When should I avoid using a sidebar?

If it harms conversion or adds clutter, consider in-content CTAs or bottom-right sticky CTAs; statically placed sidebars can hurt performance compared to no sidebar.

Should sidebars be collapsed on mobile?

Yes. Collapse to a hamburger or off-canvas drawer to reduce clutter and improve readability on mobile, since 57%+ of traffic is mobile and responsive design is essential.

How many CTAs should a sidebar have?

Prefer one high-value CTA; avoid multiple CTAs in the same sidebar to reduce clutter and preserve trust. Use related posts and social proof to aid discovery without overwhelming the user.

sidebar-generator

npx machina-cli add skill kostja94/marketing-skills/sidebar --openclaw

Files (1)

SKILL.md

2.8 KB

Components: Sidebar

Guides sidebar design for content sites (blogs, docs). ~80% of users focus on the left; sidebars influence flow but can hurt conversion if overused. Posts without sidebars show 3.1x higher conversion; bottom-right sticky CTAs outperform sidebars (5.62% vs 0.58% CTR).

When invoking: On first use, if helpful, open with 1-2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On subsequent use or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.

Initial Assessment

Check for product marketing context first: If .claude/product-marketing-context.md or .cursor/product-marketing-context.md exists, read it for content structure and conversion goals.

Identify:

Content type: Blog, docs, e-commerce
Primary goal: Navigation, CTA, related content
Mobile: Collapse to hamburger or hide on small screens

Best Practices

Placement

Left sidebar: Prime for nav; 80% of users focus left
Right sidebar: Secondary content, ads, related posts
Static vs sticky: Static for content-focused; sticky for persistent CTA (subscription, cart)

Conversion Reality

Approach	Typical result
Sidebar CTA	<1% opt-in for blog sidebars
In-content CTA	3x+ higher conversion
Bottom-right sticky	5.62% CTR vs 0.58% sidebar
No sidebar	3.1x higher conversion vs with sidebar

Recommendation: Prefer in-content CTAs or bottom-right sticky over sidebar CTAs. Use sidebar for nav and discovery, not primary conversion.

Widget Guidelines

One high-value CTA max; avoid clutter
Social proof: Testimonials, logos
Popular/related posts: Discovery, internal linking
Avoid: Too many ads, affiliate links; reduces trust and speed

Mobile

Collapse: Hamburger or off-canvas drawer
57%+ mobile traffic: Responsive design non-negotiable
Reduce clutter: Hide or simplify sidebar on small screens

Output Format

Placement (left/right, static/sticky)
Widget list (nav, CTA, related, social proof)
Mobile behavior
Conversion note (in-content vs sidebar CTA)

Related Skills

toc-generator: TOC often in sidebar for long content
cta-generator: Sidebar CTA (use sparingly)
newsletter-signup-generator: Sidebar signup; consider in-content instead
internal-links: Related posts in sidebar

Source

git clone https://github.com/kostja94/marketing-skills/blob/main/skills/components/sidebar/SKILL.mdView on GitHub

Overview

Guides the design, optimization, and auditing of sidebars for blogs, docs, and content pages. Sidebars shape navigation, discovery, and conversions, and can help or hurt performance depending on placement, content, and mobile behavior. Posts without sidebars often convert better, while bottom-right sticky CTAs can outperform traditional sidebars in CTR.

How This Skill Works

Assess the content type, primary goal (navigation, CTAs, or related content), and mobile behavior. Decide on placement and widget mix (left for navigation, right for related content) and choose between static or sticky behavior based on focus. Apply mobile collapse strategies and track metrics to iterate toward higher engagement and conversion.

When to Use It

Designing a new sidebar for a blog, docs, or content site
Auditing an existing sidebar for navigation, related content, or CTAs
Trying to improve conversions or discoverability without harming readability
Ensuring mobile responsiveness with collapsible or off-canvas sidebars
Evaluating CTA strategies and deciding if a sidebar CTA should be replaced by in-content or bottom-right sticky CTAs

Quick Start

Step 1: Audit the current sidebar against the primary goal (navigation, CTAs, or related content) and check mobile behavior
Step 2: Define placement and widgets (left nav, right related content, single high-value CTA) and decide between static or sticky
Step 3: Implement mobile collapse and test with metrics to iterate toward better engagement and conversion

Best Practices

Placement: left sidebar for navigation; right sidebar for secondary content such as related posts or ads
Static vs sticky: static for content focus; sticky for persistent CTAs like subscriptions or cart prompts
Conversion reality: prefer in-content CTAs or bottom-right sticky CTAs over traditional sidebar CTAs; no-sidebar posts often convert better
Widget guidelines: limit to one high-value CTA, include social proof, and show relevant/popular posts to aid discovery
Mobile: collapse to a hamburger or off-canvas drawer; ensure responsive design for 57%+ mobile traffic and reduce clutter on small screens

Example Use Cases

Tech blog using a left navigation sidebar to organize categories, improving site navigation without overloading the main content
Docs site with a right sidebar featuring related docs and internal links to boost discovery
An article that uses in-content CTAs rather than a sidebar CTA, achieving 3x+ higher conversion
Newsletter signup implemented as a bottom-right sticky CTA, delivering higher CTR than a sidebar CTA
Removing nonessential sidebar items led to 3.1x higher overall conversion compared with including a sidebar

Frequently Asked Questions

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