How do I add social media links or sharing buttons to my site in WordPress?

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Applies to: WordPress.org (self-hosted)
Last updated: May 2025

Problem

You want visitors to follow your social profiles or easily share your content on social media platforms—but you’re not sure how to add these buttons to your site.

Solution

You can add social media profile links (to promote your accounts) and sharing buttons (to let users share content) using built-in theme options, widgets, or plugins.

Part 1: Add Social Media Profile Links

These typically appear in the header, footer, or sidebar and link directly to your social accounts.

Option 1: Use the WordPress Menu System

  1. Go to Appearance > Menus
  2. Click Create a new menu or edit an existing one
  3. Click Custom Links on the left
  4. Add the full URL to your social profile (e.g., https://twitter.com/yourname)
  5. Label it (e.g., “Twitter”), then click Add to Menu
  6. Add more profiles (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)
  7. Assign the menu to a social location (available in some themes)
  8. Click Save Menu

Themes that support social menus will automatically show icons instead of text.

Option 2: Use a Widget

  1. Go to Appearance > Widgets
  2. Add a Navigation Menu or Custom HTML widget to your footer or sidebar
  3. Add social links or embed icons manually (or use a plugin for icons)

Part 2: Add Social Sharing Buttons to Posts or Pages

These allow visitors to share your content on platforms like Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and more.

Recommended Plugins

  • AddToAny Share Buttons
  • Shared Counts (lightweight and privacy-friendly)
  • Jetpack (includes sharing features among others)
  • Sassy Social Share

Example: Using AddToAny

  1. Go to Plugins > Add New
  2. Search for AddToAny Share Buttons
  3. Click Install Now, then Activate
  4. Go to Settings > AddToAny
  5. Choose which buttons to show (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
  6. Select where they appear:
    • Before/after content
    • Posts, pages, or both
  7. Customize layout (icon size, position, floating sidebar)

Click Save Changes

Best Practices

  • Place social links in your header or footer for visibility
  • Put sharing buttons after content to encourage engagement
  • Don’t clutter your design—use only the platforms you’re active on
  • Use open graph meta tags (e.g., via Yoast SEO) to control how content appears when shared

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