A major appeal of WordPress for many developers is its low entry barrier. In the past, creating page layouts and designs required knowledge of HTML. However, with tools like the Extendify plugin, you can now craft a professional-looking site in mere minutes.
Perhaps “create” isn’t the right term here. Extendify offers a vast library of patterns and templates for WordPress, which are available for free. These designs are complete and ready to use out-of-the-box, though you have the flexibility to customize them to meet your specific requirements.
This means you can either build an entire website quickly or use Extendify to enhance your current designs. Best of all, this plugin is compatible with any theme, ensuring you won’t encounter any compatibility issues.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to utilize Extendify in WordPress to either build a new site or improve your existing design.
This tutorial is for:
WordPress 6.5
Plugin: Extendify v1.13.1
What Are Patterns in WordPress?
One of the standout features introduced in WordPress version 6.0 is pattern system.
This system allows you to save a block or a collection of blocks that already contain content. Essentially, you can create a template made up of blocks and reuse it effortlessly.
Consider something straightforward, like a pricing table for your products or services. You’ll likely want to place this in various spots on your site, and recreating it each time can be quite tedious.
The pattern system lets you save the block and reuse it anywhere on your website.
This saves every detail, including font type, font size, background color, font color, margins, and all other customizable options.
Or, if you have a specific format for writing reviews or tutorials on your site, patterns can help you structure sections and headers consistently for your content.
Before patterns, you would have to copy and paste blocks individually. It’s also worth noting that there’s no limit to the number of blocks you can include in a WordPress pattern.
How to Use Extendify in WordPress
The Extendify plugin for WordPress offers a wide range of patterns, layouts, and templates to help you create pages or entire websites effortlessly. In essence, it provides a collection of pre-made website components.
Simply choose the elements you want and place them where needed. This freemium plugin allows you to install it at no cost and import 10 options per month for free.
If you require more imports, you can opt to pay for additional ones, but that decision is entirely up to you.
Please note that you cannot use this content in the widget area of your site.
Step 1: Install Extendify
Let’s start by clicking on Plugins and selecting the Add New option on the left-hand admin panel.
Search for Extendify in the available search box. This will pull up additional plugins that you may find helpful.
Find the Extendify plugin and click on the “Install Now” button and activate the plugin for use.
Step 2: View the Extendify WordPress Library
Unlike many other plugins, Extendify requires no configuration settings. It simply offers a collection of patterns, layouts, and templates that you can use directly. All you need to do is open the library and choose what you want to use.
Start by navigating to the post or page where you want to add content. If you prefer, you can create a new one for testing.
Once you’re there, click on the Design Library button at the top of the Gutenberg editor.
This action will open a popup containing the Extendify library. In the top left corner, you’ll find a search option that lets you browse the library based on your business type. For instance, I typed “Tech” and selected the Software option that appeared.
This will display design options tailored to your site type. In my case, the results are all tech-related and feature computer imagery. You can further refine the search results by choosing a specific Design Type.
There are various options available, such as Call to Action, but I am going to select Pricing.
This narrowed my results down to four options. If you see something you like, click on it. If not, continue refining your search until you find the perfect design.
And with that, you now have all the knowledge you need to start building content with Extendify.
What You Can Build with Extendify
Now that you’ve got the hang of using the plugin, let’s explore some examples of the pages you can create with this tool. The possibilities are truly endless, and it all boils down to your imagination.
Pricing Pages
If you run a website that offers products or services, having a dedicated page for pricing is essential. It’s a staple for every business, and as you’ve seen earlier, there are various pricing options available for customization.
You can utilize the design filter to tailor the page specifically for pricing, and the site filter for the relevant topic. What’s interesting is that although the tool presents the same four options, the imagery changes based on the topic you select.
For instance, if you opt for a mechanic theme instead of a tech one, you’ll notice that images of cars and mechanics take the spotlight, maintaining the same sleek layout design.
It’s also worth noting that the sample text will automatically adjust to fit the chosen topic. However, it’s crucial to remember that customizing the text to align with your business offerings is essential.
