# Themex Studio
> Flexible & Minimal Ghost CMS themes that elevate your writing for your portfolio, newsletter, blog, magazine
Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts.
Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`).
## Pages
### Get in Touch
URL: https://themex.studio/contact/
Last updated: 2025-07-23T02:58:16.000Z
_No content available._
### Docs
URL: https://themex.studio/docs/
Last updated: 2023-09-06T04:49:52.000Z
_No content available._
### Guides
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/
Last updated: 2023-09-06T04:50:18.000Z
_No content available._
### Find the perfect Ghost themes for your online home
URL: https://themex.studio/themes/
Last updated: 2025-10-13T08:01:11.000Z
_No content available._
### Privacy Policy
URL: https://themex.studio/privacy/
Last updated: 2023-09-17T14:31:27.000Z
This Privacy Policy describes how your personal information is collected, used, and shared when you visit our website (themex.studio) or purchase or install one of our products. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
## Information Collection
### Website
When you visit our website, we collect certain information about your device, including information about your web browser, IP address, time zone, and some of the cookies installed on your device.
Additionally, as you browse the site, we collect information about the pages or products viewed, which websites or search terms referred to you, and how you interact with the site. We refer to this automatically-collected information as "Device Information."
We collect Device Information using the following technologies:
Google Analytics tracks how you arrived on the site and how you might spend your time there.
When you make a purchase, we can access certain information, including your name, email address, and country. Lemonsqueezy gives us access to this information. We refer to this information as "Order Information." Any payment information you enter, including credit card numbers and PayPal account information, is not stored on our site but directed to a third-party system (Lemonsqueezy or PayPal).
### Contact form
At themex.studio/contact/ page ('contact form'), you will supply your name and email address so that I can respond to your messages; the information provided will not be used for any other purpose. I only retain collected information for as long as necessary.
By submitting your information via the contact form, you agree that I may use your information for the following purposes:
Reply to emails or customer support — If you send me an email message, I will use the information you provide to reply.
The contact form is handled by [formspree.io](https://formspree.io/?ref=themex.studio) ('Formspree'). For further information and the applicable data protection provisions of Formspree, please visit [formspree.io/legal/privacy-policy/](https://formspree.io/legal/privacy-policy/?ref=themex.studio).
## Information Usage
We use your email to communicate with you when sending theme updates.
## Information Sharing
We use Lemonsqueezy.com as a payment service to sell our themes. You can read more about how Lemonsqueezy.com uses your Personal Information at [lemonsqueezy.com/privacy](https://lemonsqueezy.com/privacy?ref=themex.studio).
We use Google Analytics to help understand how our customers use our website. You can read more about how Google uses your Personal Information at [policies.google.com/privacy](https://policies.google.com/privacy?ref=themex.studio).
You can opt-out of Google Analytics at [tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout](https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?ref=themex.studio).
## Contact
If you have questions regarding privacy, don't hesitate to contact us via the contact form or email to privacy@themex.studio.
---
*Last update: Sep 17, 2023*
### Terms of Service
URL: https://themex.studio/terms/
Last updated: 2024-04-12T04:19:23.000Z
When you buy a theme from Themex Studio, there are some important rules to keep in mind:
### **1\. Theme Ownership**
We own all the rights to our themes. This means you can't share, copy, or sell them as your own. You also can't change them and sell them.
### **2\. Single Theme License**
If you buy a theme, you can use it for one website only. You can't use it on multiple Ghost websites unless you buy another license or Themes Bundle. You can try it out in a test environment first.
### **3\. Themes Bundle License**
With the Themes Bundle, you can use our themes on as many Ghost websites as you want. There are different licenses for individuals and freelancers/agencies.
### **4\. Extended License**
If you want to use our theme on a different platform, like WordPress, you need an Extended License. It's only for one website on one domain. If you want to use it for many users on your platform, you can, but you have to make it work with your platform, and we won't help with that.
### **5\. Theme Updates**
When we improve or fix our themes, you get updates. We'll tell you what changed so you can update your theme.
### **6\. Theme Support**
All themes come with six months of support included. You can extend it to twelve months for a small fee. Support helps with theme questions, setting up features, and fixing bugs. But it doesn't include custom changes or fixing server issues.
### **7\. Support Renewal**
If you want to keep getting support after six or twelve months, you can renew it for a fee.
### **8\. Hiring a Developer**
We provide theme customization service and assistance with any Ghost setup challenges. This is a paid service for your websites. Just reach out to us after purchasing your theme.
### **9\. Refunds**
If you are dissatisfied with the quality of the product you have purchased, please contact us and provide details about the reason for the refund.
Upon receipt of your refund request, we will review it and notify you of our decision.
**Please note that, typically, refunds cannot be granted for digital products.** However, we take responsibility for the quality of our products and may provide a refund if you are unsatisfied with your purchase.
### **10\. Warranties**
We make sure our themes meet industry standards and work on most browsers. If a browser can't do something, we'll try to find a good alternative.
That's the lowdown on our theme rules and what you can expect. If you have any questions, just ask!
### FAQ
URL: https://themex.studio/faq/
Last updated: 2024-10-01T14:57:36.000Z
### Support and Documentation
#### What kind of support do you offer?
We included a support service that covers general questions about theme functionality and helps with feature configuration and removing theme bugs or issues. All the customization work is not included inside
#### Do your themes come with support and documentation?
Yes, our theme comes with dedicated support and detailed [documentation](https://themex.studio/docs). We have a dedicated support team for solving our customer's and client’s problems. We create detailed documentation for our products
#### How quickly can I expect a response to my support queries?
We strive to be responsive, usually replying within one business day during our operating hours, Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (GMT+08).
#### What happens when the support period expires?
Even after the support period ends, you'll continue to receive updates for your theme. To access ongoing support, you'll need to renew and extend your license.
### Customization and Licensing
#### What is free theme customization?
Free customization includes customizing existing theme elements and designs, such as image ratio, page layout, and Ghost setup with the current theme's features.
Requests for new or non-existing elements are not included in this free customization. They are provided as a paid service.
#### Can I request customizations for my theme?
Yes, we provide theme customization service and assistance with any Ghost setup challenges. This is paid service for your websites. Just reach out to us after purchasing your theme.
#### What's your policy on refunds?
Due to the digital nature of website themes, purchases will not be refunded or exchanged for any reason. [Read more about refunds](https://themex.studio/refunds/).
#### Can I use one theme license for multiple websites?
No, each new website requires its own theme license.
#### Can I customize the themes to fit my style?
Yes, our themes are fully customizable to suit your preferences.
#### Do I need coding knowledge to use your themes?
No coding is necessary for basic installation. However, some advanced customization may require coding skills.
### Theme Compatibility and Updates
#### What browsers are compatible with Ghost themes?
All Ghost themes work seamlessly with popular browsers like Firefox, Safari, Opera, Chrome, and Edge.
#### What does 'free updates' include?
You'll receive complimentary updates for bug fixes, feature enhancements, and compatibility improvements for the Ghost CMS.
#### How frequently are your Ghost themes updated?
We update themes as necessary to ensure they remain compatible with the latest Ghost CMS version.
#### How will I know when there's a new update available?
You'll receive an email notification with a download link whenever updates are ready.
### Ghost Pro Plan
#### Which Ghost Pro plan do I need for your themes?
To utilize custom or premium themes, you'll need to be on the Creator plan with Ghost Pro. The Starter plan includes official Ghost themes exclusively.
### Leave a review
URL: https://themex.studio/leave-a-review/
Last updated: 2025-11-25T04:21:03.000Z
Give your thoughts on the design, process of using, overall experience, or anything you like about our theme and services.
### Share Ghost themes, make easy money
URL: https://themex.studio/affiliates/
Last updated: 2024-04-10T05:47:26.000Z
Enjoy my Ghost themes, and think your audience might too? Join Themex Studio Affiliates to get 15% of every sale that comes through your unique link, paid instantly after attributable purchase.
[Apply to Join →](https://themex.lemonsqueezy.com/affiliates?ref=themex.studio)
### A few kind words
URL: https://themex.studio/reviews/
Last updated: 2025-10-14T07:15:05.000Z
#### I've been blown away by the quality of support. At first, I wasn't impressed by this theme after running into some problems with it. After reaching out to Trong, he was supportive and hands-on in the way he helped me work things out to get what I needed. He went above and beyond, and I'm super happy with how my site turned out in the end.
— Tiffany Chu on [Braun Theme](https://themex.studio/braun/)
#### Braun is easily the most capable theme I've seen on the very limited Ghost platform, and I'm so happy with how it's made rightoturbo.com look. Trong is a great dev, and a great communicator when you need a little support! For the price, I couldn't possibly be happier.
— Mike on [Braun Theme](https://themex.studio/kyoto/)
#### I love the theme. It's some work learning to put the pages up but I love a good challenge. It's obvious how much work went into creating this and I am thankful for thoughtful creators like you. Once I get the hang of this, I'm thinking of duplicating it for my other publication since I work with courses and course development a lot
— Otito on [Braun Theme](https://themex.studio/braun/)
#### The Braun theme is absolutely fantastic. Love it so much! Also, the support is top notch, they helped me and solved all my questions in an polite and professional way, much appreciate it.
— Wutong on [Braun Theme](https://themex.studio/braun/)
#### Trong’s support was nothing short of exceptional. His deep knowledge and willingness to help with custom modifications made all the difference. Thanks to his guidance, I was able to refine the theme to align perfectly with my design language and the concept for my site.
— [Scott](https://jark.me/?ref=themex.studio) on [Kyoto Theme](https://themex.studio/kyoto/)
#### The theme is beautiful and came as well described. The documentation is very clear and easy to use once you get the hang of it. Most importantly, Trong was ALWAYS available for help whenever I needed it. Best support I've seen. A+ all around.
— Randy Ginsburg on [Kyoto Theme](https://themex.studio/kyoto/)
#### [Kyoto](https://kyoto.themex.studio/?ref=themex.studio) theme comes with many templates that are handy for me to customize for my personal use case. The documents on how to use the theme are comprehensive and easy to follow.
— Ruibo Liu on [Kyoto Theme](https://kyoto.themex.studio/?ref=themex.studio)
#### It was time for a facelift and [Vancouver](https://vancouver-elegant.themex.studio/?ref=themex.studio) from Themex is perfect. The installation and setting up could not have been simpler. Support from Trong at Themex was excellent - relaxed, helpful and friendly.
— David Henzell on [Vancouver Theme](https://vancouver-elegant.themex.studio/?ref=themex.studio)
#### Love the theme so far, super easy to use, great documentation and developer is very helpful and responsive!
— Cathryn Lavery on [Singapore Theme](https://themex.studio/singapore/)
### trong-intro
URL: https://themex.studio/trong-intro/
Last updated: 2026-02-14T07:49:50.000Z
I'm a designer and developer and a big fan of [Ghost](https://ghost.org/?ref=themex.studio).
I've been publishing and developing on Ghost for over four years, across 10+ sites.
Every theme comes from a place of personal expression, and faces the same question before launching: “Is this a site I'd be genuinely excited to explore?”
My mission is to bring something fresh and unique to the Ghost CMS while crafting visually stunning, thoughtful, and user-friendly themes for non-technical people.
➽ Follow me on [x/trongawesome](https://twitter.com/trongawesome?ref=themex.studio) and [visit trong.me](https://trong.me/?ref=themex.studio).
### Logo Designs
URL: https://themex.studio/logo-designs/
Last updated: 2024-07-21T06:03:12.000Z
### Refunds
URL: https://themex.studio/refunds/
Last updated: 2024-10-01T15:47:46.000Z
Last updated Oct 1, 2024
Due to the digital nature of website themes, purchases will not be refunded or exchanged for any reason. To be perfectly clear, these reasons do **NOT** qualify for a refund:
1. Changing your mind
2. Not understanding Ghost CMS
3. On the Starter Ghost plan that doesn't allow the use of custom themes
4. Not reading a template’s description fully
5. Ignoring installation warnings or requirements
6. Having conflicting code that makes code malfunction
7. If Ghost updates code, functionality, or in any way changes the nature of the platform, resulting in visual or technical conflicts.
8. Finding a bug or error in a theme.
9. Refusing to accept support in using a theme.
10. Deleting the theme from your account.
11. Asking for a refund.
If you have ANY questions, problems, issues, or concerns before or after purchasing a template, I'd be more than happy to talk it through and figure out a solution that works for you. [Fill out the contact form](https://themex.studio/contact/) to get support.
### What's news
URL: https://themex.studio/changelogs/
Last updated: 2025-07-28T03:28:40.000Z
_No content available._
### Braun Changelog
URL: https://themex.studio/braun-changelog/
Last updated: 2026-07-06T15:31:09.000Z
_No content available._
### Kyoto Changelog
URL: https://themex.studio/kyoto-changelog/
Last updated: 2024-12-29T07:33:05.000Z
_No content available._
### Vancouver Changelog
URL: https://themex.studio/vancouver-changelog/
Last updated: 2024-12-29T07:34:05.000Z
_No content available._
### Zurich Changelog
URL: https://themex.studio/zurich-changelog/
Last updated: 2025-01-10T07:28:18.000Z
_No content available._
### Singapore Changelog
URL: https://themex.studio/singapore-changelog/
Last updated: 2025-10-22T15:11:28.000Z
_No content available._
### Asset Data
URL: https://themex.studio/asset-data-enjin-2/
Last updated: 2025-12-18T04:25:52.000Z
## Posts
### Minimal Blog Design That Keeps Readers Reading
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/minimal-blog-design-that-keeps-readers-reading/
Last updated: 2026-08-10T08:18:53.000Z
A reader lands on your latest essay with a question, a few spare minutes, and a low tolerance for distraction. Minimal blog design respects that moment. It gives the headline room to work, makes the first paragraph easy to enter, and lets the writing carry the experience instead of competing with decorative interface elements.
For independent publishers, minimalism is not the absence of personality. It is a decision about hierarchy. Every type scale, image treatment, navigation label, and piece of spacing should clarify what matters most: the work itself.
## What Minimal Blog Design Actually Means
A minimal site is often mistaken for a plain site. The difference is intentionality. Plain design removes elements without considering what replaces their function. Minimal design reduces visual noise while preserving orientation, character, and useful choices.
On a blog, that usually means a focused reading column, clear typography, restrained color, and a consistent system for posts, tags, authors, and newsletters. Readers should know where they are, what they are reading, and what to do next without having to decode the page.
The goal is not to make every page empty. A photography journal may need generous image space. A startup publication may need a clear topic structure and a featured story. A newsletter-first writer may need a more visible subscribe prompt. The common thread is that each element earns its place.
### Start with the reading experience
The article page is the center of a publishing site, so design it before refining the homepage. A strong post layout establishes the visual logic for everything else: headline, deck, author information, publication date, feature image, body copy, captions, pull quotes, and related reading.
Give [body text](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-improve-newsletter-website-readability/) a comfortable measure. Lines that are too wide make it harder for the eye to return to the next line; lines that are too narrow create a choppy rhythm. Generous line height and thoughtful paragraph spacing help long-form work feel calm rather than dense.
Typography does much of the visual work in a minimal editorial system. Choose typefaces with distinct roles, not a crowded collection of styles. A display face can give headlines character, while an exceptionally readable text face carries the article. If the contrast feels theatrical or the body font looks fashionable at the expense of legibility, readers will notice.
## Build Hierarchy Before Adding Decoration
When a page feels unfinished, the instinct is often to add a background texture, another accent color, a larger image, or a new card treatment. First, check the hierarchy. Most design problems on editorial sites come from competing priorities, not insufficient decoration.
A reader should be able to scan a page and understand the order of importance within seconds. The publication name and primary navigation establish context. The headline creates the entry point. A short deck can explain the value of the article. From there, the text should become the visual focus.
Use size, weight, color, and spacing carefully. You do not need all four to emphasize an element. In fact, using every visual lever at once can make the page feel louder than intended. A quiet label above a confident headline is often more effective than a large category badge, bold author line, oversized date, and heavy divider all competing in the same area.
Whitespace is equally functional. It separates ideas, frames imagery, and gives readers a moment to pause. It should not be treated as wasted space, particularly on desktop layouts where dense content can quickly feel like a dashboard instead of a publication.
### Keep navigation useful and brief
Minimal navigation is not hidden navigation. If readers cannot find your archive, newsletter, or essential pages, reducing menu items has created friction rather than clarity.
For many independent publications, a small set of links is enough: recent writing, key topics, about, and subscribe. Larger editorial sites may need sections, authors, or an archive. The right number depends on the depth of your catalog and the expectations of your audience.
Avoid turning every category into a top-level destination. A focused navigation bar supports discovery without forcing readers to process the full architecture of the site before they can begin reading. Tags and contextual links can handle the rest inside the content experience.
## Use Color and Images With Restraint
A limited palette makes a blog feel more coherent, but it still needs contrast. Start with a neutral foundation for backgrounds and body text, then select one accent color for links, buttons, active states, or small editorial details. That accent should feel deliberate wherever it appears.
Color also has a usability job. Links should look interactive. Buttons should feel distinct from decorative shapes. Text must remain readable against every background, including on mobile in bright daylight. A muted palette is elegant only when it does not weaken these basic signals.
Images deserve the same discipline. A feature image can establish a story’s tone, but not every post needs one. If your publication relies on photography, illustration, or product visuals, create a consistent crop ratio and image treatment so the archive remains composed. If writing is the primary product, a restrained visual system may be more credible than forcing stock imagery into every card.
The trade-off is emotional texture. Too little imagery can make a homepage feel repetitive, especially for new visitors who have not yet learned the publication’s point of view. In that case, vary scale and placement rather than adding visual effects. One prominent lead story, a measured grid of recent posts, and occasional full-width imagery can provide rhythm without clutter.
## Design the Homepage as an Editorial Front Page
A homepage should not simply display every post in identical boxes. It should help a new reader understand what your publication covers and give returning readers a clear route to the newest work.
Lead with one meaningful piece of content. This might be the latest essay, a featured issue, or a cornerstone guide that represents your strongest work. Follow it with a recent-posts section that is easy to scan and does not overwhelm the page with metadata.
Consider what a post card genuinely needs. Usually, a title, concise excerpt, date, and optional image are enough. Author names matter more for multi-author publications. Read-time estimates can help for long-form work. Category labels are useful when they describe a real editorial structure, but they add little when every post has several overlapping tags.
Newsletter promotion should feel like part of the publication, not an interruption pasted over it. A short, specific value statement and a simple form near the natural end of a page will often perform better than repeated pop-ups. If subscription is your primary business model, make the invitation visible while keeping the reader’s path intact.
## Make the System Work on Every Screen
[Minimal blog design](https://themex.studio/guides/12-examples-of-minimalist-publishing-sites/) is most convincing when it holds together on small screens. Mobile is where oversized headings, faint gray text, complicated hover effects, and tightly packed navigation reveal their weaknesses.
Check the article at real reading sizes. Is the type comfortable without zooming? Do headings wrap gracefully? Are images proportioned well? Can a reader tap links and buttons without precision? A desktop design can tolerate a few more spatial gestures; a mobile layout needs stronger restraint.
Performance belongs to the same conversation. Heavy [image files](https://themex.studio/accessibility-social-links-performance-sharing-improvements/), multiple font families, animated banners, and third-party widgets can undermine an otherwise quiet interface. Readers may not identify the source of the problem, but they will feel the delay. Use only what supports the editorial experience, and optimize what remains.
For Ghost publishers, a thoughtfully crafted theme framework makes this work easier because templates, typography, membership states, and post layouts share a consistent foundation. Themex Studio themes are designed around this principle: editorial flexibility without making routine publishing decisions feel like a design project.
## Know What to Leave Out
The most useful question in a design review is not, “What could we add?” It is, “What is this element helping a reader do?” If the answer is unclear, remove it temporarily and assess the page again.
Common candidates include autoplay media, duplicate social buttons, excessive tag lists, elaborate loading animations, and promotional modules that appear before a visitor has encountered any writing. These features are not always wrong. A culture publication may need media embeds; a creator business may need product calls to action. They should be placed according to intent, not added by default.
Minimalism also needs room to evolve. A rigid system can become limiting as your archive grows, contributors join, or your publishing model changes. Build a small set of reusable patterns, then allow enough flexibility for a special series, a high-impact announcement, or a visual story that deserves a different treatment.
The best minimal blogs feel calm because their decisions are visible in the right places and invisible everywhere else. Give readers a clear beginning, a comfortable path through the page, and an easy reason to return. The quieter the interface becomes, the more carefully every remaining detail needs to speak.
### Is Ghost Good for Writers? A Practical Look
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/is-ghost-good-for-writers-a-practical-look/
Last updated: 2026-08-08T07:38:18.000Z
A writer’s website has one job before all others: make the work feel worth reading. That sounds obvious, yet many publishing platforms bury the reading experience under sidebars, plugin prompts, dashboard clutter, and layouts that look more like a storefront than a publication. So, is Ghost good for writers? For many independent writers, the answer is yes - especially when writing, email, and a polished editorial presence need to live in one considered system.
Ghost is not the right choice simply because it is clean or modern. It is a strong choice because it treats publishing as the center of the product. The trade-off is that it asks writers to choose a focused publishing setup rather than an all-purpose website builder with an extension for every possible task.
## Why Ghost works well for writing-first sites
Ghost begins with the publishing workflow. Its editor is calm, fast, and designed around the practical work of creating a post: drafting clean copy, adding images or embeds, setting a feature image, organizing tags, and preparing the piece for publication. There is little incentive to spend an afternoon adjusting a button style when the article itself needs another edit.
That restraint matters. Writers who publish regularly need a system that lowers the distance between an idea and a finished page. Ghost’s writing environment supports a range of formats without making each one feel like a design project. A short note, a reported essay, a weekly newsletter, and a long-form guide can all be produced from the same editorial foundation.
The resulting post also tends to look purposeful by default. Ghost themes are built around content structures that writers actually use: article pages, author profiles, tag archives, featured stories, and email-friendly templates. Instead of forcing a blog into a generic business-site framework, Ghost gives the publication its own visual logic.
### A clean editor is more valuable than it sounds
Most writers do not need complicated formatting. They need reliable typography, clear headings, pull quotes when appropriate, images that do not interrupt the flow, and the confidence that what they see while editing will translate into a readable page.
Ghost’s card-based editor handles these essentials well. It also supports richer elements such as galleries, audio, video, bookmarks, products, and callouts, so the platform does not become limiting when a story needs more than text. The difference is that these tools remain secondary to the words rather than competing with them.
For a writer working alone, that balance can be a genuine advantage. There is less technical maintenance to learn and fewer choices to revisit every time a new piece goes live.
## Is Ghost good for writers building an audience?
A publication is not only a library of finished work. For many writers, it is also the place where a relationship with readers develops over time. Ghost is particularly compelling here because it includes [newsletters and memberships](https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-membership-design-guide-for-publishers/) as part of the core publishing experience.
You can collect email subscribers, send posts by email, create free or paid membership tiers, and publish members-only work without stitching together several platforms. That creates a more coherent experience for both the writer and the reader. Someone can discover an essay on your site, subscribe to hear from you again, and later choose to support the work - all within the same publication.
This does not mean every writer should start a paid newsletter. A paywall is a business decision, not a feature to switch on because it exists. But Ghost gives writers room to grow into that model without requiring a migration when their audience becomes more engaged.
There is also a practical benefit to owning the relationship. Social platforms can help distribute an idea, but they should not be the only place your readership lives. An email list and a well-organized archive provide more stability, more context, and more control over how your work is presented.
### Designed for publications, not just posts
The strongest writer websites feel like publications even when one person runs them. Readers should be able to understand what the site is about, find a series or topic they care about, recognize the author, and move naturally from one piece to another.
Ghost supports that structure through tags, collections, featured content, author pages, and membership access. A writer covering several subjects can create a clear archive without turning the navigation into a crowded category list. A small editorial team can use the same system to establish contributor pages and publication-wide standards.
[The theme still plays](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-minimal-ghost-theme/) a major role. Ghost provides the content model, but the theme determines much of the reading atmosphere: the hierarchy of headlines, the breathing room around the copy, the shape of an archive, and the confidence of the mobile experience. A thoughtfully crafted theme can make a new publication feel established without making it feel overdesigned.
For writers who want a minimal, editorial starting point, Themex Studio themes are designed around that principle: clear typography, flexible content presentation, and visual systems that let the work lead.
## Where Ghost may not be the best fit
Ghost is focused by design, and that focus will not suit every project. If your site needs complex ecommerce, a large online course catalog, advanced community features, forums, booking tools, or a highly customized database, Ghost may require outside tools or custom development. A broader site builder or a more extensible CMS could be a better fit.
It can also be more hands-on than a hosted writing platform. Ghost(Pro) handles [hosting and maintenance](https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-vs-wordpress-publishing-which-fits/) for you, while self-hosting offers more control but introduces responsibilities around setup, updates, backups, and email delivery. Writers who want to publish without touching technical settings should factor that into their decision.
The theme ecosystem is another consideration. Ghost has excellent themes, but it does not offer the enormous volume of templates and plugins found elsewhere. For some people, that is a limitation. For others, it is a relief. A smaller, more intentional set of choices can prevent a site from becoming visually inconsistent or technically fragile.
The question is not whether Ghost can do everything. It cannot, and it should not try to. The better question is whether its core strengths match the kind of publishing practice you want to build.
## What Ghost gives independent writers
For a writer with a clear point of view, Ghost can create a durable home for that work. It brings together several tools that are often scattered across separate services: a professional website, a publishing editor, a newsletter, an audience database, membership options, and basic search visibility controls.
Its built-in SEO features are sensible rather than performative. Writers can set titles and descriptions, create social sharing images, manage canonical URLs, and publish a clean, fast site structure. None of this replaces strong ideas or careful headlines, but it removes much of the unnecessary friction around making a piece discoverable.
More importantly, Ghost encourages an editorial mindset. You can think in issues, columns, essays, series, and archives rather than isolated posts chasing a feed. That makes it well suited to writers building a body of work, whether the goal is a personal essay practice, a specialist newsletter, a portfolio for clients, or an independent media brand.
## Choose Ghost when the work needs a home
Ghost is at its best for writers who care about the complete reading experience and want their audience, archive, and business model to develop in the same place. It rewards clarity: a clear editorial focus, a clear visual identity, and a clear reason for readers to return.
Start with the smallest version of that ambition. Publish a few strong pieces, organize them thoughtfully, make subscribing easy, and choose a design that gives your words room to breathe. A writer’s site does not need to look busy to feel substantial. It needs to make the next paragraph hard to leave.
### Why Use Ghost for Publishing? A Clearer Case
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/why-use-ghost-for-publishing-a-clearer-case/
Last updated: 2026-08-06T09:32:54.000Z
A publication can look polished on launch day and still become difficult to run six months later. The real test is whether writing, sending, organizing, and earning from content remain clear as the archive grows. That is why use Ghost for publishing is a question worth asking before choosing a theme or building a site around a more general-purpose platform.
Ghost is built around the work independent publishers actually do: write posts, build an audience, send newsletters, offer memberships, and present an editorial archive with care. It is not trying to be every kind of website builder. For writers, creator-led businesses, and lean editorial teams, that focus is often its greatest advantage.
## Why Use Ghost for Publishing Instead of a General CMS?
A general CMS can be extremely capable, but capability often arrives with decisions that have little to do with publishing. Plugins, page builders, commerce features, security maintenance, and competing editor experiences can turn a straightforward editorial workflow into a collection of moving parts.
Ghost takes a more deliberate route. Its core product is designed for publication: a clean writing environment, native [email newsletters](https://themex.studio/guides/is-ghost-good-for-newsletters-yes-with-caveats/), audience management, memberships, paid subscriptions, and an API for teams that need more flexibility. The result is a system that feels coherent rather than assembled.
That does not mean Ghost is the right choice for every project. A complex store, a highly customized web application, or a site dependent on a niche integration may require another platform. But when the business is built around original writing and a direct relationship with readers, fewer layers can be a genuine operational advantage.
## A Writing Experience That Keeps the Focus on the Work
The editor is where a publishing platform earns its place. Ghost’s writing experience is intentionally minimal, with a visual structure that supports long-form articles, short updates, images, embeds, calls to action, and newsletter-ready posts without asking writers to work around a cluttered interface.
This matters more than it may seem. When publishing requires technical confidence, every draft becomes a small production task. A focused editor lets a solo writer move from idea to publication without switching between multiple tools or worrying that formatting will break on the live site.
Ghost also treats posts as reusable editorial assets. A single piece can live on the website, be delivered by email, appear in member-only areas, and be organized into a thoughtful archive. For a small team, that reduces duplication while creating a more consistent reader experience.
### Editorial structure without rigid templates
Tags, authors, featured content, access settings, and post types give publishers useful ways to shape a growing library. You can create clear pathways for a weekly newsletter, an evergreen essay series, a resource collection, or a private members section without turning the site into a maze of categories.
The strongest Ghost sites use this structure quietly. Readers should feel that the publication is easy to browse, not that they are navigating a content management system.
## Email and Memberships Belong in the Same Place
For many independent publishers, the most valuable audience is not a social following. It is the person who has chosen to receive your work directly. Ghost makes that relationship central by bringing newsletters, member accounts, and paid subscriptions into the publishing workflow.
You can publish a post to the web and send it to selected subscribers from the same place. Access can be public, free for members, paid, or limited to a particular member tier. That gives publishers practical control over how value is introduced: an open article can establish trust, while a deeper briefing, archive, or recurring newsletter supports a paid offer.
There is also a strategic benefit to owning the member relationship. Your audience data, content archive, and subscription model are connected to your publication rather than scattered across a blog, a newsletter service, and a separate payment tool. It is a cleaner foundation for a business that intends to grow patiently.
### A more considered reader journey
Membership only works when the value feels clear. Ghost provides the mechanics, but the editorial experience still needs intention. A reader should understand what they will receive, how often it arrives, and why becoming a member is worthwhile.
That is where design has real commercial value. A well-composed publication can make paid access feel like a natural extension of the editorial product, not an interruption. Strong typography, thoughtful spacing, and an uncluttered membership path help the work carry its own weight.
## Design That Lets the Publication Feel Like a Publication
Content-first software deserves content-first design. Ghost themes are structured around the essential elements of an editorial brand: hierarchy, navigation, reading comfort, archives, author pages, subscriptions, and responsive layouts.
Instead of beginning with a blank visual system, publishers can start with a framework that already understands the difference between a homepage and a feed, a feature story and a brief note, an author profile and a conversion page. This saves time, but it also protects the quality of the final site. Good editorial design is not decoration added after the words are written. It determines how readers notice, scan, trust, and return to those words.
A [premium Ghost theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-the-right-ghost-blog-theme/) can make that foundation more distinctive without making it harder to manage. Themex Studio themes are designed for this balance: refined visual systems that give creators room to establish a recognizable point of view while keeping everyday publishing straightforward.
## Flexibility When You Need It, Restraint When You Do Not
Ghost is often described as simple, but simple should not be confused with limited. Developers can use its APIs and custom integrations to create tailored experiences. Editorial teams can connect tools around analytics, automation, or customer workflows. Themes can be customized to suit a more specific brand direction.
The distinction is that Ghost does not force every publisher to begin there. A writer can launch with a well-crafted theme and a clear set of site settings. A growing publication can add complexity when there is a genuine editorial or business reason to do so.
That restraint is valuable. Many sites become harder to maintain because customization is treated as progress. In practice, every additional feature should earn its place by helping readers find, understand, or support the work.
## The Trade-Offs Are Worth Understanding
Ghost is most compelling when publishing is the center of the business. If your site needs advanced product catalogs, appointment booking, extensive forums, or a large ecosystem of specialized add-ons, a broader platform may offer more ready-made options.
It also rewards a certain level of editorial discipline. Because Ghost gives you a focused set of publishing tools, the quality of the result depends on your content strategy, information architecture, and visual choices. The platform will not create a distinct voice or an attractive publication simply by existing.
For the right publisher, though, this is a strength. Ghost creates useful constraints. It encourages you to decide what the publication is for, who it serves, what readers should receive, and how the archive should grow. Those are the decisions that make a site feel credible long after the launch announcement.
## Choosing Ghost With a Clear Purpose
The best reason to choose Ghost is not that it has more features than every alternative. It is that its features work together around a clear publishing model. You write for an audience, build a direct connection through email, organize valuable work over time, and create opportunities for readers to become members.
That model suits [independent writers](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-create-a-writer-website-on-ghost/) who want a home for their ideas, startups building authority through consistent publishing, and editorial brands that need an elegant system without a large technical team. It gives the publication room to look established from the start while remaining manageable behind the scenes.
Start with the reader experience you want to create. If it calls for focused writing, a considered archive, direct audience ownership, and a site that gives your work visual authority, Ghost provides a thoughtful place to build it.
### How to Style a Publication Homepage That Reads Well
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-style-a-publication-homepage-that-reads-well/
Last updated: 2026-08-04T09:31:42.000Z
A publication homepage has a difficult job. It must introduce a point of view, surface the right stories, encourage subscriptions, and still feel calm enough to read. The question of **how to style publication homepage** layouts is not about adding more visual interest. It is about giving your editorial work a clear, confident frame.
For independent publishers, the homepage is often the first issue a new reader encounters. A scattered layout can make even excellent writing feel disposable. A thoughtful one creates trust before the first paragraph begins.
## Begin with an editorial hierarchy
Every strong homepage answers one question immediately: what should a reader look at first?
For most publications, that answer is the lead story. Give it room to establish its importance through scale, image treatment, placement, or all three. A prominent headline paired with a restrained excerpt is usually more effective than a crowded hero full of competing labels, buttons, and metadata.
The lead story does not need to be the newest post. It may be your best entry point, a timely analysis, an editor’s letter, or a long-form piece that expresses the publication’s perspective. Choose it deliberately. The homepage should feel edited, not simply generated by date order.
Then build a clear descent from that lead. Supporting stories should remain easy to scan without competing for the same level of attention. Readers should be able to understand the structure in a few seconds: this is the main story, these are the related or recent pieces, and this is where I can go next.
### Avoid making every story a hero
A common mistake is giving every article card a large image, bold headline, category label, author name, date, and excerpt. Individually, those details are useful. Repeated across a page, they create visual noise.
Reserve the richest treatment for a small number of stories. Let secondary content use simpler cards, smaller images, or text-only rows. Contrast between modules is what makes the page feel composed.
## Let the content model shape the layout
The best homepage structure depends on the kind of publication you run. A weekly culture newsletter has different needs from a startup publication with daily reporting. Start with your publishing rhythm and content depth rather than a visual reference alone.
If you publish fewer, more considered pieces, a spacious grid with generous excerpts can reinforce that editorial pace. If you publish frequently, readers may need clearer pathways through topics, recency, and formats. In that case, a lead story followed by compact latest-post rows can make the site feel current without becoming overwhelming.
Consider the roles your content plays. You may need a place for featured reporting, evergreen guides, columns, podcast episodes, or issue archives. Those are meaningful distinctions, but they do not all need a separate section on the homepage. Group only what helps readers make a choice.
A useful test is to remove a section and ask whether a first-time visitor loses an important path. If not, the section may be better served by a [dedicated tag page](https://themex.studio/categories-tags-browsing-grid/), archive, or navigation item.
## Use typography to create authority
Typography carries much of the personality in an editorial homepage. It is also where restraint matters most.
