WordPress has evolved from being just a simple blogging tool into a tool that is now being used to design all types of pages – direct sales pages, portfolio pages, local business pages, etc.
Whatever you can imagine, someone is bound to be already building it with WordPress!
In this article you will learn how to create beautiful web page layouts with drag & drop ease in WordPress websites.
Drag And Drop Content Editors For WordPress
The WordPress Visual Editor – Is There A Smarter Way For Creating And Editing Content In WordPress?
Using the WordPress visual content editor to build or edit sophisticated web pages can be quite challenging.
(The WordPress visual content editor is great for adding, formatting and editing “linear” text and images, but adding complex content elements can be quite challenging!)
For example, let’s say you want to create something like the layout shown below …
To create the above in your content would require typing something like this into the default WordPress content editor …
Typically, this is not an issue … until you want to reconfigure the layout (for example, move part of the content from box 1 into box 2, or replace the background colour in a box from green to dark red. Then, you’re stuck having to mess around with page code.
The WordPress visual editor is supposed to be an easy-to-use WYSIWYG content editor, but as you can see, if you are trying to add more complex content elements, often what you see on your editor screen may not be the same as what you get …
(“What You See” isn’t always “What You Get” … unless you can visualize code!)
In some cases, some people argue that you could even be better off working directly with the html source itself instead of the visual editor when trying to add something other than simple page elements …
Even though WordPress is very user-friendly, this makes it difficult for non-technical website owners to have full control of their own content.
The fundamental issue with using shortcodes and HTML to create content with WordPress can be summarized as follows:
1) Speed – How long does it take to build a web page using the editor?
2) Abstraction – How closely does the content in the editor match the content in the “front end” when you are creating or editing a page?
As you can see from the above image, what you see when working in the content editor doesn’t look even remotely similar to what you see in the front end. This means that you have to translate mentally what the content will look like when working with complex layouts. Other solutions require multiple steps before you can start configuring your page layout, or endlessly switching tabs and performing updates to see how your content is progressing, which then affects how fast you can create your content, as you wait for your new content to load.
Many WordPress developers have come up with various solutions to make the visual editor easier. Some of these solutions range from stand alone plugins you can add to your site that add new functionality to the editor, to WordPress themes that provide built-in features like drag and drop editing …
(WordPress “drag and drop” editors aim to make creating complex page layouts easier!)
Some solutions require so many complex page design features, that users need to learn how to work with complicated-looking front end editors …
Many of these alternative editors work, but they don’t address the fundamental problem with using HTML and shortcodes as described earlier. Creating, adding and editing sophisticated content elements on a page becomes overly complicated, involves multiple steps and doesn’t match what users expect to see on the “front end.”
If you want your content to look ”perfect” quickly, this can become really frustrating.
Ask yourself this …
If there were no technical constraints, how would you like to build and edit your pages?
Now, visualize the following scenario …
- You see something in the content that needs correction so you, simply click on the content and start writing. Your content has been instantly fixed.
- You can just drag and drop elements on the page, and the page looks exactly as it will appear on the front end without having to mentally abstract from shortcodes or HTML.
- You have an idea for a specific item of content you’d like to create, so you immediately begin typing, and you build your page on the fly, with no delays, no switching of tab browsers, and without having to wait for new content to refresh.
Would that not be the ideal way to create content for your web site? A true WYSIWYG editor where all you have to do is click-to-edit and drag and drop elements around the page?
(Imagine being able to create complex pages ”on the fly” for your web content with no technical skills required!)
If you are ready to change the way you create content in WordPress site, then here is a plugin that you may want to consider using …
Thrive Content Builder And Landing Pages
Plugin Description
Thrive Content Builder is a revolutionary WordPress plugin that gives you total control over every aspect of your web page with a click-to-edit and drag and drop content editor.
Thrive Content Builder is a new and incredibly easy way to speed up the process of adding great content to your WordPress website.
Once installed, Thrive Content Builder adds a visual content editor with a menu that lets you select, then drag and drop elements to your web page …
(Thrive Content Builder adds a new visual content builder to WordPress)
Thrive Landing Pages And Content Builder is actually a combination of the Thrive Content Builder and Thrive Landing Pages plugins merged into one, plus an additional plugin feature called Thrive Lightbox.
Let’s review each of the above and how these powerful features work together to help you transform and improve your web site and create amazing marketing pages and engaging content.
Thrive Content Builder Plugin
With this plugin installed easily add content to your web pages and build complex page layouts using drag and drop elements …
Every element on your page can be created using simple ”click-to-edit” and “drag and drop” …
Once elements have been positioned on the page, you can then continue to customize or edit these without going through additional steps or opening new configuration screens …
You can also create beautiful landing pages that can just as easily be edited or customized …
Thrive Landing Pages and Content Builder is simple, easy to use, and ideal for all WordPress users at all levels. In fact, designing pages with the plugin installed is so effortlessly easy, that the developers warn that once you start using it, you’ll never look back!
