How to customize your site header in WordPress for Better User Experience

Your website header is the top section of every page on your WordPress website, and it's usually the first thing your visitors will see. You should customize your site header so that it reflects your brand, and is easy to read and navigate to keep your visitors on your site.

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This article is for beginners to WordPress customization. I'm using the Kadence theme, but most themes will be similar.

Why customize your site header?

A custom header contains your specific branding: your logo, your brand colors, fonts, etc. It's the first thing that people see when they land on your website, so it should be recognizable and easy to navigate. You can link to important pages like account or shopping cart pages, display social icons or your business phone number, and show call-to-action buttons for more conversions.

Using the WordPress Theme Customizer

You will find the customizer in your WordPress admin area under Appearance- customize. In the customizer, you will see a left hand menu and a preview of your site. You will see changes in the preview as you change the header, but they will remain in draft until you hit “publish“.

Hover over the theme preview and you will see pencil icons. Click on one to open the header panel.

To create a custom header, hover over an empty area in the header and click the ‘+' icon to add a header block. Next, you can select any block you'd like to add to your custom header. For example, you can add a widget block, account block, search block, and more.

The header builder also lets you drag and drop the blocks and place them above or below the header. You can further customize each block that you add to the header.

For instance, selecting the Site Title & Logo settings will give you options to add a site title and logo, change the logo's width, display a site tagline, and more. Besides that, you can also change the background color of the header or add a background image to appear in the header.

Adding Blocks and Features

To customize your site header further, look for an empty space within the header area. Click the plus (+) icon to add a new block. You can choose from blocks like:

• Site Logo
• Site Title & Tagline
• Navigation Menus
• Social Media Icons
• Search Bar
• Account or Cart Links
• Contact Information

Once you add a block, you can drag and drop it to adjust its position. For example, if the social icons show up in the wrong place, just move them below your logo or wherever you prefer.

When you're done editing the custom header, be sure to click the ‘Publish' button.

Making the Most of Your Header

A good header not only looks sharp but also improves your site’s functionality. Think about what your visitors need most. Do they need easy access to contact info? Would a second menu help? Maybe you want to highlight a special offer or show a phone number for quick support.

You can add features like:

• A second navigation bar for categories or important pages
• Social media icons that link to your profiles
• A call-to-action button for promotions or sign-ups
• Contact details, like an email or phone number

Make sure your header looks good on both desktop and mobile devices. Kadence and similar themes offer preview tools so you can see how your header appears on different screens.

The Goal is a Good User Experience

Customizing your WordPress header can enhance the overall design and functionality of your website. You can add a second menu, contact information, or anything else that will help your users navigate your site.

When you customize your site header, you help visitors find what they need and make a strong first impression. The Kadence theme makes this process easy with its drag-and-drop builder and flexible options. Spend a little time updating your header, and you’ll see a big improvement in how users experience your WordPress site.