Sticky WordPress Widgets

Enable sticky WordPress widgets (fixed widgets) option in the widget settings and it will be always in sight when a page is scrolled down/up

By Claudio Pires
Updated on May 5, 2023
Sticky WordPress Widgets

Enable the “Fixed widget” option in the widget settings, and it will always be in view when a page is moved down or up. A fixed widget sidebar in WordPress is an essential part of a blog. But most of the time, it remains unnoticed. Now here’s how to make sticky WordPress widgets.

People come to your blog to read the content. They open the post, scroll, and read the content. By the time they are at the bottom of the post, they can no longer see the sidebar. It’s out of their screen. And then your sidebar doesn’t get noticed. It happened to me. But I was able to fix it by using the “Sticky Widget” plugin.

Why Create a Fixed Sidebar Widget?

Fixed floating sidebar widget in WordPress remain on the user’s screen as they scroll, giving site visitors more chances to notice and click. You can use it to create mailing lists, offer product promotions, share popular posts, view recent tweets and Instagram posts, and do whatever you want.

This allows your sidebar to stand out more and keep important information in front of your visitors.

The idea is to make any sidebar widget sticky that floats next to the content as the user scrolls down. It’s not possible to make every widget sticky. What you can do is make the most important widget sticky. For example, make your ‘Subscription Form’ sticky if you want more subscribers.

Sticky WordPress Widgets

That is easily achievable if you utilize the proper tools, of course. One of them is WP Sticky which allows you to pick literally any element from your screen and make it sticky in the shortest manner possible. Once you enter their dashboard, you simply → name your sticky element.

To choose the element on the screen that you want to make sticky → save changes – viola, the selected component is now sticky. The possibilities are endless since you can create a sticky menu, sticky header, widget, navigation, video, about us page, or any other element you prefer.

There are quite a few customizations available as well. For example, if you’d like to change the opacity of the sticky element, you simply drag it across the 0-100 value where it fits you best. You can also poke around the scroll range to dictate where the sticky feature will disappear. Furthermore, restrictions are also available, and that can be easily arranged with one simple click of a button if you want to avoid the sticky element on different:

  • Posts
  • Tags
  • Pages
  • Categories
  • Post types

Another neat feature that you might find especially useful is in the “Devices” tab, where you can control the screen size where a sticky element will appear. The effortless, easy usage and various customizations make this plugin superior in its field.

Sticky WordPress Widgets

Q2W3 Fixed Widget

Q2W3 Fixed Widget is a WordPress plugin that allows you to add floating sidebar widgets sticky in WordPress. This post will show you how to make any sidebar widget “Sticky” in WordPress. Before moving to the tutorial, I’d like to give some ideas on how you can use the plugin.

  • It makes the “Affiliate Banner” sticky to increase affiliate sales.
  • You can make ‘Adsense Ads’ sticky to increase CTR.
  • It can make the ‘Subscription Form’ sticky to get more subscribers.
  • You can make “Like Box” sticky to get more likes.
  • In addition, make the “Popular Posts” widget sticky to decrease the bounce rate.
  • You can make anything sticky that benefits you.

Sticky Widget will double your conversion rates. Let’s see how to set up the sticky widget.

How to Make Sidebar Widget “Sticky” in WordPress

Sticky WordPress Widgets
Sticky WordPress Widgets

First, you need to install the Q2W3 Fixed Widget plugin.

Once you’ve activated the plugin, go to WordPress Admin Panel > Appearance > Widgets. Then click on the widget that you want to make sticky. You will notice the “Fixed widget” option there. Just check the box and click on “Save.”

Now go to your site and scroll down. The sticky widget will be scrolling with you.

Sticky Widget Plugin also allows you to configure the position of the fixed widget. Go to Appearance > Fixed Widget Options and set the margin-top and margin-bottom.

  • Margin Top: This property defines the vertical distance from the top border edge of an element to the edge of its containing block. You must optimize the margin-bottom properly to prevent widgets from overlapping with the footer.
  • Margin Bottom: This property defines the vertical distance from the bottom border edge of the element concerned to the edge of its containing block.

You can go with default settings for other options. And You can also make multiple widgets sticky by using the plugin. But make sure your sidebar is not annoying. I prefer making one widget sticky.

Tip: Another WordPress plugin I use with Sticky Widget is Thrive Clever Widget. It allows me to add relevant widgets to the relevant posts/pages. It’s better to show highly relevant widget content on the sidebar rather than show the same widget on every blog post. It converts like crazy.

A Q2W3 Fixed Widget Alternative

Many complain that Q2W3 Fixed Widget is not working on their WordPress site. If you are one of them, here is an alternative for you.

Theia Sticky Sidebar for WordPress is another plugin that allows you to make the existing sidebar sticky and keep it permanently visible. It’s compatible with all WordPress themes. It’s a premium plugin that will cost $18 for you. I’ve not used the plugin on my blog. But I think it will work for you. This plugin is rated 4.26 out of 5 stars.

Conclusion

Adding a sticky sidebar to your WordPress site creates a better user experience. It’s an easy and convenient way to ensure your audience quickly accesses the sections and elements of your site that you find useful and essential.

You can create a sticky sidebar using a plugin or widget for most themes. Also, you won’t need coding knowledge for any methods.

I hope this post helped you add a floating sidebar widget to your WordPress blog. Do let us know if you find any issues while using the plugin. If you find this post helpful, please help me by sharing this post on Facebook, & Twitter.


Claudio Pires

Claudio Pires is the co-founder of Visualmodo, a renowned company in web development and design. With over 15 years of experience, Claudio has honed his skills in content creation, web development support, and senior web designer. A trilingual expert fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, he brings a global perspective to his work. Beyond his professional endeavors, Claudio is an active YouTuber, sharing his insights and expertise with a broader audience. Based in Brazil, Claudio continues to push the boundaries of web design and digital content, making him a pivotal figure in the industry.