WordPress has evolved from being just a simple blogging application to a tool that is now being used to design all types of web pages – direct sales pages, product showcase pages, local business pages, etc.
Whatever you can imagine, someone is most likely already building it using WordPress!
This article will help you discover the simplest way to create stunning layouts in WordPress web sites.
Drag & Drop Content Editors For WordPress
Is The WordPress Content Editor Still Meeting All Of Your Content Creation And Editing Needs?
With so many improvements that the WordPress platform has gone through in recent years, many WordPress developers and users believe that using the WordPress content editor to build or edit more complex web site pages can sometimes be challenging.
(The built-in WordPress editor is great for adding, formatting and editing conventional text and media, but adding more complex page elements can be challenging!)
For example, if you look at the image below …
To create the above boxes with text and buttons, you would normally have to add short codes to the content for each of the page elements you want to add to your page …
Generally, this is not really an issue … until you want to change the layout (for example, move part of the content from box 1 into box 2, or replace the button in a box from red to yellow. Then, you’re stuck having to mess around with page code or html.
The WordPress content editor is supposed to provide users with an easy-to-use WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) content editor, but as you can see, if you are trying to create complex page elements, what you see is not exactly what you get …
(“What You See” isn’t always “What You Get” … unless you can visualize code!)
In some instances, users may even be better off working directly inside the html (text) editor tab instead of the WordPress WYSIWYG editor when trying to add something other than simple layouts …
Even though WordPress is extremely easy to use, this makes it difficult for non-technical website owners to fully manage their own content.
The fundamental problem about having to use HTML and shortcodes to create content in WordPress can be summarized by asking 2 questions:
1) Speed – How long does it take to build a web page using this editor?
2) Abstraction – How closely does the content in the ”back end” 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 in the back end does not look anything like what you see in the front end. This means that you have to abstract what the content will look like when working with complex layouts. Other solutions require taking a number of steps before you can begin configuring your page layout, or endlessly going back and forth between browser tabs and performing updates to see how your content is progressing, which interrupts the creative process, as you wait for your updates to load.
Many WordPress developers have tried to come up with different solutions to try to make the visual editor easier. These solutions range from WordPress plugins you can install on your site that add new functionality to the editor, to themes that offer built-in features like drag and drop editing …
(WordPress “drag and drop” editors aim to make content creation easier!)
Some solutions include so many page design features, that users need to learn how to work with complicated-looking front end editors …
Many of these solutions work fine, but they fail to 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 to create or edit complex layouts quickly, this can become really frustrating.
Ask yourself this …
If there were no technical constraints, how would you like your content builder to behave?
Now, visualize the following …
- You look at your content and if you spot something that needs to be fixed, simply click on the content and start typing. Your content is instantly edited.
- You just drag and drop items around the page, and the page looks exactly as it will display on the front end without having to mentally visualize any HTML or shortcodes.
- You have an idea for a specific piece of content you would like to add, so you simply begin typing, and your web page gets built as you go, with no delays, no switching tabs, and without having to wait for new web content to reload.
Would that not be the perfect way to create content for your WordPress website? A true visual editor where all you have to do is click-to-edit and drag and drop elements around your pages and posts?
(Imagine being able to create complex pages in real-time for your web content without technical constraints!)
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 And Page Builder
Plugin Description
Thrive Content Builder is a truly intuitive WordPress click-to-edit drag and drop content builder plugin.
Thrive Content Builder provides WordPress users with a new and incredibly easy way to speed up the process of creating great content on.
Once installed, Thrive Content Builder adds a visual content editor with a menu that lets you click, then drag and drop design elements on your page …
(Thrive Content Builder adds a new visual content builder to your WordPress site)
Thrive Content And Landing Page Builder is actually a combination of the Thrive Content Builder and Thrive Landing Pages plugins combined into one, plus an additional plugin feature called Thrive Lightbox.
We will take an in-depth look at all of the above and how all of this functionality works together to help you transform and improve your business online and create awesome marketing pages and content.
