Setka Editor is a WordPress plugin that helps you easily create and design well-structured and visually engaging post content. It makes beautiful content creation accessible to everyone, whether you’re an expert designer and developer, or not.
From simple and classic posts to dynamic magazine-style layouts, users can create custom content that helps convert visitors, all without the need to touch any code (although the plugin does allow you to get into HTML and CSS if you choose to).
Through the use of a post style manager and flexible grid system, Setka Editor offers endless design options that include custom post styles, animation, autoscaling media, reusable design elements, and much more.
In this review, we’ll take a look at Setka Editor’s main features, how to set it up and use it, and tell you what we think about its offerings.
Setka Editor’s Main Features
Setka Editor lets you easily create beautiful and engaging content that captures attention and helps convert visitors. Here are its main features:
• Premade and custom post styles (predefine headers, fonts, colors, dividers, icons, and more)
• Highly flexible grid system for building post/page content
• Interactive design (including animation and anchors)
• Image autoscaling
• Image galleries
• One-click inline icons (premium version)
• Premade and custom snippets (snippets are reusable design elements)
• Supports SEO features
• Supports CSS and JavaScript
• Select fonts from Google Fonts, Adobe Typekit, or custom fonts
• Instantly preview your post output for desktop, tablet, and mobile devices
• Clean code with optimized loading time
• Works with any theme
• White label (hide all Setka branding)
• Mobile friendly (options for desktop, tablet, and mobile)
The Main Parts of Setka Editor
Before setting up Setka Editor, I think it would be helpful to explain the main components of the plugin.
There are basically three main parts to Setka Editor:
Setka Editor WordPress plugin
Post Styles (for setting up or creating post styles)
Grid Systems (for creating grid and column parameters for your content)
The Post Styles and Grid Systems tools are located at Setka’s Style Manager.
Let’s take a quick look at each part.
Setka Editor WordPress Plugin
Within WordPress, the Setka Editor plugin allows you to select elements for your post, format those elements, and arrange content.
More specifically, the Setka Editor plugin allows you to:
• Format posts, grids, columns, images, and more
• Add elements such as grids, snippets, images, icons, embeds, image galleries, and dividers
• Select styles and grids for your posts
• Preview your post at the click of a button
• Use keyboard shortcuts
Setka Post Styles
Setka Post Styles lets you can create multiple Setka styles for your posts.
With the Post Styles editor, you can:
• Name your post style
• Set text formats (fonts, header sizes, etc.)
• Set link styles
• Choose colors for text and backgrounds
• Set text format and color for image captions
• Choose width, alignment, color, and thickness for dividers
• Choose icons (premium version)
• Create snippets (reusable design elements)
Setka Grid Systems
With the Grid Systems editor, you can:
• Select from among premade grids (4, 6, 8, 12 columns)
• Add new grid systems (base column number, gutters, horizontal margins, etc.)
• Select Auto or Limited content widths
Setting Up Setka Editor
Setka Editor Plugin Installation
Here’s how to install the free version of Setka Editor:
1. In WordPress, go to Plugins… Add New.
2. In Search plugins…, type Setka Editor.
3. Select the first returned item and click Install Now.
4. Click the Activate button.
To use the Setka Editor WordPress plugin, you need to connect it to Setka’s Post Styles and Grid Systems. You do that by entering your license key.
After clicking the Activate button, you should see a notice that says:
To start working with Setka Editor, register or enter your existing license key.
5. Assuming you don’t have a license key yet, click the register link.
6. In the Start tab that appears, choose from the following options:
Individual
Company
I already have the license key
7. If you already have a license key, enter it into the License key field and then click the Start working with Setka Editor button.
Otherwise, if you chose Individual or Company, fill out the necessary information, including your email address, site URL, and a password. After doing so, click the Sign Up Individual (or Company) button.
You’ll see an empty License key field, and a notice that says:
Registration completed. We sent you an email with license key that you need to enter to start the plugin.
8. Go to your email program and look for an email from Setka Editor with the subject: Your license key to use Setka Editor
Copy the license key that’s in your email.
9. Return to WordPress. If the empty license key field is not already visible, go to Setka Editor… Start, and paste in the license key.
Click the Start working with Setka Editor button.
The Start panel will change to an Account panel, and you’ll see a notice that says:
Congratulations! You can create a new post with Setka Editor.
Under the License key field, it reads: You have already started the plugin.
I found this notice somewhat confusing, but basically you’re ready to use the plugin, so you can ignore it.
10. Finally, click the Settings tab and choose the different Post types and Roles (WordPress user roles) that will use Setka Editor.