More info: Thrive Content Builder
Thrive Content Builder and Thrive Landing Pages were created by the same team that developed Thrive Leads, another terrific plugin that we have reviewed on this site.
To read more about the plugin, see this page:
Benefits
Here are just some of the many benefits and advantages of using Thrive Content Builder to speed up content creation:
Be Up And Running In Very Little Time
Thrive Content Builder installs like every other WordPress plugin. Simply upload it to your Plugins folder via your dashboard and activate.
Edit & Create Content In Real Time
Thrive Content Builder is simple and intuitive to use and lets you build and add content right inside your web pages in real-time.
What You See Is Truly What You Get
With Thrive Content Builder installed, what you see as you work within the content editor – fonts, elements, page layouts, etc. is exactly what your visitors will see on the front end of your site.
Additional benefits and advantages include:
- Eye-Catching Web Page Layouts With Drag & Drop Ease: Create any kind of layout you can imagine with drag-and-drop ease.
- Design Elements Included: With Thrive Content Builder you not only get an amazing click-to-edit WordPress content builder, but the plugin also includes a collection of functional and eye-catching web design elements that you can use on your content layouts without using short codes, for e.g.: flat design elements, styled lists, call to action buttons, responsive maps, etc.
- Ideal For Non-Technical Users: Not having to deal with technical stuff, or wait for your content to refresh frees up your attention and allows you to be more focused while you work or click through multiple steps to get what you want done.
(Insert, edit and customize web page elements like testimonial boxes, content toggle, table of contents builder, buttons, responsive video embeds, etc.)
Features
Thrive Content Builder provides a number of unique features to WP users. Below we have listed just some of these features:
- All Content Editor Functionality Is Preserved: You have access to all of the regular text editing options that you are used to (e.g. bold formatting, centering text, font sizes, etc.),
- Drag And Drop Elements Menu: The plugin makes a “drag and drop” list of elements available on your post or page screen when creating and editing content.
- Conversion-Boosting Elements: The plugin provides you with a range of attention-grabbing and customizable elements that will help you increase the effectiveness of your sales pages, including buttons and call-to-action elements, testimonials, and guarantee forms. In addition to being customizable, various elements also offer multiple design options.
- Mobile-Friendly Design: Add mobile-friendly columns, boxes, content section dividers, e.g. which will display great on different screens.
- Add Animation To Web Pages: The plugin’s Event Manager feature lets you create animated page elements, trigger lightboxes and more!
(Add Animated Elements To Your Web Pages)
Thrive Landing Pages – Landing Page Sets
Thrive Landing Pages provides sets of templates that work together logically and use the same conversion-optimized design language to take your visitors from signup to purchase, product download and more.
(Thrive Landing Pages plugin lets you add conversion-optimized pages to your website)
Thrive Landing Pages Plugin – Benefits
- Everything is hosted on your own WordPress site
- Save time building professional landing pages
- 100% conversion-optimized web page templates
- No tech skills required
- Works with all themes
Thrive Content and Page Builder not only lets you create beautiful-looking content in your WordPress posts and pages, but you can also choose from dozens of professionally designed, web page templates that are conversion-optimized and fully customizable …
(Landing page template sets that work together logically and use the same conversion-optimized design language)
There are currently over 30 templates available, with more templates planned for future release. In addition to the existing templates, expect to see new templates in the future for email lead generation, sales pages, lesson pages, personal branding pages, webinar pages and more.
Completely Customizable And Flexible Landing Page Template Sets
Normally, to be able to have completely customizable landing page templates, you would need to either hire a web site designer to do the work, or learn web coding languages like HTML and CSS and figure out what to do yourself.
As Shane Melaugh, co-founder of Thrive Themes says …
“There are many ways to get a pre-designed page published quickly, but the problem comes with customization. Total design freedom requires either hiring web developers to do the work for you, or learn how to do it yourself, which involves learning how to code or use complicated editors. Customizable usually means complicated, expensive or time-consuming. So, you can either have something that is fast and easy to set up, or something that is customizable and flexible. But you couldn’t have both … until now! With Thrive Landing Pages you get the best of both worlds for building conversion-optimized web pages.”
Thrive Landing Pages gives you stunning pre-built pages that are fully optimized and ready to go, and complete design freedom that lets you change and customize anything on the page template …
The landing page template sets included with this plugin let you do the following:
- Modify text in all headlines, buttons, bullet points, etc.
