WordPress has evolved from being just a simple blogging tool to a tool that is now used to design all types of web pages – marketing pages, portfolio pages, business pages, etc.
Whatever you can think of, someone is bound to be already building it using WordPress!
In this article you will discover the ultimate drag and drop front end visual editor for WordPress websites.
Drag And Drop Content Editors For WordPress
The WordPress Visual Editor – Is There A Faster Tool To Create Web Pages In WordPress?
Using the built-in WordPress WYSIWYG content editor to build or edit sophisticated website pages can sometimes be difficult.
(The built-in WordPress editor is great for adding, formatting and editing conventional text and images, but adding complex layouts can be challenging!)
For example, let’s say you want to create something like the content shown below …
To create the above boxes with text and buttons, users would need to insert short codes into the content for each of the elements they want to add to their page …
Typically, this is not an issue … until you want to reconfigure your layout (for example, move part of the content from box 3 into box 2, or replace the button in box 3 from dark green to light blue. Then, you’re stuck having to mess around with code inside the editor.
The WordPress visual editor is supposed to give users an easy-to-use WYSIWYG content editor, but as you can see, if you are working with complex page elements, what you see on your editor screen may not be what you get …
(“What You See” isn’t always “What You Get” … unless you can visualize code!)
In some instances, some people argue that you may even be better off working directly inside the html (text) editor tab instead of the visual editor when trying to create complex page elements …
Even though WordPress is extremely easy to use, this makes it hard for WordPress users without coding skills to have full control of their own content.
The fundamental challenge of using HTML and shortcodes to create content with WordPress can be summarized by asking two questions:
1) Speed – How long will it take to create a page using the editor?
2) Abstraction – How closely does the content in the ”back end” resemble the “front end” content when you are creating or editing a page?
As you can see from the above screenshot, what you see when working in the back end doesn’t look even remotely similar to what you see in the front end. This means that you need to abstract what the content will look like when working with complex layouts. Other solutions require taking several steps before you can begin configuring your page layout, or endlessly switching browser tabs and performing updates to see how your content is coming along, which can interrupt the creative process, as you wait for for your updated content to load.
A number of WordPress developers have tried to come up with various solutions to try and address this issue. Some of these solutions range from stand alone WP 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 content creation easier!)
Some solutions end up including so many complex page design features, that users end up with complicated-looking front end content editors …
Many of these solutions work fine, but they still fail to address the fundamental challenge of using shortcodes and HTML as described earlier. Creating and adding non-linear content on a web 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 page content quickly, this can start to become quite frustrating after a while.
Ask yourself this …
If there were no technical constraints, how would you like to build and edit your web content?
Now, imagine this …
- You spot something in the content that needs fixing so you, simply click on the content and start changing it. Your content is instantly changed.
- You can just drag and drop elements on the page, and see them exactly as they will display on the front end without having to mentally translate any shortcodes or HTML.
- You have an idea for some content that you would like to create, so you just begin typing, and your web page gets built as you go, without delays, no switching tabs, and no waiting for new web content to resave and reload.
Would that not be the ideal way to build content for your WordPress site? A true WYSIWYG content builder where all you have to do is click-to-edit and drag and drop elements around the page?
(Imagine being able to create complex web page layouts quickly for your web content with no 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 Builder – Create Stunning Content And Beautiful Layouts With Drag & Drop Ease In WordPress Websites
Plugin Description
Thrive Content Builder is a truly intuitive click-to-edit drag-and-drop content and landing page creator and editor for WordPress.
The Thrive Content Builder plugin provides WordPress users with a new and exciting way to set up conversion-focused pages on any WordPress web site.
Once installed, the plugin adds a visual content editor and an item menu that lets you select, then drag and drop elements to your page …
(Thrive Content Builder adds a new visual content editor to WordPress)
The plugin is actually a combination of the Thrive Content Builder and Thrive Landing Pages plugins rolled into one, plus an additional plugin feature called Thrive Lightbox.
We will cover each of the above and how these exciting features work together to help you transform and improve your web site and create amazing marketing pages, streamlined landing pages and engaging content.
