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Adding Custom Sidebar Widget Area’s to Specific Posts & Pages in WordPress

I’ve already shown you how to create custom sidebars widget areas on different pages & posts using Woo themes sidebar manager. But what if you don’t use a Woo theme?

If you’re using a StudioPress theme built on the Genesis framework you’re in luck otherwise you’ll need to create some fancy php coding to achieve the same result.

Genesis Simple Sidebars – Plugin Description

The simple sidebars plugin allows you to create multiple, dynamic widget areas, and assign those widget areas to sidebar locations within the Genesis Theme Framework on a per post, per page, or per tag/category archive basis.

Once you’ve installed and activated the plugin, navigate to the Genesis section in your admin screen and click the Simple Sidebars link.

Create a Custom Sidebar Widget

Here you can create a custom widget area for any sidebar location based on any post or page i.d.

How to find your post/page i.d

Create Custom Widget Sidebars

Create a custom sidebar for any post/page i.d in 3 steps

  1. Enter a name for your new sidebar
  2. Enter the specific page or post i.d
  3. Enter a unique description and click Add New Sidebar

You’ll find the new widget area in the default widgets page.

Anything you display in  your new custom widget area will only be displayed on the page/post i.d you entered when you created the new widget.

New Custom Sidebar Widget Area

Post Edit Screen Sidebars

Once you’ve created your custom sidebars, you’ll notice a new Sidebar Selection box on all your Edit Post screens.

Simple choose which sidebar you want to use on each post from the drop down menu and click Save.

Sidebar Selection Post Edit Screen

Category & Tag Archive Page Sidebar Widgets

Genesis simple sidebars also allows you to create and select which sidebar widget areas you want to use on all your category and tag archive pages.

The simple sidebar plugin for Genesis offers a great way to display any type of content which relates to the content on any specific page or post.

We all know Google loves relevant content and this plugin offers a way to increase relevance of content displayed in a sidebar using a widget.

9 responses to “Adding Custom Sidebar Widget Area’s to Specific Posts & Pages in WordPress”

  1. Jeffrey Brown Avatar
    Jeffrey Brown

    Howdy Brad… I posted this on an old thread on the SP forum but then I saw this page… I’m using Simple Sidebars, works fine for Pages and Posts… but archives and such it reverts to the default sidebar… I’ve seen numerous posts about being able to select sidebars for categories and tags… But I’ve looked and looked and looked… and it just isn’t there. WP 3.9.1 and everything’s up to date… Author archives, same problem.

    What am I missing? 🙂 Certainly would appreciate any advice. Thanks.

  2. Thank you for the plugin tip!

    I am planning to use Genesis on my new website and will among other things write reviews. Would it be possible to display a rating box for the specific post in the sidebar?

    1. Brad Dalton Avatar
      Brad Dalton

      I think so yes.

      Find a plugin which includes a widget.

      1. Ok. You do not happen to have any plugin tips?

        1. Brad Dalton Avatar
          Brad Dalton

          There are many and i suggest you go to WordPress.org/plugins and type in ratings in the search box.

          Here’s one i reviewed awhile ago however there are many others https://wpsites.net/best-plugins/wordpress-customer-reviews-plugin-is-microformat-enabled/

  3. Just what I was looking for. Thanks again Brad !

    1. Brad Dalton Avatar
      Brad Dalton

      No worries Chrissy

  4. Edee Lemonier Avatar
    Edee Lemonier

    Hi Brad,

    Is there a way to use Simple Sidebars to create a sidebar for a Genesis home page (specifically News Pro)? I have a client who can’t make up her mind on what/where/etc for her home page vs the rest and I’m getting tired of all the back and forth in the front-page.php file I’m having to do. Plugin would be a lot easier. But I’d rather have the primary sidebar as the default for all the pages so she doesn’t have to remember to select the new one for every post, especially since there are multiple authors. Is that even possible or do I need to just bite the bullet and leave primary for the home page? (Hoping this makes sense)

    Thanks,
    Edee

    1. Brad Dalton Avatar
      Brad Dalton

      Hello Edee

      You can conditionally force the layout using PHP code or install the Genesis Layout Extra’s plugin.

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