Choose a [type system](https://themex.studio/custom-fonts/) with distinct jobs. Display type can establish character in feature headlines, while a highly legible text face supports navigation, summaries, and article metadata. The pairing should feel intentional, but it should never make reading harder.
Keep headline sizes consistent within each content level. A lead story headline may be large and expressive; standard article headlines should settle into a repeatable scale. When every heading has a different size or weight, the page loses its rhythm.
Line length deserves the same attention. Wide desktop layouts can tempt you to stretch text across the screen, but [long lines slow reading](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-improve-newsletter-website-readability/) and make summaries feel dense. Constrain text blocks, especially introductions and newsletter copy, even when images extend wider.
### Treat metadata as supporting information
Dates, reading time, author names, and tags help readers decide what to open. They should support the headline, not compete with it.
Use smaller type, muted color, and predictable placement. More importantly, be selective. A publication centered on timely news may benefit from visible dates. A timeless essay publication may not need them on every card. Styling is partly deciding what not to emphasize.
## Build with a limited visual palette
A homepage needs enough variation to guide the eye, but not so much that each section feels like a different site. Start with a small palette: a base background, primary text color, a subdued neutral, and one accent color used with purpose.
The accent should signal an interaction or a meaningful editorial cue. It might appear in links, a selected navigation item, a newsletter field, or a small category marker. If it is used everywhere, it stops directing attention.
Images need a system as well. Decide whether they are full-bleed, softly cropped, monochrome, or presented in a consistent aspect ratio. Editorial photography can vary naturally, but the containers around it should create order. A mixed collection of portrait, landscape, and square images can still look polished when the crop behavior is consistent.
White space is part of that system. Give major sections room to separate from one another. Tight spacing can make a homepage feel energetic, but it also makes readers work harder to understand the page. For a publication, breathing room usually communicates confidence.
## Design modules, not one long feed
A chronological feed is useful, but it rarely makes the strongest homepage on its own. Think in editorial modules: a featured story, a compact set of recent posts, a topic collection, a highlighted series, or a newsletter invitation.
Each module should have a purpose and a distinct visual density. For example, a large feature area can be followed by a three-story grid, then a text-led list of recent notes. This change in cadence helps readers move through the page without feeling trapped in repetition.
Do not add modules simply because a theme offers them. Flexible Ghost themes make it easy to create variety, but every additional block asks for attention and ongoing editorial maintenance. A smaller set of well-maintained sections will feel more premium than a homepage full of stale categories and empty promises.
For many independent publications, three to five homepage modules are enough. The right number depends on how often you publish and how much content you have worth resurfacing.
## Give subscription a natural place in the reading flow
For newsletter-led publications, the homepage should make subscribing easy without turning every screen into a conversion prompt.
Place a clear subscription invitation where it follows demonstrated value. After a reader has seen a strong lead story and a few supporting pieces, they have context for why the publication deserves a place in their inbox. A concise message about what they will receive and how often is more persuasive than generic language about joining a community.
You can also include a quieter signup option in the footer or near the top navigation. The key is consistency. Use the same promise, visual treatment, and call to action across the site so readers are never asked to interpret a new message.
## Check the homepage at smaller sizes
A polished desktop composition can fall apart on a phone if its hierarchy depends too heavily on side-by-side layouts. Review the page on mobile early, not after the desktop version feels finished.
Look for headlines that become too large, cards that stack into a repetitive wall, and navigation that buries important destinations. Images should still support the story when cropped vertically. Subscription forms should be simple enough to complete with one hand.
Mobile also reveals whether your visual hierarchy is real. If the page only works because of wide columns and large images, simplify it. A reader should still recognize the lead story and find the newest work without scrolling through decorative space.
## Keep the homepage alive through editorial decisions
Styling is not a one-time setup task. A homepage becomes stronger when it reflects the current shape of your publication.
Set a simple review rhythm. After publishing a major piece, decide whether it should replace the lead. When a series ends, consider whether it deserves a permanent collection. When your output changes, adjust the modules rather than forcing new work into an old structure.
A thoughtfully crafted Ghost theme from Themex Studio can provide the visual framework, but the editorial judgment remains yours. The strongest homepages feel current because someone has decided what matters now.
Give your best work the room to speak. When the hierarchy is clear, the type is comfortable, and each module has a reason to exist, readers can spend less energy navigating and more time with your ideas.
### Can Non Technical Users Use Ghost? A Clear Answer
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/can-non-technical-users-use-ghost-a-clear-answer/
Last updated: 2026-08-02T09:03:41.000Z
A writer should not need to understand code to publish a considered essay, send a newsletter, or shape a credible editorial brand. So, can non technical users use Ghost? For most independent publishers, the answer is yes. Ghost is built around a focused writing and membership experience, with an editor that stays out of the way and an admin area that makes day-to-day publishing feel clear rather than technical.
The more useful answer is that it depends on what you mean by “use.” Writing, publishing, managing subscribers, creating pages, and adjusting many visual settings are well within reach for non-technical users. Building a highly custom site from scratch, editing theme files, or connecting a complex collection of third-party tools may call for documentation, support, or a developer’s hand.
That distinction matters. Ghost can be wonderfully simple when your publishing system is thoughtfully chosen from the beginning.
## What non-technical users can do in Ghost
Ghost’s core interface is designed for people who work with words. The editor supports rich text, images, embeds, buttons, calls to action, galleries, bookmarks, and reusable content blocks called cards. You can draft quietly, schedule an article for a future date, add a feature image, create a clean URL, and preview the finished piece before it goes live.
For a newsletter publisher, the workflow is equally direct. A post can be sent by email, published to the web, or both. You can choose the audience, set access for public members or paid subscribers, and review basic engagement data without assembling a separate email platform around your publication.
The administrative side is approachable, too. Non-technical users can organize posts with tags, create static pages such as an About page or Start Here page, invite collaborators, manage member accounts, and set up paid subscriptions. Ghost keeps these functions close to the publishing workflow, rather than scattering them across a large dashboard full of unrelated options.
That focus is one reason Ghost suits writers, small editorial teams, consultants, and founders. It does not try to become every kind of website builder. It is a publishing platform first.
## Can non-technical users use Ghost without coding?
Yes, especially when using a managed Ghost service and a well-designed theme. You do not need to write HTML, CSS, or JavaScript to publish consistently or maintain a polished site.
A premium theme gives the platform its visual system: typography, article layouts, navigation, archive pages, [subscription prompts](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-convert-readers-into-members-on-ghost/), colors, and responsive behavior. Instead of designing each page from a blank canvas, you begin with decisions that have already been made with editorial reading in mind.
Most current Ghost themes also use built-in design settings. Depending on the theme, these settings may let you choose a color palette, upload a logo, set navigation, select homepage sections, add social links, configure [typography options](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-improve-ghost-site-typography/), or decide how featured content appears. This is customization with useful boundaries. It keeps a publication coherent while giving it room to feel like your own.
That is often a better fit for a non-technical publisher than an endlessly configurable builder. Too many controls can turn a simple launch into weeks of second-guessing. A restrained theme framework creates a stronger starting point and makes the decisions that remain easier to make.
## Where Ghost becomes more technical
Ghost is accessible, but it is not magic. A few parts of launching and operating a site can require more confidence or outside help.
The first is hosting. With managed Ghost hosting, software updates, security, backups, and server maintenance are generally handled for you. This is the simplest route for most publishers. Self-hosting Ghost offers more control, but it also means handling a server, updates, backups, email configuration, and troubleshooting. It is usually better suited to technical teams or organizations with someone responsible for infrastructure.
The second is domain setup. Connecting a custom domain involves changing DNS records. This is not difficult in principle, but the terminology can feel unfamiliar, and a small typo can delay a launch. Most people only do this once, which makes guided instructions or responsive support especially valuable.
The third is advanced theme customization. If you want to change a theme beyond its available settings - perhaps creating a new content template, altering the newsletter signup flow, or adding a custom interactive feature - you may need to edit theme code. This is not a failure of the platform. It is simply the point where a designed product becomes a custom development project.
Finally, integrations deserve a realistic look. A simple analytics connection or embedded form is manageable for many users. More elaborate workflows involving automations, custom data, gated resources, or several external services can introduce technical dependencies. Before adding tools, ask whether each one genuinely improves the reader experience.
## A practical path to a polished Ghost site
The easiest Ghost experience starts with reducing decisions, not adding more features. Begin by defining the publication’s essential pages and reader journey. For many creators, that means a homepage, an archive, an About page, a contact method, and a clear place to subscribe.
Next, choose a theme that already reflects the character of your work. A serious journal, design portfolio, startup publication, and personal newsletter do not need the same visual language. Look closely at article pages, mobile layouts, tag archives, navigation, and membership prompts. The homepage may win attention in a demo, but the post page is where readers will spend their time.
Then establish a small brand system. Use one logo treatment, a considered palette, and a limited set of images. Write navigation labels in plain language. Set up a few tags that match how readers naturally understand your topics. These modest choices make a young publication feel intentional.
Before announcing the site, publish several real posts. Empty archives and placeholder cards make even a beautiful design feel unfinished. A small body of work lets you test the reading experience, see how different image sizes behave, and make adjustments based on actual content rather than assumptions.
For theme buyers, clear documentation can turn this process from a technical hurdle into a short setup project. Themex Studio themes are designed around this principle: refined editorial layouts, flexible built-in settings, and support for the moments when a publisher needs a clear answer rather than another menu of options.
## The trade-off: simplicity versus total freedom
Ghost is particularly strong for people who want a site centered on publishing, email, and membership. Its simplicity is not an absence of capability. It is a deliberate refusal to overload the experience with features that do not serve the publication.
Still, Ghost may not be the best match for every project. If your site depends on a large store, complex booking logic, a community forum, or a deeply customized web application, you may need additional services or a different platform. If your primary goal is a [distinctive editorial site](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-build-an-editorial-website-that-feels-premium/) with direct reader relationships, Ghost is often a more focused choice.
Non-technical users should also be honest about their appetite for setup. You can launch a Ghost publication without coding, but you will still make editorial and operational decisions: how memberships work, which pages matter, what your navigation says, and how your voice appears across the site. Those are not technical problems. They are the work of building a publication people want to return to.
## When to ask for help
A little help is worthwhile when it removes friction from an otherwise simple system. Ask for support if you are moving from another platform, connecting a domain, importing a large archive, configuring paid memberships, or considering changes outside a theme’s documented options.
The right support should not make you dependent on someone for every update. It should help you understand the next step, protect the integrity of your design, and leave you confident enough to publish the next piece on your own.
Ghost works best when it gives the publisher more attention for the work that matters: a sharper idea, a better headline, a more generous reading experience, and a consistent reason for readers to subscribe. Start with a thoughtful theme and a clear structure, then let the site become quieter as your writing becomes more visible.
### Ghost Membership Design Guide for Publishers
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-membership-design-guide-for-publishers/
Last updated: 2026-07-31T09:35:31.000Z
A membership site can look polished and still leave readers unsure what they are joining. The strongest Ghost membership design guide starts there: not with a pricing table, but with the promise behind it. A reader should understand the value of becoming a member before they encounter a plan, a payment field, or a call to action.
For independent publishers, membership design is editorial design. It shapes how a reader moves from a useful public article to a deeper relationship with your publication. Every decision - from the language on a signup button to the placement of premium stories - should make that next step feel clear, worthwhile, and consistent with the work you publish.
## Start with a membership promise
A membership program needs a simple, specific reason to exist. “Support independent writing” can be meaningful, but it is rarely enough on its own. Readers also need to know what their support makes possible and what changes for them when they join.
Your promise might center on deeper reporting, a thoughtful weekly briefing, access to a niche community, early essays, member-only archives, or fewer ads. The right answer depends on the publication. A solo writer with a distinct perspective may succeed with a closer, more personal model. A small editorial team may need to emphasize exclusive coverage and a dependable publishing rhythm.
Keep the promise visible across your site. Your homepage, membership page, welcome email, and locked-content message should all reinforce the same idea in slightly different contexts. When each surface describes membership differently, readers have to work too hard to understand the offer.
Clarity is more persuasive than a long list of benefits. If you offer several benefits, organize them around one primary outcome. For example, a publication about product strategy may frame its membership around better decision-making, then support that promise with member research, practical frameworks, and private briefings.
## Build a clear path from reader to member
Most readers will not land on your pricing page first. They arrive through an article, a newsletter issue, a search result, or a shared link. The design task is to make membership present without turning every page into a sales page.
Start with a restrained header action. “Subscribe” works when your publication is primarily newsletter-led. “Become a member” is stronger when paid support, community, or access is central to the model. Use one consistent label rather than switching between Subscribe, Join, Support, and Sign Up throughout the site.
Within articles, place [membership prompts](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-convert-readers-into-members-on-ghost/) where intent is highest. This may be after the introduction, at the end of a useful public piece, or directly after a preview of premium content. A prompt should relate to the reader’s current experience. If someone has just finished a detailed essay, invite them to receive the next one. If they reach a locked section, explain what membership provides before asking them to create an account.
Avoid treating every reader the same. A first-time visitor needs an invitation to understand your work. A returning free subscriber may be ready for a paid offer. A logged-in paid member should see fewer promotional prompts and more useful paths to their account, archive, or latest member post. Ghost makes these audience states practical to manage, but the visual logic must be designed into the theme.
### Design the signup page as an editorial page
A membership page should feel like part of the publication, not a detached checkout screen. Use the same typography, spacing, image treatment, and editorial tone that readers see elsewhere. Consistency builds trust, especially when you are asking for payment information.
Lead with a concise statement of value, followed by a short explanation of what members receive. Then present your plans. Resist adding decorative blocks, repeated buttons, or excessive comparison tables unless your tiers are genuinely complex.
The most effective plan cards are easy to scan. Show the plan name, price, billing period, primary benefit, and a direct action. If annual billing offers a meaningful saving, state it plainly. If your program is new, simplicity is usually better than a wide range of tiers. One free option and one paid option can be more compelling than three nearly identical paid plans.
## Make pricing feel considered, not complicated
Pricing is a positioning decision as much as a revenue decision. A low price can reduce hesitation, but it can also suggest that the work is disposable. A higher price can support a more sustainable editorial operation, but only if the publication communicates a value readers recognize.
There is no universal starting point. A frequent, highly specialized newsletter may justify a different price from a monthly literary journal. Consider your publishing cadence, subject depth, audience expectations, and the time required to create member work. Then choose a price you can stand behind consistently.
Monthly and annual plans serve different reader needs. Monthly access lowers the commitment barrier. Annual membership improves cash flow and gives committed readers a clear way to support the publication over time. Offering both is often sensible, provided the annual option is presented as a straightforward choice rather than an aggressive upsell.
If you offer more than one paid tier, make the difference meaningful. A higher tier should offer a distinct relationship to the work, such as office hours, a print edition, research calls, or patron recognition. Do not create a premium plan simply to fill space on the pricing page. Readers can spot a decorative tier immediately.
## Use access design to create momentum
Paid content works best when readers can see its value before they are excluded from it. A completely hidden archive may protect every word, but it gives prospective members little reason to care. A carefully designed preview creates context and encourages the next action.
For premium posts, consider showing the headline, introduction, and a measured portion of the article before the access gate. This approach is especially effective for analysis, essays, and reported features where the opening establishes the stakes. The gate should appear at a natural transition, not in the middle of a sentence or before the reader has learned what the piece offers.
The locked-content message deserves editorial attention. Generic language such as “This post is for [subscribers only](https://themex.studio/improve-the-paid-post-subscription-box/)” is functional, but it misses an opportunity. Explain what the member can access and keep the action concise. For example: “Continue reading with membership for full weekly analysis and the complete archive.”
Free content remains essential. It is how new readers discover your voice, assess your standards, and decide whether your publication belongs in their inbox. The balance between free and paid work depends on your model, but free posts should never feel like thin advertisements for the paid archive. Publish useful public work with real conviction.
## Treat the member experience as part of the product
Conversion matters, but retention is where membership design earns its value. After someone joins, the site should acknowledge the decision and make the next step obvious. A welcome page can point members to their account, the archive, a flagship series, or the next edition they should read.
The member account area should be easy to find and visually calm. Readers use it to update billing details, change plans, and manage their membership. These tasks are not glamorous, but friction here can damage trust faster than a beautiful homepage can build it.
Your emails should also reflect the membership relationship. A free subscriber may receive public posts and occasional invitations to upgrade. Paid members should receive the work they joined for, along with occasional reminders of benefits they may have missed. Do not make every email a conversion campaign. A membership is sustained by editorial value, not constant urgency.
Themex Studio themes are designed with this kind of hierarchy in mind: clear content systems, refined typography, and flexible spaces for the paths readers use most. The goal is not to make membership look louder. It is to make the value of your publication easier to understand.
## Test the places where uncertainty appears
Before launching, walk through your site as three different people: a new visitor, a free member, and a paid member. Read an article, find the membership page, select a plan, visit the account area, and open a premium post. Look for moments where the interface assumes knowledge the reader does not have.
Pay close attention to language. Does the site explain whether a newsletter is included? Is it obvious what happens after checkout? Can a reader tell which posts are available to them? Are annual and monthly prices unambiguous? Small uncertainties can create a disproportionate amount of hesitation.
Then review the visual system. Calls to action should be recognizable without overwhelming the editorial layout. Paywalled posts should feel intentionally designed, not broken. On mobile, the signup flow should remain comfortable to read and easy to complete. Many memberships begin on a phone after a reader encounters a shared article, so mobile is not a secondary experience.
A thoughtful membership design does not pressure readers into joining. It gives them a well-made reason to stay. When the offer is clear, the access points are measured, and the member experience respects their attention, subscribing feels less like a transaction and more like a natural continuation of reading.
### Best Fonts for Editorial Websites That Feel Credible
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/best-fonts-for-editorial-websites-that-feel-credible/
Last updated: 2026-07-29T09:31:10.000Z
A reader may never identify the typeface on your publication, but they will feel its effect before they read a single sentence. The best fonts for editorial websites create an immediate sense of judgment: considered, legible, current, and worth spending time with. The wrong choice can make excellent writing feel generic, cramped, or strangely distant.
For independent publishers, typography is not a finishing detail. It is the visual system that carries every essay, issue, byline, newsletter archive, and call to action. A strong editorial font does more than look good in a homepage mockup. It remains calm through a 3,000-word feature, holds its shape on a small screen, and gives a publication a recognizable point of view.
## What Makes a Font Editorial?
Editorial typography has a different job than product UI typography or campaign lettering. It must support sustained reading while establishing a hierarchy readers can understand at a glance. Headlines need presence. Decks need contrast. Body copy needs to disappear just enough that the writing can take over.
That balance usually comes from a typeface with a clear voice and disciplined construction. A serif with measured contrast can bring authority and warmth to long-form work. A restrained sans serif can make a publication feel contemporary and direct. Neither category is automatically better. The better choice is the one that reflects the character of the writing and performs reliably across the entire publishing system.
A font also has to work beyond the article page. Check how it handles navigation, author names, dates, tags, pull quotes, captions, subscription forms, and headlines that wrap at awkward lengths. Editorial websites rarely fail because one headline looked poor. They fail when small typographic decisions do not add up to a coherent reading experience.
## The Best Fonts for Editorial Websites by Style
There is no universal best font, but a small number of families repeatedly work well because they offer strong screen rendering, useful weights, and enough personality to avoid the generic-template look.
### Literary and considered: Tiempos Text, Freight Text, and Lora
For essays, criticism, culture, and founder-led writing, a text serif often gives prose the gravity it deserves. Tiempos Text is compact, elegant, and especially effective when a site needs to fit generous amounts of copy without feeling dense. Its proportions suit publications that want a quietly established tone rather than a nostalgic one.
Freight Text brings more personality. Its softer details and editorial heritage can make a magazine or journal feel tactile and human, particularly when paired with a clean sans serif for interface elements. It asks for restraint elsewhere in the design. Let the typeface do the expressive work rather than competing with decorative color or oversized ornaments.
Lora is a practical option when a project needs an accessible, open-source serif with a more contemporary texture. It is less distinctive than a carefully licensed family, but it can still produce a refined result with thoughtful sizing, line height, and spacing. For a lean publication, those fundamentals often matter more than chasing a rare typeface.
### Crisp and modern: Inter, Neue Haas Grotesk, and Source Sans 3
A sans serif editorial site can feel precise, accessible, and confidently modern. Inter is widely used for good reason: it is highly legible on screens, has a broad range of weights, and handles UI elements as well as body copy. Its trade-off is familiarity. If every part of a site uses Inter at default settings, the result can lose its editorial identity.
Neue Haas Grotesk has more cultural weight and a more recognizable rhythm. It works beautifully for bold headlines, concise features, and design-conscious publications that want a classic modernist foundation. Use it with care at small body sizes, where a purpose-built text face may be more comfortable for long reading sessions.
Source Sans 3 is an understated alternative for sites where clarity is the priority. It is open, practical, and easy to organize into a clean hierarchy. It may not create a dramatic first impression, but that can be a strength for research-driven publications, newsletters, or startup journals where the content needs to feel direct and trustworthy.
### Distinctive without becoming theatrical: Canela, Noe Display, and DM Serif Display
Display fonts should earn their place. Used only for major headlines, they can give an editorial brand a memorable silhouette. Used for every heading, label, and paragraph, they quickly become tiring.
Canela sits between serif and sans serif, with a graceful shape that feels fashion-forward without relying on vintage cues. It is well suited to art, design, lifestyle, and high-end business publications. Noe Display offers more contrast and drama, making it a strong choice for magazine-style feature pages where a headline needs to set a confident mood.
DM Serif Display provides a more accessible route to this expressive editorial look. It has character, especially at large sizes, but it needs a quieter supporting sans serif and generous spacing. The point is contrast, not constant visual noise.
## Build a Pairing, Not a Collection
Most editorial sites need only two type families: one for display moments and one for reading or interface text. A third can be justified for highly structured data, but more than that usually introduces inconsistency rather than sophistication.
A reliable pairing begins with contrast. Combine a high-character display serif with a neutral sans serif, or use a sturdy text serif with a restrained grotesk. For example, Canela can bring distinction to headlines while Inter keeps navigation and body support clean. Freight Text paired with Source Sans 3 creates a warmer, more literary system.
Avoid pairing faces that are too similar in personality. Two geometric sans serifs may feel redundant. Two high-contrast serifs may compete. The reader should understand the hierarchy intuitively: this is the story, this is supporting context, this is an action to take.
Weight matters as much as family choice. A publication does not need six weights to feel polished. Regular, medium, and bold will often cover body copy, labels, and emphasis. When a type system relies on too many weights, it can feel more like a software dashboard than an editorial product.
## Set Type for Reading, Not for Screenshots
The most attractive typeface can still underperform when it is set too small, too tight, or too wide. Start with the reading measure. On desktop, article body text generally benefits from a narrower column that keeps lines from becoming exhausting. On mobile, give the text enough size and line height to remain comfortable without excessive scrolling.
For body copy, the relationship between font size and line height deserves more attention than visual trends. A compact serif may need more leading than an open sans serif. A larger x-height can make a face appear bigger than its stated size. Test with real paragraphs, not placeholder text, and include links, italics, lists, captions, and long words.
Headlines need their own testing. Review short titles, two-line titles, and the occasional long headline that wraps across four lines. A font that looks exceptional in a six-word title may become awkward when the editorial calendar produces something less tidy.
Color contrast is part of typography, too. Soft gray body text can look refined in a design file but become difficult to read in daylight or on lower-quality displays. Editorial restraint should never mean asking readers to work harder.
## Questions to Ask Before Committing
Before making typography a permanent part of your Ghost publication, test the candidate font in the places readers actually visit. Does it retain its character in the article archive? Are italic styles available for quotes, book titles, and emphasis? Does the family include the punctuation, currencies, language support, and numerals your work requires?
Licensing also deserves a practical review. Some premium fonts charge separately for web use or limit page views. Open-source options can simplify a growing publication's operations, while commercial families may be worth the investment when typography is central to the brand. There is no status prize for choosing the most expensive font. The right choice is the one you can use confidently and consistently.
A thoughtfully crafted [Ghost theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-minimal-ghost-theme/) can make this work easier by giving type a clear hierarchy from the beginning. Themex Studio themes are designed around that principle: the interface stays quiet so editorial choices, including typography, have room to matter.
The font you choose should make readers feel that the publication knows what it is. Start with the writing, test the type in real layouts, and choose the system that makes every return visit feel a little more considered.
### 12 Top Minimalist Website Design Examples
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/12-top-minimalist-website-design-examples/
Last updated: 2026-07-27T10:30:32.000Z
A minimal website has nowhere to hide. When the page is quiet, every decision becomes visible: the typeface, the crop of an image, the rhythm between paragraphs, and the exact moment a reader is asked to act. That is why the top minimalist website design examples are useful references for publishers and creators. They show that less is not a style shortcut. It is a system of careful priorities.
For an editorial website, minimalism should make reading feel easier, not make the brand feel absent. The strongest examples use restraint to create confidence. They remove visual competition so the work, the ideas, and the next useful action can hold attention.
## What the best minimalist sites get right
Minimalism is often confused with empty space, white backgrounds, and a small navigation menu. Those can be part of the result, but they are not the method. A thoughtfully crafted minimal site begins by deciding what matters most on each page.
For a writer, that may be the latest essay and a clear email signup. For a studio, it may be selected work and a concise explanation of its approach. For a publication, it may be an editorial hierarchy that helps readers move from a featured story to a topic they trust. The rest of the interface should support that path rather than compete with it.
The examples below are worth studying not as templates to copy, but as decisions to interpret for your own publication.
## 12 top minimalist website design examples to study
### 1\. Aesop
Aesop uses a restrained palette, generous margins, and precise product photography to make a commercial catalog feel considered rather than crowded. Its pages are not minimal because they contain little information. They are minimal because information arrives in a deliberate order.
For publishers, the lesson is sequencing. A long-form homepage can still feel calm when each section has a distinct role: lead story, selected pieces, a newsletter invitation, then an archive path. Avoid placing every category, social feed, and promotional message above the fold.
### 2\. Dieter Rams
The Dieter Rams site reflects the clarity associated with his work. It relies on a straightforward structure, controlled visual contrast, and content that does not need decorative explanation to feel authoritative. The design lets the archive do the talking.
This is a strong model for a portfolio, personal publication, or founder-led brand. If the work has depth, present it with enough structure for readers to explore it. Minimalism works best when it comes from editorial confidence, not from withholding useful context.
### 3\. Kinfolk
Kinfolk has long demonstrated how print-minded art direction can translate to the web. Large imagery, restrained typography, and a slow, spacious page rhythm give its content a measured editorial presence. The visual system feels polished without becoming precious.
The trade-off is worth noticing. Image-led minimalism requires excellent assets and consistent cropping. If your publication depends primarily on essays, analysis, or reporting, a typography-led approach may serve readers better than trying to recreate a magazine spread on every page.
### 4\. The Gentlewoman
The Gentlewoman balances strong editorial character with a clean framework. Its expressive typography and confident image choices prove that minimal design does not have to be neutral. A site can be spare while still feeling unmistakably itself.
That distinction matters for independent publishers. Start with a simple layout, then put personality into one or two controlled elements: a distinctive display face, a recurring color, an image treatment, or a sharper editorial voice. When every element tries to be memorable, none of them are.
### 5\. Cereal
Cereal uses quiet imagery and soft visual pacing to create a sense of place. The layout gives articles room to breathe, while the navigation remains present without interrupting the experience. It is a useful reference for travel, culture, food, and lifestyle publications that need atmosphere without visual clutter.
The key principle is consistency. Minimal layouts magnify inconsistency quickly. A mixture of photo styles, headline lengths, and spacing rules can make even a simple theme feel disorderly. Establish clear editorial standards before adding more visual freedom.
### 6\. Nowness
Nowness shows a more cinematic version of minimalism. Its interface leaves room for motion and image-led storytelling, using a dark, focused presentation that keeps the content central. It proves that minimalism is not limited to white pages or muted color.
For creators using video, photography, or audio, this is a reminder to design around the medium. Let media lead where it has real narrative value. But keep supporting text, playback controls, and navigation easy to find. A dramatic presentation should never make basic use harder.
### 7\. Frank Ocean's Blonded
Blonded is a useful example of purposeful incompleteness. Its sparse presentation and irregular updates create an atmosphere of scarcity and cultural weight. The site does not try to explain everything, which suits a project built around selective releases.
Most publishers should not imitate its limited utility. Readers who visit a newsletter or journal need clear access to recent writing, archives, and subscription options. Still, the example offers a valuable lesson: a brand does not need constant visual noise to feel current. Selectivity can create its own signal.
### 8\. Godly
Godly curates design inspiration through a clean, grid-based interface that makes browsing feel efficient. The site gives individual examples enough room while preserving the sense of a larger collection. It is minimal in the way a well-organized library is minimal: clear, useful, and easy to scan.
This approach is especially relevant for resource sites, directories, and publication archives. A grid can reduce cognitive load when cards share predictable rules for image ratio, title length, metadata, and hover behavior. The system matters more than visual novelty.
### 9\. Studio Freight
Studio Freight pairs a stripped-back interface with bold creative work. The site allows typography and imagery to shift with the projects, but the underlying structure remains disciplined. That combination keeps an experimental portfolio from becoming difficult to navigate.
For a creative business, the lesson is to separate the container from the content. Keep global navigation, spacing, and reading behavior stable. Let individual stories or projects introduce a more expressive visual treatment. Readers should recognize the brand without having to relearn the site on each visit.
### 10\. Other Means
Other Means uses editorial typography and a restrained framework to give its work a tactile, independent feel. The site demonstrates how a strong typographic voice can carry a design even when the interface stays remarkably simple.
Writers and small editorial teams can take a practical cue here. Invest time in type scale, line length, paragraph spacing, and mobile reading comfort before adding decorative components. A well-set article page will do more for perceived quality than a collection of animated flourishes.
### 11\. Apple
Apple is not minimal in the sense of having little content. Its product pages can be dense, long, and highly produced. Yet the experience feels controlled because each screen has one dominant message, clear visual hierarchy, and carefully managed transitions.
That is a helpful model for launch pages and paid products. You can include detail, testimonials, specifications, and answers to objections without making the page feel busy. The work is in grouping related information and giving each section a single job.
### 12\. Monocle
Monocle brings a traditional publishing sensibility to a digital environment. Its pages balance stories, programs, commerce, and membership without abandoning a recognizable editorial order. The lesson is that minimalism does not mean reducing a publication to one content type.
A growing media brand may need articles, podcasts, newsletters, events, and products. The answer is not necessarily more navigation. It is a stronger hierarchy: define the primary editorial path, then make secondary offerings available at the right moment. Clear architecture is often more valuable than a stripped-down feature set.
## How to translate these examples into your own Ghost site
Before [selecting a theme](https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-theme-buying-guide-for-publishers/) or changing a homepage, identify the one thing a first-time visitor should understand within five seconds. It might be that you publish thoughtful essays on technology, that you write a weekly design newsletter, or that your studio helps early-stage teams clarify their brand. That sentence should inform the opening hierarchy.
Next, design for the reading experience first. A considered Ghost theme should give you a reliable article template, useful archive pages, readable mobile typography, and enough flexibility to make the publication feel like yours. Themex Studio approaches this balance through editorial systems that keep setup approachable while leaving room for a distinct point of view.
Finally, resist the urge to add elements just because they are available. A featured post module, a tag menu, a logo carousel, and an Instagram strip may all be individually reasonable. Together, they can blur the page's purpose. Keep what helps a reader choose, understand, subscribe, or return.
The best minimal website is not the one with the fewest components. It is the one where every component earns its place. Build that level of clarity into the first page, then carry it through every article your readers choose to spend time with.
### Do Ghost Themes Affect SEO? What Matters Most
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/do-ghost-themes-affect-seo-what-matters-most/
Last updated: 2026-07-25T08:53:33.000Z
A Ghost theme will not make weak writing rank, but it can quietly make strong writing harder to find. So, do Ghost themes affect SEO? Yes - though usually through the quality of the publishing experience they create, rather than through a single secret ranking feature.
For independent publishers, the useful question is not whether a theme has an “SEO design.” It is whether the theme presents your work in a way that search engines can understand, readers can use, and your team can maintain as the publication grows.
## Do Ghost Themes Affect SEO Directly?
Ghost handles many essential technical foundations at the platform level. It creates clean URLs, supports canonical tags, generates XML sitemaps, provides metadata fields, and gives publishers a focused writing environment. Those capabilities are not a premium-theme add-on.
A theme sits on top of that foundation. It determines the markup around your content, the way pages load, how easily visitors move from one article to the next, and whether important elements are visible and coherent across devices. Search engines evaluate pages, not theme marketing claims. But they do see the output your theme produces.
That distinction matters. Changing from one well-built Ghost theme to another will not suddenly transform your rankings. Moving from a cluttered, outdated, or poorly structured theme to a thoughtfully crafted one can remove friction that was holding your content back.
## Where a Ghost Theme Can Influence Search Performance
### Page speed and visual stability
A theme’s code, image handling, font choices, scripts, and layout decisions all affect how quickly a page becomes usable. A publication loaded with oversized images, several third-party widgets, autoplay media, and unnecessary animation may look lively in a demo while feeling slow to a reader on a mobile connection.
Speed is not only a technical score. It shapes behavior. When a page takes too long to settle, visitors are less likely to read, subscribe, or continue to another story. A minimal theme with sensible image sizes and a restrained asset footprint gives your editorial work room to arrive quickly.
There is a trade-off here. A refined visual system may use [custom typography](https://themex.studio/native-custom-fonts-support/), a featured media treatment, or subtle motion. None of those choices are inherently bad for SEO. The goal is intentionality: use the details that strengthen the reading experience, and avoid effects that compete with it.
### Semantic structure and headings
Search engines rely on page structure to interpret content. A strong Ghost theme should use meaningful HTML landmarks and preserve a clear hierarchy: one primary page title, logical section headings inside the article, and supporting navigation that does not overwhelm the main content.
The theme cannot fix an article with disorganized headings. Authors still need to use headings to organize ideas, not to enlarge random lines of text. Yet the theme needs to render those headings distinctly and consistently, without turning every decorative label or card title into a competing top-level heading.
This is especially relevant for magazine-style homepages. A visual layout can feature many stories without making the underlying page structure confusing. Clean editorial design and clear semantics should reinforce one another.
### Internal navigation and content discovery
Good SEO is rarely about a single page. It is about helping search engines and readers understand the relationships across your site. Theme features such as related-post sections, author archives, tag pages, pagination, and clear navigation can make more of your catalog discoverable.
For a writer with a focused body of work, this may be as simple as a readable tag archive and a thoughtful “next article” module. For a growing publication, it may mean a [homepage that surfaces categories](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-build-an-editorial-site-in-ghost/), contributors, and recent reporting without becoming a wall of links.
The strongest approach is editorial, not mechanical. Link related stories because they genuinely extend the reader’s understanding. A useful internal path can increase engagement while giving your best evergreen work more visibility over time.
### Mobile reading experience
Most publishers should assume that a significant share of readers will encounter their work on a phone first. A theme that looks polished only on a wide desktop screen has a real usability problem.
On mobile, pay attention to type size, line length, contrast, tap targets, menus, image crops, and newsletter forms. A reader should be able to start an article, understand where they are, and subscribe without pinching, hunting, or waiting for interface elements to move.
A compact layout is not automatically better. Dense text and tiny controls can make a minimal theme feel less considered, not more. Editorial simplicity comes from removing distractions while protecting comfort and legibility.
