How to Add Social Media Icons in WordPress [Most Effective Way]

Social media is no longer optional; it’s a crucial part of building your online presence. Whether you run a blog, an eCommerce store, or a business website, adding social media icons in WordPress makes it easier for visitors to connect with you and share your content across different platforms.

In this guide, we’ll explain what social media icons are, why they matter, and how to add social media icons in WordPress site using the most effective method.

What are Social Media Icons in WordPress

Social media icons are clickable buttons that represent platforms like Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and more.

In WordPress, these icons can serve two main purposes:

1. Profile Links – Direct visitors to your social media pages.
   
2. Social Sharing Buttons – Allow users to share your content on their own profiles with just one click.
   

These small yet powerful buttons help bridge the gap between your website and your social media presence.

Benefits of Adding Social Media Icons in WordPress

Adding social media icons to your WordPress site offers several key advantages:

• Boosts Website Traffic – When visitors share your content, it can reach a wider audience.
  
• Builds Brand Awareness – Icons make it easy for people to follow your official profiles.
  
• Improves Engagement – Encourages users to interact with your content outside your website.
  
• Enhances User Experience – Visitors won’t need to search for your profiles manually.
  
• Strengthens SEO Indirectly – More shares and engagement can generate backlinks and exposure.
  

How to Add Social Media Icons in WordPress

WordPress makes it simple to add social media icons, especially with the help of plugins. One of the most effective solutions is using a social sharing feature through a plugin like WP Social.

What you will need to do is download WP Social and activate it. The free version is very helpful already to add social media icons to your WordPress website. But, if you want to access various stunning style settings, avail its pro version.

Step 1: Configure the Social Share Settings

Look for the WP Social plugin in your WordPress dashboard to enable the social share settings.

Proceed to the stilinställningar to set the style of your social buttons. You have two options for displaying your share buttons.

1. Primary Content:

You can set the layout of your social share button, be it horizontal eller vertical. Moreover, you may decide to either show the total count or not. In primary content, you have 3 options to choose from:

• After content 
• Before content
• Both after and before content

Not only that, you may also select various share styles, which include icon with fill color, icon with full color and space, icon with hover fill color and space, etc.

2. Fixed Display:

Just like Primary Content, you can also set the layout, have an option to show the total count, and set the share style. What differs it from Primary content is that it has 4 options to display your share button, namely:

• Left floating
• Right floating
• Top inline
• Bottom inline

Don’t forget to save any changes. 

Now, in the Providers tab, you have the options to select which social media icons you want to displace in your WordPress site. 

Set the settings of the social media platforms you want to display, and always enable them. 

To configure the settings for the social media platform, simply click on the Settings and fill out the boxes. Always click Spara ändringar for every change you make.

Step 2: Open a Post or Page to Confirm if Social Share is Correctly Added

To check if the social share is correctly embedded, open any page or post.

That’s it, your website now has fully functional social media icons that make sharing effortless.

Why Consider WP Social for Social Share?

If you are wondering why WP Social is considered the best option for adding social media icons to your WordPress website, these 3 main reasons will enlighten you:

1. WP Social is an all-in-one solution as it contains fundamental features like social inloggning, social andel, och social disk. 

2. As a WordPress social media icon plugin, it offers a fully customizable design, as you have options to choose from various styles and layouts. Its free version already offers stunning layouts and designs. 

3. WP Social is very user-friendly, as you only need to configure the social share settings, and it will automatically be applied to all your posts and pages. 

Vanliga frågor

Q1. Can You Add Social Media Icons Without a Plugin?
Yes, you can add them manually using HTML or theme widgets, but it requires more effort and customization.

Q2. Will Social Media Icons Slow Down my Website?
Lightweight plugins or properly optimized icons won’t noticeably affect your site speed. Always choose reputable plugins.

Q3. Which Social Media Platforms Should I Include?
Focus on platforms where your target audience is most active. Quality over quantity is key.

Q4. Can You Customize the Look of the Icons?
Yes, most plugins allow you to choose from different styles, shapes, and placements to match your website’s design.

Take Action Now

Adding social media icons in WordPress is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to grow your online reach. This allows your visitors to easily share your content and follow your profiles, which will help you drive more traffic and boost engagement. 

Don’t wait, install a social sharing plugin like WPSocial today and start making your WordPress site more social-friendly! You’ll know why it’s the most effective way.