Using Setka Editor
Here are the basic steps for using Setka Editor:
Setting up Your Post Style
With the Post Styles editor, you can create a unique post style for different kinds of content. Post styles define the fonts, colors, links, dividers, icons, snippets and other elements for your post.
If you want a new post style for your content, go to the Post Styles editor for your Setka account (you may need to login) and click the +Create a custom style button.
Setting up Your Grid System
The grid system you choose or create will structure your post layout, help you organize your content and make it more reader-friendly, and develop a consistent style to your posts.
If you want to create a new grid system for your content (or edit an existing grid system) go to the Grid System editor for your Setka account. To create a new grid system, click the +Add grid system button.
Choose between Auto or Limited for your content width. The Auto option will set your content to 100% of its container. The Limited option allows you to set an exact maximum content width limit in pixels. Limited also allows you to have overhanging images in your content.
Creating Your Content with the Setka Editor Plugin
1. In WordPress, go to Posts… Add New (or Pages… Add New).
2. On the post page, enter the title for the post and click Save Draft.
3. To the upper right of the post content area, click the Setka Editor tab so that you are using the Setka Editor and not the WordPress visual/text editor.
4. To define the look of your post, from the Style drop-down menu above the content area, choose the post style you want to use (or click Create new Post Style).
You’ll get a warning that reads:
All text styles and colors will be cleared. This action can’t be undone. Are you sure?
Click the OK button.
5. The Grid System defines the layout of a post. The configuration of the grid depends on the number of columns, margins, and gutters.
From the Grid System drop-down menu, choose the grid you want to use (or click Create new Grid System).
You may see a warning that reads:
Column count of chosen layout not equal to current. Each multi-module grid will be converted into a single-module grid. This action can’t be undone. Continue?
Click the OK button.
6. Use the Setka Editor elements toolbar (vertical toolbar to the right of the post content area) to insert elements into the post (e.g., grids, snippets, images, icons, embeds, galleries, dividers).
You can also type or paste in elements. With the Setka Editor, paragraphs are building blocks that are used in its modular column grid system, and styles are applied to entire paragraphs.
You can use keyboard shortcuts to work more quickly. To see what keyboard shortcuts are available, click the bottom icon in the elements toolbar.
For more specific documentation about adding elements to your post content area, you can check out Setka’s Help Center.
7. After adding content into the post content area with the elements toolbar, use the top horizontal Settings toolbar to format selected elements.
From the Settings toolbar, depending on what you have selected in the post area, you are given different options to format posts, grids, columns, paragraphs, and images.
For example, with a paragraph of text selected, you have options to change text alignment, text size, background color, and more.
To select several paragraphs one at a time, Command-click (on a Mac), or Alt-click (on a PC). To select all of the post content at the same time, press Command-Shift-A (Mac), or Control-Shift-A (PC).
8. Setka Editor lets you easily animate a selected element (image, paragraphs, grid). Animation options include direction, zoom, rotation, opacity, duration, and start and delay times.
After selecting an element, click the animation icon from the Settings toolbar to set your options.
9. Try the embedding feature by inserting a video into your post. You can embed videos from YouTube and Vimeo, as well as GIF images from GIPHY.
First, find a video on YouTube and copy its embed code (you can find it under the video by clicking the Share link, and then Embed).
To embed the video in your post, click in a column where you’d like to place it. Then, click the </> Embed icon in the Elements toolbar, and paste in the embed code from YouTube.
If you want to see how the video appears on the grid without having to click the preview button, from the Embed tab above the content, click Render. Click Unrender to see it back in code form.
To set the video to the width of its container, click Embed… Full width video… on. To show the video at the size specified in the code, click Embed… Full width video… off.
10. When you’re happy with the way your content is set up, click the Publish button. You can click the preview icon (eye icon at the top of the elements toolbar) to get a quick look of its appearance in desktop and mobile modes.
Because WordPress themes have different post widths, Setka Editor lets you see your post in different screen widths (including custom widths) by clicking the View post as menu in the bottom left corner.
Adding Grids
Much of the magic that happens with Setka Editor is due to the flexibility of its grids. Setka Editor works with a modular column grid system which allows you to quickly structure and align content with the click of a button.
Basically, there are two different grid types in Setka Editor. The first type is the post Grid System, which is the layout grid system we’ve discussed already. It’s created in the Style Manager.
The second type, which we’ll focus on here, are grid modules. Grid modules are embedded into a post through the Setka Editor elements toolbar. Before you can add a grid module to your post, you must first have one or more paragraphs selected. After selecting your paragraph(s), click the Add grid icon (second icon from the top).