### Metadata, sharing, and structured content
Ghost provides tools for setting page titles, descriptions, social sharing images, and other metadata. Your theme needs to support those tools correctly and avoid overriding them with incomplete or hard-coded values.
Well-implemented structured data can also help search engines interpret the page as an article, author page, or other relevant content type. This is an area where implementation details matter. Structured data should reflect what is actually on the page, not be added as decorative technical markup.
Social sharing is not a direct ranking shortcut, but it matters for distribution. A clear article title, compelling description, and intentional preview image make it easier for readers to share your work. More qualified visits can lead to the citations, links, subscriptions, and return readership that build a durable publication.
## What a Theme Cannot Do for SEO
No Ghost theme can replace a useful editorial strategy. Search visibility still depends on whether you publish original, specific work that answers a real reader need. It depends on topical depth, clear positioning, accurate information, sensible titles, and a consistent publishing rhythm.
Nor can a theme solve technical issues beyond its scope. Incorrect site settings, blocked pages, duplicate content introduced by another tool, poor hosting configuration, or a domain migration handled without redirects require separate attention.
Be skeptical of any theme described as “guaranteed to rank.” Search rankings change for many reasons, and no responsible designer can promise a result that depends on content quality, competition, search intent, authority, and site-wide technical health.
## How to Evaluate a Ghost Theme Before You Commit
Start with the demo, but read it like a publisher rather than a shopper. Open an article on a phone. Check whether the body text remains comfortable after several paragraphs. Notice how captions, pull quotes, image galleries, code blocks, [membership prompts](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-convert-readers-into-members-on-ghost/), and long titles behave. These are the details that define a real publishing workflow.
Then inspect the theme’s scope. A good premium theme should make the common parts of publishing easy without forcing every site into the same visual identity. Look for flexible navigation, sensible post templates, clear archive pages, support for Ghost’s built-in features, and documentation that explains what can be customized.
It is also wise to test the live demo with browser developer tools or a performance testing service. Treat the results as a starting point, not a verdict. A demo may contain different images, integrations, and content volume than your eventual site. What matters is whether the theme begins with disciplined code and leaves room for you to make thoughtful choices.
Finally, consider maintenance. A theme is part of your publishing system, not a one-time visual purchase. Updates, compatibility with current Ghost features, clear setup guidance, and responsive support reduce the risk of making SEO-affecting changes by accident. At Themex Studio, that balance between restrained design and practical publishing flexibility is central to how themes are built.
## A Better Standard Than “SEO-Friendly”
The phrase “SEO-friendly” is often too vague to help. A better standard is a theme that is readable, fast enough, structurally clear, mobile-considered, and easy to maintain. Those qualities serve search engines because they serve the people search engines are trying to send somewhere useful.
Choose the theme that makes you confident to publish your next ten articles, not just impressed by your homepage on launch day. Over time, that consistency of presentation and care for the reader is far more valuable than any SEO badge.
### Ghost vs Webflow Blog for Serious Publishers
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-vs-webflow-blog-for-serious-publishers/
Last updated: 2026-07-23T09:16:29.000Z
A blog can look polished on launch day and still become difficult to run six months later. That is the real question behind a ghost vs webflow blog decision: not which platform has the more impressive feature list, but which one supports the way you plan to publish, grow an audience, and present your work.
Ghost and Webflow can both produce excellent websites. They approach the job from opposite directions. Ghost is a publishing platform with a focused editorial workflow at its center. Webflow is a visual website builder that can also support a CMS-powered blog. The better choice depends on whether your publication is the core product or one part of a broader marketing site.
## Ghost vs Webflow Blog: The Fundamental Difference
Ghost is built around the habits of publishers. Its admin experience centers on writing, editing, scheduling, organizing posts, managing authors, sending newsletters, and growing memberships. The writing surface is calm and intentionally limited, which helps keep attention on the work rather than the mechanics of page building.
Webflow begins with visual design. It gives designers considerable control over layouts, interactions, responsive behavior, landing pages, and custom content structures. Its CMS is capable, but blogging lives inside a wider site-building system. For a startup with a complex product site and a secondary resource center, that distinction can be a strength. For a writer or editorial team publishing every week, it can introduce unnecessary friction.
Neither approach is universally better. The decision becomes clearer when you ask a simple question: Is the blog supporting the business, or is publishing the business?
## Choose Ghost When Publishing Is the Main Event
Ghost fits writers, independent media brands, newsletter operators, and founder-led publications that want their site to feel like a considered editorial product. It offers the essentials that matter once publishing becomes a regular practice: a clean editor, tags, authors, scheduling, native newsletters, member accounts, paid subscriptions, and clear audience management.
That native membership layer is especially meaningful. With Ghost, a reader can discover an article, subscribe to a newsletter, create an account, and [become a paid member](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-convert-readers-into-members-on-ghost/) within one connected system. There is less need to assemble separate tools for publishing, email, and access management. For a small team, fewer moving parts usually means fewer compromises and less maintenance.
Ghost also has a strong point of view about content. Posts, pages, tags, authors, and collections are treated as publishing building blocks rather than generic database items. That creates sensible defaults for archives, author pages, reading progress, related content, and newsletter calls to action. A thoughtfully crafted [Ghost theme](https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-theme-buying-guide-for-publishers/) can turn those defaults into a distinctive publication without requiring a custom development project.
This does not mean every Ghost site must look like a traditional magazine. It works equally well for a personal writing practice, a selective weekly newsletter, a studio journal, or a startup publication with a clear editorial voice. The common thread is that written content deserves more than a small CMS section attached to a marketing website.
## Choose Webflow When the Website Comes First
Webflow is often the stronger option when your team needs highly custom marketing pages and the blog is one component of a broader digital experience. Its visual designer allows for detailed control that is difficult to match without custom theme work. If your brand relies on elaborate campaign pages, unusual grid systems, animated interactions, or a complex collection of service and product pages, Webflow gives a design-led team room to build.
The CMS can support categories, authors, resource libraries, case studies, and blog posts. For teams that publish occasionally and already use Webflow for their core site, keeping everything in one platform may be the most practical decision. A separate publishing stack is not automatically an improvement.
There are trade-offs. A Webflow blog often requires more deliberate setup before it behaves like an editorial publication. Content models, templates, archives, navigation patterns, and email capture flows need to be planned in the Designer. That flexibility is valuable when you need it. It can also make routine changes feel more dependent on the person who originally built the site.
Webflow does not include Ghost's native newsletter and paid membership focus. You can connect external tools or create custom workflows, but each addition brings another account, another bill, and another place where the reader experience can break or become inconsistent.
## Design Control Is Not the Same as Editorial Design
Webflow is frequently described as the more flexible design platform, and at the page level, that is often true. It lets a skilled designer shape nearly every visual detail. But design control has a cost when every new section, template adjustment, or responsive decision needs careful handling.
Ghost takes a more structured route. The theme establishes a design system, and the editor works within it. That constraint is not a limitation for every publisher. It can be the reason a site stays coherent as dozens or hundreds of posts accumulate. Typography remains consistent, article templates remain readable, and the publication retains a recognizable rhythm even when several people contribute.
For editorial brands, the most useful design system is usually not the one with the most controls. It is the one that makes good decisions repeatable. A refined Ghost theme gives writers and operators enough flexibility for rich posts and custom pages while protecting the visual foundation of the publication.
At Themex Studio, that balance is central to the work: minimal systems that give the content presence without turning each update into a design task.
## Newsletter, Membership, and Audience Ownership
For many modern publishers, the blog is no longer simply a destination for search traffic. It is the archive behind a newsletter and the public face of a direct reader relationship. Here, Ghost has a more complete built-in model.
Ghost supports email newsletters, member segmentation, paid tiers, and access control as part of the platform. You can publish a post publicly, send it to members, reserve part of it for paid subscribers, or create member-only archives. This creates a clear path from reader to subscriber without forcing your audience through several disconnected systems.
Webflow can capture leads effectively, and it can integrate with email and membership services. For a conventional marketing funnel, that may be entirely sufficient. But if subscriptions are central to your publishing strategy, consider the operational weight of that stack. The issue is not whether an integration exists. It is whether the finished workflow feels simple for your team and your readers.
## SEO and Performance: The Practical View
Both platforms can support strong technical SEO when configured well. Clean URLs, metadata, responsive layouts, structured content, image optimization, and fast page delivery matter more than the logo in your dashboard.
Ghost is naturally efficient for [content-led SEO](https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-seo-checklist-for-better-rankings/) because it provides conventional post structures, XML sitemaps, canonical tags, social metadata, and a lean publishing architecture. Its themes are purpose-built for article pages and archives, where readability and speed affect both search performance and reader retention.
Webflow also gives users meaningful SEO controls and can produce fast sites. Its advantage is the ability to create highly tailored landing pages around campaigns or product categories. Its risk is that design freedom can lead to heavier pages, inconsistent content templates, or unnecessary animation. A well-built Webflow site can perform beautifully. It simply benefits from disciplined design and development practices.
For either platform, do not treat SEO as a settings panel. The durable advantage comes from publishing useful work in a format that is easy to scan, pleasurable to read, and organized clearly enough for readers to find the next relevant piece.
## Cost and Maintenance Should Shape the Decision
The subscription price is only part of the cost. Consider the time required to create pages, train contributors, maintain integrations, update design elements, and solve problems when a tool changes.
Ghost may require a hosting decision if you choose a self-hosted route, though managed hosting simplifies that responsibility. A premium theme is also an upfront investment, but it can replace a lengthy cycle of custom design and implementation. For a publication that earns through memberships, sponsorships, consulting, or product sales, that clarity can be worthwhile.
Webflow pricing can make sense when it replaces several design and development tools, particularly for a company site with many tailored pages. Yet extra newsletter, membership, automation, and analytics services may raise the total over time. Map the full stack before comparing plans.
## Make the Choice Based on Your Next Year of Publishing
Choose Ghost if you want an editorial home that makes writing, newsletters, memberships, and reader relationships feel native. Choose Webflow if you need broad visual freedom for a brand or product site where the blog supports a larger web presence.
The right platform should make your next fifty posts easier to publish than your first one. Build around the work you intend to keep doing, then let the design system make that work feel considered every time it reaches a reader.
### How to Improve Newsletter Website Readability
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-improve-newsletter-website-readability/
Last updated: 2026-07-21T09:21:05.000Z
A newsletter can earn an open in someone’s inbox and still lose them on its website. The moment a reader taps through to an archive, a featured essay, or a subscription page, the reading experience changes. To improve newsletter website readability, treat the site as an extension of your editorial product, not a storage room for past issues.
For independent publishers, this is a practical design question with a commercial effect. Clear, comfortable reading builds trust in your perspective and gives visitors a reason to stay, explore, and subscribe. Clutter, cramped type, and weak hierarchy ask readers to work harder than the writing should require.
## How to improve newsletter website readability
Readability is not one setting in a theme panel. It is the combined effect of typography, spacing, contrast, page structure, and the decisions you make while publishing. A thoughtful system makes an article feel composed even when readers arrive from a search result, social post, or forwarded email with no context.
The goal is not to make every page visually quiet. A strong editorial site can still have personality, color, and distinctive art direction. The question is whether those choices support the reader’s path through the page or interrupt it.
### Start with a clear reading hierarchy
A reader should understand what a page is about before beginning the first paragraph. On a post page, that usually means a visible distinction between the publication name, section or tag, headline, deck, byline, date, and article body. These elements do not need equal weight. In fact, they should not have it.
The headline deserves the strongest visual presence. Supporting information should remain available without competing with it, while the body copy becomes the calm, predictable center of the page. When every detail is bold, oversized, or styled as a feature, nothing tells the eye where to begin.
This hierarchy matters just as much on your homepage and newsletter archive. Give recent issues a consistent card structure with a recognizable title, date, short description, and optional image. Avoid mixing too many card treatments on one page. Consistency helps regular readers scan quickly and helps new visitors understand that your publication has an active, organized point of view.
## Choose typography for sustained reading
A typeface can be expressive and still be easy to read, but the article text has a more demanding job than a wordmark or a headline. It needs to remain comfortable several minutes into a long essay, on a laptop and on a phone.
Start with [body text](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-improve-ghost-site-typography/) that is large enough to read without effort. For many editorial websites, a desktop base size around 18 to 20 pixels creates a comfortable foundation, depending on the typeface. On mobile, text should not shrink simply because the screen is smaller. Mobile readers are often closer to the screen, but they are also more likely to read in distracting environments.
Line height deserves equal attention. Tight leading can make a polished font feel dense, particularly in longer paragraphs. Generous line height gives each line room to breathe and helps readers find the next line without losing their place. A range around 1.5 to 1.7 times the font size is often effective, though the right setting depends on the typeface’s proportions.
Line length is the other half of the equation. Extremely wide text columns make it difficult for the eye to return to the beginning of the next line. Narrow columns can create an awkward, choppy rhythm. For long-form copy, aim for a measure that generally lands around 45 to 75 characters per line. This is a guideline rather than a rule, but it is a useful place to begin.
Use [font pairings](https://themex.studio/custom-fonts/) with restraint. A distinctive display face for headlines and a highly legible body face can create a refined editorial contrast. Adding a third or fourth type style often weakens the system. Readers should notice the writing first, then the character of the design.
### Give paragraphs and sections room to breathe
Dense pages can make excellent writing feel inaccessible. Paragraph spacing, section breaks, pull quotes, and images are not decorative extras. They create rhythm, signal transitions, and give readers natural moments to pause.
Keep paragraphs reasonably short for web reading. A three-sentence paragraph may feel brief in print, but on a narrow phone screen it can become a substantial block. Vary paragraph length when the writing calls for it, but avoid stacking long, uninterrupted passages unless the form genuinely benefits from that intensity.
Headings should do more than decorate the page. They need to communicate the structure of the argument. A reader who scans headings should understand the direction of the piece before committing to every line. Write headings that are specific and useful, then give them enough space above and below to clearly separate one idea from the next.
Pull quotes and callouts can add pace, especially in interviews and reported features. Use them selectively. Repeating the same treatment too frequently creates visual noise and can make an article feel designed around interruptions rather than reading.
## Design archives that invite exploration
Your archive is where a casual visitor becomes a returning reader. It should make the breadth of your work easy to browse without presenting every issue at the same volume.
Lead with the newest or most relevant edition, then let readers move through previous work in a predictable order. Dates matter for newsletters because they create a sense of cadence and continuity. Tags or sections can help readers find a recurring column, topic, or format, but only if your taxonomy is disciplined. Ten lightly used categories make browsing harder, not easier.
Excerpts are particularly useful when headlines are abstract, clever, or intentionally understated. A concise description gives the reader enough context to choose an article. If your headlines are already direct and descriptive, an excerpt may be unnecessary. The right approach depends on your editorial voice and the amount of context a title can carry.
Images should earn their space. A strong cover image can help differentiate issues and create a recognizable archive, while a random stock image on every card can slow scanning and dilute the publication’s identity. If imagery is central to your brand, establish a consistent crop ratio and visual direction. If the writing is the main event, a more minimal archive may feel more confident.
### Make mobile reading a first-class consideration
Many newsletter readers will encounter your site on a phone, often after opening a link from an email. Mobile readability is not a reduced version of the desktop experience. It is its own reading context.
Check that the navigation is concise, the newsletter signup form is easy to complete, and article text does not sit too close to the edge of the screen. Generous side padding makes a meaningful difference. So does ensuring that buttons have clear labels and enough space for a thumb to tap without precision.
Be careful with large hero sections. A dramatic image and oversized headline can establish a premium mood on desktop, but on mobile they may push the opening paragraph far below the fold. There is no universal prohibition on prominent hero design. It depends on whether the publication needs a strong visual entrance or a faster route into the writing. Test both against the way your audience actually arrives.
Tables, embedded posts, code blocks, and wide data visualizations need extra attention. These elements often break the reading flow on small screens. If they are essential, make sure they can scroll or reformat without forcing the entire page to zoom sideways.
## Use contrast without creating visual fatigue
Minimal design is not the same as low contrast. Light gray body copy may look understated in a mockup, yet it becomes tiring in a real reading session or difficult to see outdoors. Body text should have clear contrast against its background, and links should be recognizable without relying only on color.
[Dark mode](https://themex.studio/dark-mode-and-new-preset-colors/) introduces another consideration. A dark interface can feel elegant and comfortable in low light, but pure white text on pure black can appear harsh. Softer background tones and off-white text often create a more relaxed result. The same principles apply: body copy needs contrast, controls need clarity, and decorative elements should not overpower the content.
Color is most effective when it has a job. Use it to distinguish links, actions, categories, or key editorial moments. If every badge, border, and button introduces another accent color, readers spend attention decoding the interface instead of following the page.
### Review the page as a reader would
Design decisions that look balanced in an editor can behave differently in a published post. Before publishing, read the article on a real phone and a laptop. Do not only inspect the top of the page. Scroll through the middle, where headings, images, captions, lists, and embeds reveal whether the rhythm holds.
Look for small friction points: a caption that is too faint, a paragraph that feels unusually long, a heading stranded at the bottom of a screen, or a signup prompt that interrupts the article too early. These details compound. Fixing them is often more valuable than adding another visual feature.
It also helps to assess the site with fresh eyes. Ask someone unfamiliar with the publication to find a recent issue, identify the main topic, and subscribe. If they hesitate, the issue may be hierarchy or clarity rather than content.
A thoughtfully crafted Ghost theme gives these decisions a strong foundation, but the final experience comes from how you apply the system. At Themex Studio, that balance between flexible design and focused reading is central to the work. Give your writing a page that feels calm, intentional, and easy to return to, and readers will have more room to spend time with the ideas that brought them there.
### Ghost Theme Design Trends Worth Using in 2026
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-theme-design-trends-worth-using-in-2026/
Last updated: 2026-07-19T09:00:01.000Z
A strong publication rarely needs more visual noise. The most useful **ghost theme design trends** are moving in the opposite direction: clearer reading experiences, more deliberate hierarchy, and flexible systems that give writers room to publish without making every page feel identical.
For independent publishers, this shift is practical as much as aesthetic. A theme is no longer just a homepage template. It is the visual framework behind articles, newsletters, author pages, archives, memberships, and the small moments that determine whether a reader trusts a publication enough to return.
## Ghost Theme Design Trends Are Becoming More Editorial
The web spent years rewarding websites that looked like products. Dense dashboards, floating widgets, animated cards, and oversized interface patterns made their way into publishing sites, often at the expense of the work itself. Editorial design is correcting that balance.
The strongest Ghost sites now borrow more from considered magazines and well-designed books than from generic startup landing pages. They use a reliable grid, intentional spacing, type that is comfortable over long reading sessions, and image treatments that support the story rather than compete with it.
This does not mean every site should be monochrome or spare. A culture publication may need richer art direction than a founder newsletter. A portfolio may use more visual contrast than a policy journal. The principle is simply that the design should establish an atmosphere, then let the content do its job.
### Typography is doing more of the branding work
Typography has become the most visible expression of editorial identity. Instead of relying on a large logo or a collection of decorative effects, publishers are pairing a distinctive display face with a highly readable text face and using both with restraint.
The details matter: line length, [paragraph spacing](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-improve-ghost-site-typography/), heading scale, weight contrast, and the way captions sit alongside images. These decisions influence perceived quality before a reader has reached the second paragraph.
For writers and small editorial teams, a flexible type system is more valuable than an unusual font choice alone. The theme should make it easy to maintain consistent hierarchy across standard posts, long-form essays, notes, member content, and landing pages. Consistency makes a young publication feel established.
## Quieter Homepages, Stronger First Impressions
The homepage is increasingly becoming an editorial front page rather than a container for every available post. Instead of presenting a wall of identical cards, better layouts create a clear lead story, a supporting structure, and enough white space to make selection feel purposeful.
A featured article can carry a large image, strong headline, and short introduction. Below it, a secondary grid can surface recent reporting, recurring columns, or category-led content. The reader understands what matters first, then has a simple path to explore.
This is especially effective for publications with a steady but not overwhelming publishing cadence. If you publish once a week, a crowded homepage can make the site feel unfinished. A thoughtful [editorial layout](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-build-an-editorial-website-that-feels-premium/) makes each piece feel considered and gives the archive a longer life.
There is a trade-off. Highly art-directed front pages require better image discipline and more attention from the person publishing. If your workflow is fast and frequent, a simpler modular structure may be the smarter choice. Good theme design should accommodate both approaches without forcing an editorial team into a complicated process.
### Cards are becoming more selective
Cards remain useful, particularly for archives and topic pages, but they are no longer the default answer to every content block. Repeating rounded rectangles can flatten a publication into a product catalog.
More refined layouts vary the presentation based on content priority. A featured story might use an image-forward composition, while a text-led essay appears as a simple headline, excerpt, and date. This variation creates rhythm and helps readers scan a page without losing a sense of order.
The goal is not novelty. It is to give different kinds of content the appropriate amount of visual weight.
## Flexible Modules Beat One-Off Page Designs
Independent publishers need a site that can evolve. A theme chosen for a newsletter launch may later need to support a resource library, podcast, membership offering, or small team of contributors. The current direction favors reusable modules over fixed page designs that only work in a demo.
Useful modules include newsletter sign-up sections, featured post areas, author blocks, topic collections, testimonial panels, callouts for member content, and clean promotional sections. When these elements share the same spacing, type hierarchy, and visual language, a site can grow without feeling patched together.
[Ghost's editor](https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-cms-review-for-modern-publishers/) makes this especially relevant. A well-crafted theme should allow a writer to compose richer pages using the tools already available, rather than requiring custom code for every new idea. That reduces friction for non-technical teams while preserving a polished result.
At Themex Studio, this is the value of a flexible theme framework: it gives a publication enough range to develop its voice while keeping the underlying system calm and understandable.
## Newsletter Design Is Becoming Part of the Site System
For many Ghost publishers, the newsletter is not a side channel. It is the primary relationship with readers. Site design and email design should therefore feel connected, even when their formats differ.
The trend is toward shared visual cues rather than identical layouts. Use the same type personality, color palette, image approach, and editorial tone across both. A reader who opens an email should recognize the publication immediately, then arrive on the site without a jarring change in atmosphere.
Practical details deserve attention here. A generous article width may work beautifully on a desktop site, but email requires tighter composition. Images need to retain their meaning at small sizes. Headlines should remain clear when an inbox truncates them. A good publication system respects each context instead of treating the email as a miniature web page.
## Membership Prompts Are Becoming Less Intrusive
Reader-supported publishing depends on conversion, but aggressive interruption can erode the trust that makes conversion possible. The best membership prompts now feel like part of the editorial experience: clear, specific, and timed with care.
Rather than placing a subscription message after every paragraph, publishers are using contextual prompts. A reader might encounter one after receiving meaningful value from an essay, at the end of a series, or when entering a members-only archive. The language should explain what support enables and what members receive, without turning the page into a sales funnel.
This is another case where restraint is strategic. A publication with a strong point of view can use more direct calls to action. A personal writer's site may benefit from a softer invitation. The right choice depends on the relationship you are building and the frequency with which readers see the prompt.
## Performance Is Now a Visible Design Decision
Speed is often described as a technical concern, but readers experience it as design. A slow-loading page with oversized media, heavy scripts, and unnecessary animation feels less premium, regardless of how refined it looks after it finally appears.
Current Ghost theme design favors purposeful motion, optimized images, and layouts that remain useful while content loads. Animation can direct attention or make an interface feel responsive, but it should not delay reading. The same is true for large hero images. They can establish a strong mood, yet they need to earn their place through editorial value.
A useful test is simple: if the visual effect disappeared, would the page become less clear or less memorable? If not, it may be decoration rather than design.
## A More Durable Definition of Minimalism
Minimalism is sometimes mistaken for absence. In publishing, it is better understood as disciplined emphasis. It means making a few decisions with confidence: what the reader sees first, how an article is read, where a subscription invitation belongs, and which visual elements deserve repetition.
That approach produces sites that age well. Trends in color, photography, and display typography will continue to change, but a publication built on clarity can adapt without a complete redesign every year.
Choose a Ghost theme that gives your writing a strong structure, then let the publication earn its character through the work you consistently put into it.
### How to Launch a Writer Website That Earns Trust
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-launch-a-writer-website-that-earns-trust/
Last updated: 2026-07-17T09:01:47.000Z
A writer website often has one quiet but demanding job: make a stranger want to spend more time with your work. Before they read a second article or subscribe to a newsletter, they are judging its clarity, tone, and care. Knowing how to launch a writer website means designing that first impression with the same intention you bring to a sentence.
The goal is not to build the biggest possible site. It is to create a focused publishing home that establishes your point of view, makes reading enjoyable, and gives the right people a reason to return.
## Start with an editorial purpose, not a page list
It is tempting to begin with a checklist: homepage, about page, archive, contact form, newsletter. Those pages matter, but they do not define the site. The stronger starting point is a simple editorial decision: what will readers reliably find here that they will not find elsewhere?
That answer can be broad enough to evolve. A founder might write practical notes on building a company. A novelist might share essays on place, craft, and reading. A consultant might publish sharp analysis for a specific industry. What matters is that the site has a recognizable center.
Write a one-sentence editorial promise before choosing a layout or writing homepage copy. For example: “Clear essays for independent founders making better product decisions.” This is not a slogan. It is a working filter for deciding what to publish, what to feature, and what can wait.
A focused premise also prevents a common launch mistake: treating the website as a résumé with a blog attached. Your background builds trust, but your published work should lead. Readers arrive because they want an idea, a perspective, or a useful answer.
## Choose a platform built for publishing
A writer needs fewer moving parts than most website owners assume. You need a clean writing environment, a dependable editor, flexible post organization, email tools if subscriptions are part of your model, and a design system that supports long-form reading.
Ghost is a [natural fit for writers](https://themex.studio/guides/why-ghost-cms-for-publishers-works/) and editorial teams because publishing is central to the product rather than an afterthought. It gives you a clear separation between posts, pages, members, newsletters, and site settings without turning routine publishing into a technical project.
The trade-off is worth understanding. A highly extensible platform can offer more plugins and more ways to customize every detail, but that freedom can create maintenance work and visual inconsistency. A [publishing-first system](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-create-a-writer-website-on-ghost/) asks you to make fewer structural decisions, which is often an advantage when your real work is writing.
[Choose a theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-newsletter-theme/) with the same restraint. Look beyond the homepage demo and examine article pages, category archives, author pages, mobile typography, navigation, and newsletter forms. A beautiful hero image cannot compensate for narrow line spacing, weak hierarchy, or a reading experience crowded by unnecessary elements.
A thoughtfully crafted Ghost theme, such as one from Themex Studio, can give a new publication a refined editorial foundation while keeping setup manageable for a solo writer or small team.
## Build the essential pages with a reader’s questions in mind
Your first version does not need every possible page. It does need to answer the questions a promising new reader will have within a few seconds: What is this? Who is behind it? Where should I begin? How can I keep up?
### The homepage should create direction
The homepage is not a storage unit for every post you have written. Give it one clear introduction, a small selection of featured work, and a visible invitation to subscribe or explore the archive.
Feature three to six pieces that represent the range and standard of your writing. If you have only published two strong articles, feature two. A tight selection feels more confident than a long, unedited feed.
Use a concise description that names the subject and the value for readers. “Essays on design and independent work” is clearer than “Thoughts, ideas, and observations.” Specificity creates the sense that the publication is already in motion.
### The about page should add context
An about page does not need to tell your entire career story. It should explain why you are worth reading on this subject and what readers can expect from the publication.
Lead with the work, then provide relevant credentials or experience. A short portrait can make the page feel human, but use it with purpose. The most effective about pages connect biography to editorial perspective rather than simply listing accomplishments.
### Give readers a useful way to explore
If your work covers recurring themes, organize posts with a small number of clear tags. Resist creating a new category for every nuanced idea. Three to five durable topics are easier for readers to understand and easier for you to maintain.
An archive should feel like a library, not a dumping ground. Simple chronological browsing is enough at launch, especially if your homepage highlights a few starting points. Add more elaborate collections only when your body of work makes them genuinely useful.
## Design for reading before decoration
Writers are sometimes told that content is all that matters. Content matters most, but its presentation changes how it is received. Dense text, awkward image crops, inconsistent spacing, and distracting sidebars can make excellent work feel unfinished.
Start with typography. Use a body font that remains comfortable across a full article, a generous line height, and a line length that does not force the eye to travel too far. Headings should create structure without competing with the text. On a small screen, the experience should feel equally considered, not like a compressed desktop layout.
Visuals deserve the same editorial standard. If photography, illustration, or artwork is central to your voice, use it consistently. If it is not, do not add generic imagery just to fill space. White space, strong type, and a restrained color palette can carry a serious publication beautifully.
This is where minimal design has a practical advantage. It reduces the number of choices competing with the writing. Minimal does not mean plain or anonymous. It means every detail has a job.
## Prepare enough work to make the launch feel real
Launching with one post can work if that post is substantial and your audience already knows you. For most writers, a small body of work creates a better first visit. Aim for three to five published pieces that demonstrate your themes, voice, and level of depth.
They do not all need to be new. You can revise older work, provided you have the right to republish it and it still represents the direction of the site. Refresh the opening, update references, and add a brief note if the piece has changed meaningfully since its original publication.
Choose one article as your welcome mat. This may be your strongest practical guide, most distinctive essay, or a short statement of what the publication is for. Make it easy to find from the homepage and link to related pieces within it once you have them.
Do not delay the launch while trying to create a perfect backlog. A website becomes credible through steady publishing, not through an oversized opening day. The right amount of content is enough to show readers that this is a living editorial project.
## Set up a publishing rhythm you can keep
A publication schedule is a promise, even when you never state it publicly. Weekly publishing can be excellent for a reporter or an operator with a repeatable format. For a writer producing researched essays, twice a month may be more realistic. Quality and consistency matter more than frequency.
Build a light system around the work. Keep a running list of ideas, note the intended reader and purpose for each piece, and maintain a short pipeline of drafts at different stages. This reduces the pressure to invent a strong topic every time you sit down to write.
Before pressing publish, review every post on desktop and mobile. Check the title, description, featured image, headings, links within the post, author details, and subscription prompt. Read the opening aloud. The first few paragraphs carry more weight than almost any other part of the page.
You should also decide what happens after publication. Share the piece where your readers already spend time, send it to subscribers, and consider whether it belongs in a recurring series. Promotion need not be loud. It should be as considered as the writing itself.
## Launch your writer website with a calm checklist
The final hours before launch are best used for details that affect trust, not last-minute redesigns. Confirm that your domain works, your site title and description are accurate, navigation labels are clear, and your contact method reaches you. Test the signup flow yourself and make sure confirmation messages sound like your publication, not a default template.
Then ask one trusted reader to browse the site without instructions. Watch for friction: Can they tell what you write about? Can they find a strong article? Do they know how to subscribe? Their questions will reveal more than another hour of private tweaking.
Once the site is public, resist the urge to apologize for its first version. A good publication is designed to grow through use. Pay attention to what readers respond to, which topics create replies, and where people spend time. Let those signals refine the site without abandoning the editorial clarity that made it worth launching.
Your website does not need to announce that you are a serious writer. It needs to demonstrate it, one well-made page and one well-edited piece at a time.
### How to Convert Readers Into Members on Ghost
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-convert-readers-into-members-on-ghost/
Last updated: 2026-07-15T09:02:38.000Z
A reader who enjoys one article is not automatically ready to pay for the next one. To convert readers into members, your publication needs to make a clear, credible case for why an ongoing relationship is worth more than a single visit.
That case is built long before a reader reaches a signup form. It lives in the quality of your writing, the confidence of your visual presentation, the rhythm of your publishing, and the clarity of what membership actually provides. For independent publishers using Ghost, the opportunity is not to add more prompts. It is to create a publication experience that feels considered enough to join.
## Start with a membership promise readers can repeat
“Support my work” can be a meaningful message, especially for a writer with an established audience. But it is rarely enough on its own. Readers should understand what changes when they become members: what they receive, how often they receive it, and why it cannot be found elsewhere.
The strongest membership propositions are specific without becoming overcomplicated. A technology publication might offer weekly analysis that explains the consequences behind product news. A personal newsletter might give members more candid essays, useful frameworks, and a closer connection to the writer’s process. A local editorial brand may provide reporting that larger outlets do not prioritize.
The promise should match the publication you already have. If your public work is concise and visual, a membership built around long, academic reports may feel disconnected. If your audience values depth, a vague promise of “exclusive content” will not create much momentum. Membership works best when it is an extension of your editorial point of view, not a separate product invented to justify a paywall.
## Make the first reading experience feel complete
A common mistake is treating free readers as an audience to block rather than an audience to persuade. Hard paywalls have their place, particularly for specialized reporting or established publications. For a growing independent brand, though, a reader often needs to experience your standards before they can assess the value of joining.
Publish work that stands on its own. A useful public article builds trust, demonstrates your expertise, and gives readers a reason to return. It also creates a natural opening to show what membership adds. That might be a deeper follow-up, access to a regular briefing, a member archive, or the ability to comment and participate.
This does not mean giving everything away. The balance depends on your publishing model. A writer with a large search audience may keep foundational articles open and reserve recurring analysis for members. A niche newsletter may share a strong excerpt publicly, then continue into the reporting, templates, or practical interpretation that members value most.
The key is avoiding an abrupt handoff. A reader should never feel that the useful part of an article has been withheld simply to force a subscription. They should feel that the public piece delivered real value and the member experience goes further.
## Use design to support editorial trust
Readers decide whether a publication feels credible before they read every word. [Typography, spacing, navigation](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-minimal-ghost-theme/), image treatment, and page hierarchy all communicate whether care has been taken. For a membership publication, that matters because payment is a vote of confidence.
A clean editorial design gives your work room to breathe. It makes longer articles easier to read, helps recurring sections become familiar, and lets calls to action appear as part of the experience rather than as interruptions. The goal is not decoration. It is reducing the small moments of friction that make a publication feel unfinished.
Your membership page deserves the same restraint. State what members receive, who the publication is for, and what the available plans include. Keep the visual hierarchy calm. A reader should be able to scan the offer, understand it, and move forward without sorting through competing banners or excessive options.
This is where a thoughtfully crafted Ghost theme can make a practical difference. Themes such as those from Themex Studio are designed around editorial clarity, giving publishers a refined foundation for articles, newsletters, archives, and membership pages without turning every design decision into a custom development project.
## Place the invitation where intent is highest
Not every reader is ready to become a member at the same moment. A person arriving from search may need more time than a returning newsletter subscriber. Instead of repeating the same generic prompt everywhere, place invitations where the reader has already shown interest.
At the end of a strong article, connect the membership invitation to the topic the reader just finished. If the article introduces a useful idea, explain that members receive the ongoing series. If it answers a common question, note that membership includes practical resources or more detailed analysis. Context makes the invitation feel relevant.
Within longer articles, use a light touch. An inline signup prompt can work well after a meaningful section, particularly when the rest of the article expands on a member benefit. Too many interruptions damage reading flow and can make premium content feel overly transactional.
Your [homepage and archive pages](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-customize-ghost-homepage-layout/) should also help readers see the shape of your publication. Feature the work you want to be known for, make recurring formats visible, and show that the site is actively maintained. Membership becomes easier to justify when readers can recognize a living editorial system rather than a collection of disconnected posts.
## Give readers a reason to return before asking them to pay
Many memberships are won through consistency, not one exceptional article. Readers join when they trust that the next edition will be worth opening. That trust comes from a reliable cadence and a recognizable editorial format.
