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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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

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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