Categories lost on sidebar – formerly there

  • Unknown's avatar
    sdbohlen · Member ·

    I have cleared my browsing history/cache and cookies, but I can not get my categories to post on my sidebar like they were BEFORE I played around with different themes last night. I reverted back to the original theme – Twenty Eleven. But, I can not get my categories to show on the side. I did add a few things to the bottom – blogs I follow, and a “follow” button. Can you also tell me how I can put the Facebook and Pinterest buttons on my blog for people to “like”/follow me there? THANKS! I love your software platform!

    The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

  • Unknown's avatar
    jeremeylduvall · Member ·

    Hi there,

    It looks like you may have been able to figure out the categories bit as I currently see the Categories widget on your sidebar here:

    http://d.pr/i/JIEK

    You can find more information on the widget as well as instructions on how to customize it here:

    http://en.support.wordpress.com/widgets/categories-widget/

    Regarding the Facebook and Pinterest buttons, currently, there isn’t a widget for social media icons. However, if you have a Facebook page, you can install a “Like” box on your sidebar following the instructions here:

    http://en.support.wordpress.com/facebook-integration/#facebook-like-box

    For Pinterest, you should be able to embed a button on your sidebar following the instructions here:

    https://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/adding-a-pinterest-follow-button-on-blog?replies=24#post-727139

    Let me know if you need any additional help!

  • Unknown's avatar
    sdbohlen · Member ·

    Hey Jeremy! Thanks for all the great information! yes, I finally figured out how to get my “categories” to show – but I am wondering if, as I ‘grow’ the blog, a different format may be better than the twenty eleven. Can you recommend a format that would place my categories as a main drop down bar across the banner? Or, is there a way to do this in twenty eleven that I am just missing?
    Thanks again for your awesome advice and guidance!
    Sharon

  • Unknown's avatar
    jeremeylduvall · Member ·

    Hey Sharon!

    Are you referring to placing them in your menu? That’s certainly possible on the Twenty Eleven theme and any other theme that supports a custom menu.

    First, you’ll need to create a custom menu following the instructions here:

    Menus

    By default, WordPress.com includes all of your pages in the menu. However, it doesn’t include categories by default. By creating a custom menu, you have full control over which pages and categories appear.

    After you’ve created a custom menu, you can add categories following the instructions here:

    http://en.support.wordpress.com/category-pages/#step-3-add-the-category-pages-to-your-menu

    When you add the categories, you have a few options. You can add the categories as individual items on your menu or you can add them as a drop-down underneath a parent page titled something like “Topics”.

    Here’s an example of the former (individual items on a menu):

    Screen Shot on 2017-02-11 at 15:07:45.png

    Here’s an example of the latter (drop-down):

    http://d.pr/i/viVS

    Let me know if you need anything else!

  • Unknown's avatar
    sdbohlen · Member ·

    Thanks! I guess step one is for me to research the difference between “pages” and “categories.” I will go to the help section through the Dashboard. You are totally awesome. Thanks!!

  • Unknown's avatar
    jeremeylduvall · Member ·

    Hey Sharon!

    Happy to explain further! A page is a static source of information that you have entered. For example, on your “About” page, you have a breakdown of your Bio. That information will not change unless you edit the page. For category pages, the page is updated with a new post every time you post a blog entry in that category. Category pages are created by default whenever you create a category. The pages look like this:

    http://coffeenapsandbooks.wordpress.com/category/daily-musings-quick-reflections-on-life/

    Notice how that page has a list of all of your posts categorized as “Daily Musings Quick Reflections on Life”.

    So, you don’t really need to create the category pages. They are already there. You just need to add them to the menu. Does that make sense? I was just highlighting the two ways you could add them:

    Individual Items: http://d.pr/i/L0a7
    Drop-down: http://d.pr/i/viVS

    In those examples, “Running, Throwing, Writing, etc” are all examples of category pages like yours above.

    Does that help to clarify?

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