You do not need to publish every day. In fact, a smaller, dependable schedule is usually better than an ambitious calendar that quickly becomes difficult to sustain. A weekly essay, a twice-monthly research note, or a monthly industry briefing can all support membership if readers know what to expect and the work remains distinctive.
Email is especially valuable here. A well-designed newsletter brings readers back to the work without relying on social algorithms or browser habits. It also allows you to build familiarity before making a direct membership ask. Welcome emails, for example, can introduce your perspective, point to essential reading, and explain what members receive over time.
Treat free email subscribers as future members, not as a separate tier with no path forward. Their engagement tells you which topics resonate and which offers deserve more attention. A reader who opens every edition may not need a louder pop-up. They may need a clearer explanation of the member experience.
## Reduce uncertainty at the moment of signup
A reader can agree with your work and still hesitate to join. Often, the friction is practical: unclear pricing, uncertainty about billing, a confusing checkout flow, or concern that the publication will not remain active.
Answer the obvious questions before they become objections. Be direct about monthly and annual pricing, explain whether readers can cancel easily, and clarify what happens after they subscribe. If you offer more than one tier, make the differences meaningful. A complicated pricing structure can create indecision, especially for a small independent publication.
Social proof can help, but only when it is genuine and restrained. A short reader quote, a clear statement of your publishing history, or an example of the work members receive may be more persuasive than a long wall of praise. The purpose is to reassure readers that others find the publication valuable, not to overwhelm them.
It is also worth reviewing the [signup journey on mobile](https://themex.studio/mobile-menu-and-category-grid-fixes/). Many readers will encounter your work in an inbox or social feed, then decide whether to subscribe from a phone. If type is too small, pages feel crowded, or the membership call to action is difficult to find, you are adding friction at the most valuable point in the journey.
## Measure the path, then refine the offer
Membership growth is not only a traffic problem. More visitors will not solve a weak value proposition or a confusing path to signup. Watch where readers first encounter your publication, which articles produce newsletter subscriptions, how often subscribers return, and where potential members leave the process.
Look for patterns rather than reacting to a single week of data. If a recurring series consistently attracts engaged readers, it may be a strong candidate for a member edition. If readers reach a membership page but do not subscribe, revisit the copy, plan structure, and examples of value. If email subscribers engage but rarely upgrade, the gap may be in how you describe the next step.
Small refinements tend to compound. A clearer member benefit, a better-placed invitation, a more focused landing page, and a steadier publishing rhythm can each improve conversion without changing the character of the publication.
The best membership experience does not pressure readers into paying. It gives the right readers a simple way to support work they already trust and receive more of the perspective they came for.
### How to Style a Ghost Newsletter That Feels Editorial
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-style-a-ghost-newsletter-that-feels-editorial/
Last updated: 2026-07-13T10:15:04.000Z
A newsletter can have excellent writing and still feel disposable if its presentation changes with every issue. Learning how to style a Ghost newsletter is less about adding decoration and more about creating a dependable reading environment: one that makes your publication recognizable before a subscriber reaches the second paragraph.
The strongest newsletter design is usually quiet. It gives the subject line, opening thought, body copy, links, and calls to action a clear hierarchy. Readers should know where to begin, where to pause, and what deserves their attention without having to decode a new layout each week.
## Start with the reading experience, not the color palette
Before adjusting settings or choosing images, decide what kind of reading moment you are creating. A daily market brief needs speed and scanability. A weekly essay can support a slower, more spacious rhythm. A creative studio update may benefit from a more visual sequence, while a founder newsletter often works best with a direct, personal note.
This decision affects nearly every styling choice. Frequent newsletters need shorter introductions, predictable sections, and restrained imagery. Longer editorial letters need comfortable paragraph spacing, thoughtful subheads, and a clear break between the main story and supporting links.
Ask one useful question: what should a returning subscriber recognize immediately? It might be the calm tone of your header, a compact issue label, a recurring opening format, or the way you present recommended reading. One or two memorable elements are more effective than a page full of branded details.
## Build a small visual system first
A polished Ghost newsletter does not require a large design system. It does require consistency. Choose a limited set of visual decisions that can be repeated without effort: a logo treatment, one primary color, a neutral background approach, an image style, and a dependable editorial structure.
Your accent color should have a job. Use it for links, buttons, or small navigational details, not for every heading and divider. If every element calls for attention, the email loses its hierarchy. A dark neutral paired with one considered accent often feels more enduring than several competing colors.
Typography deserves the same restraint. Email clients do not offer the typographic control of a well-designed website, so prioritize legibility over personality. Write with short paragraphs, intentional subheads, and enough breathing room around links. The typeface itself may be determined by the recipient's email client, but your editorial formatting still shapes how the text feels.
Images should follow a recognizable rule. You might use one wide lead image per issue, small illustrations only for section breaks, or no imagery at all except for occasional special editions. The rule matters more than the format. Inconsistent image proportions and unrelated visual styles can make a carefully written newsletter feel assembled rather than edited.
## How to style a Ghost newsletter in the right place
Ghost separates your publication website from the email that arrives in a subscriber's inbox. That distinction is essential. Your Ghost theme controls the website experience: the homepage, post templates, signup pages, navigation, archive pages, and the visual context around your newsletter. It does not automatically transfer every website styling choice into email clients.
Begin in Ghost Admin by making sure your publication identity is complete and coherent. Your publication name, logo, accent color, sender name, newsletter title, and description should all tell the same story. Depending on your Ghost version and configuration, email design options may vary, so review the available newsletter and publication settings before trying to force a visual solution through the editor.
Then use the post editor to create a repeatable email structure. The editor is where your hierarchy becomes practical: headings introduce sections, dividers create pace, images establish emphasis, and buttons give a call to action a defined place. Keep formatting simple enough that it remains stable across major inboxes.
Avoid relying on website-specific CSS or highly custom layouts to solve an email problem. Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, and mobile inboxes each interpret email differently. A design that appears precise in a browser preview can become awkward after delivery. The reliable approach is to make the content hierarchy strong before adding visual flourishes.
## Give every issue a familiar editorial rhythm
Readers value predictability when it reduces effort. A consistent newsletter structure lets them skim when they are busy and settle in when they have time. That does not mean every issue should feel mechanical. It means the framework should be familiar enough to let the writing carry the variation.
A useful structure might begin with a short issue label and a direct opening note. From there, move into the primary piece, then any secondary links, recommendations, or updates. End with one clear next step, whether that is replying, reading a post, attending an event, or sharing the issue.
The opening is particularly valuable. Do not lead with a banner, a long table of contents, and several promotional messages before the reader sees your voice. For independent writers and small editorial teams, the human note is often the strongest brand asset. Let it appear early.
Calls to action need discipline. One primary action per issue is usually enough. If you include several links, distinguish the main one through placement and concise language rather than using multiple visually aggressive buttons. A newsletter should feel like correspondence with purpose, not a crowded landing page.
## Use spacing as part of the design
Most newsletters become harder to read because they are too dense, not because they are too plain. Spacing creates editorial confidence. Keep paragraphs focused, place subheads before readers need them, and use dividers only when they mark a meaningful transition.
Do not treat every sentence as its own paragraph. That approach can make a long email feel fragmented, especially on desktop. At the same time, large blocks of unbroken text create friction on mobile. Two to four concise sentences per paragraph is a practical starting point for most newsletter formats.
Pay attention to the first screen on a phone. A subscriber should quickly see who the email is from, what the issue is about, and a reason to continue. If a large logo, oversized image, or lengthy preamble pushes the actual message below the fold, reduce it.
## Let the website support the email
Your [newsletter and website](https://themex.studio/guides/newsletter-website-design-trends-that-last/) should feel related, but they do not need to be identical. The email is a focused reading channel. The website can provide richer navigation, archives, member pages, related posts, and a more complete expression of your brand.
This is where a thoughtfully crafted Ghost theme has real value. A [minimal editorial theme](https://themex.studio/guides/12-examples-of-minimalist-publishing-sites/) can carry the same typography, color restraint, and image direction across your post pages and newsletter signup flow, making the transition from inbox to site feel intentional. Themex Studio themes are designed around that kind of publication-first continuity: clear reading layouts without unnecessary interface noise.
Use your website to reinforce the visual choices readers encounter in email. If your newsletter uses a restrained monochrome image style, keep that approach on article pages. If your email signoff is warm and personal, let the author page and about page continue that voice. Consistency builds trust because readers do not have to reorient themselves at every touchpoint.
## Test in real inboxes before declaring it finished
Previewing an issue is useful, but a test send is where the design becomes real. Send each new format to a small group of addresses across different providers, then check it on both desktop and mobile. Look for broken line wraps, images that feel too large, unclear links, awkward button placement, and headers that take up too much space.
Also test the experience with images disabled. Your lead image should support the issue, not carry all of its meaning. If the message becomes unclear without it, strengthen the headline and opening copy.
Do not redesign after every send. Give your system enough time to reveal patterns. If readers consistently click one recurring section, that may deserve greater prominence. If a visual module receives little engagement and creates production work, remove it. A good newsletter style is shaped by reader behavior as well as taste.
The goal is not to make every issue look newly designed. It is to make each issue feel unmistakably yours, clear enough to read anywhere, and considered enough that subscribers want to return to it.
### Newsletter Website Design Trends That Last
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/newsletter-website-design-trends-that-last/
Last updated: 2026-07-11T08:41:06.000Z
A newsletter site is no longer a simple signup page with a list of recent posts below it. For independent publishers, it is the public expression of the publication: the place where a new reader decides whether the writing is worth returning to, and where a subscriber can explore the work behind the inbox. The most useful newsletter website design trends favor that relationship over surface-level novelty.
The result is a quieter, more deliberate approach to design. Strong publishing sites use typography, hierarchy, and thoughtful navigation to make a body of work feel valuable. They give readers a clear next step without treating every visit like a conversion funnel.
## Newsletter website design trends with staying power
Trends are only helpful when they solve a real publishing problem. A dramatic layout may earn attention for a few weeks, but it can become tiring once a site contains dozens of issues, several authors, or a growing archive. The ideas worth carrying forward make content easier to read, discover, and subscribe to.
### The homepage is becoming an editorial front door
The old newsletter homepage often followed a familiar formula: a headline, an email field, and a grid of posts. That structure still works for a new publication, but established newsletters need more editorial context. Readers want to know what they will receive, who is writing it, and what kind of thinking or reporting sits behind the subscription.
A stronger homepage leads with a concise editorial promise, then supports it with selected work. A featured issue, a small set of recurring topics, or a brief author introduction can do more than a long marketing statement. This gives first-time visitors a way to sample the publication before committing their inbox.
There is a trade-off. A homepage with too many modules can turn a focused newsletter into a generic media site. Keep the structure selective. The goal is not to display every category, issue, and social proof element at once. It is to establish a clear point of view and direct readers toward the best entry point.
### Archives are designed as products, not leftovers
A newsletter archive is one of the most valuable assets an independent publisher owns. It demonstrates consistency, makes older work useful again, and gives search visitors a reason to stay. Yet many archives still feel like an unfiltered stream of dates and headlines.
The better approach is to treat the archive as a reading environment. Clear issue cards, useful excerpts, prominent dates, and restrained visual rhythm help readers scan without losing the sense of a publication. Topic pages and carefully chosen featured collections can make a large back catalog approachable.
Chronological order still matters, especially for personal newsletters and timely commentary. But it should not be the only route into the work. A reader arriving through one article may care more about a theme than what was published last Tuesday. Designing for both recent and evergreen discovery makes the site more durable.
### Typography is carrying more of the brand
For writing-led brands, typography is not decoration. It determines whether a page feels considered, readable, and credible before a reader has reached the second paragraph. This is why editorial typography remains central to newsletter website design trends, even as interface styles shift around it.
The strongest systems usually rely on contrast rather than excess: a confident display face for headlines, a highly legible text face for long-form reading, and a calm supporting style for metadata and navigation. Generous line height, sensible measure, and clear spacing often improve the experience more than any animated effect.
Avoid treating type as a brand flourish that competes with the writing. An expressive headline font can be memorable, but it needs a practical companion for issue pages, archives, and mobile screens. If your newsletter publishes frequently, consistency matters more than a dramatic first impression.
### Subscription prompts are becoming more contextual
A single signup form at the top of the site is necessary, but it is rarely enough. Readers often decide to subscribe after finishing an article, browsing a collection, or recognizing a recurring perspective. That is why well-placed, context-aware prompts are replacing the repeated, oversized callout.
A post-end signup section can work particularly well because it appears after the publication has delivered value. Its copy should connect to the page a reader has just experienced. Rather than a generic request to join, explain what arrives next and how often. A weekly analysis newsletter needs different framing than a personal note published twice a month.
Restraint matters here. Pop-ups may increase raw signup numbers, but they can also interrupt reading and make a premium editorial site feel impatient. For many writer-led brands, a visible header form, an elegant inline invitation, and a thoughtful post-end prompt create a better balance between growth and trust.
### Flexible visual systems are replacing one-off pages
Newsletter brands often evolve quickly. A writer launches with one series, adds a podcast, begins publishing guides, or brings in contributors. A rigid site design makes each new format feel like an exception. A flexible visual system makes expansion feel natural.
This does not mean every page needs a different layout. It means using a small set of repeatable building blocks: feature stories, issue listings, author details, topic labels, image treatments, and subscription areas. When these elements share consistent spacing and hierarchy, the site can accommodate new editorial needs without becoming visually fragmented.
For [Ghost publishers](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-an-editorial-ghost-theme/), this is where a thoughtfully crafted theme framework earns its place. A theme should offer meaningful flexibility for pages, collections, navigation, and brand settings while preserving the underlying discipline of the design. Too many controls can create more uncertainty, not more freedom.
### Images are becoming more intentional and less constant
Image-heavy layouts can be effective for culture publications, travel writing, or visual portfolios. But many newsletters are better served by a more restrained image strategy. When every post uses a large, unrelated stock photo, the archive can lose its editorial identity.
A consistent approach works better: use photography where it advances the story, use illustration or graphic treatments for recurring columns, and let type lead when the writing is the main event. This creates a recognizable rhythm across the site while reducing the pressure to source a hero image for every issue.
The practical benefit is speed. Independent publishers need a publishing workflow they can sustain. A visual system that looks good only when each issue receives custom art is difficult to maintain over time.
### Mobile reading is shaping the desktop experience
Newsletter readers frequently arrive from mobile email clients, social posts, and search results. They may save an article for later, skim an archive between meetings, or subscribe from a phone. Mobile design is therefore not a final quality check. It should influence the entire content hierarchy.
On smaller screens, the essentials become obvious: readable body text, comfortable tap targets, concise navigation, and subscription forms that do not require unnecessary fields. A complex desktop header may need to simplify substantially. Long page introductions may need a sharper opening. These constraints are useful because they force publishers to decide what matters most.
Designing from mobile priorities does not mean making the desktop site sparse or empty. It means preserving clarity as the layout gains room. A well-designed desktop experience should feel expanded, not overloaded.
## Build for a publication readers can return to
The most valuable design decision is often the least flashy: making it easier for a reader to understand what your publication is, find a worthwhile issue, and continue reading without friction. Sophisticated editorial design creates confidence through order, not noise.
As your newsletter grows, revisit the site with the eyes of a first-time visitor. Can they grasp the promise quickly? Can they find the archive, sample the writing, and subscribe without being pushed? If the answer is yes, your design is doing what a good publishing system should do: giving the work enough structure to be discovered, remembered, and returned to.
### How to Improve Ghost Site Typography
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-improve-ghost-site-typography/
Last updated: 2026-07-09T10:16:07.000Z
A Ghost site can have strong writing, a clean logo, and a thoughtful color palette, yet still feel slightly off. In most cases, the problem is not the content. It is the typography. If you want to improve Ghost site typography, the biggest gains usually come from a few editorial decisions that shape how every paragraph, heading, caption, and callout feels on the page.
Typography is not decoration. For writers, publishers, and newsletter operators, it is the interface. It determines whether a long article feels calm or tiring, whether a homepage feels credible or generic, and whether your brand reads as sharp, soft, technical, or refined. On a content-first Ghost site, type does more of the branding work than many people realize.
## Why typography matters more on Ghost
Ghost is built for publishing. That changes the design equation. On a typical marketing site, typography shares the load with product shots, dashboards, sales sections, and UI patterns. On a Ghost publication, text often carries the entire experience.
That means typography needs to do three jobs at once. It has to support readability, establish visual hierarchy, and create a distinct editorial tone. If any one of those breaks down, the site starts to feel less polished. A beautiful serif heading paired with cramped body text will look impressive at first glance and frustrating after thirty seconds. A highly readable sans serif system can still feel flat if every heading, deck, and paragraph has the same visual weight.
This is where many Ghost sites go wrong. They chase personality in the font choice, then overlook the system around it.
## Improve Ghost site typography by fixing the system first
Most typography problems are structural, not stylistic. Before you change fonts, look at scale, spacing, line length, and contrast. Those four decisions shape the reading experience more than the typeface itself.
Start with body text. For most editorial Ghost sites, body copy should feel effortless on desktop and mobile. If the text is too small, readers strain. If it is too large, the page feels clumsy and oversized. A comfortable range for many sites is around 18 to 20 pixels on desktop, adjusted carefully for the chosen font. Some typefaces run visually small and need more room. Others appear large at the same size and should be restrained.
Line height matters just as much. Dense lines make articles feel academic in the wrong way. Too much leading makes paragraphs drift apart and weakens rhythm. A line height around 1.5 to 1.7 often works well for body copy, but it depends on the font’s proportions. Wide, open fonts can handle tighter settings. Compact fonts usually need more space.
Then check line length. This is one of the most common issues on Ghost sites, especially when a theme allows wide content areas. If paragraphs stretch too far across the screen, readers lose their place. A narrower reading column usually feels more premium because it respects the cadence of reading. On desktop, around 60 to 75 characters per line is a reliable target.
Finally, look at contrast. Pure black on pure white can feel harsh for long-form reading. Very light gray text may look elegant in a mockup and weak in practice. Good typography is not about extremes. It is about controlled contrast that stays comfortable over time.
## Choose fonts for editorial behavior, not novelty
A lot of publishers try to solve typography with a more distinctive font. Sometimes that works. Often it creates a different problem.
The best fonts for Ghost are not simply attractive. They behave well across article pages, cards, archives, navigation, captions, membership prompts, and mobile layouts. A typeface that looks sophisticated in headings may become tiring in long paragraphs. A clean geometric sans serif may feel sharp in a startup publication but too cold for an essay-driven site.
A good rule is to choose a primary body font that disappears while reading, then add personality through headings, spacing, and hierarchy. If you want a more editorial look, a serif for headlines paired with a restrained sans serif for body copy can work well. If your brand leans modern and minimal, a single well-chosen sans serif family with varied weights may be enough.
There is a trade-off here. Multi-font systems can feel richer, but they are harder to balance. Single-family systems are easier to keep consistent, but they need stronger discipline in sizing and spacing to avoid monotony. Neither approach is automatically better.
## Create hierarchy that readers can feel instantly
Hierarchy should be obvious before a reader processes a word. That is when typography is doing its job.
On many Ghost sites, headings are either too close to the body size or dramatically oversized without enough nuance between levels. The result is a page that feels either flat or theatrical. A stronger approach is to build a measured type scale where each level has a clear purpose.
Your article title should establish authority and tone. Subheadings should guide the scan without overpowering the page. Body text should remain the default reading layer. Captions, metadata, and newsletter UI should sit quietly in support.
Weight, size, case, and spacing all contribute here. You do not need to rely on size alone. Sometimes a modest heading with slightly tighter letter spacing and stronger weight feels more sophisticated than an enormous headline. Sometimes increasing the space above a subheading does more for clarity than enlarging the text itself.
This is one reason thoughtfully crafted [Ghost themes](https://themex.studio/guides/best-ghost-themes-for-creators/) tend to feel more polished. The hierarchy has already been tuned for actual publishing patterns, not just homepage aesthetics.
## Improve Ghost site typography on mobile, not just desktop
Typography decisions that feel elegant on a large display can break quickly on a phone. Since many Ghost readers come from email and social traffic, mobile reading deserves equal attention.
Check headline wrapping first. A heading that breaks into four awkward lines can make the page feel unstable. Then review paragraph density. If the text block feels cramped on mobile, the issue may be padding, line height, or font size, not only the font itself.
Also pay attention to smaller elements. Author bylines, dates, tags, and reading-time labels often become too tiny on mobile because they were treated as secondary in the desktop design. Secondary does not mean unreadable. It just means quieter.
Pull quotes, code blocks, callouts, and tables need the same care. If your publication includes multiple content formats, typography should flex with them. A system that works only for plain paragraphs is not a complete system.
## Don’t ignore spacing between elements
When people say a site feels elegant, they are often responding to spacing as much as type.
Typography lives in the white space around it. The margin below a heading, the gap between paragraphs, the padding inside a signup box, and the breathing room around featured images all shape how refined the text feels. If those spaces are inconsistent, even a great font pairing will look less considered.
This is where restraint matters. More space is not always better. Too much separation can make an article feel fragmented. Too little makes it feel rushed. The goal is rhythm. Each element should lead naturally to the next.
A useful test is to scan one article from top to bottom without reading every word. If the page feels calm and well paced, your spacing is likely supporting the typography. If it feels jumpy or dense, spacing is probably part of the problem.
## Match typography to your publication’s voice
A startup insights newsletter, a literary essay publication, and a design journal should not all sound the same typographically.
If your brand is analytical and modern, tighter systems, restrained sans serif choices, and crisp hierarchy may fit. If your work is reflective or essay-driven, a warmer serif or softer sans serif with generous spacing might create a better reading tone. If you publish interviews, case studies, and feature stories, you may need a more flexible system that can handle different article structures without losing consistency.
This is why typography should never be chosen in isolation. It needs to reflect what you publish and how you want your work to feel. Personality matters, but fit matters more.
## When to customize and when to change themes
Sometimes typography issues can be fixed with a few careful adjustments in your Ghost theme settings or custom CSS. If the underlying structure is already strong, small changes to font size, line height, content width, or heading scale can make a noticeable difference.
But if the theme’s defaults fight your goals at every step, customization may become inefficient. Some themes are optimized for visual variety or marketing layouts rather than [long-form editorial reading](https://themex.studio/guides/choosing-a-ghost-theme-for-writers/). In that case, switching to a more editorially focused foundation may save time and produce a better result.
That is often the real distinction between a generic template and a premium Ghost theme. The best ones do not just provide font options. They establish a typographic system that makes content feel clearer, more credible, and more intentional from the start.
If your site feels close but not quite there, resist the urge to redesign everything. Typography rewards small, disciplined improvements. A better [text width](https://themex.studio/support-different-site-width/), a calmer heading scale, or more consistent spacing can shift the entire reading experience. When the type feels right, the rest of the site usually starts to feel right too.
### Ghost Themes Review for Serious Publishers
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-themes-review-for-serious-publishers/
Last updated: 2026-07-07T10:16:21.000Z
Pick the wrong Ghost theme and you feel it almost immediately. Your homepage looks generic, your post layout fights the reading experience, and simple brand tweaks turn into a weekend project. A useful ghost themes review should do more than point at pretty demos. It should help you judge how a theme performs once real articles, newsletters, member flows, and publishing habits enter the picture.
Ghost is a focused platform. That is one of its strengths. It is built for publishing, memberships, and newsletters without the clutter of a general-purpose CMS. But that focus also raises the bar for theme quality. A Ghost theme is not just a skin. It shapes how readers discover stories, how your archive holds up over time, and how credible your publication feels at a glance.
## What a ghost themes review should actually measure
Most theme roundups lean too hard on first impressions. Visual polish matters, but it is only one layer. For writers, creators, startups, and editorial teams, the better question is whether a theme keeps working after the launch moment.
Start with typography. On a publishing site, type is the interface. If headlines feel cramped, body text is too dense, or spacing is inconsistent, the site will never feel fully resolved. The best Ghost themes use typography to create hierarchy without adding noise. Readers should know where to look next without thinking about it.
Layout flexibility matters just as much. Some themes look excellent in the demo because the demo content was art-directed to fit a narrow structure. Real publishing is messier. You may publish long essays, short updates, interviews, podcast notes, or newsletter issues in the same month. A strong theme gives you enough variation to present different content types clearly without feeling fragmented.
Performance is another dividing line. Ghost is fast by nature, but a theme can still weigh a site down with visual excess, inconsistent image handling, or unnecessary interaction layers. [Fast-loading pages](https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-site-speed-optimization-that-holds-up/) are not only better for SEO. They also feel more trustworthy. Readers notice when a site gets out of the way.
Then there is ease of setup. A premium theme should not require custom development just to look polished. The best options are opinionated in the right places, with sensible defaults, flexible design settings, and documentation that respects your time.
## Design quality is more than minimal styling
Minimal design is often promised and rarely delivered. In practice, many so-called minimal themes are simply sparse. They remove decoration, but they do not replace it with stronger structure, rhythm, or editorial intent.
A well-designed Ghost theme feels restrained, not empty. It knows where emphasis belongs. It gives headlines room to lead, uses imagery with purpose, and keeps supporting elements like tags, authors, and timestamps clear but secondary. That balance is hard to fake.
This is especially important for independent publishers and creator-led brands. If your site is carrying your byline, your archive, and often your business model, design quality becomes part of your credibility. Readers may not articulate why one publication feels sharper than another, but they can sense when a visual system has been thoughtfully crafted.
## The trade-off between flexibility and clarity
Every ghost themes review should acknowledge a basic tension: the more flexible a theme becomes, the easier it is to lose coherence.
Highly configurable themes can be appealing because they promise freedom. But too many options often produce uneven results, especially for solo operators who want to publish, not manage design systems. A better approach is focused flexibility. That means enough control to express your brand, while preserving the visual discipline that made the theme compelling in the first place.
For example, color settings, homepage section controls, typography choices, and menu variations can be valuable. But if every component can be restyled independently, the burden shifts back to the user. At that point, you are not buying clarity. You are buying a framework that still needs heavy decision-making.
For most publishers, the strongest themes set boundaries intelligently. They allow customization where brand identity matters most, while keeping the reading experience consistent across templates.
## What separates premium Ghost themes from generic ones
The difference is usually visible in small details.
A premium theme tends to have stronger spacing, more consistent card layouts, better mobile behavior, and cleaner handling of memberships and calls to action. It also tends to think through the full publishing journey. That includes the homepage, post page, tag archives, author pages, search, subscription moments, and navigation patterns.
Generic themes often get the hero section right and then lose precision deeper in the site. Archive pages feel repetitive, post templates lack rhythm, and signup areas seem bolted on. For a casual blog, that may be acceptable. For a publication trying to grow readership or paid memberships, it creates friction.
Support also matters more than many buyers expect. Theme quality is partly code quality, but it is also documentation, updates, and the ability to get unstuck quickly. When a founder or small team is actively supporting a theme, the product tends to improve in ways that align with actual publishing needs rather than abstract feature lists.
## A practical way to evaluate any Ghost theme
If you are comparing options, ignore the marketing copy for a moment and inspect the theme like a working publisher.
First, look at the demo’s post page more closely than the homepage. That is where your readers will spend their time. Check headline scale, paragraph width, image treatment, table support, pull quotes, footnotes if relevant, and how related content is handled.
Next, review the archive experience. A publication is not only its latest post. It is also a library. Tag pages, author pages, and homepage sections should make it easy to browse without feeling repetitive.
Then look at memberships and [newsletter integration](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-newsletter-theme/). Ghost’s native tools are one of the platform’s biggest advantages, so a theme should support signup flows naturally. If subscription prompts feel awkward or overly aggressive, that is usually a design issue, not just a marketing one.
After that, test mobile carefully. Many themes still collapse elegantly in theory and awkwardly in practice. Check navigation, reading comfort, image cropping, and [signup forms](https://themex.studio/responsive-subscription-form-on-mobile/) on a phone-sized screen.
Finally, assess the support ecosystem around the theme. Clear documentation, setup guidance, update history, and responsive support can save more time than any visual feature. That part is easy to underestimate before purchase and hard to ignore afterward.
## Who should care most about a ghost themes review
If you publish occasionally and treat your site as a simple online presence, almost any competent Ghost theme may be enough. But if content is central to your business, reputation, or audience growth, theme choice deserves more scrutiny.
Independent writers need a design system that elevates long-form work without demanding constant adjustments. Newsletter creators need a site that complements email publishing rather than feeling like a disconnected archive. Startups need editorial credibility without the cost and overhead of a custom build. Small media brands need enough structure to present categories, authors, and recurring content clearly.
In all of those cases, the theme is not decoration. It is publishing infrastructure with a visual point of view.
## A design-conscious standard for Ghost themes review
The strongest Ghost themes share a few traits. They are visually calm but not bland. They support branding without encouraging clutter. They respect typography, hierarchy, and pace. They are flexible enough for real editorial workflows and simple enough for non-technical users to manage confidently.
That is where a curated premium approach tends to stand out. Rather than chasing every possible layout style, well-made themes often commit to a clear editorial sensibility and execute it consistently. For many publishers, that restraint is exactly what creates a premium result. Themex Studio is one example of that approach, with themes that prioritize clean visual systems, polished reading experiences, and practical usability over novelty.
A final note worth keeping in mind: the best theme for your publication is not always the one with the most dramatic homepage. It is the one that makes your content feel sharper week after week, issue after issue, without asking you to fight the design to get there.
When a theme gives your writing structure, your brand clarity, and your workflow fewer obstacles, you notice it less over time. That is usually the clearest sign you chose well.
### Touch menu and layout fixes
URL: https://themex.studio/touch-menu-and-layout-fixes/
Last updated: 2026-07-06T15:35:00.000Z
- Fixed dropdown menu behavior on touch devices where first tap now opens dropdown and second tap navigates to the link
- Fixed footer layout wrapping incorrectly on medium-sized screens with improved responsive grid spacing
- Fixed hover state causing white border flash on post cards
- Hidden tag links on timeline pages when content source is a page rather than a post
### Native share button
URL: https://themex.studio/native-share-button/
Last updated: 2026-07-06T14:50:54.000Z
- Added native share button that uses the Ghost's built-in sharing capabilities for easier content sharing on mobile devices
### Timeline pages, blur-load, and more
URL: https://themex.studio/add-timel/
Last updated: 2026-07-05T15:28:40.000Z
- Added timeline page templates for displaying posts or pages chronologically in a single-page view
- Added blur-load feature for progressive image loading with smooth transitions
- Added announcement bar support via Ghost's navigation settings
### Ghost CMS Review for Modern Publishers
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-cms-review-for-modern-publishers/
Last updated: 2026-07-05T09:32:52.000Z
You can usually tell within a few minutes whether a publishing platform was built for writing or built to accommodate writing. That distinction matters, and it sits at the center of any honest ghost cms review. Ghost feels like a product made for people who publish regularly, care about presentation, and do not want their workflow buried under plugins, page builders, and dashboard clutter.
That does not mean it is the right fit for everyone. Ghost is excellent for some publishing businesses and a poor match for others. If you are comparing platforms for a newsletter, editorial site, creator brand, or startup publication, the real question is not whether Ghost is good. It is whether Ghost is good for the way you plan to publish, grow, and maintain your site.
## Ghost CMS review: what Ghost gets right
Ghost was built around a clear publishing model. Posts, newsletters, memberships, and clean site management are core to the product rather than add-ons. That focus gives the platform a different feel from a general-purpose CMS.
The editor is one of Ghost's strongest advantages. It is fast, visually clean, and easy to understand. You can draft, structure, and publish without feeling like the interface is competing for your attention. For writers and editorial teams, that matters more than feature bloat. A polished writing environment tends to produce a better publishing rhythm.
Performance is another strength. Ghost sites are typically fast, especially when compared with heavily customized WordPress installs. Speed is not just a technical win. It affects reader experience, search visibility, and the overall quality signal of your brand. A lightweight, focused platform gives you a cleaner foundation from day one.
Ghost also handles memberships and email newsletters unusually well. Instead of stitching together separate tools, you can publish content, send campaigns, and manage paid subscriptions in one system. For independent publishers and creators, that simplicity can remove a surprising amount of operational friction.
Then there is the design side. Ghost tends to attract people who care about typography, spacing, hierarchy, and editorial clarity. The platform works especially well when paired with a thoughtfully crafted theme. That combination can make a small publication look far more established than its size would suggest.
## Where Ghost feels limited
Ghost is focused, and focus always comes with boundaries. If you need a CMS that can become almost anything with enough extensions, Ghost may feel constrained.
The plugin ecosystem is much smaller than WordPress. For some teams, that is a feature because it reduces complexity and maintenance. For others, it is a limitation. If your roadmap includes niche integrations, advanced ecommerce, elaborate directory functionality, or highly customized dynamic content structures, you may find yourself working around the platform rather than with it.
Ghost is also less forgiving for users who expect endless no-code customization inside the dashboard. You can absolutely create a distinctive site, but the best results usually come from a strong theme and a clear content strategy rather than drag-and-drop experimentation. That is ideal for brand consistency, though not always ideal for people who want total visual freedom without touching code or hiring help.
There is also a learning curve around theme customization, especially for users coming from more mass-market website builders. Ghost is not difficult in the abstract, but it assumes a bit more intentionality. You choose your structure, your theme, your content model, and your publishing flow with more care. For many serious publishers, that is a strength. For casual site owners, it can feel less forgiving.
## Who Ghost is best for
Ghost is strongest when content is the product or at least the center of the business. That includes independent writers building a paid newsletter, editorial teams publishing a magazine-style site, startups running a publication to support brand authority, and creators who want a premium home for essays, interviews, podcasts, or thought leadership.
It is especially well suited to publishers who want fewer moving parts. If your ideal setup includes one system for content, email, and memberships, Ghost is compelling. If your priority is design clarity and a professional reading experience, it is even more compelling.
This is where theme quality matters. A generic theme can flatten the strengths of Ghost. A refined one can make the platform feel complete. For publishers who care about a minimal, polished presentation, the [right theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-premium-ghost-themes/) does more than improve aesthetics. It creates trust, improves readability, and helps your publication feel intentional from the first visit.
## Who should think twice
If your website is primarily a marketing site with a blog attached, Ghost may be more platform than you need in some areas and less flexible than you want in others. Traditional company websites with complex landing page needs, layered sales funnels, and broad third-party app dependencies may fit more naturally elsewhere.
The same applies to stores, membership communities with advanced forum features, and businesses that rely on a large ecosystem of specialized add-ons. Ghost can integrate with many tools, but it is not trying to be everything. That discipline is part of its appeal, though it does narrow the ideal use case.
Budget should also be part of the decision. Ghost itself is not expensive relative to its value, but a polished setup often involves paid hosting or managed plans, a premium theme, and some time spent on setup. For serious publishers, that is usually a sensible investment. For hobby projects, it may feel like more commitment than necessary.
## Design and editorial quality in this Ghost CMS review
One of the less discussed advantages of Ghost is how strongly it supports editorial restraint. Good publishing design is often about what you leave out. Clear hierarchy, deliberate whitespace, and a reading experience that does not compete with the content are harder to achieve than they look.
Ghost lends itself to that kind of design because the platform itself is not overloaded. You are not constantly working against unnecessary interface decisions. For publications that want to look credible, modern, and well edited, that matters.
This is also why theme selection should be taken seriously. In Ghost, the theme is not a cosmetic afterthought. It shapes your archive structure, content pacing, navigation clarity, membership presentation, and overall brand tone. A thoughtfully built theme can help non-technical users launch a site that feels custom, while still keeping the backend manageable.
