An introduction to full site editing – what it is and why you might need it
Until recently, if you wanted to build or update a WordPress website, you had to look in several different places for the right tools. Options for the site structure, header, footer, global colours, etc., needed to be managed from within your theme. You wrote copy in the content editor and added or managed additional functionality with plugins.
All that began to change in 2018 with the introduction of the Gutenberg editor, which made it easier for WordPress users to build the content areas of their pages and posts using a system of blocks. Full site editing takes this concept one step further, making it possible to customise your entire site with blocks.
Full Site Editing
Full site editing gives you various tools to fine-tune every aspect of your website.
Site Editor
The site editor is the interface that enables you to create, preview, and edit your website using blocks or pre-designed patterns.
Global Styles
If you have elements like background colours, fonts, and layout dimensions that you want to apply to your entire site, the global styles option saves you from needing to do this on a micro-level. For example, you could update all your H2 headings from one font or colour to another with a single change in the global styles editor.
Block-based Themes
You can now get WordPress themes that have been built entirely from blocks. Using one of these themes for your website allows you to use full site editing to its maximum potential.
Template Editor
The template editor enables you to create page templates using the block system.
The major advantage of full site editing is that it makes it easy for anyone to customise their website, regardless of whether they know how to code. Updating content, colours, and other elements is a breeze.
Download our free guide to learn the secrets to a successful website project, featuring tips that you can implement straight away.
Beaver Builder and Beaver Themer
At Kitchen Table Web Design, we prefer to use the Beaver Builder page editor over Gutenberg. Beaver Themer allows you to edit the header and footer of your website, including creating customer headers and footers. This can be helpful for unique landing pages. It also provides custom templates for particular page types such as posts, product pages and any custom post type.
Gutenberg vs Beaver Builder:
Capabilities
Beaver Builder offers several features that Gutenberg does not have when creating complex layouts, such as greater flexibility regarding page width, responsive design and additional design elements. Since you edit on the customer-facing side of your website, you can see easily in real-time the design changes.
Ease of Use
Beaver Builder is a front-end editor, which means you can see the changes as you make them. It is more intuitive and easier to use. If you are one of our clients, we will make videos showing you how to edit the different sections on your website
Features of Beaver Builder
1. Drag-and-drop Editor
Beaver Builder is a drag-and-drop editor, which means you can move the various elements of your webpage around, including the rows and columns. You can also duplicate sections and put them on other pages. This makes it easier to keep consistent styling throughout the website. Additionally, it makes creating additional pages with similar content blocks easy.
2. Templates
With Beaver Builder and Beaver Themer, you can create templates, custom layouts for CPT, and much more that you can insert and use throughout your site.
3. Customization
Beaver Builder allows design changes at the page level. It also works with plugins that have widgets to insert content easily. For example, it works with Gravity Forms.
4. Responsive View
Beaver Builder will enable you to preview and design for mobile devices.
You can also choose to have elements that only show on mobile or only on desktop. This is easy to do with Beaver Builder.
5. Save and Reuse Modules
You can also create saved rows that appear on several pages on your website, which can be updated site-wide if you want. This could be helpful if you wanted to update a "Call to action" on several pages.
Why we love Beaver Builder over Gutenberg
- Beaver Builder offers a fantastic live editing experience.
- Better design options as well as additional functionality
- Responsive Features are better.
If you would like me to build you a website that allows full site editing, get in touch!
Download our free guide to learn the secrets to a successful website project, featuring tips that you can implement straight away.