Product Pages
Another essential page for any business is its product or service page, where you showcase everything your business has to offer. With this tool, you have seven unique options to choose from.
Once again, the key distinction between these pages lies in the design type you select. This dictates the stock images and sample text provided. For instance, if you’re in the mechanic business, expect to see images and text related to services like oil changes, brake repairs, transmission services, and more.
Just keep in mind that these pages are meant to showcase what you offer, acting as an introduction to your products or services. Each item you add will require its own dedicated page for a more detailed description.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any options available for individual product pages within this tool, but WooCommerce can help with that.
Team Page
The team page is another essential element found on most websites. These pages serve to spotlight your staff members, showcasing their roles within the organization and any relevant credentials they may have. With Extendify, you have 16 design options to choose from for this purpose.
For example, think of walking into a grocery store and seeing a sign listing the Store Manager, Assistant Manager, and Produce Manager. Similarly, online team pages help visitors identify key personnel and understand their roles within the organization.
Highlighting your team members can be particularly beneficial in professions like law, where showcasing their educational background, such as attending prestigious institutions like Harvard, can instill confidence in potential clients.
Social Proof
Ever noticed how some companies proudly display their prominent customers on their website? This serves as social proof, demonstrating that reputable companies trust their services – a highly effective marketing tactic.
Imagine seeing a company like Coca-Cola listed as a client. It immediately enhances the credibility of the business.
Social proof comes in various forms, but typically includes a brief testimonial specific to the industry, along with the company’s name and logo. Extendify offers 7 distinct designs tailored for this purpose.
It’s important to note that the businesses showcased are merely examples, so you’ll need to add your own clients relevant to your industry. Keep in mind that not every business will have this opportunity, as it depends on your existing clientele.
One of the most crucial elements of any website is the call to action. It’s a piece of content strategically crafted to prompt the reader to take a specific action. This could be something as straightforward as subscribing to a newsletter or exploring a product page.
Practically every website offering a product or service incorporates a call to action directing visitors towards that offering. It’s an essential component of your site, guiding visitors towards meaningful engagement on your home page. Extendify offers 18 design options you can choose from.
In this instance, it’s crucial to customize the text to align perfectly with your site’s needs. A call to action is highly specific and must be meticulously tailored to be effective. Extendify even offers a design option featuring Google Maps integration, ideal for businesses with a physical location Google Maps is a fantastic option to assist customers in locating your physical store.
Extendify FAQ
The free version of this tool will allow you to import 10 patterns per month. If you wish to add more, you can, but you will need to pay for that ability. Otherwise, there is no limit on what you can add from this plugin.
At the very least, you will need to change the text of what you import. The text is placeholder text that is themed for the website type you selected. It is not something that should appear on your actual site.
Probably not. While this is much simpler, it is worth pointing out that most page builders include demo sites and pages you can import to your site. Thus, they accomplish the same thing this plugin does but also provide more editing tools.
No. Extendify is simply a collection of patterns for WordPress that use the default blocks of WordPress to create designs for your site. There is nothing that will slow down your website from using these tools.
This is up to you. The images the plugin uses are stock images that work fine for the business types you select. That said, adding a personal touch like making sure your staff is on display or showing the front of your store is a better option.
Nothing. All of the content you have imported will still be present on your site. Again, Extendify only uses the default WordPress blocks, thus there is nothing you need the plugin for other than selecting the designs you wish to use.
Absolutely! Once you place the design, you can do whatever you want. And when you’re done editing, you can even save it as a pattern in WordPress, so you always have it.
Start Building in WordPress with Extendify Today
As you’ve seen, Extendify offers a plethora of options for creating visually appealing pages in WordPress. Its primary goal is to streamline the page-building process, and it excels in this regard.
What sets Extendify apart is its simplicity and seamless integration with WordPress blocks. Unlike other page builders, it doesn’t bog down your website’s performance. If you’re in need of a quick solution for building a site, Extendify is the way to go.
I trust this tutorial has been instrumental in familiarizing you with the Extendify plugin for WordPress.
Did using Extendify help you save significant time? And regarding WordPress, do you believe having a built-in pattern library would be beneficial?