For that reason, many publishers are better served by choosing a [premium Ghost-specific theme](https://themex.studio/guides/free-vs-premium-themes-what-pays-off/) than by spending weeks modifying a free one. The trade-off is straightforward: you pay more upfront for a cleaner foundation, better documentation, and usually a smoother path to launch.
## Ghost vs WordPress in practical terms
Most people searching for a ghost cms review are really comparing Ghost with WordPress. That comparison is useful, but only if you frame it correctly.
WordPress is broader. Ghost is narrower and more opinionated. WordPress gives you maximum extensibility. Ghost gives you a cleaner publishing system with fewer decisions to manage. WordPress can power almost anything. Ghost powers publishing exceptionally well.
Neither approach is automatically better. If you have a developer, a custom stack, and a long list of specialized requirements, WordPress may give you more room. If you are a writer, editor, founder, or lean team that wants to publish with clarity and maintain quality without constant upkeep, Ghost often feels more elegant.
There is also the maintenance question. WordPress can become a patchwork of themes, plugins, updates, and compatibility issues. Ghost's tighter product scope reduces that burden. That makes it attractive to teams who would rather spend time publishing than troubleshooting.
## Is Ghost worth it?
For the right publisher, yes. Ghost is worth it when your business benefits from speed, focus, strong editorial presentation, and a built-in path to memberships or newsletters. It is worth it when you want fewer tools, fewer technical decisions, and a site that feels premium without becoming custom-development heavy.
It is less worth it if your site needs to do many things unrelated to publishing. In those cases, the platform's elegance can start to feel restrictive.
A practical way to think about Ghost is this: it rewards clarity. If you know what you publish, who you serve, and how you want your brand to feel, Ghost gives you a refined system to support that vision. If your requirements are still scattered, the platform may expose that uncertainty rather than solve it.
For design-conscious publishers, that is often exactly the point. A focused CMS, paired with a [thoughtfully crafted theme](https://themex.studio/kyoto/) from a specialist studio like Themex, can create a publishing setup that feels calm, credible, and ready for long-term growth.
The best platform is rarely the one with the longest feature list. It is the one that helps you publish better work, more consistently, with less friction over time.
### Ghost Site Speed Optimization That Holds Up
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-site-speed-optimization-that-holds-up/
Last updated: 2026-07-03T09:47:39.000Z
A slow publishing site rarely feels slow only in one place. It shows up in the reader's first impression, in how quickly a post becomes readable, and in whether the design feels polished or slightly heavy. That is why ghost site speed optimization is not just a technical cleanup task. For publishers, writers, and editorial brands, it is part of the reading experience.
Ghost already gives you a strong foundation. It is leaner than many legacy CMS setups, and its publishing workflow stays focused. But a fast platform does not automatically produce a fast site. Theme decisions, image handling, custom scripts, membership features, and layout choices all affect what readers actually experience.
If you care about premium presentation, this is where the real work begins. The goal is not to strip your site down until it feels generic. The goal is to keep the design intentional while removing the friction that readers never asked for.
## What ghost site speed optimization really means
Most speed advice gets reduced to broad rules like compress your images or remove apps. Those are useful, but they miss the point. On a Ghost site, performance is the result of how your design system, content, and add-ons behave together.
A minimalist homepage with oversized uncompressed feature images can still feel sluggish. A visually rich editorial layout can still perform well if assets are loaded carefully and the theme is built with restraint. That tension matters because many creators assume speed and visual quality are opposites. They are not. Good speed work usually comes from better decisions, not fewer ambitions.
It helps to think in layers. The first layer is your hosting and Ghost setup. The second is your theme. The third is your content and media. The fourth is everything extra you add afterward, from analytics to embeds to custom code. If any one of those layers gets neglected, readers feel it.
## Start with the theme, not the plugin mindset
The cleanest performance gains often come before launch. If the theme is thoughtfully built, you spend less time compensating for problems later.
A well-made Ghost theme should keep its front-end footprint controlled. That means sensible asset loading, limited dependency bloat, responsive images, and layouts that are designed to look refined without forcing the browser to do unnecessary work. It should also avoid decorative complexity that creates visual noise and technical overhead at the same time.
This is where design quality and performance intersect. Themes with strong typography, balanced spacing, and flexible content blocks often feel more premium precisely because they are less cluttered. They let the page breathe. That usually helps speed as much as it helps aesthetics.
There is a trade-off, though. [Highly customized experiences](https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-theme-customization-guide/) can introduce weight fast. Custom sliders, animation libraries, social feeds, third-party comments, ad scripts, and advanced search layers may each seem reasonable on their own. Together, they can make a lightweight publishing stack feel surprisingly dense.
For most independent publishers, the better question is not Can I add this feature? It is Does this feature improve reading enough to justify its cost?
## Images are usually the biggest speed issue
On content-driven sites, images are often the first place performance slips. Not because Ghost handles them poorly, but because editorial teams and solo creators tend to upload whatever looks best on a desktop screen and move on.
That approach adds weight quickly. Hero images, post cards, author photos, gallery blocks, and feature visuals can all stack up across the homepage and archive pages. If they are oversized, readers pay the price before they read a single line.
Better image handling starts with restraint. Upload images that match realistic display needs rather than raw source dimensions. A feature image does not need to be far larger than the largest size it will actually render. Use consistent aspect ratios where possible so layouts remain stable as content loads. That improves perceived speed because the page feels composed earlier.
Format matters too. Modern formats can reduce file size substantially, but the practical result depends on your workflow and source material. Photography, illustrations, screenshots, and graphic-heavy assets behave differently. There is no single perfect export setting. The best process is repeatable, not obsessive.
If you run a publication with many contributors, speed also benefits from editorial standards. A simple internal rule for image dimensions and file weight prevents performance problems from becoming a content operations issue.
## Scripts deserve more suspicion than they usually get
A Ghost site can look elegantly simple while carrying a surprising number of third-party scripts behind the scenes. Analytics, tracking pixels, newsletter widgets, popups, comments, video embeds, ad tools, and social integrations all compete for attention in the browser.
This is often where ghost site speed optimization becomes less about code and more about discipline. Every extra script asks the browser to download, process, and sometimes delay something else. Even if one tool only adds a little weight, several tools together can affect loading, interactivity, and visual stability.
The hard part is that many of these tools promise measurable growth. Better attribution, better conversion tracking, better engagement, better insight. Sometimes that is true. But there is a point where measurement starts degrading the experience you are trying to measure.
If [your publication](https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-theme-buying-guide-for-publishers/) depends on a script, keep it. If a tool is optional, evaluate it against actual value. Did it improve signups, readership, or workflow enough to earn its place? If the answer is vague, it may be slowing the site for no meaningful return.
## Homepage ambition is where speed often slips
Writers and editorial brands often treat the homepage as a statement piece. That makes sense. It sets tone, establishes hierarchy, and gives the site its editorial identity. But it is also where performance issues tend to concentrate.
A homepage may include featured posts, multiple content sections, membership prompts, large imagery, author modules, testimonials, and embedded media. None of those are inherently wrong. The problem comes when the page tries to do everything at once.
A sharper homepage usually performs better both technically and editorially. Fewer sections, clearer hierarchy, and more disciplined visual pacing reduce load while making the site feel more confident. Readers do not need every option immediately. They need a strong sense of where to begin.
This is one reason thoughtful Ghost themes tend to age well. When the homepage system is designed with editorial restraint, it stays useful as the publication grows instead of becoming a container for every new idea.
## Performance is also a mobile design issue
Many site owners review their publication on a fast laptop and assume everything feels fine. Readers often arrive on mobile connections, mid-scroll, with less patience and less bandwidth.
That changes the standard. Mobile performance is not a secondary check. It is the real test for a large share of audiences. Large type can still perform well on mobile. Strong imagery can too. But spacing, media sizing, card density, sticky elements, and script behavior all need to be considered in smaller contexts.
A design that feels elegant on desktop can become heavy on mobile if it stacks too many visual modules before the content starts. This is especially true on homepages and tag archives. Speed work here is often design editing more than technical optimization.
## How to approach ghost site speed optimization without overengineering
The best process is measured and practical. Start by checking your homepage, a post page, and any key landing pages. Look for obvious weight sources first: oversized images, too many embeds, unnecessary scripts, and dense above-the-fold sections. Then review what comes from the theme and what comes from your content habits.
If the theme is lean but the content is inconsistent, fix the workflow. If the content is clean but the theme feels heavy, the design system may be doing too much. If both are solid and the site is still struggling, then it makes sense to inspect deeper technical factors.
This order matters. Many publishers overcomplicate performance because they start with advanced tactics before addressing visible causes. Usually, the fastest gains come from simplifying what readers actually load.
For creators using [premium Ghost themes](https://themex.studio/guides/are-premium-ghost-themes-worth-it/), speed is also part of theme selection. A thoughtfully crafted theme should not force you to choose between a premium editorial feel and respectable performance. In fact, the best ones support both. That balance is one of the reasons brands like Themex Studio focus so heavily on restraint, flexibility, and clean front-end decisions.
There is no perfect speed score that guarantees a better publication. A site is not successful because a testing tool says it is fast. It is successful when readers reach the story quickly, the interface feels calm, and the design never gets in the way of trust.
That is the standard worth designing for. A faster Ghost site should not feel emptier. It should feel more intentional.
### Why Ghost CMS for Publishers Works
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/why-ghost-cms-for-publishers-works/
Last updated: 2026-07-01T10:36:24.000Z
A slow, bloated publishing stack shows up in subtle ways first. Editors stop trusting the preview. Writers work around layout issues. Growth gets handed to plug-ins, patches, and duct-taped workflows that were never meant to live together. That is exactly why Ghost CMS for publishers keeps coming up in serious editorial conversations.
Ghost appeals to publishers who want fewer moving parts and more control over the reading experience. It was built around publishing, not adapted into it later. That difference affects everything from performance and memberships to how a story looks on the page.
## What makes Ghost CMS for publishers different
Most content systems can publish articles. That is no longer a meaningful benchmark. Publishers need a platform that respects editorial structure, supports recurring revenue, and keeps design from turning into a maintenance problem.
Ghost is strong here because its core priorities are unusually aligned with how modern independent publishing businesses operate. It combines a clean writing and editing environment with native newsletters, membership features, and a front end that can feel fast and focused rather than overloaded.
For a writer-led brand, that means less friction between drafting, publishing, emailing, and monetizing. For a small editorial team, it means fewer dependencies and fewer opportunities for the site to become a technical side project.
That does not mean Ghost is the right fit for every publisher. If your business relies on a huge extension marketplace, deeply customized enterprise workflows, or a large team of developers already invested in another ecosystem, the calculation changes. But for many independent publishers and lean media brands, Ghost gets very close to the ideal balance of simplicity and capability.
## Publishing workflow matters more than feature count
A common mistake when choosing a CMS is comparing feature lists in isolation. On paper, another platform may appear more flexible because it has more plug-ins, more settings, or more possible integrations. In practice, that flexibility can come with drag.
Ghost tends to feel lighter because the essentials are built into the product. You are not assembling a publishing system from parts that may or may not work well together six months from now. You are working inside a platform designed for posts, authors, tags, newsletters, subscriptions, and audience relationships from the start.
That matters because publishers do not just manage content. They manage cadence, consistency, trust, and reader attention. A CMS should support that rhythm quietly. It should not force every design update, membership tweak, or email workflow into a mini development project.
## Ghost is especially strong for modern revenue models
Advertising alone is no longer the default growth path for many publishers. Independent media brands, newsletters, niche editorial projects, and creator-led publications often rely on subscriptions, memberships, premium content, and direct audience ownership.
This is where Ghost stands out. Memberships and email publishing are not afterthoughts. They are part of the operating model. You can create public and gated content, manage subscriber tiers, and build a publication that is not entirely dependent on third-party platforms to reach readers.
That is strategically valuable. Publishers who own their audience have more control over pricing, positioning, and long-term resilience. A site should not just present content well. It should help turn attention into a durable business.
Still, there are trade-offs. Ghost is not trying to be everything for everyone. If your business model depends on a sprawling commerce setup, advanced marketplace mechanics, or highly specialized enterprise integrations, you may feel those boundaries. But if your model is built around writing, editorial trust, and member-supported publishing, Ghost is unusually well matched.
## Design quality is not cosmetic
For publishers, design is often treated as branding polish. It is more fundamental than that. Design shapes readability, hierarchy, trust, and the perceived value of the publication itself.
A cluttered theme can make strong writing feel disposable. Weak typography can flatten authority. Inconsistent spacing, awkward archive layouts, and heavy interface noise can make readers work harder than they should.
Ghost gives publishers a strong foundation, but the theme layer matters enormously. This is where many sites either look editorially credible or generic. A well-crafted [Ghost theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-magazine-theme/) should do more than look minimal. It should organize long-form content clearly, support different types of posts, present newsletters elegantly, and make navigation feel intuitive without adding visual weight.
For design-conscious publishers, that is often the deciding factor. They do not just need a CMS that works. They need a publishing environment that helps the work look considered from day one.
## Where Ghost fits best
Ghost works particularly well for independent writers building paid publications, founder-led brands publishing thought leadership, small editorial teams running lean operations, and creators who want a site and newsletter system in one place.
It also makes sense for startups with content-heavy marketing strategies. If your publication is part of how your brand earns trust, design and speed are not secondary concerns. A focused CMS with a clear editorial structure can be more useful than a broader platform with endless configuration.
This is one reason Ghost has become attractive to publishers who care about presentation. The platform has enough flexibility to support a distinct brand, but it does not force complexity where simplicity would serve better.
## Where Ghost may not be the best choice
It is worth being precise here. Ghost is not automatically right just because it is clean and publishing-focused.
If your team wants a massive third-party ecosystem, highly modular site-building tools, or deep compatibility with legacy marketing infrastructure, another platform may fit better. If your operation includes many non-editorial page types, advanced multilingual architecture, or custom functionality that extends far beyond publishing, Ghost can still work, but the setup may require more custom development than expected.
There is also a mindset fit. Ghost tends to reward clarity. Publishers who want a more restrained, content-first system usually appreciate that. Teams looking for endless on-the-fly customization sometimes interpret that same restraint as limitation.
The better question is not whether Ghost can do everything. It is whether it does the right things well for your publishing model.
## Choosing a Ghost setup that actually supports growth
The platform decision is only part of the equation. The theme, structure, and launch approach shape the result just as much.
For publishers, a good Ghost setup should make homepage curation easy, keep article templates clean, handle featured content with restraint, and support memberships without visual friction. Archive pages should be useful, not decorative. Navigation should help readers move across issues, sections, or topics naturally. Email capture should feel integrated into the publication rather than pasted on top.
This is also where support matters. A premium theme is not just a visual file. It is a publishing framework. Good documentation saves time, but responsive guidance can save a launch. For non-technical publishers especially, the difference between a theme that looks good in a demo and one that feels manageable in real use is significant.
That is why many buyers look for [Ghost-specific theme providers](https://themex.studio/guides/why-a-ghost-cms-theme-bundle-makes-sense/) rather than generic template sellers. A theme built with editorial use cases in mind tends to age better. It anticipates the realities of publishing instead of treating articles like just another content block.
## Why the Ghost ecosystem appeals to design-conscious publishers
Ghost has developed a loyal following among publishers who want a more refined web presence. Part of that is technical, but part of it is cultural. The platform attracts people who value clarity, speed, writing, and a closer relationship with readers.
That naturally raises expectations for design. A publication on Ghost should feel intentional. Clean typography, strong spacing, [flexible content modules](https://themex.studio/hero-images-sidebar-toggle-and-content-flexibility/), and thoughtful membership touchpoints are not luxury details. They are part of what makes a publisher look credible.
This is where a studio like Themex can be relevant. When a theme is designed specifically for editorial brands, the result is usually less about decoration and more about structure, readability, and confidence. For publishers, that is the difference that readers notice even when they cannot name it.
## The real value of Ghost CMS for publishers
The strongest case for Ghost is not that it has more features. It is that it reduces the distance between writing, publishing, design, and revenue.
For the right publisher, that creates momentum. You spend less time managing software decisions and more time shaping the publication itself. The site feels faster. The brand feels sharper. The path from reader to subscriber is clearer.
That kind of focus is hard to fake. If your publication depends on trust, consistency, and a polished editorial presence, Ghost is worth serious attention - not because it promises everything, but because it is built to do the essential work well.
Choose the platform that leaves more room for your publishing to mature. In many cases, that is the one that stays out of the way while making the work look its best.
### How to Create a Writer Website on Ghost
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-create-a-writer-website-on-ghost/
Last updated: 2026-06-29T11:51:27.000Z
A writer website usually fails in one of two ways. It either looks polished but gives readers nowhere clear to go, or it tries to do everything at once and buries the writing under clutter. If you want to create writer website Ghost users will actually enjoy running, the goal is simpler: build a site that makes reading easy, your brand recognizable, and publishing sustainable.
Ghost is a strong fit for that kind of site because it was built around publishing rather than general-purpose page building. For writers, that matters. You are not forcing a blog into a business template or patching together plugins just to make email signup, memberships, or clean editorial layouts work. The platform starts closer to what an independent writer, newsletter operator, or small publication already needs.
## Why writers choose Ghost
A good writer website is not just a homepage with a headshot and a few links. It is an editorial system. It should present your work clearly, support regular publishing, and create trust at a glance.
Ghost does this well because its core experience is focused. The editor is clean. Posts, newsletters, tags, authors, and memberships are native concepts rather than add-ons. The reading experience tends to feel lighter and more intentional than what many writers end up with on more bloated platforms.
That does not mean Ghost is right for everyone. If your site depends on an elaborate app ecosystem or highly custom business logic, another platform may give you more flexibility. But if your priority is publishing strong content with a premium presentation, Ghost is usually the more elegant choice.
## How to create a writer website on Ghost with the right foundation
Before theme selection, fonts, or homepage blocks, define the job of the site. This step sounds obvious, but it shapes every design choice that follows.
Some writers need a personal brand site with essays, a short bio, and a newsletter signup. Others need a publication-style homepage with featured stories, topic sections, and multiple content streams. A novelist may want books, speaking, and press in the foreground. A startup founder writing thought leadership may need articles, archive pages, and subscriber conversion to sit at the center.
Those are all writer websites, but they should not look identical.
Start by deciding what readers should do within the first ten seconds. Read your latest piece? Subscribe? Browse by topic? Hire you? Buy a book? If you cannot answer that clearly, your site structure will feel vague no matter how refined the design is.
Once the main action is clear, build around a small set of essential pages. In most cases, that means a homepage, an about page, a writing archive, a contact page, and perhaps one or two strategic landing pages. More than that is often unnecessary early on.
### Choose a theme that respects the writing
This is where many writer websites lose their edge. They treat the theme as decoration instead of infrastructure.
A strong Ghost theme should give your content hierarchy, typographic clarity, and enough flexibility to reflect your brand without forcing you into endless customization. Clean post templates, readable archives, thoughtful spacing, and a homepage that can spotlight key work matter more than flashy effects.
Minimal design is especially effective for writers, but minimal does not mean empty. It means every visual decision supports reading. Good restraint helps readers focus on your words while still making the site feel distinct and considered.
If you are choosing between themes, evaluate them the way an editor would. Look at article pages first, then archive pages, then navigation, then signup placements. A homepage demo can be persuasive, but your post template is where readers actually spend time.
## Structure your content like an editorial product
To create writer website Ghost visitors can navigate easily, think beyond chronological posting. Readers rarely land on your site already understanding your body of work. They need cues.
Tags and content categories can do a lot of heavy lifting here. If you write across a few distinct themes, organize them visibly. A writer covering culture, technology, and media should not force every article into one undifferentiated feed. Topic grouping helps readers find what they care about and shows range without confusion.
[Featured posts](https://themex.studio/showcase-specific-posts-on-your-homepage/) are useful too, especially if your best work is not your newest work. Your site should not make timeless essays disappear just because you published something short last week.
The archive deserves more attention than most writers give it. A clean archive page can quietly become one of the most valuable parts of the site. It signals seriousness, makes binge reading easier, and gives older pieces a longer life.
### Keep navigation calm
Writers often overestimate how much menu detail visitors want. A crowded navigation bar creates friction before anyone reads a sentence.
In most cases, five or six top-level links are enough. Home, About, Writing, Newsletter, Books or Work, and Contact will cover most needs. If your publication model is more complex, use section pages strategically rather than stuffing every destination into the main menu.
Calm navigation is not just cleaner visually. It also makes the brand feel more assured.
## Design choices that build credibility
Writers do not need aggressive branding, but they do need coherence. Readers make fast judgments about quality, and visual inconsistency can undercut strong work.
Typography matters most. [Choose fonts](https://themex.studio/custom-fonts/) that feel editorial, readable, and aligned with your voice. Long-form essays can carry slightly more character. Journalistic or analytical writing usually benefits from a more neutral, highly legible system. What matters is consistency across headings, body text, spacing, and image treatment.
Color should be selective. A restrained palette often feels more premium than an overactive one. Use color to guide attention, not to decorate every surface.
Imagery is optional for many writers. If your work is text-first, you do not need to force stock photography into the layout. In fact, too many generic visuals can cheapen an otherwise thoughtful site. A simple portrait, a few strong featured images, or no imagery at all can be the better editorial choice.
## Use Ghost features that support growth
One reason writers choose Ghost is that publishing and audience-building live in the same system. That changes how you should think about the site.
Email signup should not feel bolted on. It should be part of the reading journey. Place it where reader intent is strongest: within the homepage, after posts, and on any dedicated newsletter page. The message should be clear about what readers will get and how often.
If you plan to offer paid subscriptions or members-only writing, Ghost makes that path cleaner than many alternatives. But do not rush into memberships just because the feature exists. Paid offerings work best when your free content already has a clear perspective and a consistent publishing rhythm.
Authors with multiple formats can also benefit from Ghost's flexibility. Essays, notes, interviews, issue-based newsletters, and evergreen resource pages can coexist well when the theme supports distinct content blocks and archives.
### Don’t overbuild on day one
The temptation is understandable. New site launches often come with ideas for resource libraries, media kits, speaking pages, lead magnets, and custom taxonomies. Some of that may be useful later. Very little of it is required to launch a strong writer website.
A better approach is to publish with a lean structure, then expand based on actual reader behavior. Which pages get attention? Which topics attract subscribers? Which posts keep getting shared? Let the site grow from evidence, not ambition alone.
That is also where a thoughtfully crafted Ghost theme pays off. It gives you enough flexibility to evolve without turning every new section into a design problem.
## Common mistakes when you create a writer website on Ghost
The first mistake is making the homepage about you instead of your work. Your biography matters, but readers usually want proof before backstory. Lead with writing, then give context.
The second is treating the site like a static portfolio. A writer website should feel alive. Even if you publish slowly, the structure should suggest an active editorial presence.
The third is ignoring mobile reading. Many visitors will meet your work on a phone first. Test headline lengths, spacing, navigation, and signup forms accordingly.
The fourth is choosing a theme based only on visual style. A beautiful demo means less if the article page feels cramped, the archive is weak, or customization becomes a chore. This is one reason writers often gravitate toward specialist theme makers such as Themex Studio, where editorial design and Ghost-specific usability are treated as part of the same product.
Finally, avoid writing copy that sounds inflated. If your site promises insights, perspective, or thought leadership without showing actual substance, the design cannot save it. Strong websites support strong writing. They do not replace it.
## What a good launch actually looks like
A [successful launch](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-launch-a-ghost-publication/) is rarely dramatic. It is a site with a clear voice, a clean structure, a few strong published pieces, and a signup path that feels natural. It loads quickly, reads well, and makes a confident first impression.
That is enough.
You do not need a massive archive before going live. You do not need every page perfected. You need a publishing environment that feels credible now and can mature with your work over time.
For writers, that is the real value of Ghost. It gives you a calmer system for serious publishing. When the structure is right and the design is handled with restraint, your website stops feeling like a side project and starts behaving like an editorial home.
Build the version that supports the work you are ready to publish now, then let the quality of that work earn the next layer.
### How to Build an Editorial Website That Feels Premium
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-build-an-editorial-website-that-feels-premium/
Last updated: 2026-06-27T09:20:10.000Z
Most editorial websites do not fail because the writing is weak. They fail because the presentation quietly undercuts the work. The homepage feels crowded, the article pages feel generic, and the overall structure gives readers no reason to trust that the publication knows what it is. If you are figuring out how to build editorial website that feels credible from day one, the real job is not adding more features. It is creating clarity.
An editorial site should make writing feel considered. That starts with a clear content model, disciplined visual choices, and a publishing system that supports consistency over time. Whether you are launching a writer-led publication, a niche media brand, or a startup content hub, the strongest editorial websites are usually simpler than they look.
## How to build editorial website with the right foundation
Before you choose a theme, typeface, or homepage layout, define what kind of publication you are building. This sounds obvious, but it is where many sites go off track. An independent essay publication needs a different structure than a magazine-style brand newsroom. A paid newsletter archive has different priorities than a fast-moving startup publication.
Start by answering three questions. What are you publishing most often? Who is it for? What should a reader do after finishing one piece?
Those answers shape everything else. If your site is built around long-form essays, article readability should drive design decisions. If your publication relies on recurring columns or multiple contributors, taxonomy and author pages matter more. If subscriptions are central, your editorial experience needs to support conversion without turning every page into a sales pitch.
This is also the moment to decide what not to include. Not every editorial website needs a resource hub, a podcast section, featured video, or a dozen homepage modules. Restraint is part of the design.
## Choose a CMS that fits editorial publishing
If your goal is to publish consistently without wrestling with the platform, your CMS matters more than most people admit. For editorial sites, the best setup is usually one that keeps the writing workflow clean while giving you enough control over structure, memberships, newsletters, and design.
Ghost is a strong fit for this kind of work because it is built around publishing. It handles posts, tags, authors, newsletters, and memberships in a way that feels native rather than bolted on. That matters when you are running an editorial brand and need the backend to support momentum, not interrupt it.
WordPress can still make sense if you need a large plugin ecosystem or highly custom integrations. But there is a trade-off. More flexibility often means more maintenance, more interface clutter, and more chances to compromise the reading experience with unnecessary add-ons.
For most independent publishers and lean teams, simpler is better. You want a platform that helps you publish polished work quickly, manage your archive easily, and keep the front end focused on the content.
## Design for reading first, branding second
Many founders approach editorial design like brand design. They focus on logos, colors, and visual personality before they establish the reading experience. On an editorial website, that order should be reversed.
Your brand is expressed through pacing, typography, whitespace, image treatment, and consistency. A refined editorial site does not need to shout. It needs to feel composed.
Typography does most of the [heavy lifting](https://themex.studio/native-custom-fonts-support/). Body text should be comfortable over long sessions. Headlines should have contrast without feeling theatrical. Spacing should help readers move through the page naturally. When those basics are handled well, the site immediately feels more premium.
Color should support hierarchy, not compete with it. One accent color is often enough. Too many editorial sites borrow startup SaaS habits - bright calls to action everywhere, oversized UI elements, and heavy card treatments that make articles feel like products. Editorial design works better when the interface steps back.
Imagery needs the same discipline. If you use photography or illustration, establish a consistent art direction early. Mixing polished portraits, abstract stock graphics, screenshots, and random thumbnails usually weakens the publication's identity.
## Build the core pages before you expand
A strong editorial website does not need many page types, but the ones it has should be thoughtfully crafted. In most cases, you need a homepage, article template, archive or section pages, an about page, and a signup or membership flow.
The homepage should not try to do everything. Its job is to orient readers quickly. Show what the publication covers, surface your strongest recent work, and make subscription or follow options easy to find. If every article is treated as equally important, nothing stands out.
The article page deserves the most attention. This is where trust is built. Focus on title hierarchy, metadata, image handling, paragraph width, heading styles, pull quotes if you use them, and related content placement. A good article template feels invisible in the best way. It helps readers stay with the piece.
Archive pages matter more than many teams expect. Once your content library grows, readers need ways to browse by topic, series, or author without friction. This is especially important for evergreen editorial brands where the archive is part of the product.
The about page should explain the editorial point of view, not just the company background. Readers want to know what makes your publication worth returning to. A short, well-written editorial mission often does more than a long brand story.
## Use a theme that gives you structure, not clutter
This is where many builds either become elegant or get messy fast. A good editorial theme should give you a coherent visual system, flexible homepage options, strong typography, and sensible defaults for post layouts, navigation, and content blocks.
The wrong theme creates work. It forces you to over-customize, patch design inconsistencies, or live with layouts that were clearly built for another kind of site. General-purpose templates often promise flexibility, but flexibility without a clear editorial opinion usually leads to visual drift.
If you are [using Ghost](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-build-an-editorial-site-in-ghost/), [choose a theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-premium-ghost-themes/) designed specifically for publishing rather than one that simply includes a blog. There is a difference. Editorial-first themes tend to handle article rhythm, tag architecture, featured stories, and membership prompts with more care. That saves time and preserves quality.
Themex Studio, for example, is built around that exact principle: minimal, flexible Ghost themes that let written content carry the brand without burying it under interface noise.
## Create a publishing system, not just a website
If you want the site to stay sharp six months after launch, you need a system behind it. That means defining how stories are drafted, formatted, categorized, reviewed, illustrated, and promoted.
Start with editorial conventions. Decide how you will write headlines, excerpts, bylines, image captions, and section labels. Establish rules for featured images and content hierarchy. These details feel small until five different posts handle them five different ways.
Then look at workflow. If you are publishing solo, the process can be lightweight. If you have multiple contributors, even a small team benefits from documented standards. Consistency is one of the main things readers perceive as professionalism.
Newsletter integration should also be planned early. For many modern editorial brands, the site and newsletter are not separate channels. They are part of the same publishing system. The best setup lets a story live comfortably on the website while also supporting email distribution and subscriber growth.
## Make credibility visible
Readers make fast judgments. Within a few seconds, they decide whether a publication feels serious, current, and worth their attention. Credibility is not just about having good writing. It is about making signals of care visible.
That includes clear navigation, polished mobile layouts, author attribution, updated publishing dates, and clean formatting. It also includes performance. If the site feels slow, unstable, or bloated, it chips away at trust.
Mobile deserves special scrutiny. A large share of readers will first encounter your publication on a phone, not a desktop monitor. Long titles, dense navigation, oversized media, and cramped text can make an otherwise strong editorial design feel careless on smaller screens.
There is also a strategic trade-off here. Adding more homepage components can help discovery, but too many modules often make the brand feel busy. Minimalism is not about having fewer elements for style points. It is about making the important elements easier to believe.
## Launch with enough, then refine with evidence
Perfection is a tempting trap for editorial brands because design taste tends to run high. But the smartest launch is usually not the most elaborate one. It is the one with a strong foundation and enough flexibility to evolve.
Start with your core content types, a disciplined homepage, a strong article template, and a publishing workflow you can actually sustain. Then pay attention to how readers move through the site. Which stories earn subscriptions? Which sections get ignored? Where do people drop off?
That kind of refinement produces a better publication than guessing your way into complexity on day one. A thoughtful editorial website should feel composed, but it should also stay adaptable as the brand sharpens.
If you are building one now, aim for a site that respects the writing, supports the reader, and makes your point of view unmistakable. That is usually what feels premium in the end.
### Why a Ghost CMS Theme Bundle Makes Sense
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/why-a-ghost-cms-theme-bundle-makes-sense/
Last updated: 2026-06-25T09:59:28.000Z
Choosing a theme for Ghost rarely feels like a small decision. The design you pick shapes how readers experience your writing, how your publication is perceived, and how much friction you face every time you publish. That is why a ghost cms theme bundle can be a smarter buy than a single template, especially if you are building a serious editorial site, newsletter brand, or creator-led publication.
A bundle changes the decision from picking one look to investing in a design system with options. For independent publishers and lean teams, that matters. You may start with a newsletter, then add a podcast page, a members area, a startup magazine layout, or a more personal editorial direction six months later. If your first purchase is too narrow, you either live with the mismatch or pay again.
## What a ghost cms theme bundle actually gives you
At a basic level, a ghost cms theme bundle gives you access to multiple themes under one purchase. But the real value is not just quantity. It is range.
A well-considered bundle gives you different publishing expressions built for [different kinds of brands](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-publisher-website-themes/). One theme may feel [clean and minimal](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-minimal-ghost-theme/) for a solo writer. Another may be better suited to a startup publication with stronger hierarchy and denser content structure. Another may lean more visual, which helps if your brand uses art direction, portfolios, or richer feature stories.
That flexibility matters because Ghost sites are rarely static. A publication evolves. Categories expand. Membership strategy shifts. A homepage that worked when you had ten posts may feel thin when you have two hundred. A theme bundle gives you room to adjust without starting from zero.
There is also a practical advantage. When the themes come from the same studio, the quality bar is usually more consistent. Documentation, settings logic, customization patterns, and support tend to feel familiar across the collection. That lowers the learning curve if you decide to switch themes later.
## When a bundle is better than buying one theme
A single theme still makes sense if your needs are very clear and unlikely to change. If you know exactly what your site should look like, and you have no plans to expand beyond that structure, buying one strong theme can be the right call.
But many Ghost users are not operating with that level of certainty. Writers test newsletter formats. Founders reposition media brands. Creators refine their visual identity after launch, not before it. In those cases, a bundle is less about collecting designs and more about buying flexibility at a lower long-term cost.
This is especially true if you are comparing the [bundle price](https://themex.studio/bundle/) against the cost of purchasing two themes over time. The math often becomes obvious quickly. Even if you only use one theme now and another later, the bundle can still be the more efficient option.
There is also the question of experimentation. With one theme, you tend to force your content into the structure you bought. With a bundle, you can choose the structure that best supports the content you are actually producing.
### The hidden cost of choosing too early
The most expensive theme choice is not always the highest-priced one. Often it is the theme you outgrow after launch.
That happens when a design looks attractive in a demo but does not hold up in real publishing conditions. Maybe the homepage is too dependent on large visuals. Maybe the archive layouts are weak. Maybe the typography feels stylish at first but lacks enough discipline for long-form reading. Maybe your brand becomes more premium, but the site still feels generic.
A bundle softens that risk. It gives you alternatives before you need them.
## Design range matters more than feature overload
When people compare themes, they often focus on features first. Search, memberships, multiple post formats, navigation options, cards, custom pages. Those things matter, but in Ghost, most serious premium themes cover the core publishing needs.
What separates a stronger bundle is design range with restraint. You do not need five themes that all look almost the same. You need distinct editorial directions that still share a thoughtful standard.
That could mean one theme built around quiet typography and whitespace, another with stronger magazine-style structure, and another designed for personal branding or startup storytelling. The point is not endless variation. The point is having meaningful options without unnecessary complexity.
This is where buyers should be selective. A bundle with too many inconsistent products can create more confusion than value. You want themes that feel intentional, polished, and usable by non-technical teams. The best bundles are curated, not crowded.
## How to evaluate a Ghost CMS theme bundle
If you are considering a Ghost CMS theme bundle, look past the headline discount. Pricing matters, but it should not be the only reason you buy.
Start with the editorial quality of the themes themselves. Look closely at typography, spacing, card design, article layouts, archive clarity, and how each theme handles featured content. Good Ghost design is not about decoration. It is about giving written content structure and presence.
Next, pay attention to flexibility. Can the themes support a newsletter publication, a content brand, and a more traditional blog without feeling hacked together? Do they offer enough customization to align with your brand while staying simple to manage?
