How to Use the Site Builder

We’ll go step by step through everything you can do with the Site Builder. Let’s get started!

Getting Started with the Site Builder

Opening the Site Builder

To begin customizing your blog, let’s open the Site Builder! Head to the Hosting tab in your TravelFeed dashboard and click the "open site builder" button. This will show your blog on the right side and the Site Builder sidebar on the left side.

Using the Sidebar Buttons

You’ll notice four buttons at the top of the sidebar:

• < Button: Click this to minimize the sidebar and see a full preview of your blog.
• "Discard" Button: Click this if you want to leave without saving changes.
• "Save Changes" Button: When you’re done making changes, click this button. It might take a minute or two to finish, and you can watch the progress in your TravelFeed dashboard.

Understanding Page Types

Below the buttons, you will see a list of pages you can customize. Every page type serves a unique purpose.

1. Home

• Purpose: Serves as the landing page where visitors first arrive.
• Key Elements: Showcases recent posts, featured posts, destinations and any other widgets you find pertinent for first impressions.

2. Post

• Purpose: A single article in your blog.
• Key Elements: Primarily consists of the post content, author information, comments, and other related widgets that enrich the reader’s experience.
• Options: Show slide-in header when scrolling: When enabled, reading progress will appear in a fixed top section when scrolling

3. Tag

• Purpose: Page that aggregates all posts associated with a specific tag.
• Key Elements: The "Post List" widget, possibly within an area with sidebar, shows all posts that have the relevant tag, ensuring content is neatly organized under relevant topics.

4. Destination

• Purpose: A dedicated page that accumulates all posts related to a particular destination.
• Key Elements: Same as the tags page, but for posts from a specific destination.

5. Header

• Purpose: The topmost section of your site that is consistent across all pages.
• Key Elements: Often houses important navigation links, site title/logo, and potentially a 'Dropdown' or 'Destination Dropdown' widget to guide users through your site effortlessly.

6. Footer

• Purpose: The bottom section of your site, present on all pages.
• Key Elements: Commonly features copyright information, and possible links within 'Column' widgets for any extra details you want visitors to access from any page.
• Options:
  • Show social icons: When enabled, shows social profiles from your TravelFeed profile in the bottom right corner
  • Hide "Powered by TravelFeed": Hides the "Powered by TravelFeed - Start your own travel blog!" text in the footer.

7. Static Pages

• Purpose: Pages with fixed, rarely altered content, like "Contact", "About Us", or "Privacy Policy". Unlike previous page types where customizations apply to all pages of that type, each static page can be customized individually.
• Key Elements: Often involves 'Page Text' widgets, and essentially any widget that communicates static information effectively.

Add Page Button

• Purpose: Allows you to create additional static pages.
• Usage: Simply click the button and specify the page details, furnishing more room for static content like a privacy policy or contact page.

Working with Widgets

What’s a Widget?

Widgets are like building blocks for your blog. Each one has a special job. Some show pictures, some display text, and others have different functions. We use widgets to add, organize, and display your content just how you like it.

Adding a Widget

Here’s how you can add a new widget:

1. Find the page of the site you want to add a widget (for example "Home") to and click on the settings icon or the page title.
2. Click the "Add Widget" button.
3. Choose the widget you want from the available options.
4. See a preview on the right side instantly!

Customizing Widgets

Some widgets let you make changes to how they look or work:

• If a widget can be changed, click on its settings icon or title.
• Adjust the settings as you like.
• See the changes right away in the preview.

Moving and Deleting Widgets

You can change the order of widgets or remove ones you don’t want anymore:

• Use the arrow buttons or drag and drop to move widgets.
• To remove a widget, click the trash icon. Remember: if you delete it, you’ll need to set it up again if you want it back later.

A Note on Widget Locations

Keep in mind, widgets can’t be moved between different pages (like from "Destination" to "Tag"). If you want a widget in a different page, you’ll need to delete it and add it again in the new spot.

Comprehensive Widget Overview

In the Site Builder, you'll encounter various widgets, each designed to offer unique elements to your blog. Below is a categorized list based on widget availability in different types of pages. Dive into the specifics of each by clicking on the respective widget names.

Structuring Widgets:

Structuring widgets are available on all page types.

• Section: A section is like a container that can contain other sections. You can specify the background color and divider to set a section apart from others.
• Main Area with Sidebar: Structure your widgets into a primary content area and a sidebar.

Available in Home/Tag/Destination:

• Post List: Showcase a specific list of posts.
• Hero: Display a compelling section with image, text and a call to action button (also available in post and pages).
• Map: World Map with all countries you blogged about highlighted (also in pages and sidebar)
• Destination List: Exhibit lists of destinations (also in pages).
• Feature List: Showcase a list of manually curated featured posts (also in pages and post).

Exclusive to Posts:

• Post Content: Your post’s content.
• Create a reply: Enable users to comment on your post.
• Comments: Exhibit comments on the blog post (if any).
• Author description: Feature the author's bio.
• Read more: Nearby, related posts.

Exclusive to Static Pages:

Pages are for displaying static content, for example a privacy policy.

• Page Text: Integrate text (HTML formatting supported)
• Dynamic Map: Dynamic, zoomable map with clustered pins of all your posts

Sidebar Features:

These are widgets that can be added inside the sidebar area within a "Main Area with Sidebar" widget.

• Text: Add custom text along with an optional image or button.
• Latest Posts: Highlight the most recent posts.
• Banner: Place clickable banners.
• Tag Cloud: Display a cloud of blog tags.
• Archives: Archive of posts categorized by publish date.
• Social Media: Share links to social media profiles (from your TravelFeed profile).

In the Header:

• Link: Navigation link
• Dropdown: A dropdown menu that contains multiple links.
• Destination Dropdown: An automatically updated menu with all the countries you blog about, grouped by region

For the Footer:

• Column: Each column can contain multiple links.

The footer also has a switch to show your social media profiles in the bottom right. Learn how to edit your social media profiles.