First in a new series of quick tips we’re going to start publishing on good WordPress Design.

Tip #1: The sidebar is not a Christmas Tree and you should not decorate it as such.

The sidebar of your WordPress site is an extremely valuable area that allows you to show your users content that, for whatever reason, works best when separated from your site’s main content. No you probably don’t need that 3-d tag cloud (where it’s impossible to actually click on a tag – defeating the purpose). Just as with the content of your website, think about everything that is going onto your sidebar and decisions about what should be included there accordingly. Use the sidebar to help your users enjoy your site, not overwhelm them with widgets and useless information.