Support is another serious factor. Theme files alone are not the product. The real product is the implementation experience. Clear documentation, ongoing updates, and responsive support can save hours of frustration, especially if you are not a developer.
Finally, consider the consistency of the studio behind the bundle. If the themes share a design philosophy and a predictable user experience, switching between them later will feel much less disruptive.
### Questions worth asking before you buy
A few questions can quickly clarify whether a bundle is actually useful for your project.
Do you expect your site to evolve over the next year? Do you run multiple Ghost sites or plan to? Are you still refining your brand direction? Do you care about having options that feel editorially distinct, not just cosmetically different?
If the answer to even two of those is yes, a bundle starts to look less like an upsell and more like a sensible publishing asset.
## Who benefits most from a bundle
Not every buyer gets the same value from this type of purchase. The strongest fit is usually one of three groups.
Independent publishers benefit because they often grow in public. Their site changes as their audience, format, and business model mature. A bundle gives them room to keep the design aligned with that growth.
Creators and writers benefit because they tend to care deeply about presentation but do not want to spend weeks customizing a template that was never quite right. Access to multiple polished options saves time and reduces compromise.
Lean startup teams benefit because a publication can serve several functions at once - thought leadership, product storytelling, newsletter growth, and brand credibility. A bundle makes it easier to choose a theme that fits the current stage without boxing the team into one visual approach.
## Where the trade-offs are
A bundle is not automatically the better purchase. If you only want one specific theme and know you will never use another, then the extra access may go unused. Paying for optionality only makes sense if you are likely to use it.
There is also a decision cost. More choice can slow people down. If you are prone to second-guessing every design decision, a bundle can become an excuse to keep tweaking instead of publishing. That is not a theme problem. It is a workflow problem, but it is still worth acknowledging.
The answer is to treat the bundle as strategic flexibility, not endless possibility. Pick the best-fit theme for now. Keep the others as future options, not distractions.
## Why this model fits Ghost particularly well
Ghost attracts users who care about publishing quality. They want a clean reading experience, strong membership tools, and a platform that respects content. That audience tends to notice design details. They also tend to outgrow generic templates quickly.
Because of that, the bundle model fits Ghost better than it might fit some broader website platforms. Ghost users are often building something more editorial, more content-led, and more identity-driven. They do not just need a site that functions. They need one that reads well, feels credible, and reflects the tone of the publication.
A thoughtfully crafted bundle supports that kind of growth. It gives you the ability to stay within a coherent design ecosystem while changing the expression of your brand over time. For many publishers, that is the difference between a site that merely launches and one that continues to feel right a year later.
Studios like Themex Studio have leaned into this idea by treating themes less like isolated templates and more like a curated publishing toolkit. That approach makes sense for Ghost users who want premium design without the cost and delay of a custom build.
A good theme should make publishing feel clearer. A good bundle should do the same, just with more room to grow. If your publication is evolving, that extra room is often where the real value lives.
### How to Build an Editorial Site in Ghost
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-build-an-editorial-site-in-ghost/
Last updated: 2026-06-23T10:25:51.000Z
A strong editorial site rarely fails because of writing alone. More often, it falls apart in presentation - weak hierarchy, inconsistent layouts, poor navigation, and a reading experience that feels improvised instead of considered. If you want to build editorial site Ghost projects that feel credible from day one, the goal is not adding more features. It is creating a clear visual system that helps every story feel worth reading.
Ghost is a smart choice for editorial publishing because it keeps the publishing workflow focused. You are not wrestling with endless plugins or trying to force a general-purpose website builder into behaving like a publication. But that simplicity only helps if you make good decisions early - about structure, design, and how readers move through your content.
## What makes an editorial site feel editorial
An editorial site is not just a blog with better fonts. It has a point of view in the design as much as in the writing. Articles need rhythm. Sections need logic. The homepage should suggest curation, not just chronology.
That distinction matters because many Ghost sites launch with good intentions and generic execution. A publication may have excellent essays, reporting, or commentary, yet still look thin if every page uses the same visual weight and every post is treated as identical. Editorial design creates contrast. It tells readers what matters first, what supports the main story, and what kind of publication they are reading.
That is why the best editorial builds in Ghost usually begin with a few practical questions. Are you publishing one flagship article each week, or many shorter stories each day? Is your brand driven by a named writer, a small team, or a broader media identity? Do you want the site to feel like a magazine, a journal, a modern newspaper, or a newsletter-led publication with an archive attached? The right answers shape everything that follows.
## Build editorial site Ghost projects around content structure first
Before choosing a theme or adjusting colors, define the structure of the publication. In Ghost, content architecture is one of the biggest drivers of perceived quality.
Start with sections. For some publishers, a simple split between Features, Essays, News, and Interviews is enough. For others, tags can handle more granular categorization while top-level navigation stays restrained. The mistake is trying to expose every content type in the main menu. Readers do not need a sitemap disguised as navigation.
Editorial sites work best when the top-level structure is selective. A few clear sections create confidence. They also make the homepage easier to design because you can feature stories with intention instead of filling space with everything at once.
Equally important is deciding how much emphasis to place on authors. Some publications should foreground a single founder or writer. Others benefit from a more institutional identity where the publication itself leads. Ghost supports both approaches well, but the design should reflect the model. If you are building around writer identity, author pages and profile components deserve more attention. If the publication is the main brand, those elements can be quieter.
## Choosing the right Ghost theme for an editorial site
The theme does a great deal of editorial work. It controls how hierarchy appears, how type behaves across devices, and how flexible your layouts feel without becoming chaotic.
When evaluating a theme for an editorial build, look beyond surface style. Minimal does not always mean editorial, and visually loud does not always mean premium. What matters is whether the theme gives your content enough structure to feel composed.
Typography is the first test. Long-form articles need calm, readable type with sensible spacing. Headings should create momentum without overpowering the page. Body text should feel comfortable at length. If you publish serious writing, this matters more than any animation or decorative flourish.
Then look at homepage flexibility. A strong editorial homepage often combines a lead story, secondary stories, and section-based groupings. If the layout only supports a simple reverse-chronological feed, the site may feel more like a personal blog than a publication. That is not always wrong, but it should be a deliberate choice.
Post templates matter too. Ask whether articles can support strong feature images, pull quotes, galleries, or varied pacing within the reading experience. Not every publication needs these elements, but editorial brands usually benefit from some room for visual modulation.
A thoughtfully crafted Ghost theme can dramatically reduce setup friction here. That is part of the appeal of specialized publishers tools from brands like Themex Studio - they are designed around publishing clarity rather than generic website complexity.
## Design for hierarchy, not decoration
Editorial sophistication comes from restraint. Readers notice hierarchy before they notice embellishment.
That means your design decisions should clarify importance. A featured story should actually feel featured. Supporting stories should recede without disappearing. Section labels, metadata, bylines, and dates should be useful, not noisy.
Color should play a controlled role. Many editorial sites benefit from a largely neutral foundation with one or two accent colors used consistently. This keeps attention on the content while giving the brand a distinct tone. Too many colors usually weaken perceived authority.
Imagery is another area where discipline matters. If your publication depends on illustration or photography, set clear standards for aspect ratios, crops, and image treatment. If visuals are inconsistent, the site quickly starts to feel patched together. Ghost makes image-heavy publishing straightforward, but consistency is still your job.
The same principle applies to spacing. Good editorial design leaves enough room for text to breathe. Crowded sidebars, dense homepage stacks, and oversized promo blocks often make a publication feel more commercial and less considered. There is always a trade-off between promoting more content and preserving focus. In most cases, focus wins.
## Build a homepage that feels curated
The homepage is where many editorial sites lose their edge. Instead of acting like an editor, they act like an archive.
A curated homepage tells readers where to start. It highlights what is new, what is significant, and what defines the publication. On Ghost, this can be done elegantly with [featured posts](https://themex.studio/showcase-specific-posts-on-your-homepage/), tag organization, and theme sections that create variation without overwhelming the page.
Think in layers. The first screen should establish identity and surface your strongest current story or stories. Below that, readers can move into sections, recurring series, or recent articles. If everything appears with equal visual weight, nothing feels selected.
This is especially important for smaller publications. If you publish less frequently, curation helps your site feel active even when your volume is intentionally limited. A well-composed homepage can make a weekly publication feel sharper than a daily one with no editorial structure.
## The publishing workflow should stay simple
One reason people choose Ghost is that it keeps the writing and publishing experience clean. Protect that advantage.
Do not overcomplicate your workflow with too many custom content rules unless your operation genuinely needs them. If you are a solo writer or lean team, simplicity is usually a strategic advantage. A publication that publishes consistently in a clean system will outperform a more ambitious setup that becomes hard to maintain.
Create a repeatable editorial process. Decide how headlines are written, how feature images are chosen, how excerpts are handled, and what metadata appears on every article. These small standards create cohesion over time.
It also helps to think about [memberships and newsletters](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-set-up-ghost-membership/) early, even if they are not your immediate focus. Ghost handles both well, but the site design should anticipate them. If you may [introduce subscriptions later](https://themex.studio/guides/is-ghost-good-for-newsletters-yes-with-caveats/), avoid a layout that leaves no graceful place for sign-up prompts or member-specific pathways.
## Common mistakes when you build an editorial site in Ghost
The first mistake is confusing simplicity with emptiness. Minimal design still needs hierarchy, pacing, and intent. A sparse layout with no editorial logic will feel unfinished, not refined.
The second is copying media brands with much larger teams. Dense homepages, many content rails, and complex nav systems can work for high-volume publishers. For independent writers and small editorial teams, they often create maintenance problems and visual clutter.
The third is treating the theme as the whole strategy. Even an excellent Ghost theme cannot define your sections, establish your voice, or decide what deserves emphasis. It gives you a framework. The editorial judgment still comes from you.
The better approach is to launch with a narrow, polished system. A few content types. A clear homepage. Strong article templates. Consistent visual standards. Then expand only when the publication has earned more complexity.
## A better way to think about growth
When you build editorial site Ghost setups, the most useful question is not what else the site can do. It is whether the current design helps readers trust the work.
Trust is built in very practical ways: clear navigation, readable typography, consistent branding, disciplined layout choices, and a homepage that feels edited rather than automated. These details shape how writing is perceived before a single paragraph is read.
A polished editorial site does not need to be large. It needs to feel intentional. If each page suggests that someone cared about the reading experience, the publication already has an advantage. Start there, keep the system focused, and let the quality of the work carry more of the weight.
### Free vs Premium Themes: What Pays Off?
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/free-vs-premium-themes-what-pays-off/
Last updated: 2026-06-21T10:23:22.000Z
A theme decision rarely feels expensive at the start. It becomes expensive later - when your site looks generic, key features are missing, or small design issues keep pulling you back into setup mode instead of publishing.
That is why free vs premium themes is not really a question about saving money. It is a question about what kind of publishing experience you want, how much polish your brand needs, and how much time you are willing to spend fixing the gaps yourself.
For independent publishers, writers, startups, and editorial teams on Ghost, the right choice depends less on ideology and more on fit. Free themes can be a smart starting point. Premium themes can be the better value much earlier than many people expect.
## Free vs premium themes: the real difference
On paper, the difference seems obvious. One costs nothing, the other requires a purchase. In practice, the gap is usually about depth.
A free theme often gives you a functional layout, a basic visual style, and enough structure to launch. That can be perfect if you are validating an idea, building a side project, or testing Ghost for the first time. If your needs are simple and your standards are modest, free can absolutely work.
A premium theme tends to go further in the areas that shape perception and day-to-day usability. The typography is more considered. The spacing feels intentional. Homepage sections are better composed. Membership flows, post templates, navigation patterns, and content blocks often feel more complete because they were designed for real publishing use cases rather than basic compatibility.
That difference matters if your website is more than a placeholder. When your site represents your writing, your newsletter, your startup, or your editorial brand, design quality is not decoration. It affects trust.
## Where free themes make sense
There are cases where a free theme is the right call.
If you are just learning Ghost, a free theme reduces pressure. You can understand the editor, test content structure, and get familiar with routes, pages, and memberships before investing in design. For personal experiments, internal projects, or temporary launches, that simplicity can be useful.
Free themes also make sense when your brand is still undefined. If you do not yet know your voice, visual direction, or publishing cadence, choosing something basic can buy you time. There is no reason to overcommit to a polished front end before you know what your publication actually needs.
The trade-off is that many free themes stop being enjoyable once your standards rise. You may start with, "This is fine," and end up with, "Why does everything feel slightly off?" That is often the moment when the hidden cost appears.
## The hidden cost of free
Free themes are rarely free in the long run if you care about presentation.
Sometimes the issue is customization. You want to adjust typography, refine the homepage, improve article layouts, or remove visual clutter, and suddenly you are editing code, searching documentation, or settling for compromises. Other times the problem is support. If something breaks after a Ghost update, or a design detail does not behave the way you expect, there may be no direct help at all.
There is also the cost of sameness. Many free themes look acceptable, but not distinctive. For creators trying to build authority, that matters. Readers may not articulate why one publication feels more credible than another, but they notice the difference between a thoughtful editorial design and a generic template.
This is where free vs premium themes becomes less about budget and more about momentum. A free theme can slow you down if it keeps forcing design decisions, workarounds, and small frustrations back onto your plate.
## What premium themes actually buy you
The best premium themes do not just add features. They remove friction.
A well-crafted premium Ghost theme usually gives you a clearer design system from the start. That means stronger hierarchy, better reading rhythm, more refined post templates, and more flexible homepage options without making the setup process feel bloated. You are not fighting the theme to make your content look good. It already understands the job.
That is especially valuable for publishers whose business [depends on presentation](https://themex.studio/vancouver/). A newsletter site needs a [clean signup flow](https://themex.studio/responsive-subscription-form-on-mobile/). A writer needs legible article pages and a homepage that frames their work with confidence. A startup publication needs a sharper sense of credibility. In those cases, a premium theme is often less about luxury and more about alignment.
Support is another major factor. With a premium product, you are often paying for decisions that have already been made well, plus access to guidance when something is unclear. That changes the experience dramatically for non-technical users. Instead of troubleshooting alone, you move faster with fewer mistakes.
A thoughtful premium theme also tends to age better. It is more likely to receive updates, documentation, and ongoing refinement, which matters if your site is a long-term asset rather than a one-week experiment.
## When premium is worth it earlier than you think
Many creators assume premium themes are something to buy later, after traffic grows or revenue arrives. Often, the opposite is true.
Early-stage sites benefit from clarity more than anything else. You do not need endless features. You need a polished foundation that helps you look credible from day one. If your website is part of how readers judge your publication, attract subscribers, or evaluate your business, weak design can create drag before growth even starts.
This is particularly true for solo operators. When you do not have a designer or developer on hand, the theme is doing more than providing layout files. It is standing in for a design system, a front-end framework, and part of your brand expression. Paying for quality at that layer can save a surprising amount of time.
For many Ghost users, a premium theme becomes worth it as soon as the site has a job to do. If the site is tied to audience growth, reputation, client work, product sales, or investor perception, the cost is usually easy to justify.
## How to choose between free and premium themes
The better question is not which category is better in abstract terms. It is which one fits your publishing stage and standards.
If you need to launch quickly, have minimal requirements, and are comfortable with a simpler look, start free. Just be honest about whether you are choosing free because it fits your needs or because you are postponing a design decision you will have to make soon anyway.
If you care about typography, layout control, membership design, visual credibility, and support, premium is usually the stronger choice. That is even more true if you want a site that feels editorial rather than templated.
It also helps to evaluate [the theme seller](https://themex.studio/changelogs/), not just the theme. Good design matters, but so do documentation, updates, responsiveness, and product focus. A premium theme backed by hands-on support is very different from a marketplace template that is sold once and barely maintained. That is where specialist shops such as Themex Studio stand apart - the product is not only designed for Ghost, but for people who want a more intentional publishing experience.
## The design standard your audience already expects
Readers may come for your content, but design shapes whether they stay, subscribe, and trust what they see.
A clean, flexible theme signals care. It tells visitors that the publication is active, credible, and worth their attention. This is especially important for paid newsletters, founder-led publications, portfolios, and startup media sites, where every visual detail contributes to perceived quality.
That does not mean every site needs expensive customization or a complex build. It means the foundation should feel considered. If your theme gets out of the way and gives your words a stronger frame, it is doing real work.
That is why the free vs premium themes decision should be made with your audience in mind. Not what you can technically launch, but what kind of experience your readers will have once you do.
## A better way to think about the budget
The cheapest option is not always the one with the lowest price. Sometimes it is the one that saves you from redesigning in three months.
If a free theme helps you publish now and learn quickly, it has done its job. If a premium theme helps you look sharper, work faster, and avoid compromise, that value is just as practical. Neither option is universally right.
What matters is whether your theme supports the publication you are trying to build, not just the site you can afford to set up this weekend. Pick the option that makes publishing feel clearer, more confident, and easier to sustain.
### Ghost Website Migration Checklist
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-website-migration-checklist/
Last updated: 2026-06-19T11:10:48.000Z
A Ghost migration usually goes wrong in quiet ways. Not with a dramatic outage, but with missing authors, broken internal links, duplicate tags, malformed images, or a homepage that suddenly feels off-brand. That is why a solid ghost website migration checklist matters. It helps you protect not just content, but structure, presentation, search visibility, and the reader experience that makes a publication feel credible.
For independent publishers and editorial teams, migration is not just a technical task. It is a publishing decision. You are moving archives, taxonomies, visual systems, and subscription paths - all the pieces that shape how readers discover and trust your work. The checklist below is designed for that reality.
## What a ghost website migration checklist should cover
A useful migration plan goes beyond exporting posts and importing them into a new install. It should account for content integrity, URL continuity, design consistency, member flows, and post-launch quality control.
That matters because Ghost is opinionated in the right ways. Its publishing model is clean, but migrations into Ghost often come from less structured platforms. If your old site has inconsistent categories, overloaded page builders, or years of ad hoc formatting, the migration process is where those issues surface.
The goal is not to carry every legacy decision forward. The goal is to move what deserves to stay, clean up what no longer serves the publication, and launch with a setup that is easier to manage.
## Before you migrate, decide what is actually moving
Start by defining the scope. Are you moving only posts and pages, or also authors, tags, members, custom landing pages, newsletter signup paths, and archived assets? If the answer is “everything,” pause there. Most sites benefit from a selective migration rather than a literal copy.
Old content often includes formatting inconsistencies, unused taxonomies, thin landing pages, and media files that add weight without adding value. A migration is one of the few moments when cleanup is efficient. If a category has three posts and no editorial purpose, fold it into something stronger. If ten tags mean the same thing, consolidate them.
You should also define what success looks like. For one publication, success means preserving organic rankings. For another, it means replacing a cluttered site with a cleaner editorial design. For a membership publication, the highest priority may be subscriber continuity. The checklist changes slightly depending on that priority.
## Pre-migration content and SEO audit
Before any export starts, create a full inventory of the current site. That includes posts, pages, authors, categories, tags, image assets, downloadable files, forms, and key templates such as the homepage, archive pages, and article layouts.
Document your top-performing URLs. Pull your highest-traffic articles, pages with backlinks, ranking category archives, and newsletter signup pages. These are the pages you cannot afford to mishandle. If your current platform uses a different permalink structure, map old URLs to new ones before launch, not after traffic drops.
This is also the right time to note title tags, meta descriptions, canonical behavior, structured content blocks, and image alt text patterns. Ghost handles a lot cleanly, but imported content can still arrive with gaps. If your site relies heavily on search traffic, do not treat SEO review as a final polish step. It belongs at the beginning.
## Prepare your Ghost setup before import
A migration works better when the destination is ready. Set up your Ghost instance, define publication settings, add your branding, configure navigation, and choose the theme framework you want to build on.
This is where design decisions matter more than many teams expect. If your old site was assembled with one-off templates and visual exceptions, a thoughtfully structured Ghost theme gives you a chance to standardize the publication. Typography, post cards, featured images, author pages, and membership prompts should all feel intentional.
It helps to decide early which page types you need: a clean homepage, a strong post template, tag archives, author archives, and any custom pages for newsletters, about content, or resources. If you are moving to a [premium Ghost theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-premium-ghost-themes/), test those templates with real migrated content, not placeholder text. Real content exposes spacing problems and structural gaps quickly.
## Export and transform content carefully
Not every platform exports content in a Ghost-friendly format. In some cases, you can use a migration tool or structured import path. In others, content needs cleanup before it is ready for Ghost.
This is where formatting issues tend to appear. Shortcodes, unsupported embeds, custom HTML blocks, callout modules, and page-builder leftovers may not translate cleanly. The safest approach is to identify repeat patterns and fix them systematically rather than editing every article by hand.
Pay special attention to images. Confirm whether media files are being imported into Ghost, referenced remotely, or left behind entirely. Broken featured images damage trust fast, especially on editorial sites where visual rhythm matters. Check captions, inline image alignment, and image dimensions across several article types.
Author attribution also deserves a deliberate review. If the old site used inconsistent author records, fix them before or immediately after import. Clean bylines and archive pages are part of the publication’s credibility.
## The practical ghost website migration checklist
At this stage, the process becomes operational. A strong ghost website migration checklist includes these core checks before launch:
- Back up the full old site, including database and media files.
- Export all content and validate what the export actually contains.
- Create a URL map for all important posts, pages, and archives.
- Set up Ghost publication details, navigation, and core settings.
- Install and configure the chosen theme.
- Import content into a staging environment first.
- Review posts for formatting issues, embeds, galleries, and callouts.
- Confirm featured images, inline media, author profiles, and tags.
- Rebuild key pages such as home, about, newsletter, and landing pages.
- Add redirects for changed URLs.
- Test membership flows, newsletter signup forms, and email capture points.
- Review SEO fields, social sharing previews, and canonical behavior.
- Check mobile layouts, page speed, and template consistency.
- QA internal links, navigation, search, and related content blocks.
- Launch during a low-risk window and monitor errors immediately after.
That list is the baseline. Larger publications may add custom integrations, sponsorship modules, ad placements, analytics events, or multilingual concerns.
## Design QA is not cosmetic
A migration can preserve every post and still make the site feel worse. That usually happens when content structure and design framework are out of sync. The homepage may become too dense, article pages may lose hierarchy, or archive pages may flatten everything into one repetitive grid.
Treat design QA as part of functional QA. Check whether featured stories read as featured. Check whether longform articles still feel comfortable on desktop and mobile. Check whether your signup prompts appear at the right moments instead of interrupting the reading flow.
This is one reason many Ghost publishers prefer a theme built specifically for [editorial clarity](https://themex.studio/guides/clean-ghost-website-design-that-feels-premium/) rather than a generic multipurpose layout. A clean visual system reduces migration friction because you are fitting content into a [structure designed for publishing](https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-theme-customization-guide/). That is often more durable than recreating every legacy pattern.
## Redirects, search visibility, and launch timing
If URLs are changing, redirects are mandatory. Not just for obvious high-traffic posts, but for category or tag pages, author archives, and evergreen resources that may have backlinks from years ago. Missing redirects rarely announce themselves right away. They show up later as traffic decay, indexing noise, or confused readers.
After launch, submit your sitemap, monitor crawl behavior, and watch the pages that matter most. Small fluctuations are normal. Sharp drops often point to redirect gaps, blocked assets, missing metadata, or template-level indexation issues.
Launch timing matters too. Avoid launching right before a major campaign, newsletter push, or product announcement unless the migration itself supports that moment. Even well-managed moves create a short monitoring period, and you want room to catch issues without pressure.
## What to check after the site is live
The first 48 hours are for verification, not celebration. Open your most important pages on desktop and mobile. Test menus, article cards, internal links, forms, search, membership access, and social preview behavior. If your publication sends newsletters through Ghost, send test emails and confirm branding, formatting, and post links.
Then check analytics and search performance with restraint. Do not overreact to every early fluctuation. Instead, look for patterns. Are some page types underperforming? Are redirects resolving correctly? Are archived posts missing images or excerpts?
It also helps to gather editorial feedback quickly. Writers and editors often spot structural issues that a technical checklist misses, especially around reading flow, content hierarchy, and archive usability.
## A better migration is usually a more selective one
The strongest migrations are rarely the ones that move every legacy decision intact. They are the ones that protect what readers value and remove what made the old site harder to run. That may mean trimming taxonomies, simplifying page templates, refining navigation, or moving into a more focused Ghost setup with a thoughtfully crafted theme.
If you approach migration as a publishing reset rather than a file transfer, the result is usually cleaner, faster, and easier to maintain. And that pays off long after launch, when the real work returns to writing, editing, publishing, and growing an audience with less friction.
### Ghost vs Squarespace Blog: Which Fits?
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-vs-squarespace-blog-which-fits/
Last updated: 2026-06-17T11:25:24.000Z
If you are choosing between a Ghost vs Squarespace blog, the real question is not which platform has more features on paper. It is which one helps your publication feel sharper, publish faster, and grow without forcing your content into someone else’s idea of a website.
That distinction matters more than most comparisons admit. For a personal site with a blog tab, Squarespace can feel polished and convenient. For a writer, newsletter operator, editorial brand, or startup publication where content is the product, Ghost usually makes more sense. The difference shows up in the editing experience, the design system, and how much control you have once your site starts evolving.
## Ghost vs Squarespace blog: the core difference
Ghost is a publishing platform. Squarespace is a website builder with blogging built in.
That sounds simple, but it shapes everything. Ghost is designed around writing, memberships, newsletters, and editorial structure. The experience starts from the assumption that your posts, authors, tags, email audience, and reading experience are central. Squarespace starts from a broader website mindset. It is built to help many kinds of users create a site quickly, whether that site is a portfolio, restaurant, online store, or brochure site with a blog attached.
If your blog is a secondary feature, Squarespace is often enough. If your site lives or dies by publishing quality, Ghost is working from the right premise.
## Publishing experience and workflow
For creators who publish often, small workflow differences become major quality-of-life issues. Ghost feels cleaner and more intentional in daily use. The editor is focused, the content model is publishing-first, and built-in support for memberships and newsletters keeps everything in one system.
That matters when you are running a content business instead of simply posting updates. You can draft, schedule, segment, and send newsletters without stitching together a stack of external tools. For independent publishers, that simplicity is not just convenient. It keeps your workflow coherent.
Squarespace offers a capable editor, and for many users it is perfectly manageable. But it tends to feel more generalized. The platform wants to serve many site types at once, so the blogging experience can feel like one module among many. If you publish occasionally, that is fine. If you are building a serious editorial rhythm, it starts to feel less focused.
## Design quality and editorial presentation
This is where the decision often becomes obvious.
Squarespace has attractive templates, and for broad visual appeal it has done a strong job for years. Many sites can look good quickly. But there is a difference between a good-looking website and a thoughtful editorial system. Blogs on Squarespace can sometimes feel like they sit inside a template framework that was not primarily designed for reading depth, content hierarchy, and recurring publication.
Ghost, by contrast, tends to reward a more editorial approach. The best Ghost themes are designed around typography, pacing, hierarchy, and reading experience. That is especially valuable if you care about how your work is framed. A strong [Ghost site](https://themex.studio/showcases/bankonnews-com/) can feel like a publication rather than a generic business site with articles.
For design-conscious publishers, that distinction is not cosmetic. It affects credibility. Readers notice when a publication feels calm, legible, and intentionally structured. They also notice when layouts feel crowded, overly templated, or designed to showcase blocks instead of writing.
This is one reason many creators move to Ghost once they outgrow an all-purpose builder. They want a site that feels more like a brand and less like a preset.
## Flexibility without clutter
A common assumption is that Squarespace is easier and Ghost is more technical. That can be true in some setups, but it misses the more useful distinction.
Squarespace is easier if you want an all-in-one website with clear boundaries. You pick a template, work within the system, and get to launch quickly. That structure is helpful for users who do not want to think too much about platform decisions.
Ghost is better if you want cleaner control over a publishing product. It gives you more room to shape the experience around content, audience, and brand. That does not always mean more complexity in practice. In many cases, it means less clutter because the platform is not trying to be everything.
The trade-off is that Ghost works best when you are willing to choose a strong theme, understand the basics of your content architecture, and think a bit more intentionally about how your publication should function. For the right user, that is a strength, not a burden.
## SEO and performance
Both platforms cover the basics, but they approach performance differently.
Ghost is known for being lean. Its publishing structure, codebase, and front-end output can support fast, focused sites, especially when paired with a well-made theme. That is useful for reader experience and search visibility alike. Clean pages, strong content hierarchy, and minimal overhead tend to age well.
Squarespace also handles foundational SEO features and has improved over time, but the platform’s broader website-builder architecture can feel heavier. For some users this will not matter much. For content-led brands competing on organic reach, site speed and structural clarity become more important over time.
SEO is never just a platform question, of course. Strategy, authority, content quality, and consistency matter more. But if you want a system that feels naturally aligned with content publishing, Ghost has the edge.
## Newsletters, memberships, and audience ownership
This is one of Ghost’s strongest advantages.
Ghost includes native tools for newsletters, subscriptions, and paid memberships. That means your blog and your email operation can live together instead of being spread across separate products. For writers and publishers, this is a meaningful shift. You are not just building traffic. You are building an owned audience in the same place you publish.
Squarespace can support email marketing and member features through its own tools and integrations, but it does not feel as natively centered on this model. The experience is broader, less publication-specific, and often less elegant for creators whose main goal is to turn readers into subscribers.
If your growth strategy includes newsletter publishing, premium content, or a membership layer, Ghost is simply closer to the shape of that business.
## Ease of use for non-technical users
Squarespace earns its reputation here. It is approachable, guided, and familiar to a wide audience. If you want to assemble a site with minimal friction and your needs are fairly standard, it can be a comfortable choice.
Ghost is also usable for non-technical publishers, but the experience depends heavily on the theme and setup quality. With a thoughtfully crafted Ghost theme, the platform can feel remarkably simple to run day to day. The difference is that the simplicity comes from editorial focus rather than broad beginner tooling.
That is an important nuance. Some platforms feel easy because they reduce options. Others feel easy because they are well designed for a specific job. Ghost belongs in the second category.
For users who care about clean setup, strong documentation, and a polished front end without custom agency work, a [premium Ghost theme](https://themex.studio/docs/) can close the gap quickly.
## Who should choose Ghost?
Choose Ghost if your blog is becoming a publication, not just a section on your website. It is especially strong for independent writers, newsletters, startup media brands, founder-led content sites, and creators who want a more refined editorial presence.
Ghost also makes sense if typography, layout restraint, and [content hierarchy](https://themex.studio/categories-tags-browsing-grid/) matter to your brand. If you want readers to focus on the work itself and you expect email, memberships, or recurring publishing to be central, Ghost is usually the better long-term decision.
This is the environment where specialized design matters. A carefully built Ghost theme can turn the platform from a solid publishing tool into a distinct, premium publication system. That is part of why design-led studios like Themex Studio focus so heavily on Ghost. The platform gives strong editorial design room to work.
## Who should choose Squarespace?
Squarespace is a sensible choice if your site needs to do many things at once and blogging is only one part of the package. It works well for service businesses, portfolios, local brands, and creators who want a clean website with occasional publishing.
It is also a fair option if speed of launch matters more than publishing depth, or if you strongly prefer an all-in-one builder with tightly managed constraints. Not every project needs Ghost’s publishing focus.
The limitation appears later, when the blog starts carrying more strategic weight. If your content operation grows, your email audience expands, or your brand starts to feel more editorial, Squarespace can begin to feel less purpose-built.
## The better question to ask
Instead of asking which platform is better, ask what your site is trying to become.
If you want a flexible business website with blogging included, Squarespace is often enough. If you want a serious content platform with a cleaner path to newsletters, memberships, and editorial credibility, Ghost is the stronger fit.
A blog is not just a container for posts. It is part of how readers judge your taste, clarity, and authority. Choose the platform that respects that. The right system should make publishing feel lighter, and your work should look better the moment it goes live.
### Are Premium Ghost Themes Worth It?
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/are-premium-ghost-themes-worth-it/
Last updated: 2026-06-15T12:55:22.000Z
The difference usually shows up around week three.
That’s when a new Ghost site stops feeling like a clean fresh install and starts revealing the friction: awkward homepage sections, typography that feels slightly off, limited post layouts, and small design decisions that take too much time to fix. If you’re asking are premium Ghost themes worth it, that’s often the real question underneath it - not whether a theme has a price tag, but whether it saves you from design drag once publishing becomes real.
For independent publishers, writers, creators, and lean teams, the answer is not a simple yes. A premium theme is worth it when it gives your publication stronger editorial presentation, less setup friction, and a better long-term workflow. It is not worth it when you pay for visual flash you do not need, or for flexibility that only makes the site harder to manage.
## Are premium Ghost themes worth it for serious publishing?
If your site is part of your business, brand, or audience growth strategy, often yes.
Ghost is already a focused platform. People choose it because they want publishing, membership, newsletters, and performance without the bloat that often comes with more general website builders. A good premium theme should extend that strength, not fight it. It should make your site feel clear, credible, and publish-ready from day one.
That matters more than many buyers expect. Design is not just decoration on a publishing site. It affects how trustworthy your work feels, how readable your writing is, how easily visitors move from article to article, and whether your brand appears established or improvised. A well-crafted theme creates consistency across templates, spacing, hierarchy, imagery, and calls to action. Those details add up quickly.
When a theme is thoughtfully designed, readers may not consciously notice every decision. They do notice the result. The site feels calm. The content feels [easier to read](https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-themes-with-typography-focus/). The overall experience feels more intentional. For editorial brands, newsletters, startup publications, and creator-led sites, that impression has real value.
## What you are actually paying for
The strongest case for paying for a premium Ghost theme is not access to more features. It is access to better decisions.
A well-made premium theme usually reflects a clearer design system. Headings are proportioned correctly. Post cards feel balanced. Archive pages, author pages, and homepage sections work together. Membership prompts feel integrated instead of bolted on. The mobile experience has been considered, not merely tolerated.
You are also often paying for specialization. Ghost has its own publishing patterns, membership flows, and content structures. A theme built specifically for Ghost by someone who understands the platform can save hours of workaround time. That is especially useful if you are not a developer and do not want to become one just to launch a polished publication.
Then [there is support](https://themex.studio/reviews/), which is easy to undervalue until you need it. Documentation, updates, setup guidance, and responsive help can be the difference between a smooth launch and a week of stalled progress. A premium theme that comes with real support is not just a file download. It is part product, part implementation layer.
## When a free Ghost theme is enough
Not every Ghost site needs a premium theme.
If you are testing an idea, validating an audience, or launching a personal blog with minimal branding needs, a free theme can be perfectly reasonable. It gets you live quickly, keeps costs down, and may give you enough structure to start publishing consistently. That can be the right move, especially early on.
A free option may also be enough if your visual standards are modest and your content strategy is simple. If you only need a clean blog layout with basic navigation and no particular need for a distinctive editorial identity, paying more may not change much.
There is also a practical point here: a premium theme does not fix weak positioning, inconsistent publishing, or unclear messaging. If the core of the site is still in flux, it may make sense to wait before investing in presentation.
The mistake is assuming that free and premium are separated only by aesthetics. In reality, the gap is often about polish, flexibility, and support. If those things are not important to your current stage, free can absolutely be enough.
## The trade-off: cost versus time
This is where the decision becomes easier.
A premium Ghost theme costs more upfront, but it can reduce the need for design revisions, custom development, and repeated template adjustments. If you value your time, that matters. So does momentum. Many site launches stall not because the content is not ready, but because the visual layer never quite feels finished.