Thrive Content Builder Plugin For WordPress
With Thrive Content Builder easily build complex web page design layouts using drag and drop elements …
Every aspect of your web page can be built by ”clicking-to-edit” and “dragging and dropping” things around the page …
Once you have positioned elements on a page, you can then easily edit these without having to go through additional steps or opening more option windows …
You can also build beautiful landing pages that can just as easily be edited or customized …
Thrive Content Builder is simple, easy to use, and ideal for all WordPress users at all levels. In fact, designing pages and working on content with the Thrive Content Builder and Landing Pages plugin installed is so amazingly simple, that the developers guarantee that you’ll never look back once you start using it
Go here to learn more about this plugin: Thrive Content Builder
The integrated Thrive Landing Pages and Content Builder plugin was created by the same team that developed Thrive Leads, another excellent plugin for WordPress that we have recommended on this site.
See this article for more information about using the plugin:
Plugin Benefits
Below are just some of the many benefits and advantages of using Thrive Content Builder to speed up your page design and content creation process:
Installation Is Easy And Fast
Thrive Content Builder is very easy to install. Just upload it to your Plugin folder via your admin area and activate.
Edit Content In Real Time
Thrive Content Builder is really simple to use and lets you edit content in real-time.
What You See Is Really What You Get
With Thrive Content Builder installed, what you see as you work within the content editor – typefaces, elements, layouts, etc. is exactly what you get in the front end of your site.
Additional benefits of using this plugin include the following:
- Add Eye-Catching Layouts With Drag-And-Drop Ease: Create any type of layout you can imagine with drag-and-drop ease.
- Customizable Elements Included: With Thrive Content Builder you not only get an exciting and an easy-to-use drag and drop WordPress content builder, but the plugin also includes a collection of functional and attractive web design elements that you can use on your layouts without using shortcodes, for e.g.: pricing tables, content reveal feature, dividers, responsive Google maps, etc.
- More Enjoyable Content Creation: Not having to constantly switch tabs as you tweak content and then wait for the updated content to reload frees up your attention and allows you to be more focused while you build or edit your content or click through multiple steps to get what you want done.
(Thrive Content Builder lets you easily create, edit and customize web page elements like testimonials, content toggle, styled lists, page section dividers, responsive videos, etc.)
Features
Thrive Content Builder offers a number of unique features to web site owners. Here are just a few of these:
- All Content Editor Functionality Is Preserved: You have access to all of the built-in content editing options that you are used to (e.g. bold, paragraph formatting, font sizes, etc.),
- Drag And Drop Elements: The plugin makes a “drag and drop” list of multi-style elements available on your post or page screen when editing content.
- Conversion-Boosting Elements: The plugin comes with a range of eye-catching and customizable elements that will help you increase your conversions, including buttons and call-to-action elements, testimonials, and guarantees. In addition to being customizable, various elements also offer multiple design options.
- Responsive Element Design: Add responsive columns, guarantee boxes, section dividers, e.g. which will display great on different-sized screens.
- Add Animation To Your Web Pages: Thrive Content Builder’s Event Manager feature lets you add animated page content, trigger lightboxes and more!
(Add Animated Elements To Your 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 all the way from initial signup to purchase, product download and more.
(Thrive Landing Pages plugin lets you add conversion-optimized pages to your site)
Thrive Landing Pages – Benefits
- Hosted on your own WordPress site
- Save time and money designing web pages for your WordPress site
- 100% conversion-optimized landing page templates
- No tech skills needed
- Works with any theme
Thrive Content Builder and Landing Pages not only can be used to 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 30+ templates available, with more templates scheduled for future release. In addition to the templates that are currently available, the developers plan to release new templates for email lead generation, sales pages, lesson pages, personal branding pages, webinar pages and more.
