How to Add Social Media Icons on WordPress Website in 2025

According to a recent study, websites that prominently insert social media icons in their layout see up to 35% more engagement from visitors who follow, share, or visit their profiles.

In today’s fast-paced digital world, adding high-quality social media icons is no longer just a nice touch, it’s a must. Whether you’re looking to create a brand-new WordPress site or simply upgrade your current website design, having a functional and visually appealing icon font or custom collection of logos is one of the simplest ways to connect your audience with your online presence across platforms like Threads, Instagram, and Facebook.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through multiple options to effortlessly add, edit, and customize social media icons on your WordPress website. So, let’s dive in.

Why Add Social Media Icons to Your WordPress Website?

Adding social media icons to your WordPress website isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a strategic move with real-world benefits. Here’s why it’s a smart option for every site owner in 2025:

Improve User Engagement

Social media icons act as interactive logos that invite users to connect with your brand beyond your website. When visitors choose to click on these icons, they’re saying they want to follow, comment, or share your content, giving you more chances to engage with them. Whether you’re running a blog, a business site, or an eCommerce store, these icon font visuals make it easier for users to continue their journey with you.

Increase Social Traffic and Brand Awareness

When users visit your social media profiles via your website, it opens the door to more shares, likes, and visibility. Every click on a Facebook or Instagram icon can mean new followers and potential customers. It’s a quick way to expand your digital footprint without spending a dime. And when your icons are clean, clickable, and easy to find, your chances of getting that attention skyrocket.

Enhance Trust and Brand Credibility

Let’s face it, people are more likely to trust a website that displays recognizable social media logos. These icons act as a digital trust badge. By linking to active profiles with quality content, you’re signaling that your brand is transparent, accessible, and real. Plus, including recognizable networks like Threads, Instagram, or Facebook reinforces your legitimacy.

Better UX for Modern Users

Today’s web users expect to see social media icons. They’ve become a standard feature across the web, and leaving them out might harm your user experience (UX). Whether you’re designing your site from scratch or planning to upgrade, adding well-designed, responsive social media icons improves navigation and interaction, especially when users are browsing from their phones or tablets.

Discover: Tips for Improving UX for Small Business Websites

Where Should You Place Social Media Icons?

Just having icons isn’t enough. Their placement can dramatically affect how users interact with them. Strategic positioning ensures they’re seen, clicked, and lead to actual social engagement.

• Header: Placing icons in the header makes them immediately visible on every page. It’s a popular spot because users see them as soon as the page loads, no scrolling required. Just make sure to set them apart with clean color contrast so they’re easy to recognize without distracting from your navigation menu.

• Footer: This is a more subtle but effective option. The footer is a go-to spot for users looking for contact info, site links, or social profiles. Placing icons here works great for visitors who’ve already scrolled through your content and want to continue connecting with you elsewhere.

• Sidebar: Sidebars are ideal for blog-based sites. You can use a widget to insert social media icons beside your content so users can click while reading. It’s a fantastic way to work with your layout without disrupting the main focus of your content.

• Floating Icons on Scroll: Want maximum visibility? Floating icons are great for staying in front of your user without being intrusive. These icons log themselves on the side or bottom of the screen and move with the user as they scroll. This constant presence can gently encourage more clicks.

Steps to Add Social Media Icons on Your WordPress Website Seamlessly

Adding social icons doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, here are four effective ways to add social media icons on your WordPress website in 2025, no coding anxiety required.

Method 1: Add Social Media Icons Using a WordPress Theme

Most modern WordPress themes in 2025 are designed with built-in support for social icons, making it easier than ever to create a sleek and consistent look without installing any additional plugins.

Here are some popular 2025-Ready Themes That Support Social Icons:

• Astra: Lightweight and fast, Astra includes icon font support in headers and footers.

• Kadence: Offers built-in social icon modules with responsive styling and great color control.
• GeneratePress: Known for its clean code and minimal design, GeneratePress makes it easy to insert icons using menus.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

• Log in to your WordPress dashboard using your admin credentials.
• From the sidebar, go to Appearance → Customize to access the Theme Customizer.
• Depending on the theme you’re using, navigate to the Header, Footer, or a dedicated Social Links section.
• Select the area where you want the icons to appear (top bar, primary menu, or footer).
• Click on the Social Menu or Social Icons option.
• Choose an icon style, such as square, circle, or logo-only.
• Use the color settings to apply a brand-consistent color scheme.
• Click Publish to save and display the icons across your site.

Some themes allow you to create separate menus for header and footer social icons. This helps you control visibility and prioritize platforms in strategic areas of your site.

Method 2: Use a Social Media Plugin (Beginner-Friendly)

Prefer a plug-and-play solution? Then, using a plugin is your best option. Social media icon plugins offer greater design freedom, animation effects, and advanced positioning without touching a line of code.

Best Social Media Icon Plugins for 2025:

• Smash Balloon: More than just icons. It can also display full Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter feeds in high quality.
• Simple Social Icons: Lightweight and perfect for those who just want to set and forget.
• Ultimate Social Media Icons: Supports a wide range of social platforms, including newer ones like Threads.
• Monarch by Elegant Themes: Includes floating icons, pop-ups, and analytics tracking.

