This YouTube transcript highlights the capabilities of ZipWP, an AI-powered WordPress website builder. It emphasizes the platform’s ability to create modern websites quickly and easily, even for users without design or coding experience. ZipWP utilizes AI to generate content, design layouts, and select images based on a simple user description.
The free version allows for creating temporary websites that can be exported and hosted elsewhere. The tutorial covers signing up, website creation, customization, content editing, navigation adjustments, and exporting/importing sites. The presenter also touches on the premium plans that offer more features, such as permanent websites, increased storage, and team access.
Creating a Website with AI: An Introduction to ZipWP
Creating a modern website can be time-consuming, demanding skills in design, development, and copywriting. Many find the end result differs from their initial expectations, and custom development can cost thousands. ZipWP offers a solution by using AI to build attractive websites quickly.
ZipWP allows users to create a website using the power of AI. According to K from the Astra team, with ZipWP, it’s possible to create a modern-looking website in no time. The process is free, and users are challenged to try it.
Using the fictional brand Zstorm (a bubble tea franchise) as an example, the video demonstrates how ZipWP can create various website pages. These include a homepage, concept page, menu page, about page, and contact page. The call to action in the navigation directs users to the menu page, ensuring it stands out.
The Power of AI in Website Creation
The text on the homepage of the example website was created by AI. The user only needs to input a brief description, and the AI generates the rest, including paragraphs and titles. This applies to almost all text on the website.
Forbes Advisor states that website creation typically takes 10 to 14 weeks, covering planning, content creation, website design, testing, and review. While WordPress can speed up the process, finding the perfect theme, sourcing images, and creating good copywriting still take time.
ZipWP addresses these challenges by requiring only a brief business description to generate the number of pages, design, images, and copywriting. This is available for free, with premium plans offering additional features. With the free plan, users can generate three AI sites per month.
These sites expire in 24 hours, providing enough time to export the website and upload it to a web hosting service. ZipWP uses tools like WordPress, the Astra WordPress theme, and the Spectra visual website builder combined with AI.
Getting Started with ZipWP
To begin, navigate to zwp.to and click “sign up for free”. Users can sign up with their email or Google account. After signing up, select the free plan. The dashboard displays information such as the number of sites and available disc space.
The dashboard also provides access to training and help resources. Users can combine multiple sites into a project. They can create a blank site or build a complete site, with a future option for a design custom site.
For those familiar with their content, creating a blank site is an option. However, for this tutorial, the “build complete site” feature is used to demonstrate ZipWP’s capabilities. The next step involves choosing a category, such as “restaurant,” and entering the business name (e.g., Zstorm).
AI-Driven Content and Image Selection
Users are prompted to provide a detailed description of their business. For instance, “Zstorm is a bubble tea franchise initially created in Miami Florida but now established internationally”. Clicking “improve using AI” allows ZipWP to expand on the description.
The AI generates a detailed description from a short sentence, which helps in creating the website. The AI pre-selects a keyword (e.g., bubble tea) and suggests related keywords like flavors and toppings. Users can add their own keywords.
The AI pre-selects 20 images, which users can review and adjust to fit their brand. Users can deselect or reselect images and add more as needed. Once satisfied, they proceed to provide contact information.
Choosing a Website Structure and Building the Site
Users then select a structure for their website. Although no templates match the “bubble tea” keyword, recommended designs appear when clicking on “restaurant”. Hovering over an image previews the design.
Even without a direct match, users can select a suitable template. After choosing a template, clicking “start building the website” initiates the process. Once the website is ready, login credentials are provided.
It’s recommended to copy this information. Users can customize the website using these credentials or by clicking “customize website” if still on the screen. This allows them to tailor the website to match their brand.
Customizing Website Identity
To begin customizing, the “show the title” option can be deselected, and a logo can be added. Users can drag and drop a logo file or upload it. The logo size can be adjusted.
Selecting a color palette that matches the brand is crucial. A brand guide can be used as a reference. While a color palette is initially chosen, individual colors can be changed later. A font pair can also be selected, with further customization options available in the customizer.