A strong premium theme narrows those decisions. You are not starting with an unfinished framework that needs extensive intervention. You are starting with a coherent system that already understands content hierarchy, layout balance, and reader behavior.
That can be a better investment than trying to save money with a theme that creates more work. What looks cheaper at checkout can become more expensive once you factor in hours spent tweaking fonts, reorganizing homepage sections, troubleshooting templates, or hiring someone to clean up the design later.
For most solo publishers and small teams, the real expense is rarely the theme itself. It is the cumulative cost of friction.
## Are premium Ghost themes worth it if you care about brand?
This is often the strongest yes.
If your publication supports consulting, [a newsletter business](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-newsletter-theme/), a paid membership, a startup brand, or a creator-led product ecosystem, visual credibility matters. Readers make fast judgments. Potential subscribers do too. A site that feels generic or uneven can quietly weaken perceived value, even when the writing is strong.
Premium themes can help close that gap by giving content a more refined frame. The right one makes the site feel editorial rather than improvised. It creates enough structure to feel professional, while staying minimal enough that the work itself remains central.
That balance is harder to achieve than it looks. Many themes either overdesign the experience or strip it down so much that the site loses distinction. The best premium options understand restraint. They use typography, spacing, grid systems, and content modules with discipline. That is what gives a publication a premium feel without adding clutter.
For brands that care about presentation, that difference is not superficial. It is part of how trust is built.
## What makes a premium Ghost theme worth the price
Not every paid theme is worth paying for.
A premium theme earns its price when it does three things well. First, it should look refined without demanding constant customization. Second, it should feel easy to use for real publishing tasks, not just in a demo. Third, it should come from a seller who treats support and updates as part of the product.
Look closely at the theme’s default state. If it already feels polished before heavy customization, that is a good sign. You want a foundation that works out of the box, because most buyers do not need infinite control. They need a site that looks sharp, adapts to their brand, and stays easy to manage.
It also helps to evaluate whether the theme was designed with a specific publishing use case in mind. A writer-led newsletter site, a magazine-style editorial brand, and a startup publication may all use Ghost, but they benefit from different layout priorities. Premium quality is not just about visual appeal. It is about fit.
That is one reason carefully crafted studios tend to stand out. A theme business like Themex Studio is not only selling visual templates. It is offering a clear editorial point of view, plus the documentation and support that make implementation less stressful for non-technical users.
## When premium is not worth it
There are cases where the answer is no.
If you are buying a premium theme mainly to avoid making content decisions, it will disappoint you. It cannot define your niche, sharpen your offer, or create publishing discipline. If you are likely to rebuild the site in a month, wait. If your needs are highly custom and you already know you will require bespoke layouts, a prebuilt theme may only be a temporary solution.
It is also not worth it if the product is visually impressive but operationally messy. Fancy animations, overloaded settings, and excessive layout options can make a site harder to maintain. More controls do not automatically mean more value. For many publishers, they mean more second-guessing.
The best premium themes are usually the ones that feel selective. They give you enough flexibility to make the site yours, while protecting the overall quality of the design.
## The better question to ask
Instead of asking only are premium Ghost themes worth it, ask what your publishing workflow needs to feel easier, stronger, and more credible.
If the answer includes better typography, cleaner templates, a more distinctive editorial presence, less launch friction, and direct support when something is unclear, then a premium theme is often a smart purchase. If you only need a basic container for early experiments, it may be unnecessary for now.
The right theme should not feel like extra software to manage. It should feel like a quiet structure behind your work - one that helps your writing, brand, and publishing rhythm show up at a higher level with less effort.
### Ghost Theme Buying Guide for Publishers
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-theme-buying-guide-for-publishers/
Last updated: 2026-06-13T09:48:41.000Z
Picking a Ghost theme is rarely about finding the prettiest demo. It is about choosing the design system you will live with for months or years - the layout, typography, navigation, post templates, and settings that shape how readers experience your work. A good ghost theme buying guide should help you look past surface style and judge what actually matters once your site is live.
If you [run a newsletter](https://themex.studio/guides/9-best-ghost-themes-for-newsletters/), publication, startup blog, or personal brand on Ghost, the right theme should make publishing feel easier and your content feel more credible. The wrong one can create friction fast. You start noticing awkward homepage sections, limited post layouts, or settings that looked flexible until you tried to adapt them to your brand.
## What a Ghost theme is really buying you
A premium Ghost theme is not just a visual skin. It is a framework for publishing. It defines how your archive pages work, how featured posts are surfaced, how member signup areas appear, how your navigation scales, and whether your site feels composed or improvised.
That matters because Ghost sites tend to be content-led. Readers come for articles, newsletters, essays, product updates, or editorial analysis. Design still matters, but usually in a quieter way. The best themes support reading, establish trust, and give your publication a distinct point of view without getting in the way.
This is where many buyers misjudge the decision. They focus on novelty instead of fit. A homepage with dramatic motion or unusual layout tricks can look impressive in a demo, but if your real publishing rhythm is simple and consistent, restraint often ages better.
## A ghost theme buying guide starts with your publishing model
Before comparing themes, get clear on the kind of site you are building. A personal writing site, a paid newsletter, and a startup publication may all run on Ghost, but they do not need the same structure.
If you are an independent writer, your priorities may be typography, author presence, subscription prompts, and a clean archive. If you run an [editorial brand](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-an-editorial-ghost-theme/), you may care more about content hierarchy, featured stories, multiple post collections, and a homepage that can handle volume. If you are a founder using Ghost for thought leadership, you may want a theme that feels sharp and minimal without reading like a media property.
This is the first filter. Do not ask whether a theme is good in general. Ask whether it matches your format, cadence, and brand posture.
## Design quality is more than aesthetics
Most theme buyers can recognize a nice homepage. Fewer look closely at the details that shape daily use.
Typography is one of the clearest signals. Strong editorial themes use type with intention. Headlines should feel confident without overpowering the page. Body text should be easy to read at length. Spacing should create rhythm, not dead space. These details seem subtle until you compare two themes side by side and realize one makes your content feel instantly more considered.
The same goes for visual systems. Good themes have consistency across cards, tags, callouts, image treatments, buttons, and forms. That consistency makes a site feel premium. It also makes customization easier because the underlying design language is already disciplined.
A theme can be minimal and still be expressive. In fact, minimal themes often give your content more room to define the brand. That is usually a better long-term trade-off than buying something visually loud that imposes too much personality on every page.
## Look beyond the homepage demo
The homepage sells the theme, but the post page does most of the work. That is where readers spend time, where subscriptions happen, and where your brand earns trust.
When evaluating a theme, inspect the article template closely. Look at heading styles, paragraph width, image handling, captions, pull quotes, galleries, embeds, and call-to-action placement. Consider what happens on long-form posts, not just short announcements. If you publish regularly, these details matter more than a striking hero section.
Also check the archive pages, tag pages, author pages, and search experience. A polished Ghost site feels coherent everywhere, not only on the landing page. If those secondary pages feel generic or unfinished, the theme may not hold up once your content library grows.
## Flexibility should feel controlled
Many buyers say they want a flexible theme. That is fair, but flexibility has a design cost when it turns into inconsistency.
A well-crafted Ghost theme should give you enough control to align the site with your brand without forcing you to design every decision yourself. You want options for navigation, homepage sections, featured content, [fonts, colors](https://themex.studio/custom-fonts/), and membership elements, but within a clear system.
Too few options can make the theme restrictive. Too many can make it brittle or messy. The best balance is controlled flexibility - enough room to adapt, with enough structure to keep the result polished.
This is especially useful for solo creators and lean teams. Most do not need endless configuration. They need a theme that starts strong, stays consistent, and can be adjusted without turning setup into a design project.
## Support and documentation are part of the product
Theme buyers often underestimate support until they need it. Then it becomes one of the most important parts of the purchase.
Ghost is approachable, but publishing setups are rarely identical. You may need guidance on logo sizing, homepage configuration, custom routes, membership flows, or small design adjustments. Clear documentation saves time. Responsive support saves momentum.
This is one of the biggest differences between a cheap theme and a premium one. Premium should not only describe visual quality. It should also mean thoughtful onboarding, reliable updates, and help from someone who understands the product deeply.
If the theme creator has a reputation for being hands-on, that reduces risk. You are not just buying files. You are buying confidence that the theme will be implemented well and maintained properly.
## How to compare premium Ghost themes without getting lost
A practical ghost theme buying guide should make comparison simpler, not more technical. Start with three questions.
First, does the theme match your content model? If your site is article-first, the reading experience should be excellent. If subscriptions drive the business, membership components should feel integrated rather than added on.
Second, does the design have enough range for your brand? Look at the demo, but also imagine your own logo, colors, images, and publishing style inside it. Some themes are beautiful but narrow. Others are understated in a way that can support many brand directions.
Third, does the product feel cared for? Updated demos, detailed documentation, changelogs, and clear support expectations all signal maturity. A theme should feel like an actively maintained publishing tool, not a one-off design drop.
When buyers compare themes this way, the decision usually gets clearer. The strongest option is often not the most dramatic one. It is the one that feels resolved.
## Common mistakes buyers make
One mistake is shopping only for features. Features matter, but on content sites, quality of execution matters more. A theme with fewer, better-considered components often performs better than one trying to do everything.
Another mistake is overestimating future complexity. Many publishers buy for the site they might have in two years instead of the site they need now. Some foresight is useful, but too much can lead to a theme that feels oversized from day one.
The opposite mistake also happens. Buyers choose the simplest possible option, then realize they have no room to grow. The right choice usually sits in the middle - clean enough to launch quickly, flexible enough to evolve.
A final mistake is ignoring editorial tone. Your theme teaches readers how to perceive your content. A minimalist layout can make writing feel sharper and more authoritative. A busier layout can make the same writing feel less focused. Design is not decoration here. It is framing.
## When a bundle makes more sense than a single theme
If you are still refining your publication direction, a bundle can be a smart choice. It gives you room to choose the theme that fits best now, while keeping alternatives available as the brand evolves.
This is especially useful for creators with multiple projects or studios working across client publications. Instead of trying to force one theme into every scenario, you can choose based on format and editorial voice. That often leads to better outcomes than chasing maximum customization inside a single template.
For buyers who already know exactly what they want, a single theme can still be the cleanest route. It depends on whether your main priority is commitment or optionality.
Themex Studio approaches this well by pairing refined design with clear documentation and direct support, which is exactly what many Ghost users need when they want a site that looks premium without becoming complicated.
## Buy for the site you want to publish on
The best Ghost theme is not the one with the loudest demo. It is the one that helps your work feel clear, credible, and easy to return to. If the structure is thoughtful, the design is restrained, and the support is real, you will notice it every time you publish.
That is the real test. Choose the theme that makes your content feel more like itself, and your site will age better than any trend.
### How to Set Up Ghost Membership
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-set-up-ghost-membership/
Last updated: 2026-06-11T11:15:59.000Z
The moment you turn on memberships in Ghost, your site changes shape. It stops being only a publication and starts becoming a product - one built around access, trust, and recurring reader value. If you want to set up Ghost membership well, the goal is not simply to enable signups. The goal is to create a membership experience that feels clear, credible, and worth joining.
That matters more than most publishers expect. A clumsy membership setup can make even strong writing feel unfinished. A thoughtful one can make a small publication look established from day one.
## What Ghost membership actually includes
Ghost gives you a native membership system built for publishers. That means you can manage free members, paid members, newsletters, access rules, and payment connections without stitching together several external tools.
For independent writers and lean editorial teams, that simplicity is a real advantage. You are not forcing readers through a patched-together checkout flow or bolting subscriptions onto a site that was never designed for publishing. Everything sits closer to the content itself, which usually leads to a more coherent reader experience.
Still, native does not mean automatic. You can switch on the feature in a few minutes, but a membership model that converts depends on choices around audience, offer structure, email strategy, and design.
## Before you set up Ghost membership, define the offer
The technical setup is the easy part. The harder question is what people are joining for.
If your publication is newsletter-led, membership may center on inbox access, archives, or premium essays. If you run a startup publication, it may be about research, analysis, or private updates. If you are a creator with a personal brand, membership may be less about volume and more about proximity, perspective, or community.
This is where many sites get vague. They add a Subscribe button, create a paid tier, and hope the value will explain itself. It rarely does. Readers need a simple mental model. What is free, what is paid, and why is the upgrade worth it?
In most cases, the cleanest structure is a free tier and one paid tier. You can add monthly and yearly billing, but too many access levels early on often create friction rather than flexibility. More options only help when your audience segments are genuinely distinct.
### Choose benefits readers can understand quickly
Good membership offers are specific. Early access, full archive access, premium weekly analysis, subscriber-only posts, or bonus issues are easier to grasp than broad promises about exclusive content.
The trade-off is workload. A paid tier built around high-frequency output can look attractive at launch and become difficult to sustain later. It is usually better to promise a format you can maintain consistently than an ambitious schedule you will resent in three months.
## How to set up Ghost membership in the admin
Once your offer is clear, the setup inside Ghost is fairly direct. In your admin area, go to Settings and find the membership and access controls. From there, you can enable members, configure signup options, and connect Stripe for paid subscriptions.
If you only want free memberships at first, you can launch without paid plans. That can be a smart move if you are still validating audience demand or building your email list. Free membership is often underrated. It gives you a lower-friction way to capture reader intent, grow your list, and establish habits before introducing payment.
If you are ready to charge, connect Stripe and create your pricing plans. Keep the naming straightforward. Free, Monthly, and Yearly is usually enough. Clever plan names can work for some brands, but they should not create uncertainty around what readers are buying.
You will also want to review the core email flows. Ghost can send transactional messages for sign-in and account access, and your publication emails become part of the member experience. Make sure the basics are polished. Subject lines, sender identity, and email frequency all shape perceived quality.
### Set access rules with intention
Ghost lets you restrict posts by audience type, such as public, members only, or paid members only. Use that restraint carefully.
If everything meaningful sits behind a paywall too early, new readers have little reason to trust the publication. If nothing is gated, there is no upgrade path. Most successful setups create a visible ladder. Public content builds reach and credibility. Free membership builds habit and first-party audience. Paid content deepens value.
That structure feels natural because it respects how publishing relationships usually develop.
## Design matters more than the settings
A membership model does not live in the settings panel. It lives in the way your site presents the offer.
This is where design can either reduce friction or quietly add it. If your homepage is cluttered, if your signup prompts interrupt the reading experience, or if your [pricing page](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-publisher-website-themes/) feels generic, readers start to hesitate. Not because they reject the content, but because the product around the content feels unresolved.
A cleaner approach is usually stronger. Make the membership proposition visible, but keep it integrated with the editorial experience. Your typography, spacing, post templates, navigation, and call-to-action placements should support the decision without shouting for it.
For Ghost publishers using a thoughtfully [crafted theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-theme-that-fits/), this often comes down to how membership components are framed. A simple signup section in the right place can outperform repeated popups. A well-designed post footer can convert better than a busy banner. Context matters.
If you use a [premium Ghost theme](https://themex.studio/guides/9-best-ghost-themes-for-newsletters/) from a studio like Themex, this is often where the difference shows. The best themes do not just make the site look polished. They make membership feel like a natural extension of the publication rather than an extra layer placed on top.
## Pricing your membership without guessing too much
Pricing is never purely strategic or purely emotional. It is both.
Set the price too low and readers may subscribe, but you can end up building a model that requires unsustainable scale. Set it too high and your audience may admire the publication without joining. The right number depends on your niche, publishing frequency, audience loyalty, and whether your value is broad or specialized.
For many independent publishers, yearly pricing deserves extra attention. It improves cash flow, lowers churn, and signals stronger commitment. If you offer both monthly and yearly plans, the annual option should feel meaningfully better without looking like a gimmick.
You do not need to get pricing perfect on day one. You do need a rationale. Readers can feel the difference between intentional pricing and arbitrary pricing.
## Common mistakes when you set up Ghost membership
The most common mistake is launching with too much complexity. Multiple tiers, unclear benefits, aggressive gating, and overlapping calls to action can make a publication feel more like a funnel than a reading experience.
Another issue is weak onboarding. A new member should immediately understand what they signed up for, what they will receive, and where to go next. If the confirmation email is vague and the site does not reinforce the value, early enthusiasm can fade fast.
There is also a branding problem that shows up often. Publishers spend time on backend settings and very little time on how membership appears visually. The join flow, pricing page, and subscriber messaging should match the editorial standards of the publication itself. If your writing feels premium but your membership touchpoints feel generic, the gap is noticeable.
## A better way to launch
The strongest membership launches are usually quiet, clear, and well structured. They do not rely on pressure. They rely on coherence.
Start with a simple offer. Make sure your free and paid boundaries are understandable. Review every signup touchpoint on desktop and mobile. Read your own email flow like a subscriber would. Test whether the membership prompt appears at the right moment, not just in the available slot.
Then publish consistently enough for the offer to earn trust. Membership is not a feature you switch on and forget. It is part editorial strategy, part product design, and part audience relationship.
That is why the best Ghost membership setups feel calm. They give readers a clear next step, make payment feel justified, and let the publication keep its voice. When the structure is right, asking people to join does not feel like an interruption. It feels like the natural next chapter of the site.
### Ghost vs Substack Website: Which Fits You?
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-vs-substack-website-which-fits-you/
Last updated: 2026-06-09T10:25:46.000Z
If you are comparing a ghost vs substack website, you are probably past the idea stage. You have something to publish, an audience to build, and a brand to shape. The real question is not which platform is more popular. It is which one gives your writing the right container to grow.
Ghost and Substack both support newsletters and publishing, but they reflect two very different models. One is a publishing system you shape around your brand. The other is a distribution platform built around simplicity and network effects. That distinction affects your design, your revenue options, your search visibility, and the kind of business you can build over time.
## Ghost vs Substack website: the core difference
Substack is the faster starting point. You create an account, set up a publication, and begin sending posts as emails with very little friction. It is intentionally opinionated. That can be a strength when your main goal is to publish regularly without thinking much about structure, design, or site setup.
Ghost asks a bit more of you upfront, but in return it gives you much more control. Your website is not a byproduct of your newsletter. It is your actual publishing home. You control the presentation, your content architecture, your membership experience, and the broader identity of the site.
For a writer testing an idea over a weekend, Substack often feels lighter. For a publisher building a serious editorial brand, Ghost usually feels more durable.
## Design matters more than most creators expect
A publishing platform is not just a backend. It shapes how your work is perceived before a visitor reads a single sentence.
Substack keeps design intentionally narrow. Most publications look broadly similar because that consistency reduces setup decisions and reinforces the platform's product design. If your priority is speed and familiarity, that can be perfectly fine. Readers know what they are getting, and you spend less time adjusting layouts or visual details.
The trade-off is brand sameness. As your publication matures, that sameness can start to feel limiting. The site works, but it may not feel distinctly yours.
Ghost is far more flexible on the front end. You can create a minimal blog, a premium newsletter site, a magazine-style publication, or something that blends editorial content with a startup brand. Typography, hierarchy, navigation, archives, featured posts, author pages, and membership touchpoints can all be handled with much more intention.
That flexibility matters for creators who want trust and visual credibility, not just functionality. A well-designed Ghost site can make independent publishing feel closer to a polished media product than a generic newsletter page. This is where [thoughtful themes](https://themex.studio/themes/) become especially valuable, because they shorten the gap between clean design and practical launch.
## Ownership and control are where the gap widens
Substack gives you a convenient platform. Ghost gives you an owned asset.
That difference shows up in small ways at first and larger ways later. On Substack, the platform defines much of the experience. Your publication exists inside its ecosystem, benefits from its discovery features, and follows its product logic. That can be useful, especially when you want built-in exposure and a simple billing setup.
But that convenience comes with constraints. Your site structure, design range, and broader platform independence are limited. If your long-term goal includes a more custom website, a distinct editorial identity, or a more flexible business model, you may eventually feel boxed in.
With Ghost, you have much more control over the full publishing stack. You can shape the site around your audience rather than shape your audience around the platform. You can customize the front end, define the membership journey, and build a publication that feels less like a hosted profile and more like a real digital property.
For founders, operators, and serious writers, this often becomes the deciding factor. Publishing is not only about sending emails. It is also about building equity in your own platform.
## Ghost vs Substack website for SEO and discoverability
If search traffic matters, this comparison becomes less abstract.
Substack is built first around email distribution and reader subscriptions. Search visibility is possible, but SEO is not the center of the product. Many creators do well there because their growth comes from audience loyalty, referrals, and platform discovery rather than organic search.
That model works best when your writing is personality-led, your audience is already reachable, or your main growth loop is newsletter-first.
Ghost is generally stronger if you want your site to function as a durable content archive that can rank over time. It is much better suited to publications that care about category pages, internal structure, branded landing pages, and editorial organization. If you publish essays, resource libraries, interviews, startup content, or niche industry coverage, that structure can compound in value.
A Ghost site can support both newsletter growth and search growth in a more balanced way. That is especially useful when your publication is part of a larger brand, service, product, or media strategy.
## Memberships, monetization, and platform fees
Both platforms support paid subscriptions, but they frame monetization differently.
Substack makes paid newsletters easy to enable. It is built for creators who want to charge readers with minimal setup. That simplicity is attractive, especially early on. The catch is that you are monetizing inside a platform that takes a cut and controls much of the surrounding experience.
Ghost also supports memberships and subscriptions, but the economics are often better for publishers thinking long term. Instead of handing over a platform percentage on every paid subscriber, you keep more control over revenue and the customer relationship. That can make a meaningful difference once your paid audience grows.
There is also a branding difference. On Substack, the paid product often feels like a Substack publication with your voice inside it. On Ghost, the paid product can feel like your own premium publication from top to bottom.
If your subscription business is small and experimental, Substack's speed may be enough. If you are building a premium editorial business, Ghost gives you more room to refine the experience and protect margins.
## Ease of use depends on what you are trying to make
Substack is easier in the narrow sense. You can get from zero to published quickly, with fewer decisions and less setup overhead. For many writers, that is exactly the appeal.
Ghost is easier in a different sense. Once your goal includes a real website, a clear brand system, structured content, and a more deliberate membership journey, Ghost often becomes the cleaner solution because it is designed for publishing depth rather than just publishing speed.
This is where many comparisons go wrong. They treat ease of use as a single category. It is not. A platform can be easier to start and harder to grow with, or slightly more involved to launch and much better to scale.
For non-technical creators, Ghost can still be approachable when the design layer is handled well. A [thoughtfully crafted theme](https://themex.studio/guides/easy-ghost-theme-setup-that-looks-premium/), [clear documentation](https://themex.studio/docs/), and focused support remove much of the friction people assume comes with a more customizable platform.
## Which one is right for different kinds of publishers?
If you are a solo writer who wants to validate an idea, publish consistently, and monetize quickly without much concern for site design, Substack is a reasonable fit. It reduces setup decisions and keeps the workflow simple.
If you are building a branded publication, a startup media arm, a writer website with memberships, or an editorial business that needs visual distinction, Ghost is usually the stronger choice. It gives your content a more credible frame and leaves more room for evolution.
The difference is not just feature depth. It is publishing posture.
Substack says: start writing, we will handle the container.
Ghost says: build the publication you actually want to own.
## A practical way to decide
Ask yourself what should still matter in two years.
If the answer is simply your subscriber list and your writing habit, Substack may be enough. If the answer includes your site design, search presence, membership experience, brand identity, and business flexibility, Ghost is the better foundation.
For creators who care about editorial presentation, this tends to become obvious once they imagine their homepage, archive, and premium content experience side by side. One feels standardized. The other can feel thoughtfully built.
That does not make Substack the wrong choice. It makes it a narrower one.
A good publishing platform should fit the ambition of the work. If your publication is becoming a real brand, your website should reflect that with the same clarity and intention as the writing itself.
### Substack to Ghost Migration Done Right
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/substack-to-ghost-migration-done-right/
Last updated: 2026-06-07T09:54:27.000Z
If your publication has outgrown Substack, you usually feel it before you can fully name it. The site starts to look more like a hosted profile than a publication with its own identity. Your newsletter works, but your archive, brand, navigation, and membership experience begin to feel constrained. That is where a substack to ghost migration becomes less of a technical task and more of a publishing decision.
Ghost appeals to writers and editorial teams for a simple reason: it gives you more control over how your publication looks, how it grows, and how readers move through it. But moving platforms is not just a matter of exporting posts and importing subscribers. The quality of the migration shapes how professional your publication feels on day one.
## Why creators move from Substack to Ghost
Substack is good at helping writers start quickly. It removes setup friction, handles email delivery, and gives new publications an easy entry point. For many creators, that simplicity is exactly the point.
The trade-off appears later. As your archive grows and your brand becomes more defined, the platform can start to feel visually narrow. You may want a more considered homepage, better content organization, stronger search visibility, or a membership flow that feels native to your publication rather than borrowed from a shared platform model.
Ghost is often the next step because it is built for publishers who want ownership without unnecessary complexity. You can run newsletters, publish articles, manage memberships, create landing pages, and shape a site that feels editorial instead of generic. For independent publishers, that difference matters. Design is not decoration here. It affects trust, readability, and conversion.
## What changes in a substack to ghost migration
A successful substack to ghost migration usually involves four parts: content, subscribers, branding, and infrastructure.
Content is the obvious piece. You need your posts, pages, images, and publication structure moved over cleanly. Subscribers matter even more. Your email list is not just data. It is the core asset behind the publication, and preserving it properly is non-negotiable.
Branding is where Ghost starts to open up. On Substack, many publications end up looking broadly similar because the design system is intentionally limited. On Ghost, you can create a more distinctive reading experience with better typography, stronger hierarchy, custom navigation, featured content areas, and membership paths that match your goals.
Infrastructure is the less glamorous part, but it shapes how reliable the move feels. That includes domain setup, redirects, email sending, SEO settings, analytics, and membership configuration. Readers rarely notice these details when they work. They notice immediately when they do not.
## Before you migrate, decide what you actually want
One of the most common mistakes is treating migration like a file transfer. If you move from Substack to Ghost without clarifying your publishing model, you can end up recreating the same limitations in a different system.
Start with a few practical questions. Are you primarily running a newsletter, or do you want a fuller publication with strong evergreen content? Do you need paid memberships, free subscriptions, or both? Is your homepage meant to function like a blog archive, an editorial front page, or a conversion page for newsletter signups?
This matters because Ghost gives you flexibility, but flexibility works best when paired with intention. A minimalist publication for a solo writer should not be structured the same way as a startup media brand or a creative studio journal.
## Content migration is only half the job
In most cases, getting posts into Ghost is possible without too much friction. The harder part is making sure those posts still feel coherent once they land in a new design system.
Substack content often lives in a fairly uniform layout. Once imported into Ghost, that same content may need cleanup. You may want to revisit post excerpts, feature images, tags, internal structure, and calls to action. A publication that looked acceptable inside Substack's constraints can look much sharper when each article is given stronger presentation.
This is where [theme choice](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-an-editorial-ghost-theme/) becomes important. A thoughtfully crafted Ghost theme does more than make a site look polished. It gives your archive structure. It makes recurring formats easier to recognize. It helps your best work stay visible instead of disappearing into a chronological feed.
For publishers who care about editorial credibility, that is a meaningful shift.
## Subscriber migration needs extra care
Writers are often most anxious about moving their list, and for good reason. A platform move should not create confusion for readers or disrupt deliverability.
The practical side includes exporting subscribers, importing them correctly into Ghost, and making sure your email configuration is in place before you start sending. But the communication side matters too. Readers should understand why the publication is moving and what, if anything, changes for them.
In a well-managed migration, the reader experience stays simple. They keep receiving emails, your publication looks more professional, and the transition feels intentional rather than abrupt.
If you offer paid subscriptions, be especially careful. Payment setup, member access, and billing continuity deserve a clear review before launch. This is one area where rushing creates avoidable support issues.
## Design is where Ghost earns its value
A lot of migration advice focuses on exports, imports, and settings. That is necessary, but it misses the reason many publishers move in the first place.
They want a better publication.
Ghost gives you the chance to build a reading experience that feels aligned with your work. That might mean a [restrained homepage](https://themex.studio/guides/12-examples-of-minimalist-publishing-sites/) with strong typography and generous spacing. It might mean premium member sections, topic-based archives, a visual system for longform essays, or a sharper signup flow. What matters is that the design supports the content instead of boxing it into a generic template.
For creators with a serious publishing ambition, this is often the real upgrade. Not more features for their own sake, but a cleaner, more credible framework for the work.
That is also why many teams do better with a [premium Ghost theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-newsletter-theme/) instead of trying to patch together a publication from default settings. A strong theme shortens the distance between setup and a site that feels finished. For brands that care about editorial presentation, that difference is not small.
## SEO, redirects, and the hidden details
The visible parts of a migration get the most attention. The hidden parts are what protect momentum.
If your Substack archive has already built traffic, redirects matter. So do slugs, metadata, canonical structure, and image handling. A migration that ignores these details can lead to broken URLs, weaker search performance, and a fragmented archive.
You should also think about how Ghost will organize your content going forward. Tags, authors, featured posts, and page structure all affect discoverability. Moving platforms is a good moment to clean up old taxonomy and create a more intentional content architecture.
This is not about perfection. It is about avoiding a rushed launch that creates more cleanup later.
## When a substack to ghost migration makes sense
Not every writer needs to leave Substack immediately. If you are validating an idea, publishing casually, or simply want the fastest possible setup, staying put may be perfectly reasonable.
A substack to ghost migration makes more sense when your publication has become a real brand asset. You care about visual identity. You want your site to do more than mirror your email. You need better control over memberships, pages, navigation, and presentation. Or you are simply ready for a publishing environment that feels more considered.
That is the key distinction. Ghost is not just for bigger publications. It is for publishers who want more authorship over the experience.
## How to make the move feel polished
The best migrations are quiet. Readers do not need a dramatic platform announcement unless your business model is changing. What they notice is consistency. The site looks better, the emails keep arriving, and the publication feels more established.
That usually comes from doing a few things well: choosing a theme that fits your editorial style, cleaning up imported content, testing email flows before launch, and reviewing the entire publication on desktop and mobile as if you were a first-time reader.
If you want Ghost to feel like an upgrade, not just a relocation, those finishing details matter. At Themex Studio, that is exactly where thoughtful design tends to make the biggest difference.
A platform change will not fix weak positioning or inconsistent publishing. But if the writing is strong and the audience is real, moving from Substack to Ghost can give your publication the shape it has been missing. Build it with care, and the site starts to reflect the quality of the work itself.
### 12 Examples of Minimalist Publishing Sites
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/12-examples-of-minimalist-publishing-sites/
Last updated: 2026-06-06T09:15:38.000Z
A minimalist publishing site can look effortless and still be doing a lot of work. The best ones guide attention, support long-form reading, and make a publication feel credible within a few seconds. When people search for examples of minimalist publishing sites, they are usually not looking for emptiness. They are looking for restraint with purpose.
That distinction matters. Minimalism in publishing is not about removing everything until a site feels anonymous. It is about keeping the right things visible and making the reading experience feel calm, legible, and intentional. For independent writers, editorial startups, and newsletter-led brands, that usually translates into stronger typography, clearer hierarchy, lighter navigation, and fewer competing elements.
## What strong examples of minimalist publishing sites have in common
The most convincing minimalist sites tend to share a few design instincts. First, they make reading easy. Body text is comfortable, spacing is generous, and headlines have enough contrast to create rhythm without becoming decorative.
Second, they respect hierarchy. A reader should be able to tell what matters in a glance: the lead story, the latest issue, the featured essay, or the subscribe prompt. Minimal interfaces only work when structure is doing its job.
Third, they use brand expression carefully. Minimal does not have to mean generic black text on white background. It can include a distinct serif pairing, a restrained accent color, a subtle grid, or art direction that gives the site personality without stealing focus from the content.
## 12 examples of minimalist publishing sites
### 1\. The single-column essay site
This is one of the purest forms of digital publishing. The homepage often leads with a short introduction, a recent post list, and maybe a subscribe field. There is little visual noise, which works especially well for personal essays, commentary, and independent writing brands.
Its strength is clarity. Its trade-off is discoverability. If archives, [categories, or series](https://themex.studio/categories-tags-browsing-grid/) matter to your publication, a single-column layout needs thoughtful structure behind the scenes or older work becomes hard to surface.
### 2\. The newsletter-first publication
A newsletter-first site usually centers the subscription experience without turning the entire homepage into a sales page. Readers see the promise of the publication, a few recent issues, and enough editorial framing to understand why this newsletter is worth inviting into their inbox.
This model works because it aligns design with business. The trade-off is that if every page pushes too hard for signup, the publication can feel transactional rather than editorial.
### 3\. The magazine-style minimalist homepage
Some of the best minimalist publishing sites use a modular editorial layout rather than a simple blog roll. A featured story sits at the top, followed by carefully spaced article cards, sections, or issue groupings. The page feels designed, but not crowded.
This approach is ideal for publications with multiple content types or contributors. It asks more from the layout system, though. Minimal magazine design is harder than it looks because every card, headline length, and image ratio needs consistency.
### 4\. The typography-led journal
Here, type does most of the branding. A distinctive serif for headlines, a restrained sans serif for interface elements, and disciplined spacing can make a site feel premium without relying on visual effects.
This format is often the best answer for literary journals, essay publications, and cultural writing. It creates seriousness and mood. The risk is overcorrecting into austerity. If typography is the whole concept, every detail has to be well judged.
### 5\. The archive-forward writer site
Some writers have deep back catalogs, and a minimalist site can still support that. In these examples, the homepage stays clean, while archives, tags, or issue pages create a second layer of depth. The front end feels calm, but the library beneath it is rich.
This is a strong direction for journalists, researchers, and long-running newsletters. It depends on information architecture as much as visual design. Minimal surface design cannot rescue a confusing archive.
### 6\. The image-light culture publication
Not every editorial site needs a large hero image or thumbnail-heavy feed. Some minimalist publishing sites use imagery sparingly, reserving it for feature stories or occasional visual punctuation. That keeps pages lighter and puts more weight on titles and decks.
This works particularly well when headlines are strong. If the editorial packaging is weak, though, a low-image homepage can feel flat rather than refined.
### 7\. The creator [brand publication](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-pick-a-ghost-theme-for-personal-brand/)
This format blends publishing with personal positioning. The site introduces the writer or founder, then transitions naturally into essays, notes, podcasts, or newsletters. The design remains minimal, but the voice is more personal than a traditional magazine.
For solo operators, this can be the most practical model because one site supports content, credibility, and audience growth. The trade-off is balance. Too much biography and too little publishing structure can make the site feel like a portfolio instead of an active publication.
### 8\. The issue-based editorial site
Issue-based sites are especially elegant when handled minimally. Instead of a constant stream of posts, the publication is organized into editions, themes, or seasonal releases. The interface can stay very spare because the content already has a built-in structure.
This creates a stronger editorial frame and often makes a small publication feel more substantial. It is less flexible for teams publishing daily or reacting quickly to news.
### 9\. The premium subscription publication
A paid publication often benefits from a quieter visual language. Minimal design can reinforce quality, seriousness, and trust, which matters when asking readers to subscribe. These sites usually pair restrained public pages with polished member reading experiences.
The challenge is signaling value without excess. If a site is too bare, it may not communicate enough depth to justify a paid offer.
