In this blog, we will take you through everything you need to know about website widgets, including what they are and why every website needs them.
When building a website, there is a lot that you need to consider and add to create a fully functional website. From the basic layout and content to the visuals, a lot of thought goes beyond each element to ensure that it all works in favor of your business.
Most people, while trying to navigate through it all, tend to miss the minute details that matter a lot. Today, we will be talking about one such website feature, i.e., website widgets. Yes, the widgets that we all have on our smartphones. The ones that we add to the home screen for quick and easy access to the chosen features.
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And if you thought only mobile devices had them, you were wrong. They come at the core of any website and charge them with increased functionality and better navigability.
Now, the question is,
What are widgets?
Why does your website need them?
What widgets should a website have?
Today, we at Graphy are here with expert answers to all these questions. So, sit tight while we take you through it all one by one.
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Website widgets: All you need to know
What are website widgets?
Website widgets are stand-alone features that take the functionality of your website to the next level. Widgets are buttons on your website that visitors can click on and access a particular feature.
For instance, the “contact us” or the “share” or “map” function buttons you see on almost every website. They are like these small icons that you can simply click to access any given feature. Website widgets simply stand out and help a visitor take immediate action rather than having to go through the entire content.
They are convenient additions that help improve the overall user experience and, therefore, are a must-have for every website.
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Why do you need website widgets?
Better user experience
A website is built for visitors. It’s built so that you can convince your target audience to initiate an action and invest in your brand. But if your website is not easy to navigate and access, and they are unable to find what they are looking for, they will immediately leave in search of a better alternative.
That is exactly why widgets are a core part of any website’s design and algorithm. Widgets:
- Give visitors quick access to the features or data they wish rather than having to scroll through the entire content.
- With widgets making payment/reservations, initiating an action becomes easier than ever.
- Widgets help create a clear content hierarchy and make your website more navigable.
So, it’s always recommended to use widgets for key website features.
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Promotes social bookmarking
Social bookmarking could go a long way in increasing the visibility of any brand and, therefore, any business. So, you have to make sure that your website can be easily bookmarked and shared by your visitors. And that’s where a “share” widget comes into play.
On most websites, you must have seen icons for several social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Whatsapp. They are not simply images but widgets that you can click on and share the website’s content with your network. No need to copy and paste links, but clicking on the widget would be enough.
That does sound convenient, right? So, such widgets enhance the shareability of your website content.
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Helps create a minimal and attractive web design
Website widgets are stand-alone buttons that need no description. You can simply place them anywhere on your page and direct action without saying anything more.
For instance, a share widget or an audio widget needs no description. Just placing them on your website is enough, and your visitors will know what to do.
These widgets go a long way when it comes to creating a minimal and attractive website. They help you:
- Reduce your website content to a minimum
- Add these attractive icons that take up the overall aesthetics.
One convenient website widget worth mentioning here is the accordion widget. Have you seen those FAQ sections where you click on a question and the answer appears in a way similar to that of a drop-down menu? They are accordion widgets. With this widget, you can display content in a collapsed or condensed manner, saving a lot of space.
So, widgets are really handy and, if used well, can help you create an efficient website.
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Improve the overall functionality of a website
Widgets could help you improve the overall functionality of your website by adding a lot of features in a hassle-free manner. You can copy-paste a code without putting in a lot of effort and charge your website with a lot many easy to access features.
- Online chat or help widget for easy communication.
- Customer service widgets like testimonials for building trust.
- Lead generation widgets like Google/Facebook ads.
- You can make your website more attractive and give it a personal touch by adding image/audio/video widgets.
- Booking/checkout widgets to help the user initiate a transaction in the most convenient manner.
- If you have an offline store, a map widget could work well with your website.
So, widgets are the easiest way to improve the functionality of a website.
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Basic widgets that every website needs
Now that you know what website widgets are and why your website needs them, you will definitely want to add them to your website. To help you out, here is a list of widgets that every website needs. So, go through this list, identify the ones that could make your website more user-friendly, and add them to your website.
- A click-to-call or text widget
- A social sharing widget
- Map widget
- Contact form widget
- Video/photo gallery widget
- Accordion widgets to save space.
- List/table widgets for better presentation
- Testimonial widget
- Rolling counter widgets to display numbers
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Closing thoughts
In short, website widgets are definitely a must-have for any website. They could help you improve the look, feel, and functionality of your website and create a better user experience. So, now that you are aware of what they are and how they work, the next step is to add them to your website.
Create your online course website with Graphy
As an online educator, there is a lot that you can do to promote your journey online and enhance your reach. Creating a website for your online courses is one such step that you could take. That’s where we at Graphy come into the picture. With us, you can not just build, launch, and market your online course, but also build a fully-customized course website.
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Graphy offers a one-stop platform for all users where you can create a responsive and branded website on the go. With professional website builders and several key integrations, you can build your online course website with Graphy in the most hassle-free manner.
To learn more, visit our knowledge base today or start a free trial.
