Build Tool

The Build section inside the Website Builder gives you drag-and-drop building blocks to create your website pages exactly how you want them—no coding required.

Think of it like playing with Lego blocks: grab pre-built Sections (complete chunks like heroes, featured books, and contact forms) or individual Elements (smaller pieces like text, buttons, and images) and arrange them however you like.

This is perfect for creating custom homepages, adding newsletter signups, building landing pages for new releases, and plenty more!

How to Add Sections and Elements

1. If you're not yet in the Page Builder, open the Page Builder from your dashboard in The Bookshelf.

2. Then, use the dropdown menu (next to the Bookshelf logo) to choose the page you want to update.

3. Make sure Build is selected in the left sidebar—you will see two tabs within this section: Sections and Elements.

4. Grab what you need:

• Want a complete component fast? Click the Sections tab, find what you need (like a Hero, About, or Featured Book), and drag it onto your page where you want to place it.
• Want more control? Click the Elements tab, browse the available categories (like Buttons, Images, or Text), and then click and drag individual pieces onto your page.

5. Once you've dropped a Section or Element, the left sidebar automatically switches to the Edit section. From here, you can customize the Section or Element by selecting a preferred layout, changing the images, or updating the text. Your changes show up instantly!

Pro Tips

Start big, then refine. Use Sections to build the main structure of a page fast, then add Elements to customize each Section's details. This way, you get speed and creative control.

Example: Drop in a Hero Section from your homepage banner, then add a Button Element into it linking to your latest book.

Use layout elements as invisible frames. The Layout category in Build (which consists of Container, Row, Column, and Grid Elements) helps organize your page before you add actual content to it. Think of them as shelves that hold everything in place. While you can add free-standing elements outside of Containers, etc., they will be just that—freestanding. Nothing else can be strategically placed in the space around that Element in a cohesive, often useful, way.

Example: Add a Row, then drop two Columns inside that you can then place images into it to create a side-by-side book cover layout

Mix, match, and rearrange freely. You're not stuck choosing Sections or Elements—use both together. Combine whatever works best for the page you're building. Remember, everything is drag-and-droppable! Just click and hold any Section or Element, then drag it to a new position on the page. You'll see a blue indicator showing where it will land when you release your click.

Example: Use the Featured Book Section for your latest release, then add custom Text and Button Elements below it for additional bonus content. Then move the entire section up and down on the page until you have it exactly where it feels most effective.

Remove and duplicate as needed. You can remove a Section or Element from a page completely at any time by clicking on it, then clicking the trash icon that appears in the top right corner of the selected item. And you can duplicate an element or an entire Section by clicking on it, then clicking on the two-page icon that appears next to the trash icon. This will place an identical version of the Element or Section directly below the one you have selected.

Note: if you simply want to replace an image or text that's already been placed, don't delete the Element itself. For an image, simply select it, then remove the uploaded file from the left-side image menu that appears, and upload a new one. Depending on the image's size, however, you may need to make adjustments to the image itself, or to the Container, Row, or Column the image is sitting inside of. To replace text, just click on the text element, then delete and retype your text as needed in the left-side edit menu.

If you have any questions about using the Build tool, or need assistance with achieving just the right arrangement of Sections and Elements, feel free to reach out to our team at support@thebookshelf.io.