/sidebar

name: sidebar-generator
description: When the user wants to design, optimize, or audit a sidebar for blogs, docs, or content pages. Also use when the user mentions "sidebar," "blog sidebar," "content sidebar," "side panel," "sidebar navigation," "related content," "sidebar CTA," "doc sidebar," or "sidebar widgets." For blog layout, use blog-page-generator.
metadata:
  version: 1.0.1

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 project context first:** If `.claude/project-context.md` or `.cursor/project-context.md` exists, read it for content structure and conversion goals.

Identify: 1. **Content type**: Blog, docs, e-commerce 2. **Primary goal**: Navigation, CTA, related content 3. **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