Customizable Landing Page Template
Typically, to be able to fully customize landing page templates, you would need to either hire a web designer to do the work, or learn how to code web pages 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 mess around with code or use complex 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 beautiful pre-built page templates that are fully optimized and ready to go, and complete design freedom that lets you change and customize any aspect of the page …
With the landing page template sets included with this plugin, you can:
- Modify text in all bullet points, buttons, headlines, etc.
- Delete text, images or any other part of the landing page
- Replace the background image or colors
- Edit the color of links, text, buttons, etc.
- Select your own fonts
- Use your own images and graphics
- Modify the size of the content area
- Change the order of elements on the page
- Translate everything on the page into a different language
- Add any kind of custom content anywhere in any of the pages
- Start with a blank web page and create your own page templates, or even build your own custom landing page templates library.
(Change or edit any aspect of the page)
Transform Your Web Site Into A Powerful Marketing Machine With Thrive Lightbox
The Thrive plugin package includes the Thrive Lightbox plugin, which lets you add fully configurable 2-step opt-in forms and animated objects to your website …
(Add opt-in forms and animated elements to your WordPress pages with the Thrive Lightbox plugin)
Two-Step Opt-in Forms
A 2-step opt-in process can help increase your conversion rates. Visitors click on an image or button, and then they are presented with your opt-in form …
(When visitors click on the button, they are presented with an opt-in form)
Thrive Lightbox Event Manager
An “event” consists of a trigger and an action. You can make opt-in forms appear when when visitors click or hover over a button or graphic elements, or when someone reaches a certain point on the page. You can also use the Event Manager to animate attention-getting elements on your page, using various effects (e.g. fade out, slide in from left to right, rotate, etc.
(Set up and manage events on your WordPress website with Thrive Lightbox)
A lightbox and event is created automatically for your landing pages, but you also have complete control over all events, triggers and design.
User Feedback
Here are a couple of the testimonials plugin customers 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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”Great stuff! I am really impressed by all the new additions. You guys have shown a true commitment to making these themes and the Content Builder awesome. Michael Johnson”
Useful Tips
Thrive Content Builder works with any theme in WordPress, not just with Thrive Landing Pages. Note, however, that 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 be displayed correctly when published.
Thrive Lightbox works with any content you build with Thrive Content Builder.
Plugin Support
Thrive Landing Pages and Content Builder provides free updates, new landing templates and upcoming features. The Thrive team is constantly working on adding new features and improving existing ones.
Thrive software is well-supported, and users get lifetime upgrades, plus one year unlimited support with their purchase, backed by a no-risk, thirty day, full money-back guarantee.
This is an exciting product for WordPress users that will just keep getting better.
Product 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 Edition – This license allows you to activate the plugin on 1 web site only. Includes full feature set, unlimited updates and 1 year of unlimited support. Price = $59.00.
- Unlimited Sites License – This allows you to use the plugin on all of your personal domains. Cost includes full feature set, unlimited updates and 1 year of unlimited support. Cost = $87.00.
- Agency License – Use on all your web sites & on client sites. Pricing includes access to Thrive Content Builder, plus all Thrive Themes & Thrive Plugins. Price = $247.00 per year.
Note: Pricing for the product can vary, depending on whether there are any promotions or limited-time special offers. The above reflects the current pricing when this content was published. This may or may not be the actual price set by the plugin developer when you visit the plugin website and there may be additional upsells or one-time offers after purchasing.
Check the plugin’s website for the current price:
Additional Plugin Information
The developers of the Thrive Landing Pages and Content Builder plugin emphatically 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 page elements and template sets that help to make designing your pages faster, and on the other hand, you have 100% control over the design process and the ability to change and customize everything on your web 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 of the plugin in action, including installation instructions and tutorials, FAQs, customer help desk, contact details and more, visit the Thrive plugins 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’ll see the change happen instantly. If you want to move something, you drag it and drop it into its new location. There are no complicated steps involved.
If you want to transform and improve your website and create amazing sales pages and engaging content, Thrive Content Builder and Landing Pages delivers an incredible conversion-boosting package with a single, inexpensive plugin.
For complete details, check out the plugin here:
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