Thrive Content Builder
With this plugin installed easily add content to your web pages using drag and drop elements …
Everything on your web page can be created by dragging and dropping things around the page and then clicking to edit them …
Once you have placed your elements on a page, you can continue to further edit these without having to go through multiple steps or complicated settings screens …
The built-in Thrive Landing Pages also lets you create stunning landing pages and easily customize these …
Thrive Content and Page Builder is simple, easy to use, and ideal for all WordPress users at all levels. In fact, designing pages with the Thrive Content and Page Builder plugin installed is so effortlessly simple, that the developers warn that once you start using it, it’ll ruin the experience of using any other content editor forever, and you will never look back!
For more details about this plugin go here: Thrive Content Builder
The integrated Thrive Content Builder and Landing Pages plugin was created by the same team that developed Thrive Leads, another excellent plugin for WordPress that we have recommended on this site.
To read more about the plugin, see this post:
Plugin Benefits
Here are just some of the many benefits of using Thrive Content Builder to speed up the process of designing pages and creating content for your WordPress web site:
Fast And Easy To Install And Implement. Ready To Start Using In Minutes.
Thrive Content Builder installs just like every other WordPress plugin. Just upload it to your Plugin folder via your WP admin user section and activate.
Real-Time Content Building And Editing
Thrive Content Builder is is not only really simple to use, it also lets you create content in real-time.
A Truly Visual Content Builder
With Thrive Content Builder installed, what you see on the “back-end” as you work within the content editor – fonts, visual elements, layouts, etc. is exactly what you get in the front end of your site.
Some additional benefits and advantages include the following:
- Design Attractive Web Page Layouts With Drag & Drop Ease: Create any layout you can imagine with drag and drop ease.
- Add Customizable Elements With No Shortcodes Involved: With Thrive Content Builder you not only get an exciting and easy-to-use click-to-edit WordPress content builder, but the plugin also includes a jaw-dropping collection of professional web design elements that you can use on your pages without using shortcodes, such as content toggle, styled lists, buttons, responsive video embeds, etc.
- Ideal For Non-Technical Users: Not having to wait for your updated content to load frees up your attention and allows you to build the pages your business needs, quickly and without having to edit code or click through multiple layers of menus to get what you want done.
(Insert, edit and customize page elements like testimonial boxes, columns, table of contents builder, section dividers, responsive video embeds, etc.)
Thrive Content Builder Features
Thrive Content Builder provides many great features to WordPress users. Here are just some:
- All WordPress Editor Functionality Is Still Available: You have all of the regular WordPress text editing options that you are used to (e.g. underline, centering text, headings and font sizes, etc.),
- Drag And Drop Multi-Style Elements Menu: The plugin adds a “drag and drop” list of multi-style elements to your post or page screen for editing content.
- Conversion-Boosting Elements: The plugin provides you with a range of eye-catching and customizable elements that will help increase your sales conversions, including buttons and call-to-action elements, testimonials, and guarantees. In addition to being customizable, various elements also offer multiple design options.
- Mobile-Friendly Design: Add mobile-friendly elements like column layouts, text boxes, content section dividers, e.g. which will resize and display correctly on different device screens.
- Add Animation Events To Your Web Pages: Thrive Content Builder’s Event Manager feature lets you add animated page elements, trigger lightboxes and more!
(Add Animated Elements To Your Pages)
Thrive Landing Pages Plugin – Landing Page Templates
Landing page template sets are web page 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 provides you with conversion-optimized page templates)
Thrive Landing Pages – Benefits
- Everything is hosted on your own WordPress site
- Save time and money creating beautiful landing pages
- 100% conversion-optimized landing page templates
- No coding skills needed
- Works with any WordPress theme
Thrive Content and Page Builder not only can be used to create beautiful content in your WordPress posts and pages, but you can also choose from dozens of beautifully designed, landing page templates that are conversion-optimized and fully customizable …
(Thrive Landing Pages provides sets of templates that work together logically and use the same conversion-optimized design language)
There are over thirty templates available, with more templates planned for release. In addition to the existing templates, the developers plan to release new templates for email lead generation, sales pages, training pages, personal branding pages, webinar pages and more.
Completely Customizable And Flexible Landing Page Template Sets
Normally, in order to have fully customizable landing page templates, you would need to either pay a web site developer to do the work, or learn web coding languages like HTML and CSS and figure out how to edit the page code 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 overly 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 creating conversion-optimized web pages.”
