\/a> is one of the best premium solutions available for adding social media icons to your WordPress website. It\u2019s an incredibly comprehensive tool \u2013 arguably a frontrunner in comparison to its rivals.<\/p>\n This plugin includes options to add social media icons to many locations on your website \u2013 including via pop-ups, floating \u2018sticky\u2019 bars, and much more. There\u2019s also a wealth of animations and icon styles to choose from, along with a suite of extra features.<\/p>\n Easy Social Share Buttons for WordPress is available for $20 from CodeCanyon, and should be high on your shortlist of candidates.<\/p>\n Jetpack<\/a> is a go-to solution for many WordPress users, due to its modular-based approach to implementing site functionality. Plus, it\u2019s free! Jetpack\u2019s Social Media Icons<\/a> module is a no-fuss way of making sure visitors can find your various channels, regardless of where they\u2019re currently browsing on your site.<\/p>\n Rather than having you add icons to your header and menu, this plugin lets you display your social media accounts in your site\u2019s sidebars. This is a sound strategy, since it keeps those icons prominent.<\/p>\n Only a few major channels are supported, but each is easy to set up. Usually, you\u2019ll just need to provide a username. Plus, when combined with another module \u2013 Custom CSS<\/a> \u2013 you can also carry out basic customization of your icons.<\/p>\n Last but not least, the free Simple Author Box<\/a> plugin does exactly what it says on the tin. It lets you add a box to your site that includes your Gravatar, name, website, and other key information \u2013 including social media icons.<\/p>\n This is an excellent solution for author-focused blogs. The author box will be displayed at the end of each post, and there\u2019s an option to add it to your custom single.php<\/em> or author.php<\/em> templates as well. This box is also fully customizable, and looks great on smaller devices.<\/p>\n As for the channels you can showcase, there are over 30 to choose from. This means that regardless of the social media sites you\u2019re currently using, there should be an icon to suit your needs.<\/p>\n Succeeding on social media takes work, as does creating an optimized website. That\u2019s where combining WP Engine<\/a> with a social media automation tool such as Social Media Suite<\/a> can help you supercharge your social media efforts.<\/p>\nHow to Add Social Icons to Your Menu in WordPress<\/h2>\n
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WordPress Social Media Plugins<\/h2>\n
Easy Social Share Buttons for WordPress<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/social-media-resource3.png\")
<\/p>\nJetpack\u2019s Social Media Icons<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"Jetpack](\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/social-media-resource4.png\")
<\/p>\nSimple Author Box<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"Wordpress](\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/social-media-resource5.png\")
<\/p>\nGet Support for More Common WordPress Questions From WP Engine<\/h3>\n