The options you’ll see next depend on the grid system you set earlier. For example, if you set 8 columns for the grid system, you’ll have options for grid modules that can go into an 8 column grid.
For example, with an 8 column grid system you can arrange content in these different column configurations:
8 columns
2+6 columns
3+5 columns
4+ 4 columns
5+3 columns
6+2 columns
2+2+2+2 columns
Once you add a grid module to a paragraph selection, you can add different content elements into the grid, such as text, images, or even another grid (nesting grids).
Also, depending on your grid module choices, you’ll see + and – indicators at the top of different columns in your post area. These indicators help you align the content within the grid.
For example, by clicking a +, you will add a column and expand that content area. By clicking a -, you will remove a column and decrease the content area.
The grid system and grid modules are a very powerful component that take Setka Editor to a level beyond most page builders. The speed, ease, and flexibility with which you can change your content layout is extremely impressive.
Note: The use of grids is much easier to grasp through video, so make sure to watch the video tutorial below.
Snippets
A snippet is any combination of design elements (e.g. text, images, dividers, icons, etc.) that you might use on a frequent basis.
To create your own snippet, bring into the post content area the elements you want for the snippet. Then, select the elements (Command-click on the Mac, Control-click on the PC), and click the Add Snippet icon in the elements toolbar (third icon from top). From there, click the +Snippet link and give your snippet a name.
Whenever you want to use the snippet, click in the post area, select the Add Snippet icon, and choose your snippet.
Video Tutorial: Setting Up and Using Setka Editor
Support & Documentation
Support and documentation for Setka Editor is very good.
For help using Setka Editor, users can access their Help Center or get support through their contact page.
Their Help Center offers the following options:
Getting Started
Style Manager
Setka Post Editor
Account Settings
Custom Integration
Contact Support
You can also try out a live demo here.
Setka also offers blog articles and emails that provide tips for getting the most out of the plugin.
Purchase of a premium version of the plugin includes access to premium support and training resources, including members-only webinars.
Pricing for Setka Editor
There are several versions of Setka Editor. The premium plans are subscription services with added features beyond the free version.
Free (available at WordPress.org)
Pro ($16.50/month)
• Includes access to Style Manager (5 premade styles and unlimited custom styles)
• Animations
• Google Fonts
• Adobe Typekit
• Custom fonts
• White label
• Custom CSS and JavaScript support
If you’d like to check out the premium features of Setka Editor Pro versions offer free 14 day trials.
Conclusions & Recommendations
Setka Editor is a very impressive WordPress plugin. Although technically it falls into the category of a page builder, its ease of use and flexibility—especially when it comes to grids—sets it apart.
Admittedly, when I first started using the plugin, I wasn’t sure I was seeing the advantages it had over the basic WordPress post editor.
But after playing around with its grid capabilities, I was pretty blown away with how easy it is to create and manipulate layouts. It helps you create beautiful content—and it does so much quicker than most WordPress page builders.
I also like how easy it is to create simple, eye-catching animations with the plugin—without having to touch any code.
The ability to quickly and easily develop consistent structure for your posts with Setka’s Post Style Editor and Grid Systems is impressive. Beyond offering a way to develop a consistent look, it helps you look like a content branding pro and makes it easier for your readers to consume your information.
Setka Editor eliminates bottlenecks when it comes to building and designing your content, allowing you to spend more time on other tasks that are important to your site or business.
But what happens to your content if you decide to stop using Setka Editor? While it will affect some custom styling, it won’t affect the HTML structure of your post. For example headers, images, links, and other content will remain—they’ll just lose any custom styling you add through Setka Editor.
Of course, these kinds of concerns are true for most plugins and nearly all page builders. After all, it’s the nature of the beast with most WordPress plugins.
In the end, I found this plugin fun to use. And it just so happens to also help you develop and build an engaging, consistent, and beautiful style for your brand and audience. If you’d like to find out more about what Setka Editor has to offer, you can download the free version of their plugin here. If you’re interested in their premium features, you can check them out here.
This is an analysis that was written to provide a valuable outside perspective to the creators of this product. They paid for a 100% honest, no-holds-barred break-down of all they are doing, both good and bad, because they want their product to be as good possible. In the interests of sharing that knowledge with the larger WordPress community, we also give them the option of publishing it here on WPMayor.com … but with the vital condition that the content cannot be altered or spun in any way: our readers expect and deserve the same 100% honesty.
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