How to Set Up StudioPress’ Genesis Theme Simple Sidebars

Traditionally in WordPress your theme would have the option of one or two sidebars and the content of those sidebars would be the same on every page in your site.

Most webmasters made due, but no doubt wished they could easily create different sidebars for different pages and posts – without knowing how to code PHP (if you’re an expert at coding PHP, you can do a lot more than the lay-bloggers).

Now with Genesis, anyone can easily create an unlimited number of custom sidebars with the Genesis Simple Sidebars plugin (free – but can only be used on the Genesis Framework. Read my in-depth Genesis Framework article here).

Why would you want custom sidebars?

Consider a small business website such as an attorney’s website. Suppose the attorney practices divorce law. There are several sub-areas within divorce law. Further assume the attorney (or hired writers) blog extensively and have many articles on a vast array of divorce topics. What could happen in a large site is that with the same sidebar, the navigation options get too large.

Custom sidebars enable the attorney to create “sections” within the site. For example, a website visitor interested in reading about child custody issues, could visit the child custody section which would have a unique sidebar with a unique navigation scheme.

How about small businesses that sell a variety of products. Perhaps that small business wishes to feature different products in different parts of the website.

The point is that custom sidebars let you create an enhanced visiting experience to your visitors.

As you probably know by now, I’m a die-hard StudioPress fan – and it’s custom sidebars is one of many reasons I love the Genesis Framework with StudioPress.

Setting up custom sidebars in Genesis is extremely easy. Once you have the Genesis Framework installed, follow these steps:

#1: Install Genesis Simple Sidebars Plugin (it’s free)

#2: Create a New Sidebar

#3: Adding Content to New Sidebar – It’s in the Widgets Panel

#4: Selecting Your New Sidebar for a Particular Post / Page

That’s all there is to setting up Genesis Simple Sidebars. No coding needed. No messing around with hooks. Just a simple series of clicks.

If you want this feature for your website or blog, you need the Genesis Framework. You can click here to visit the official Genesis Framework Website.

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2. Metric Child Theme Review – a WordPress StudioPress Theme
3. Expose Child WordPress Theme Review – A StudioPress Theme
4. Review of Enterprise Theme by StudioPress – A WordPress Theme
5. Prose WordPress Theme Review – A StudioPress WP Theme