How to Install & Configure:

• Go to Plugins → Add New from your WordPress admin panel.
• Use the search bar to type the plugin name (e.g., Simple Social Icons).
• Click Install Now, and then Activate once the plugin is ready.
• Navigate to Appearance → Widgets or, for block-based themes, open the site editor.
• Find the plugin’s social icon widget or block.
• Drag it into your sidebar, footer, or custom area where you want the icons to appear.
• Paste your social profile URLs for each icon.
• Customize icon shape, alignment, color, and hover effect.
• Click Save or Update.

Method 3: Add Social Icons Manually Using HTML/CSS

If you’re a developer or someone who wants full control, manually adding social media icons gives you unlimited customization.

Tools You Can Use:

• Font Awesome (via CDN): Offers thousands of social media logos in icon font format.
• SVG Icon Collections: Ideal for lightweight, scalable designs you can download or copy from trusted sources.

Sample HTML:

<div class="social-icons">
  <a href="https://facebook.com/yourpage" target="_blank" aria-label="Facebook"><i class="fab fa-facebook-f"></i></a>
  <a href="https://twitter.com/yourprofile" target="_blank" aria-label="Twitter"><i class="fab fa-twitter"></i></a>
  <a href="https://instagram.com/yourprofile" target="_blank" aria-label="Instagram"><i class="fab fa-instagram"></i></a>
  <a href="https://linkedin.com/in/yourprofile" target="_blank" aria-label="LinkedIn"><i class="fab fa-linkedin-in"></i></a>
</div>


CSS Styling Example:

.social-icons {
  display: flex;
  gap: 15px;
  justify-content: center;
  margin-top: 20px;
}

.social-icons a {
  text-decoration: none;
  color: #fff;
  background-color: #0073aa;
  padding: 10px;
  border-radius: 50%;
  display: inline-flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  transition: background-color 0.3s ease;
}

.social-icons a:hover {
  background-color: #005177;
}

.social-icons i {
  font-size: 16px;
}

How to Safely Add Code:

• For beginners, install the Code Snippets plugin to safely insert custom code without editing theme files.
• Developers can use a child theme to edit header.php or footer.php files directly.
• Add the HTML where you want the icons to appear (e.g., before the closing <footer> tag).
• Add your CSS under Appearance → Customize → Additional CSS.
• Check the screen responsiveness to ensure icons work well on all devices.
• Save and preview your changes live.

Find Out: How to Trace Any Piece of Code in WordPress

Method 4: Using Page Builders Like Elementor or Beaver Builder

Page builders give you ultimate freedom. They offer drag-and-drop functionality, real-time preview, and deep integration with other design elements, making them an excellent option for beginners and pros alike.

How to Use Beaver Builder:

• Launch your page with Beaver Builder active.
• Open the Modules panel and find the Social Icons module.
• Drag it into the section where you’d like the icons to appear.
• Select which networks to display and insert URLs accordingly.
• Customize colors, icon size, padding, and hover behaviors.
• Click Done → Publish to make the changes live.

How to Use Elementor for Social Icons:

• Open your desired page or template with Elementor.
• Search for the “Social Icons” widget in the left panel.
• Drag and drop it where you want it (footer, header, sidebar, etc.).
• For each icon, insert your social media URL, choose the network, and select the icon style.
• Use the style tab to change color, hover effects, spacing, and alignment.
• Click Update to save your layout.

Best Practices for Adding Social Media Icons

Here are some best practices to keep in mind while adding social media icons:

Use Only Relevant Social Platforms

One of the most common mistakes website owners make is including too many social media icons. It’s tempting to showcase every possible platform, but it often leads to clutter and decision fatigue for users.

Instead, focus on the platforms where your audience is most active, whether that’s Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or another platform. Adding only relevant icons keeps your interface clean and encourages meaningful engagement, helping users easily choose where to follow or share your content.

Ensure Mobile Responsiveness

In 2025, mobile-first design is no longer optional; it’s essential. Social media icons must scale and align well across all devices. Whether you use an icon font, SVG, or high-quality logos, make sure they’re mobile-friendly.

Test their appearance on different screen sizes and adjust margins or paddings with CSS as needed. Themes like Astra and Kadence often handle responsiveness out of the box, but it’s always smart to double-check.

Add Hover Effects and Tooltips

Hover effects are a great way to indicate interactivity. A simple color transition or scaling animation when a user hovers over an icon can draw attention and encourage clicks. Use CSS to edit these hover styles, perhaps a brand color change on hover to make it visually dynamic.

Additionally, tooltips such as “Visit our Instagram” or “Share on Threads” improve clarity and accessibility, particularly for assistive browsers or screen readers.

Use SVGs or Optimized Icon Files

Fast-loading websites perform better on Google and offer a better user experience. To keep load times fast, avoid heavy images and instead use SVGs or lightweight icon fonts. These options scale perfectly on any screen, maintain sharpness, and can be customized with CSS.

If you must use images, download only compressed, high-quality versions and use tools to optimize them before uploading. This ensures your icons look great without slowing down your site.

Explore: Best WordPress Image Optimization Plugins

Conclusion

Adding social media icons to your WordPress website in 2025 isn’t just a design choice; it’s a smart marketing move. In this guide, we explored four main methods to integrate social icons: using theme settings, installing beginner-friendly plugins, manually coding with HTML/CSS, and leveraging page builders like Elementor and Beaver Builder.

Social media integration is a powerful tool for building trust, driving traffic, and increasing engagement, so don’t just set it and forget it. Optimize, monitor, and evolve your strategy for long-term website growth.