sidebar-generator
The sidebar-generator skill guides strategic sidebar design for content sites like blogs and documentation, offering placement recommendations (left for navigation, right for secondary content), widget prioritization, and mobile responsiveness strategies. Use it when optimizing sidebar layout, deciding what content to include, or troubleshooting conversion performance, particularly when data suggests sidebar CTAs underperform compared to in-content or sticky alternatives.
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/kostja94/marketing-skills /tmp/sidebar-generator && cp -r /tmp/sidebar-generator/skills/components/navigation/sidebar ~/.claude/skills/sidebar-generatorSKILL.md
# 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
When the user wants to create, optimize, or audit About page content. Also use when the user mentions "about page," "about us," "company story," "our team," "about section," "company overview," "brand story," "team page," or "who we are." For sitewide page planning, use website-structure.
When the user wants to plan, implement, or optimize affiliate marketing strategy. Also use when the user mentions "affiliate marketing," "affiliate program strategy," "CPS model," "affiliate recruitment," "commission structure," "affiliate partners," "affiliate network," "affiliate tracking," "affiliate commission," or "partner marketing." For affiliate page, use affiliate-page-generator.
When the user wants to create, optimize, or audit affiliate program page content. Also use when the user mentions "affiliate program," "affiliate page," "partner program," "referral program page," "affiliate landing," "partner landing," "commission page," or "affiliate signup." For affiliate program strategy, use affiliate-marketing.
When the user wants to track AI search traffic in GA4 or GSC. Also use when the user mentions "AI traffic," "ChatGPT referral," "Perplexity traffic," "AI Overviews," "GA4 AI sources," "AI search analytics," "track AI referrals," "AI search traffic," "Claude traffic," or "how to track AI traffic." For AI SEO strategy, use generative-engine-optimization.
When the user wants to create, optimize, or audit alternatives or comparison content (page or blog article). Also use when the user mentions "alternatives page," "alternatives listicle," "X alternatives," "competitor comparison," "vs page," "compare page," "best alternatives to X," "switch from X," "competitor brand traffic," "brand keyword ads," or "intercept competitor search." For competitor research, use competitor-research.
When the user wants to set up, audit, or optimize analytics tracking (GA4, events, conversions). Also use when the user mentions "Google Analytics," "GA4," "event tracking," "conversions," "attribution model," "gtag," "data layer," "GA4 setup," "conversion tracking," "event setup," "User ID tracking," or "CTA attribution." For traffic insights, use traffic-analysis.
When the user wants to create, optimize, or audit the API introduction/overview page. Also use when the user mentions "API page," "API landing page," "/api page," "API overview," "developer landing," "API marketing," or "API for developers." Note: API documentation (endpoint reference) lives in docs; use docs-page-generator.
When the user wants to write, generate, or create article body content—blog post body, long-form content, how-to guide, listicle. Also use when the user mentions "write article," "article content," "blog post content," "article body," "long-form content creation," "generate article," "article draft," "how-to guide content," "listicle content," "information gain," or "content density." For single post page structure, schema, and SEO metadata, use article-page-generator. For blog index/listing page, use blog-page-generator. For short ad, landing, or email copy, use copywriting.