Sidebar Navigation & Client Switcher
The collapsible left sidebar holds main navigation, the client switcher, and your account info — works the same on every screen.
What is it?
The fixed left sidebar (collapsible to a 64 px icon rail). Top: NexusSEO logo. Below: the Selected Client dropdown that switches your working context across the app. Below that: the navigation menu, grouped into Workspace (Asset Library, Personas, LinkedIn Parser, Scheduler), Create (Opportunity Finder, Page Explorer, Content Plans, Content Studio), and Configure (Data Sources, Agency Manager, Help Center, My Settings), with Dashboard on its own at the very bottom. LinkedIn Parser is nested under Personas. Bottom: your account button — click it to open an upward panel with your role badge, a running plans pill when any content plan is executing, Monthly usage, and Sign Out.
When should I use it?
- Switching between clients — pick from the dropdown to scope every screen to that client.
- Navigating to a different feature.
- Collapsing the sidebar to give the main content more horizontal space.
- Signing out.
How to use it
- Switch client: click the Selected Client dropdown. Type to search if you have many clients. Pick one — every screen reloads with that client's data.
- Navigate: click any menu item. The active screen highlights.
- Collapse: click the ◀ chevron on the right edge of the sidebar header. The sidebar shrinks to icons-only with hover tooltips. Click ▶ to expand.
- Account menu: click your name and avatar at the bottom. A panel slides up with your Monthly usage, the running plans pill, and Sign Out.
- Running plans pill (in the account menu): appears whenever one or more plans are in Running, Paused, Review, or Cap reached state — across all your clients, not just the selected one. Click it to expand a popover listing each plan with its client name, status, and piece progress. Click a row to jump straight to that plan, even if it belongs to a different client.
Tips and best practices
- Collapse the sidebar when working on dense screens (Asset Library table, Content Studio side-by-side).
- The client switcher is searchable — you don't have to scroll if you have 50 clients.
- Your sidebar collapse preference is remembered in localStorage per device.
- The running plans pill is your global "what's still cooking" indicator. Especially useful after switching clients — it surfaces work that started in a different context but is still spending tokens.
Gotchas and limits
- Switching clients clears in-progress work (selected keyword, opened drafts, etc.). Save before switching.
- Mobile: the sidebar overlays the content and closes on navigation. Tap the hamburger to reopen.
- Team members see a smaller menu (no Agency Manager, no Data Sources). My Settings appears in its place.
- Backend status pill shows Online (green) or Demo Mode (amber) — Demo Mode means Firebase config is missing.