WordPress has evolved from being just a simple blogging tool to a tool that is now used to design all types of web pages – direct sales pages, product showcase pages, local business pages, etc.
Whatever you can imagine, somewhere around the world someone is bound to be already building it with WordPress!
This article will help you discover the simplest, most intuitive WYSIWYG content builder for WordPress web sites.
Drag & Drop Content Editors For WordPress
Is The WordPress Content Editor Meeting All Of Your Content Creation And Editing Needs?
With all the rapid advancements that the WordPress platform has undergone in recent years, many WordPress developers and users feel that using the default WordPress content editor to build or edit complex web pages can be challenging.
(The WordPress content editor is great for adding, formatting and editing “linear” text and images, but adding complex layouts can be quite challenging!)
For example, let’s say you want to create something like the content shown below …
To create the above layout, you would need to add shortcodes to the content for every single element you want to create …
Normally, this is not really an issue … unless you choose to reconfigure your layout (for example, move part of the content from box 1 into box 2, or replace the button in box 3 from bright red to orange. Then, you’re stuck having to mess around with code.
The WordPress content editor is supposed to be an easy-to-use WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) content editor, but as you can see, if you are working with complex content elements, often what you see in the WordPress content editor screen is not really what you are getting when your page gets published …
(“What You See” isn’t always “What You Get” … unless you can visualize code!)
In some instances, some people argue that you could even be better off working directly inside the WordPress html (text) editor tab instead of the WYSIWYG editor when trying to build non-linear page elements …
Even though WordPress is very user-friendly, this makes it difficult for WordPress users with no coding skills to have full control of their own content.
The fundamental challenge with having to use shortcodes and HTML to create content with WordPress can be summarized as follows:
1) Speed – How long will it take to build a page using the 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 editor does not look anything like what you see in the front end. This means that you have to mentally translate what the content will look like when working with complex layouts. Other solutions require several 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 coming along, which interrupts the creative process, as you wait for the page to load.
A number of WordPress web developers have come up with various solutions with the aim of making content editing more intuitive. Some of these solutions range from stand alone plugins you can add to 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 creating complex page layouts easier!)
Some solutions combine so many complex page design features, that users need to learn how to work with complicated-looking front end editors …
Many of these alternative solutions work, but they still fail to address the fundamental problem with using shortcodes and HTML 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 start to become very frustrating.
Ask yourself this …
If there were no technical constraints, how would you like to build and edit your web pages?
Now, visualize this …
- You look at your content and if you see something that needs fixing, just click on the content and start changing it. Your content is then instantly fixed.
- 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 code.
- You have an idea for some content that you would like to add, so you just start typing, and you build your web page on the fly, without delays, with no tab switching, and without having to wait for edits to resave and reload.
Would that not be the perfect way to build content for your WordPress site? 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 page layouts quickly for your web content without 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
Plugin Description
Thrive Content Builder is a unique plugin for WordPress that gives you complete control over every aspect of your web page design using a powerful click-to-edit and drag and drop content editor.
Thrive Content Builder 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 with a sidebar menu that lets you drag and drop design elements to your web page …
(Thrive Content Builder adds a new visual content editor 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.
Let’s take a look at each of the above plugins and how all of this functionality works together to help you transform and improve your site and create amazing sales pages and content.
Thrive Content Builder Plugin
With Thrive Content Builder easily add complex design layouts to your web pages using drag and drop elements …
Every element on your web page can be configured and changed with ”click-to-edit” and “drag and drop” ease …
Once elements have been added to your page, you can then edit or customize them without having to go through additional steps or switching tabs …
You can also create stunning landing pages that can also be easily customized …
Thrive Content and Page Builder is simple, easy to use, and ideal for all WordPress users at all levels. In fact, working on content with Thrive Content Builder and Landing Pages installed is so amazingly simple, that the developers guarantee that once you start using it, you’ll never look back!
Go here to learn more: Thrive Content Builder
Thrive Content Builder and Thrive Landing Pages were created by the same team that developed Thrive Leads, another great plugin for WordPress that we have recommended on this site.
For more information about using the plugin, go here:
Benefits
Below we have listed just some of the benefits of using Thrive Content Builder to speed up the process of designing pages and creating content for your WordPress web site:
Easy To Install
Thrive Content Builder installs just like every other plugin. Simply upload the plugin file to your Plugins folder via your WP admin user login and activate.
Real-Time Content Content Creation
Thrive Content Builder is is not only simple and intuitive to use, it also lets you edit and build content in real-time.
What You See Is Truly What You Get
With Thrive Content Builder installed, what you see as you work within the editor – fonts, elements, layouts, etc. is exactly what your visitors will see on the front end of your site.
Some additional benefits of the plugin include:
- Stunning Page Layouts With Drag-And-Drop Ease: Create any type of layout you can imagine with intuitive drag-and-drop functionality.
- Add Customizable Elements Without Short Codes: With the Thrive Content Builder plugin you not only get a click-to-edit WordPress content editor, but the plugin also includes a very decent collection of web design elements that you can customizable and use on your layouts without using short codes, such as content toggle, content reveal feature, dividers, credit card icons, etc.
- Ideal For Non-Technical Users: Not having to constantly switch tabs as you tweak your content and then wait for your new content to refresh frees up your attention and allows you to be more focused while you build content or click through multiple steps to get what you want done.
(Create, edit and customize page elements like testimonials, tabbed content, borderless content, call to action buttons, responsive video embeds, etc.)