Thrive Landing Pages gives you great-looking pre-designed web page templates that are fully optimized and ready to go, and complete design freedom that allows you to change or edit any aspect of the page …
The landing page template sets included with this plugin let you do the following:
- Edit text in any button, headline, bullet point, etc.
- Delete text, images or any other part of your landing page
- Replace the background image and background colour
- Edit the color of text, links, buttons, etc.
- Select your own fonts
- Use your own images
- Modify the size of the content area
- Change the order of elements on the page
- Translate pages into a different language
- Add any type of custom content in any of the pages
- Start with a blank page and create your own page templates, or even build your own library of custom landing page templates.
(Change or edit any element of the page)
Thrive Lightbox – Transform Your Web Site Into A Marketing Machine
The Thrive plugin package also includes Thrive Lightbox, which lets you add fully editable 2-step opt-in forms and animated objects to your content pages …
(Add opt-in forms and events to your marketing pages with Thrive Lightbox)
Thrive Lighbox Two-Step Opt-in Forms
A 2-step opt-in process can improve your conversion rates. When visitors click on an image or button they are presented with your opt-in form …
(Capture more leads and subscribers with a two-step opt-in process)
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 an image, or when someone reaches a certain point on the page. You can also use the Event Manager to animate images on your web pages, using various animation effects (e.g. zoom in, slide in from bottom to top, roll out, etc.
(Set up and manage events on your sales pages with Thrive Lightbox)
Lightboxes and events are created automatically for your landing pages, but you also have complete control over your events, triggers and design.
Testimonials From Customers
Here are a couple of the testimonials and feedback that users have provided for Thrive Content Builder:
”You guys are simply awesome I am loving everything you are doing at the moment. Keep up the great work you really are making such a big difference in this field. Jule Fuller”
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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”
Useful Tips
Thrive Content Builder works with any WordPress theme, not just with Thrive Landing Pages. You cannot use Thrive Content Builder to edit content on existing pages or posts that were not created with the plugin installed.
You can add short codes inside Thrive Content Builder or Thrive Landing Pages and they will be displayed correctly on on your site.
Thrive Lightbox works with any content built with Thrive Content Builder.
Product Support
Thrive Content Builder Plugin comes with free updates, new landing pages and upcoming features. The Thrive team is constantly working on adding new features and improving existing ones.
Thrive plugins are really well-supported, and users get unlimited upgrades, plus one year unlimited support with their purchase, backed by a risk-free, 30 day, complete refund guarantee.
This is an exciting product that just keeps getting better.
Software Cost
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 Licensing – This enables you to use the plugin on 1 domain only. Cost includes full feature set, unlimited updates and one year of unlimited support. Price = $59.00.
- Unlimited Sites License – This enables you to run the plugin on all of your personal web sites. Price includes full feature set, unlimited updates and one year of unlimited support. Cost = $87.00.
- Agency Licensing – Use on all your sites and on client sites. Includes access to Thrive Content Builder, plus all Thrive Themes & Thrive Plugins. Price = $247.00 per year.
Note: The cost of purchasing Thrive Content Builder can vary, depending on whether there are any promotions or limited-time specials being offered. The above reflects the current pricing 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 you’ve purchased.
Check the plugin’s website for current pricing details:
Additional Plugin Info
The Thrive Landing Pages and Content Builder plugin developers emphatically maintain 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 the time-saving benefits of ready-made page elements and beautiful, conversion-optimized template sets that help to speed up content creation, and on the other hand, you also have complete control over your design process and the ability to change anything and everything on your web page, using the plugin’s click-to-edit and drag and drop features, that lets you see how the content you are working on will appear to visitors after publishing.
For a demo video of the plugin, including installation instructions and tutorials, FAQs, support help desk, contact details and more, visit the Thrive plugins website.
Our Recommendation …
If you want to edit something, you click on the element and start editing. If you want to change something, you’ll see the change happen instantly. If you want to move something, simply drag it and drop it into its new location. There are no overly complicated steps involved.
If you want to transform and improve your web site and create amazing sales pages, streamlined landing pages and engaging content, Thrive Landing Pages and Content Builder delivers an incredible conversion-boosting package with a single, inexpensive plugin.
For more information, check out the plugin here:
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