11/3/15 Update: I now recommend Beaver Builder. Before finding out more about MotoPress, please read Chris Lema’s review of other options here.
MotoPress Content Editor allows people who know zero code to create beautiful, professional looking websites with a simple drag and drop functionality. MotoPress is a paid plugin.
Once you download it and then install it on your site, there are just a few settings to verify. Here are the options that are available:
Here is a quick video of how it works. I have a more detailed tutorial on how to use it next.
Some of the really nice features are that you can add tables, charts, slideshows, and more with this plugin, and they all come out very professional looking. The downside is that you don’t have as many options as you would if you were coding these features yourself. There are no options to change colors or style most things. It is, however, very easy to make things fit automatically, and resize responsively when viewed on a phone or tablet. There is also a nice option to add custom widgets to the sidebar (which you create) of each page, so having different widgets on each page is no problem. You can add them to the side or at the bottom. However, no way to make the backgrounds of these areas a different color unless you know code.
Here’s my full tutorial:
Once you get out of the MotoPress Content Editor, you page will look like a bunch of mumbo jumbo of shortcode like this:
But, just click on the blue MotoPress button to see the beautiful visual editor again and go back and make changes.
Here are some examples of the really nice charts that come with MotoPress Content Editor:
Here’s an example of how the responsive design works:
One note, when you are done editing in the MotoPress Content Editor, you want to update there, but also remember to update the page as you normally would for your changes to take affect.
MotoPress says on their website that the content editor works with any WordPress theme, but keep in mind that it is meant to create regular pages and posts. If you have a theme that relies on template pages to handle content, or you are using WooCommerce for products, I would not recommend using this product for those cases. MotoPress only works on pages and posts where you will be editing the content through the regular WordPress content editor.
Overall, this plugin is great for the new user of WordPress. It’s great for the business person who doesn’t want to learn how to program websites but wants his website to look professional. If you give it a try, please let me hear your feedback, or if you know of other similar options for WordPress.
Disclaimer: MotoPress gave me a trial version of this plugin for review purposes however I received no compensation from MotoPress for writing this review. However, if you are interested in purchasing MotoPress Content Editor, I would appreciate you using the link here at no extra cost to you so that I receive a commission. I would not recommend this product if I did not feel completely confident that it can help you create the pages you want. Thanks for your consideration.
HJ says
“MotoPress says on their website that the content editor works with any WordPress theme, but keep in mind that it is meant to create regular pages and posts. If you have a theme that relies on template pages to handle content, or you are using WooCommerce for products, I would not recommend using this product for those cases. MotoPress only works on pages and posts where you will be editing the content through the regular WordPress content editor.”
Hello! I appreciate the post and it is very informative. I am seriously considering investing in that editor but that paragraph puzzled me a little bit. I bought a template off of Templatemonster.com and I wanted to buy it to edit its content and many more (with Developer License). Can you please clarify for me?
Laura Hartwig says
You didn’t say which template you bought, so it’s hard to give you any exact advice, but anything you would be able to edit with the normal content editor, you will be able to edit with MotoPress. If your template(theme) has any specially formatted pages, say a portfolio page or product page, where you are just inputting info, you will not be able to edit how that content is displayed with MotoPress. Motopress also will not help you to edit your header, theme colors, or any sidebar or footer that are already defined. I hope this makes sense.
HJ says
I downloaded this https://secure.templatemonster.com/delivery.php?order_id=K062o1qoS4DYXLT6wMET&sign=0AA0C1DCEAB3C6EE5463BA201FA41F5D#tabs-38179. So, if I am understanding you well, you are saying to make a log in website, commercial, products to choose or an interactive website will not work, right?
Laura Hartwig says
I’m afraid your link is no good. Just a link to the template would be more helpful. But if you are trying to use MotoPress to make a login section, Motopress can login protect specific content, but probably not the best way to protect an entire page or website. Other plugins are better suited for that. I’m not sure what you mean about commercial. It would not be good for multiple products. And I’m not sure what you mean by interactive, but probably not. MotoPress is best for adding images, slideshows, graphs, and creating content in columns or blocks.
HJ says
http://www.templatemonster.com/wordpress-themes/38179.html I hope that is a better link.
Laura Hartwig says
That’s a very nice looking template, but I hope they have given you detailed documentation on how to set it up. Without seeing the documentation or backend, it’s hard to say, but it looks like the home page is designed with widgets, so you would not use motopress there. The gallery page is obviously pre-designed, so you would not use MotoPress there. You could use MotoPress for the blog pages. The other pages like About and Car Repair – I can’t tell if they’ve set them up as widgets or have just styled them within the page with CSS. Overall, if they give you good documentation, it doesn’t seem like MotoPress would be that helpful for this particular site, although it could be used. What in particular were you trying to do?
HJ says
Ok, thanks. They have already installed it for me. I was mainly trying to replace the info with my own and rearrange certain objects. It is a pain trying to find where they are located with WP editor; thus, the reason that I am trying to get the MotoPress Editor. If MotoPress is not the way to go, what other software that can help me besides MP that you know of?
Laura Hartwig says
I think the best thing to do is ask for documentation for the template you bought. They should be showing you how to change the the text. No content editor is going to show you where they put things. But my first suggestion is to try Appearance > Widgets to see if they have created widget areas for your content. Good luck!
HJ says
Thanks Laura!
Steve Davis says
Hi, I’ve purchased a template at Template Monster – #52174. Do you think MotoPress will work well with that template? Sorry, I am new to WordPress, which I find extremely confusing/frustrating.
Thanks!
Laura Hartwig says
Unless the theme already comes with some kind of content editor like WP Bakery, MotoPress should work well. Sorry you are having so many problems with WordPress. Feel free to post any other questions you have here.