Thrive Content Builder Features
Thrive Content Builder offers many features to WordPress users. Here are just a few:
- All WordPress Content Functionality Is Still Available: You have all of the regular WordPress editing options that you are used to (e.g. bold, paragraph centering, headings, etc.),
- Drag And Drop Elements: The plugin adds a “drag and drop” list of elements to your post or page screen when creating or editing content.
- Conversion-Boosting Elements: The plugin comes with a range of eye-catching and customizable elements that will help increase the effectiveness of your sales pages, including buttons and call-to-action elements, testimonials, and guarantees. In addition to being customizable, various elements also offer multiple design options.
- Responsive Page Design: Add responsive columns, boxes, section dividers, e.g. which will resize and display correctly on different device screens.
- Add Animation To Pages: The Event Manager feature lets you add animations, trigger lightboxes and more!
(Add Animated Elements To Your Pages)
Thrive Landing Pages Plugin – 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 lets you add conversion-optimized pages to your web site)
Thrive Landing Pages – Benefits
- Hosted on your own WordPress site
- Save time and money designing great-looking web pages
- 100% conversion-optimized pages
- No coding skills needed
- Works with all WordPress themes
Thrive Landing Pages and Content Builder not only can be used to create beautiful content in your WordPress posts and pages, but you can also choose from dozens of professionally designed, conversion optimized web page templates and fully customizable …
(Thrive Landing Pages provides sets of templates that work together logically and use the same conversion-optimized design language)
There are currently 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.
Fully Customizable Landing Page Template Sets
Typically, to be able to have a fully customizable landing page template, you would need to either pay 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 mess around with 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 lets you change and customize any element of your page …
The landing page template sets included with this plugin let you do the following:
- Edit text in all headlines, bullet points, buttons, etc.
- Delete text, images or any other component of your landing page
- Replace the background image and background colours
- Edit the color of links, buttons, text, etc.
- Choose your own fonts
- Use your own images
- Change content area size
- Change the order of web page elements
- Translate pages into different languages
- Add any kind of custom content in any of the pages
- Start with a blank web page and create your own page templates, or even build a custom landing page templates library.
(Change and customize anything on your page template)
Thrive Lightbox – Transform Your WordPress Website Into A Marketing Machine
The Thrive plugin combo includes Thrive Lightbox, which lets you add fully editable two-step opt-in forms and events to your content pages …
(Add opt-in forms and animated objects to your pages with the Thrive Lightbox plugin)
Two-Step Opt-in Forms
A 2-step opt-in process can improve 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 help improve your conversion rates.)
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 an image, or when someone reaches a certain point on the page. You can also use the Event Manager to animate attention-getting elements on your web pages, using various animation effects (e.g. fade out, slide in from right to left, roll out, etc.
(Set up and manage events on your WordPress pages with Thrive Lightbox)
Lightboxes and events are created automatically for your landing pages, but you also have complete control over all events, triggers and design.
Feedback From Plugin Customers
Here are some of the testimonials customers have submitted regarding Thrive Content Builder:
”Wow! This is just getting better & better. This plugin is making my websites look so professional. Keep up the great work and thank you for the new features. Ladonna Ragalin”
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“I’m blown away by the plugin. Keep up the incredible, WordPress changing work, guys! Dean Phillips”
Thrive Content Builder Plugin – 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.
You can add shortcodes inside the Content Builder or Landing Pages plugin and they will be displayed correctly on your website.
Thrive Lightbox works with any content built with Thrive Content Builder.
Plugin Support
Thrive Content Builder and Landing Pages comes with 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 very well-supported, and users get lifetime upgrades, and 1 year unlimited support with their purchase, backed by a no-risk, 30 day, full refund guarantee.
This is an exciting product that will just keep getting better.
Product Licensing 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 Licensing – This enables you to set up the plugin on 1 site only. Pricing includes full feature set, unlimited updates and 1 year of unlimited support. Cost = $59.00.
- Unlimited Sites Licensing – This enables you to activate the plugin on all websites that you personally own. Price includes full feature set, unlimited updates and one year of unlimited support. Cost = $87.00.
- Agency License – This enables you to install the plugin on all of your own websites and any client sites. Includes access to Thrive Content Builder, plus all Thrive Themes & Thrive Plugins. Price = $247.00 per year.
Note: The cost of purchasing the Thrive Content Builder product depends on whether there are any promotions or limited-time specials being offered. When we last checked, the software retails for the amounts shown above. This may not be the actual price charged by the product seller when you visit the plugin website and you may be shown additional upsells or one-time offers after you’ve purchased.
Check the plugin’s website for the current price:
Additional Info
The developers of the Thrive Landing Pages and Content Builder plugin 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 web page elements and template sets that help speed up the page design and content creation process, and on the other hand, you have 100% control over your design process and the freedom to change anything and everything on your web page, using the plugin’s click-to-edit and drag and drop features, which lets you work unhindered by overly complicated options.
For ”how to” videos of the plugin in action, including help documentation and tutorials, FAQs, customer help desk, contact details and more, visit the Thrive plugins website.
We Recommend …
If you want to edit something, just click on the element and start editing. If you want to change something, do it, and you’ll see the change happen immediately. If you want to move something, just drag it and drop it into its new position. There are no unnecessary steps involved.
If you want to transform and improve your website and create amazing marketing pages, streamlined landing pages and engaging content, Thrive Landing Pages and Content Builder delivers an incredible conversion-boosting package with a single, inexpensive plugin.
To learn more, check out the plugin here:
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