How to Add a Photo Slideshow on a WordPress Website
When it comes to adding a bit of entertainment to your website, there are so many options available. You can build a mini-mall, complete with shops and restaurants, or you can go the extra mile and create a whole virtual neighbourhood around your business with a series of blog posts and web pages. But, if you want to keep things simple, you can always add a photo slideshow to your site.
Yes, it’s really that easy. And, if this sounds like something you’d be interested in trying out, go ahead and read on.
Step one: Choose the right images
When it comes to adding a photo slideshow to your website, the first thing you need to do is decide which images you want to use. This isn’t as hard as it sounds. You can find tons of free stock photos on sites like Pixabay, which you can use to create a slideshow that will be as unique as your site theme and design.
The images you choose will impact the overall look of your slideshow. So, make sure that you choose stock photos that fit within the aesthetic of your site. Otherwise, you may end up with a chaotic jumble of images that don’t quite gel together.
Step two: Use a free tool to build your slideshow
Once you’ve decided on your images, it’s time to move onto the next step. The second you do this, you’ll be able to launch a free tool that can help you build your slideshow, on your WordPress website, in no time. All you need to do is enter a few details about your site and then click the button to continue.
From there, you’ll be brought to a new screen where you can enter a short description to go with your slideshow. Don’t forget about the images you chose earlier. You’ll need to upload the matching thumbnails to go along with them.
Step three: Customise your slideshow with a few tools
Once you’re finished entering all the details about your slideshow, it’s time to start configuring it. To do this, you’ll need to visit the additional tools section found in the left-hand side of your screen. You can use the arrows to navigate. As you can see in the screenshot below, you have a selection of tools at your disposal.
The first thing you want to do is set a theme for your slideshow. Go back to the main screen and click the dropdown located next to the button that says ‘Build Slideshow’ to reveal a list of themes. You can choose between twenty different themes, all of which are completely free. Once you make your selection from the list, the site will reload and the design of your slideshow will be overhauled to fit the chosen theme.
As you scroll down, you’ll find a selection of icons that you can use to customise the appearance of your slideshow. You have full control over the colors, layout, and font style of your image slides. Of course, you can always save your custom settings later on if you wish.
The icons at the bottom of the screen are also free and will make the overall design of your slideshow look more cohesive. You can add or remove these as you see fit. Once you’re happy with how everything looks, click the button to continue.
The final step is to choose a speaker system and music to go with your slideshow. To do this, click the ‘Add Another’ button located at the top right of your screen. This will bring you to a new page where you can select from a number of different speaker systems. In addition, you can choose between playing music or leaving the audio open for users to add their own soundtrack.
Once you’ve made your selection, click the button to continue. This will launch a new screen where you can add any number of videos to your slideshow. Remember, you can always go back and edit any of these later on.
Step four: Launch your slideshow
Once you’ve added all your videos, it’s time to launch your slideshow. To do this, click the button located at the top left of your screen. This will bring you back to a new page where you can enter a title and any description you may want for your slideshow.
Enter a title that will be both engaging and appropriate for your audience. Choose a short, yet informative description and then click the button to continue.
This will bring you to a new page where you can enter a link to your website. When entering this information, make sure that it is a valid URL that will work for at least the length of your presentation. Once you’ve entered this, click the button to continue.
That’s it!
In just a few short steps, you can have a fully configured and functioning photo slideshow on your blog. Of course, this is just the beginning. You can always add more content to this page as you see fit and make it into a virtual museum of sorts. Or perhaps, you can even create an e-commerce store that features a variety of products from your favourite brands.
Whatever you decide, keep things light-hearted and entertaining. After all, why should your audience be spending all their time, browsing your website, when you can provide them with some great content that is guaranteed to keep them interested. Good luck!