- Delete text, images or any other part of your landing page
- Change any background images and background colours
- Edit the color of text, buttons, links, etc.
- Select your own fonts
- Use your own images
- Change content area size
- Change the order of elements on your pages
- Translate pages into a different language
- Add any type of custom content anywhere inside the pages
- Start with a blank page and create your own page templates, or even build your own custom landing page templates library.
(Change and edit any aspect of your page templates)
Transform Your WordPress Website Into A Marketing Machine With Thrive Lightbox Plugin
The Thrive package also includes the Thrive Lightbox plugin, which lets you add fully customizable 2-step opt-in forms and animated objects to your website …
(Add lead capture forms and animated elements to your WordPress website with the Thrive Lightbox plugin)
Thrive Lighbox Two-Step Opt-in Forms
A 2-step opt-in process helps to increase your conversion rates. Visitors click on a button or image, and then they are presented with your opt-in form …
(two-step opt-in forms can increase your conversion rates.)
Event Manager
An “event” consists of a trigger and an action. You can make opt-in forms appear when your visitor clicks or hovers over a button or graphic elements, or when someone scrolls down to a certain point on the page. You can also use the Event Manager to animate attention-getting elements on your pages, using a range of effects (e.g. zoom out, slide in from top to bottom, roll out, etc.
(Set up and manage events on your pages with the Thrive Lightbox plugin)
Lightboxes and events are created automatically for your landing pages, but you also have complete control over all events, triggers and design.
Testimonials From Plugin Customers
Below are a few of the testimonials users have written about the Thrive Content Builder plugin:
“I have had nothing but the best experience imaginable with this tool since I purchased it. This is by far one of, if not the best plug-in I have purchase to date and it has definitely made working with WordPress a whole new experience. Jim Bond”
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”Your stuff is beautifully designed, fast and has great options for marketers that you just don’t see with other themes. Great, great job! Absolutely love Thrive! David Coleman”
Thrive Content Builder – Tips
Thrive Content Builder works with any WordPress theme, not just with the Thrive Landing Pages plugin. You cannot use Thrive Content Builder to edit content that was not created with the plugin.
You can add shortcodes inside Thrive Content Builder or Thrive Landing Pages and they will display correctly when published.
Thrive Lightbox works with any content you build with Thrive Content Builder.
Support
Thrive Content and Page Builder provides free updates, new landing pages and upcoming features. The plugin developers are constantly working on adding new features and improving existing ones.
Thrive software is well-supported, and users get unlimited software updates, and 1 year unlimited support with their purchase, backed by a risk-free, 30 day, full refund guarantee.
This is an exciting product for WordPress users that just keeps getting better.
Software Pricing
At the time of writing, the pricing information shown below includes all three components described above (Thrive Content Builder, Thrive Landing Pages & Thrive Lightbox):
- Single Site License – This license option enables you to activate the plugin on a single site. Includes full feature set, unlimited updates and one year of unlimited support. Price = $59.00.
- Unlimited Sites Licensing – This enables you to set up the plugin on all of your personal websites. Cost includes full feature set, unlimited updates and one year of unlimited support. Cost = $87.00.
- Agency License – Use on all your sites and on all your client sites. Includes access to Thrive Content Builder, plus all Thrive Themes & Thrive Plugins. Price = $247.00 per year.
Please Note: The cost to purchase Thrive Content Builder depends on whether there are any promotions or limited-time special offers. The pricing above was correct at the time this article was written. This may not be the actual price charged by the software seller when you visit the product site and you may be shown additional upsells or one-time offers after purchasing.
Check the plugin’s website for the current price:
Additional Information
The Thrive Content and Landing Page Builder plugin developers repeatedly assert that the plugin’s architecture gives you the “best of both worlds,” and help bring back the “joy of creating content.”
On the one hand, you have time-saving features like ready-made web page elements and template sets that help to speed up the page design and content creation process, and on the other hand, you have 100% control over the design process and the freedom to edit and customize everything on your page, using the plugin’s click-to-edit and drag and drop features, that allows you to work unhindered by overly complicated options.
For a demo video showing how the software works, including installation instructions and tutorials, FAQs, customer helpdesk, contact details and more, visit the Thrive Content Builder website.
We Recommend …
If you want to edit something, you click on the element and start editing. If you want to change something, do it, and you can see the change happen instantly. If you want to move something, all you have to do is drag it and drop it into its new position. There are no overly complicated steps involved.
If you want to transform and improve your business online and create amazing marketing pages, streamlined landing pages and engaging content, Thrive Content Builder delivers an incredible conversion-boosting package with a single, inexpensive plugin.
For more information, visit the plugin website:
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