After saving, users land on a page with an admin bar. Clicking “customize” in the admin bar or navigating through the dashboard allows access to customization options. In the customizer, elements can be modified by hovering over them and clicking the pencil icon or using the left-hand navigation.
Advanced Customization Options
The site icon (favicon) can be changed in the customizer. Users can select an existing image from the media library or upload a new one. Global colors can be modified to change the website’s color scheme.
The theme color selection allows customization of colors for headings and body text. Typography settings enable changing the font for headings and body text. Changes are reflected immediately, and different fonts can be set for each heading type (H1-H6).
Button styles can be customized, such as adjusting the border radius to create rounded corners. For navigation buttons, the style needs to be adjusted separately in the design tab. These customizations ensure brand consistency.
Editing Website Content
To edit content, navigate to the dashboard and select “pages,” then choose the page to edit. Alternatively, visit the site, go to the desired page, and click “edit page”. Editing text is as simple as clicking and typing.
The right-hand side panel displays the name of the block being edited, which helps in identifying the type of block. Spectra blocks are blue, while vanilla WordPress blocks are black. Text can be changed within these blocks.
Buttons can be customized globally in the customizer or individually. Infobox blocks can be linked to other pages using relative or absolute links. Relative links use the page slug, while absolute links use the full URL.
Adding and Customizing Buttons
To add a button, select a block, click the plus sign, and choose a button block (either vanilla or Spectra). The button text and link can be customized. The absolute or relative URL can be used to link the button to a specific page.
To find the relative URL (slug), go to “pages,” hover over the page, and click “quick edit”. The slug is displayed there. For the absolute URL, hover over “view,” right-click, and copy the link address.
Images can be changed by selecting the block containing the image. For background images, ensure the container block is selected. In the style tab, click “change image” to select a new image.
Working with Different Image Types
An image overlay color can be added or modified in the style tab. The minimum height of the container can be adjusted to create a full-screen effect. For image blocks, clicking on the image allows you to change it directly.
Select a new image from the media library or upload a new file. Adding a new page can be done from scratch or by copying an existing page. To copy a page, click the three dots in the top right corner and select “copy all blocks”.
Create a new page and paste the copied blocks. Hide the title on the page and enable the transparent header option in Astra settings. Change the title and modify the content and images as needed.
Editing and Managing Website Navigation
To add the new page to the navigation, go to “appearance” then “menus” in the dashboard. Select the new page and click “add to menu”. Reorder the pages as desired and save the menu.
To change a menu label, click the arrow next to the menu item and edit the label. Alternatively, you can use quick edit in the pages section, but this requires updating all links to the previous URL. To link a button in the navigation, copy the link address of the desired page.
Then, in the customizer, hover over the button, click the pencil icon, and paste the URL in the link field. After making these changes and edits, the website content should match the intended brand. ZipWP handles 80-90% of the work, leaving only minor tweaks for the user.
Exporting and Importing Your ZipWP Website
Users on the free ZipWP plan have 24 hours to export their website. Go to “plugins,” then “add new plugin,” and search for “WP Vivid”. Install and activate the plugin, then click “backup now” and wait for the process to complete.
Download the backup, which will be a zip file. To import the ZipWP website to your own web hosting, note that this process will completely overwrite existing content. It is recommended to do this on a staging or development website, or ensure you have a backup.
In a fresh WordPress install, go to “plugins,” then “add new plugin,” and search for “WP Vivid”. Install and activate the plugin. Click the “upload” tab and select the previously exported zip file.
Finalizing the Website Transfer
Click “upload” and wait for the upload to complete. This may take a few minutes depending on your internet speed and web hosting. Click “restore,” acknowledging that this will wipe out existing content.
Confirm the restore and let the plugin complete its work. You will be logged out because the new admin user is from the ZipWP website; use the credentials you saved earlier to log back in. The ZipWP website should now be successfully imported. With the free version of ZipWP, users can create beautiful, modern-looking websites.
Premium plans offer more features and flexibility, such as permanent websites, more disc space, and more AI credits monthly. The business plan includes team member access, white-label domain options, a coming soon AI Warframe Builder, and VIP support.
With ZipWP, creating a website is made easy with the power of AI. The possibilities are endless, and it’s exciting to consider what types of websites can be created using this tool.