### 10\. The niche industry publication
Many focused B2B or startup publications assume they need a busy homepage to look authoritative. Often the opposite is true. A minimalist structure with sharp headlines, concise summaries, and one clear navigation path can make a niche publication feel smarter and more credible.
This is especially useful when the audience is busy and knows what it wants. The site should reduce friction, not ask readers to decode the interface.
### 11\. The essay-plus-audio publication
More writers are publishing across formats, but minimalist design can still hold everything together. In the strongest examples, essays remain central, while podcast episodes or audio versions fit into the same visual system.
This works when content formats feel unified rather than stacked. If the site treats writing, audio, and newsletters as separate products, the experience can lose coherence.
### 12\. The understated startup publication
Some startups publish thought leadership, research, or editorial content alongside their product brand. The strongest minimalist examples keep the publishing side distinct enough to feel readable and useful, while still reflecting the company identity.
This takes restraint. If product messaging overwhelms the publication, readers stop treating it as editorial. If the separation is too extreme, the brand connection feels weak.
## How to evaluate minimalist publishing site examples
Looking at visual inspiration is useful, but screenshots alone do not tell you whether a publishing site is actually working. A good minimalist site should answer a few practical questions quickly. Can a new visitor understand what the publication is about? Can they find recent work and older work without effort? Does the reading experience feel comfortable over several minutes, not just several seconds?
It also helps to look past the homepage. Article pages matter more than hero sections. Typography, paragraph width, heading hierarchy, pull quotes, captions, and mobile spacing do most of the real editorial labor. A beautiful homepage cannot compensate for a weak article template.
Subscription design deserves equal attention. On minimalist sites, signup prompts are more visible because there is less surrounding clutter. That can be a benefit or a problem. A well-placed subscribe block feels natural. An oversized prompt repeated too often feels pushy.
## Why minimalism works so well for publishing
Publishing has a natural advantage in minimalist design because the product is already clear: words, ideas, and editorial perspective. When the layout is disciplined, readers spend less energy navigating and more energy reading. That usually improves trust as much as aesthetics.
There is also a practical side. Minimal systems are often easier to maintain. Smaller teams can publish consistently when the design framework is doing quiet, reliable work in the background. For Ghost publishers especially, a thoughtfully crafted [minimal theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-an-editorial-ghost-theme/) can make the difference between a site that looks polished on day one and one that starts accumulating visual compromises within a month.
Still, minimalism is not automatically right for every publication. If your brand depends on visual exuberance, dense categorization, or heavy multimedia storytelling, a stripped-back interface may limit you. The goal is not to look minimal. The goal is to create the right amount of structure for the kind of reading experience you want to offer.
The best reference points are not the sites with the fewest elements. They are the ones where every element feels earned. If you keep that standard in mind, minimalist publishing stops being a style choice and starts becoming an editorial advantage.
### How to Customize Ghost Homepage Layout
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-customize-ghost-homepage-layout/
Last updated: 2026-06-05T10:39:05.000Z
A Ghost homepage usually tells on itself within five seconds. You can tell when it was assembled around defaults, when every section fights for attention, and when the layout has no clear editorial priority. You can also tell when someone took the time to customize Ghost homepage layout choices around the publication itself - and that difference shapes how credible the site feels before a visitor reads a single line.
The homepage is not just a container for recent posts. It is the front door to your publication, your newsletter, your archive, and often your brand. For independent publishers and creator-led sites, that makes layout a strategic design decision, not a cosmetic one.
## What a homepage layout should actually do
Before you change anything, it helps to define the job of the page. A good Ghost homepage does three things well. It introduces the publication, guides readers toward the right content, and makes the next action obvious.
That sounds simple, but the layout implications are substantial. A writer with one flagship newsletter issue each week needs a different homepage structure than a startup publication with categories, authors, and evergreen resources. A portfolio-led creator may need a visual hierarchy that gives equal weight to articles and identity. A niche editorial brand may need stronger taxonomy and archive cues than a solo blogger.
This is where many homepage redesigns go wrong. The goal becomes adding sections rather than improving clarity. More rows, more cards, more labels, more featured content. The result is often a busier page that says less.
## Start with editorial hierarchy, not decoration
If you want to customize Ghost homepage layout effectively, begin with content hierarchy. Ask a practical question: what should a first-time visitor notice first, second, and third?
For most modern Ghost sites, the first layer is the publication promise. That may be a hero area with a strong title, short description, and email signup, or it may be a quieter opening that lets a featured story lead. The right choice depends on whether your primary conversion is subscription, reading, or brand positioning.
The second layer is usually your most important content path. That might be the latest post, a featured series, a curated grid of recent articles, or topic-based sections. The point is not to show everything. The point is to create a sense of order.
The third layer supports exploration. Archives, tags, secondary content blocks, author highlights, and resource collections belong here if they truly help. If they distract from the main path, they should move elsewhere.
A refined homepage feels intentional because every section has a role. If two sections do the same job, one should go.
## Customize Ghost homepage layout around reader intent
Ghost gives you a clean publishing foundation, but the strongest results come from matching layout decisions to reader behavior. That means thinking less like a site owner and more like an editor.
If most visitors arrive from social or search, they may know one article but not your broader publication. In that case, the homepage should orient them quickly with a strong identity block and clear content grouping. If your audience mainly arrives from your newsletter, they already know your voice, so the homepage can do less explaining and more guiding.
This distinction matters. A homepage designed for cold traffic often needs stronger introductory structure. A homepage for loyal readers can be lighter, faster, and more archive-driven.
There is also a trade-off between freshness and stability. Some publishers want the homepage to change constantly with the latest posts. Others need a more composed front page that preserves key messages, cornerstone content, or subscription value. Neither approach is inherently better. It depends on your publishing rhythm and your business model.
## The layout elements worth adjusting first
When people think about homepage customization, they often jump to code. In practice, the most meaningful changes usually come earlier.
Start with the hero section. This is where the publication establishes tone. A compact hero can feel sharper for editorial brands that want content to lead. A larger hero works when the brand story or newsletter proposition needs more room. What matters is not size alone, but proportion. If the opening takes up the entire screen without communicating anything specific, it is wasting space.
Next, look at featured content logic. One featured post can create clarity. Four featured posts can work if they are visually balanced and clearly distinct. Too many featured items and nothing feels featured at all.
Then review your post feed structure. A simple chronological stream is appropriate for many writers. But if your publication covers multiple recurring topics, a grouped layout often performs better because it gives readers an immediate map of what you publish.
[Typography and spacing](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-add-your-own-custom-fonts-to-ghost-theme/) matter just as much as content modules. A homepage can technically have the right sections and still feel off because the visual rhythm is cramped, inconsistent, or too heavy. Good layout is as much about restraint as arrangement.
## Theme settings vs code-level changes
Most Ghost users do not need to rebuild the homepage from scratch. A well-designed theme should make meaningful layout adjustments possible through built-in settings, homepage sections, and content conventions. That is usually the right starting point.
Theme settings are faster, safer, and easier to maintain through [future updates](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-update-your-ghost-theme-without-losing-customizations/). They also tend to preserve visual consistency, which is one of the easiest things to lose when making isolated custom edits.
Code-level changes make sense when your content model is clear and your design needs are specific. For example, you may want to change the order of homepage sections, adjust card density, introduce a custom featured area, or create different layouts for selected tags. Those can be worthwhile improvements, but only if they support a real editorial need.
The risk with code customization is not just technical complexity. It is design drift. Small changes added one by one can gradually weaken the original system. Suddenly spacing feels uneven, mobile behavior gets less predictable, and the homepage starts to look custom in the wrong way.
That is why a thoughtfully crafted Ghost theme matters. The best ones give you enough flexibility to shape the homepage without forcing you to become your own front-end team.
## Common mistakes when you customize Ghost homepage layout
The first mistake is trying to put the entire publication on the homepage. Your site may have essays, podcast episodes, archives, testimonials, resources, categories, products, and a newsletter offer. That does not mean the homepage should surface all of them at once.
The second mistake is treating homepage customization like a visual exercise only. Layout is editorial. If your content strategy is fuzzy, the homepage will expose that quickly.
The third mistake is ignoring mobile flow. A layout that feels elegant on a desktop can become exhausting on a phone if sections stack poorly or important actions disappear below long visual blocks.
The fourth mistake is over-designing the top of the page. Many publishers put enormous effort into the first screen, then allow the rest of the homepage to dissolve into repetitive post grids. Stronger pages maintain hierarchy all the way down.
## A practical way to evaluate your current homepage
A useful test is to open your homepage and answer three questions as if you were a new visitor. What is this publication about? What should I read first? What should I do next?
If any answer feels vague, the layout probably needs work.
Then look at the page section by section. Remove anything that does not clarify identity, improve navigation, or support conversion. If two blocks compete for the same attention, simplify. If a section looks attractive but does not help readers move forward, it may belong on another page.
This process is less dramatic than a full redesign, but often more effective. The strongest homepage improvements come from better decisions, not more components.
## Design for the publication you are becoming
One of the more subtle homepage decisions is whether to design for your current volume of content or your intended direction. If you only have ten posts today but plan to grow into a structured publication, it can make sense to build a homepage with room for that future shape.
At the same time, avoid borrowing the layout logic of larger media sites before you have the content depth to support it. A sparse homepage dressed up like a magazine usually feels thin, not premium.
A better approach is to choose a flexible structure that looks polished now and scales gracefully later. That is where a [minimal, editorially aware theme framework](https://themex.studio/rand/) has real value. It lets the homepage evolve without becoming inconsistent every time your publishing strategy changes.
For creators and independent publishers, this balance matters. You want enough polish to look established, enough flexibility to grow, and enough simplicity to keep the site manageable.
A homepage should not feel like a design experiment. It should feel like an extension of your editorial judgment. When the layout is clear, calm, and purposeful, readers trust the publication more - and they stay long enough to prove it.
### Choosing Website Templates for Newsletters
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/choosing-website-templates-for-newsletters/
Last updated: 2026-06-04T10:31:33.000Z
A newsletter site usually starts to feel limiting right after the first wave of subscribers arrives. What looked fine as a simple signup page suddenly needs to do more - present archives clearly, build trust fast, support paid memberships, and make every issue feel like part of a larger editorial brand. That is where the right website templates for newsletters make a real difference.
Not all newsletter templates are built for publishing. Some are really landing page designs with an email form attached. Others look polished in a demo but fall apart once you add issue archives, author pages, featured posts, navigation, and premium content. If your newsletter is becoming a serious publishing product, the template has to support that shift.
## What good website templates for newsletters actually do
A strong newsletter website should feel calm, readable, and intentional. Readers should understand within a few seconds what you publish, who it is for, and why they should subscribe. That sounds obvious, but many templates crowd the page with unnecessary sections, decorative effects, or startup-style marketing blocks that compete with the writing.
For newsletter publishers, the design job is different. You are not trying to sell ten product features at once. You are creating a reading environment and a subscription path. The template should make both feel natural.
That usually means a clear homepage structure, well-handled post archives, strong typography, and a signup experience that feels integrated rather than bolted on. If you publish frequently, consistency matters just as much as first impression. The site needs to keep working after issue 50, not just on launch day.
## The best templates balance conversion and editorial design
Many newsletter sites lean too far in one direction. They either feel like aggressive conversion funnels or like elegant magazines with no urgency to subscribe. The best website templates for newsletters sit between those extremes.
A good template gives enough emphasis to signup forms, membership options, and featured issues without making the entire site feel transactional. Readers still need room to browse, sample your voice, and understand the value of subscribing. If every page pushes too hard, trust can erode. If the subscription path is too subtle, growth stalls.
This balance is especially important for independent publishers and creators. Your site is often your publication, your brand, and your business model in one place. Design choices carry more weight because there is no giant media company behind them. Readers are judging the credibility of the publication through the interface.
## What to look for before [choosing a template](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-theme-that-fits/)
The first thing to evaluate is structure. A newsletter website needs more than a hero section and a form. It should handle homepage hierarchy, article cards, archive pagination, post templates, author identity, and membership flows in a way that still feels simple.
Typography is next. Newsletter audiences read. They scan headlines, open archived issues, and often move from inbox to website and back again. If the template uses weak type scale, cramped spacing, or low-contrast styling, the entire experience feels less trustworthy. Clean typography is not decoration. It is part of the product.
You should also pay attention to how the template handles repeatable content. Newsletter publishing is an ongoing system, not a one-time launch. Can the design support weekly issues without looking monotonous? Can featured posts and regular posts live together cleanly? Does the archive remain usable as volume grows?
Then there is customization. Most creators do not need a blank canvas. They need a thoughtfully crafted foundation they can adapt without breaking the visual system. A flexible template should let you change branding, imagery, navigation, and layout emphasis while preserving coherence.
## Why Ghost is a natural fit for newsletter publishing
If your publication [runs on Ghost](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-the-right-ghost-blog-theme/), the template decision becomes even more important because Ghost is already built around publishing, memberships, and newsletters. That means your theme should extend those strengths instead of working against them.
A Ghost-specific template can better support subscriber journeys, member access, post organization, and editorial workflows. It can also reduce setup friction because the structure is designed for the platform rather than retrofitted from a generic website builder approach.
This is where many publishers save time. Instead of forcing a broad multipurpose template into a newsletter model, they start with a system designed for content-led publishing. The result is usually cleaner both visually and operationally.
## Common mistakes with newsletter templates
One common mistake is choosing based on homepage aesthetics alone. A template can look impressive in a live preview and still create friction in everyday use. The archive may be weak. The post page may be too narrow or too dense. Navigation may become messy once categories and secondary pages are added.
Another mistake is overvaluing novelty. Unusual layouts, animated interactions, and trend-driven styling can make a demo feel memorable, but newsletter publishing rewards clarity more than spectacle. Readers return for voice, insight, and consistency. The design should support those habits, not interrupt them.
There is also the problem of underestimating support. Even a well-designed template can require decisions during setup. Publishers often need guidance around homepage composition, custom routes, membership labels, featured content, or visual tweaks. [Good documentation](https://themex.studio/docs/enjin-docs/) and responsive support are part of the product, especially for solo operators who do not want to troubleshoot design systems on their own.
## Minimal does not mean generic
Minimal design gets misunderstood all the time. In the best newsletter templates, minimal means disciplined. It means every visual choice has a job. Spacing creates rhythm. Typography establishes hierarchy. Color is used with restraint. The result feels premium because nothing is accidental.
Generic design feels different. It relies on default patterns with no editorial point of view. It may be clean, but it is not distinctive. For newsletter brands, that distinction matters. Readers should remember the publication, not just consume the issue and leave.
A well-made minimal template gives you enough character to feel credible and enough restraint to let the writing lead. That is a much harder balance to get right than adding more visual elements.
## How to judge whether a template will age well
The best test is to imagine the site six months from now. Picture a larger archive, more subscriber touchpoints, perhaps premium content, maybe even multiple authors or sections. Does the template still feel stable under that weight?
A template that ages well usually has a clear card system, dependable page rhythm, and sensible content hierarchy. It does not rely on one dramatic hero image to create impact. It works because the underlying layout logic is strong.
You should also consider whether the design leaves room for your brand to mature. Many early-stage publishers choose templates that feel trendy but narrow. Later, when the publication expands, those design decisions start to feel limiting. A more editorial, flexible system tends to last longer.
## Choosing for your publishing model
There is no single perfect template because newsletter publishers have different goals. A writer-led personal newsletter may need warmth, clarity, and a strong author presence. A startup publication may need sharper structure, category organization, and more room for product context. A premium editorial brand may care most about typography, pacing, and member experience.
That is why the right choice depends on what role the site plays in your business. If growth is the priority, signup visibility matters more. If retention and paid memberships matter most, archive quality and member navigation become more important. If brand perception is central, visual restraint and editorial polish carry extra value.
The strongest themes tend to handle all three reasonably well, but one area will usually lead. Knowing your priorities helps you choose with more confidence.
## A better standard for newsletter websites
Newsletter sites no longer need to look like stripped-down side projects. Readers are comfortable paying for thoughtful, independent publishing, and their expectations have changed. A credible publication should feel composed, readable, and well cared for from the first visit.
That is why template quality matters more than many publishers expect. It shapes how your archive is experienced, how your subscription offer is perceived, and how seriously the publication is taken. For Ghost publishers, thoughtfully crafted themes from studios such as Themex Studio can offer a strong middle ground - polished design, practical flexibility, and support that respects real publishing workflows.
If you are choosing among website templates for newsletters, the smartest move is not to chase the flashiest demo. Choose the template that makes your writing easier to trust, easier to read, and easier to return to next week.
### Ghost SEO Checklist for Better Rankings
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-seo-checklist-for-better-rankings/
Last updated: 2026-06-03T11:49:19.000Z
A polished Ghost site can still underperform in search for one simple reason - SEO issues tend to hide in plain sight. A missing canonical tag, weak heading structure, oversized images, or thin archive pages can quietly limit reach even when the writing is strong. That is why a practical ghost seo checklist is useful. It gives you a clean way to review the fundamentals without turning publishing into a technical project.
Ghost already does a lot well. It generates clean code, supports structured publishing workflows, and avoids much of the bloat that slows down other platforms. But good defaults are not the same as a finished SEO setup. The difference usually comes down to the details: how your theme outputs metadata, how your content is organized, and whether the site feels coherent to both readers and search engines.
## What a ghost seo checklist should actually cover
A useful checklist is not a pile of generic advice copied from WordPress articles. Ghost has its own strengths, its own publishing model, and its own points of friction. For most writers, creators, and editorial teams, the right review process should cover three areas: technical foundations, on-page structure, and editorial consistency.
The technical side includes crawlability, indexing, speed, and metadata. On-page structure focuses on title tags, headings, image handling, and internal linking. Editorial consistency is the part many people skip, even though it often has the biggest effect over time. If your site has scattered topics, duplicate intent, and shallow tag archives, SEO will feel uneven no matter how clean the theme is.
## Start with Ghost SEO settings and theme output
Begin in Ghost itself. Make sure your publication title, description, timezone, and social sharing defaults are complete and accurate. These fields do more than fill empty spaces. They shape how your site is interpreted across search, social previews, and structured metadata.
Then review what your theme is outputting. This is where quality matters. A thoughtfully crafted [Ghost theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-theme-that-fits/) should handle core SEO elements cleanly, including semantic HTML, proper heading hierarchy, canonical URLs, open graph tags, and responsive image output. If a theme looks beautiful but generates messy markup or weak page structure, the design polish will not make up for it.
It is worth checking a few page types individually: the homepage, a post page, a tag archive, an author archive, and any custom pages. SEO issues often appear in templates rather than individual articles. A homepage might use the wrong heading order. A tag page might have no meaningful intro text. An author page might be indexable without offering real value. These are small decisions, but search performance is often shaped by accumulation.
## Technical checks that matter on Ghost
Your first technical checkpoint is indexation. Make sure search engines can crawl the right pages and are not wasting attention on low-value duplicates. In many cases, Ghost keeps things fairly clean, but your broader setup still matters. Custom routes, membership pages, and theme-specific templates can introduce noise if they are not planned carefully.
Next, look at speed. Ghost is generally fast, but performance is still a design problem as much as a hosting problem. Large hero images, heavy custom fonts, embedded media, and excessive scripts can all drag down an otherwise minimal site. For publishers, this is a common trade-off. The visual identity matters, but every added asset should earn its place.
Image handling deserves special attention. Use properly sized images, descriptive file names where practical, and clear alt text when the image adds context. Decorative images do not need forced keyword stuffing. Functional clarity is the better standard. If an image supports the story, describe it. If it is purely aesthetic, keep it simple.
Also confirm that your XML sitemap is active and your robots directives are sensible. This is rarely dramatic work, but it is foundational. Search visibility often depends less on clever tactics and more on removing small points of friction.
## On-page SEO in Ghost posts and pages
A strong article page should have one clear H1, a logical heading structure underneath it, and a title that matches the actual search intent of the piece. This sounds obvious, but many sites drift into decorative formatting that weakens clarity. Search engines are good at interpreting content, yet they still benefit from clean hierarchy.
Titles and meta descriptions should be written for both precision and clicks. On Ghost, that usually means reviewing post-level SEO settings before publishing. Do not default to the article headline every time if a more specific search-oriented variation would serve the page better. At the same time, avoid writing titles that feel detached from the editorial tone of the site. Credibility matters.
URL structure should stay short and readable. If your slug is bloated, vague, or date-driven without a reason, tighten it. Ghost makes simple URLs easy, and simple usually wins.
Internal linking is another overlooked part of any ghost seo checklist. A well-linked site helps readers discover related work, distributes authority across posts, and reinforces topic clusters naturally. The key word is naturally. Internal links should feel editorial, not mechanical. If every post force-links the same exact phrase five times, the pattern becomes obvious and unhelpful.
## Your content model matters more than most checklists admit
A technically clean site with weak content architecture will still struggle. Ghost is often used by publishers with strong taste and a clear voice, but that does not always translate into organized topic coverage. If you publish excellent pieces across ten unrelated themes, search engines may have trouble understanding what your site should rank for consistently.
This is where tags, authors, and content grouping become strategic rather than cosmetic. Tags should not be treated as random labels. They work best when they reflect meaningful topic clusters that deserve archive pages of their own. If a tag archive exists, it should feel intentional. That means a clear title, a useful description, and enough strong posts to justify its presence.
The same principle applies to author pages. If you run a multi-author publication, those pages can add credibility and context. If you are a solo publisher, the author archive may still be useful, but only if it contributes something distinct. It depends on the site structure and audience expectations.
Content depth also matters. Ghost makes publishing easy, which is excellent for consistency, but easy publishing can sometimes create thin content habits. Short updates, quick opinion pieces, and announcement posts may serve your readers, yet they should not become the whole search strategy. Organic growth usually comes from content that answers a clear question, covers a subject with enough depth, and fits within a larger editorial system.
## A practical ghost seo checklist for ongoing publishing
The best SEO process is one you can repeat without friction. Before publishing, review the page title, meta description, URL, heading structure, featured image, and internal links. After publishing, check how the page renders on desktop and mobile, and make sure the formatting still supports readability.
At the site level, revisit your homepage messaging, navigation labels, tag taxonomy, and archive quality every few months. This is especially important after redesigns or theme changes. A visual update can improve the brand while quietly disrupting heading structure, schema output, or content pathways if nobody checks the details.
It also helps to audit older posts. Refresh outdated metadata, improve intros, add relevant internal links, and merge overlapping articles when needed. Not every post deserves a full rewrite, but many can perform better with careful refinement. This is often a better use of time than publishing new content endlessly.
If you are using a [premium Ghost theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-magazine-theme/), this process should feel lighter, not heavier. Good theme design supports SEO by default through clean structure, strong typography, mobile clarity, and sensible template decisions. That is part of the value of a Ghost-specific approach. The goal is not to turn creators into technicians. It is to give strong content the framework it needs to be found.
## Common mistakes that hurt Ghost SEO
The most common issue is assuming Ghost will handle everything automatically. It handles a lot, but not your topic strategy, your metadata decisions, or your archive quality.
The second is over-customizing. [Extra scripts](https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-theme-customization-guide/), visual effects, and third-party tools can slowly erode speed and clarity. If a feature does not improve publishing or reading in a meaningful way, it may be costing more than it adds.
The third is treating SEO and design as separate jobs. On a publishing site, they are closely linked. Typography affects readability, layout affects content discovery, and structure affects crawlability. The strongest Ghost sites tend to get this right because they are built with restraint.
A good checklist should leave you with a site that feels clearer, faster, and more intentional - not more complicated. If a change improves rankings but makes the editorial experience worse, it is worth pausing. The best search performance usually comes from a site that is thoughtfully organized, technically clean, and genuinely good to read.
### 7 Top Ghost Themes for Portfolios
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/7-top-ghost-themes-for-portfolios/
Last updated: 2026-06-02T11:10:17.000Z
A portfolio site has a hard job. It needs to show taste before a visitor reads a single line, but it also needs enough structure to hold case studies, writing, project archives, client work, and a point of view. That is why the search for top Ghost themes portfolios tends to be less about decoration and more about fit. The right theme should frame your work cleanly, support your publishing rhythm, and make your site feel considered from day one.
Ghost is especially strong here because it is not trying to be everything for everyone. It gives creators, writers, studios, and founders a focused publishing system with membership, newsletters, and a clean editorial workflow built in. For portfolio sites, that matters. Many people do not just need a gallery. They need a site that can publish essays, send updates, present selected work, and still look premium.
## What makes the top Ghost themes portfolios worth considering
A good Ghost portfolio theme is not simply a homepage with large images. It creates hierarchy. Your featured work should be easy to scan, your written content should feel readable, and your calls to action should never compete with the work itself.
Typography is often the first signal of quality. If the type system feels cramped, overly stylized, or inconsistent across templates, the whole site starts to feel less credible. The strongest portfolio themes use restraint. They leave room for images, headlines, captions, and long-form project pages without forcing everything into the same visual weight.
Flexibility matters too, but not in the bloated-template sense. Most creators do not need endless controls. They need a theme that can shift between portfolio, blog, newsletter, and editorial site with minimal friction. That usually comes down to strong post layouts, thoughtful homepage sections, tag organization, and clean navigation.
Then there is the practical layer. A portfolio site often has to do more than impress. It has to convert interest into inquiry, subscribers, readers, or clients. So the best themes balance presentation with clarity. Contact paths, newsletter forms, featured content areas, and author credibility all need to feel native to the design.
## 7 top Ghost themes for portfolios
### 1\. Aalto
Aalto is a strong choice for creators who want a portfolio that leans editorial rather than promotional. Its visual language is minimal, but not cold. That makes it especially useful for writers, designers, consultants, and independent publishers whose work benefits from context, not just thumbnails.
What stands out is the calm structure. Pages feel spacious, typography carries real presence, and featured work can sit alongside essays or updates without looking like a separate system. If your portfolio includes both projects and thought leadership, this kind of balance is difficult to fake with a generic theme.
The trade-off is that Aalto rewards good content curation. It looks best when you have a clear sense of what should be featured and what should remain secondary.
### 2\. Vincent
Vincent suits portfolio sites that need a little more personality while staying polished. It feels refined and contemporary, with enough visual confidence for creative professionals who want their site to feel designed, not merely assembled.
This is often a good fit for photographers, art directors, branding studios, and creators with image-led work. Visual content has room to breathe, but text still matters. That balance is what makes it useful for portfolios that need captions, project framing, or service positioning.
If your work relies heavily on narrative case studies, Vincent can handle that. If you want something more purely restrained, another option may feel quieter.
### 3\. Rand
Rand is particularly effective for creators building a personal brand around expertise. Think founders, operators, writers, product marketers, or consultants whose portfolio is not just past work but an ongoing body of published thinking.
Its strength is flexibility. It can support a clean portfolio structure while still feeling natural as a publication. That makes it useful if you want one site to hold project highlights, articles, newsletter signups, and a clear professional identity.
For many Ghost users, this is the real advantage of the platform. Your portfolio does not need to sit apart from your publishing engine. Rand plays well in that overlap.
### 4\. Enjin
Enjin works well for startup-facing creators and small editorial teams that want a sharper, more modern edge. It has the kind of structure that can support a portfolio, publication, and company presence without becoming visually noisy.
This matters for design studios, [SaaS founders](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-theme-for-startups/), and product teams presenting launches, experiments, and brand work. You can showcase projects, publish updates, and build a site that feels current without drifting into trend-heavy design.
The best use case here is breadth. If your portfolio sits inside a wider content ecosystem, Enjin gives you room to grow.
### 5\. A minimalist grid-led theme
Some portfolio sites need very little introduction. If your work is highly visual and already well known by the audience visiting, a [minimalist grid-led Ghost theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-minimal-ghost-theme/) can be a smart choice. These themes foreground images and titles, reduce navigation friction, and create quick scanning behavior.
But there is a trade-off. Purely grid-led portfolios can feel elegant at first and limited over time. Once you need room for process notes, case studies, testimonials, or newsletter content, the structure can start to feel thin. For photographers and illustrators, that may be fine. For multi-disciplinary creators, it often is not enough.
### 6\. A publication-first theme with portfolio flexibility
Some of the top Ghost themes portfolios users end up choosing are not labeled as portfolio themes at all. They are publication-first themes with strong homepage composition, featured posts, and custom page options. This is often the better route for writers, researchers, strategists, and creators whose work lives partly in articles and partly in selected client or project pages.
The reason is simple. A portfolio is rarely static. If you publish often, your site should reward fresh content rather than forcing every update into a rigid showcase template. A publication-first structure gives you durability. Your older work becomes an archive with meaning, not just clutter.
### 7\. A hybrid creator theme with membership support
For independent creators selling access, building an audience, or running a paid newsletter, a hybrid creator theme can be the strongest portfolio choice. In Ghost, memberships and email are native, so the theme can support much more than presentation.
This setup works especially well for coaches, educators, niche experts, and creator-operators. Your portfolio becomes proof of taste and capability, but it also becomes a growth asset. Visitors can read, subscribe, and return. That is a meaningful advantage over static portfolio builders.
## How to choose among top Ghost themes portfolios options
Start with your content mix. If 80 percent of your site is project work, choose a theme that gives visual assets and case studies priority. If your authority comes from writing as much as client work, choose a theme with stronger editorial structure.
Next, think about your homepage. Many people overestimate how much they need on it. Usually, a strong portfolio homepage only needs a clear introduction, selected work, recent writing or updates, and one obvious next step. The best themes help you do that without stuffing the page.
Then consider how your work will age. A theme may look impressive with six polished projects, but what happens at 30 posts, 12 case studies, and a year of publishing? Archive pages, tag pages, and post templates matter more than flashy homepage moments.
Finally, be honest about setup. A very flexible theme is only useful if the system feels intuitive. For most creators, the best outcome is not maximum customization. It is a theme with enough range to feel unique, plus documentation and support that keep implementation moving.
## Why Ghost works so well for portfolio publishing
The usual portfolio platforms are optimized for display. Ghost is optimized for publishing. That difference matters more than it may seem.
A modern portfolio is rarely just a shelf of finished work. It is often a live record of thinking, experiments, updates, essays, references, and offers. [Ghost handles that naturally](https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-vs-wordpress-publishing-which-fits/). You can publish long-form work, organize content with tags, run email newsletters, and create premium or member-only experiences from the same foundation.
That gives your portfolio depth. Instead of saying you are thoughtful, you can show it. Instead of presenting static credibility, you can keep building it in public.
For creators who care about design, the right theme turns that system into something visually precise. That is where thoughtful craftsmanship matters. A well-made Ghost theme should not fight your content. It should create confidence around it.
One reason many users eventually narrow their search to a more curated set of premium options is simple: portfolio sites are sensitive to visual noise. A strong theme earns trust quietly. It does not overload the page with effects or controls. It gives structure to your work and lets your brand feel intentional.
If you are comparing options, look past the demo glow and ask a more useful question: will this theme still serve the site you want six months from now? The best portfolio theme is not the one that looks most dramatic on launch day. It is the one that keeps your work readable, your brand coherent, and your publishing workflow pleasantly uncomplicated. That is usually where thoughtful Ghost themes, including the more editorially crafted options from studios like Themex Studio, earn their place.
Choose the theme that makes your work easier to understand, not just easier to admire.
### How to Launch a Ghost Publication
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-launch-a-ghost-publication/
Last updated: 2026-06-01T12:27:10.000Z
A Ghost site rarely fails because Ghost is hard to use. It usually fails earlier - at the moment a publisher treats launch as a theme install instead of a publishing decision. If you want to launch a Ghost publication that feels credible on day one, the work is less about chasing features and more about choosing a clear editorial shape.
Ghost is especially strong when you know what you publish, who it serves, and how readers are meant to move through the site. That can mean a newsletter-led brand, a magazine-style publication, a founder blog, or a paid membership product. The platform supports all of them. The difference is whether your setup, design, and structure point in the same direction.
## What a strong Ghost launch actually requires
A polished launch is usually built on three layers: editorial strategy, visual system, and operational setup. Most launch problems happen when one of those layers is missing.
Editorial strategy comes first. Before selecting fonts, homepage sections, or signup placements, decide what your publication is. Are you publishing essays twice a week? Running a niche industry newsletter? Building a startup media brand with recurring columns? Ghost works best when the publication model is defined early, because your navigation, post templates, and membership flow all depend on it.
Visual system comes next. Readers make a judgment quickly, especially if they are deciding whether to subscribe, trust your perspective, or pay. Clean typography, spacing, hierarchy, and image treatment do more than make a site attractive. They signal editorial standards. Minimal design is not simply a style choice here. It reduces friction and helps the writing carry the brand.
Operational setup is the final layer. That includes your domain, email sending, publication settings, homepage structure, tag architecture, and basic SEO fields. None of this is glamorous, but it is what makes a launch feel finished rather than temporary.
## Define the shape of your publication before design
If you are preparing to launch a Ghost publication, start by answering a few practical questions. What is the core format? How often will you publish? Is email central to the experience, or is the site the primary destination? Will you have one voice or multiple contributors?
These choices affect everything that follows. A solo writer publishing personal essays needs a different homepage than a startup publication with categories, featured stories, and a team page. A paid newsletter needs tighter subscription messaging than a free editorial site monetized later. A founder writing occasional updates can keep the structure lean. A niche media brand usually needs stronger content organization from the start.
This is where restraint helps. Many new publishers overbuild the first version of the site because they are trying to anticipate every future need. In practice, it is better to launch with a system that supports your next six months of publishing, not your hypothetical media empire.
## Choose a theme that matches your editorial model
A Ghost theme is not just visual packaging. It determines how your content is framed, how flexible your homepage is, how clearly your navigation works, and how much effort it takes to maintain a premium look over time.
The right choice depends on what you publish. A publication built around long-form writing should prioritize typography, readability, and calm visual rhythm. A newsletter brand may need strong signup moments throughout the site. A modern [editorial site](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-an-editorial-ghost-theme/) may need featured posts, sections, and a more modular homepage.
This is also where trade-offs matter. Highly decorative designs can look impressive in demos but create noise around the content. Extremely stripped-down themes can feel elegant yet too limited if you plan to scale into categories, archives, or membership products. The best setup usually sits in the middle: [minimal, flexible](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-minimal-ghost-theme/), and intentionally structured.
For many independent publishers, a thoughtfully crafted premium Ghost theme saves significant time because the design system is already resolved. Instead of fighting layout decisions, you can focus on publishing. That is one reason products from studios like Themex Studio tend to appeal to writers and editorial brands that want polish without a custom build.
## Build the homepage around reader intent
Your homepage should explain the publication within seconds. Not with a long mission statement, but with clear signals: what this is, who it is for, and what to do next.
That usually means a concise headline, a strong description, a prominent subscription path, and a curated selection of recent or featured posts. If you publish across multiple topics, your homepage should introduce that structure without feeling crowded. If your publication is tightly focused, the homepage can be simpler and more direct.
A common mistake is trying to make the homepage do everything at once. Too many featured blocks, too many visual treatments, and too many competing calls to action can make a new publication feel uncertain. A better approach is to prioritize one primary action - usually subscribe or start reading - and support it with a clear editorial hierarchy.
## Set up navigation like an editor, not a developer
Navigation is one of the fastest ways to make a publication feel professional. It should reflect how readers think about your content, not how you happen to organize it behind the scenes.
For most Ghost sites, a simple main menu works best. Home, About, Newsletter or Subscribe, and one or two key content sections are often enough. If you have categories, make sure they are distinct and durable. Avoid labels that only make sense internally or that overlap too much in meaning.
Ghost’s tag system gives you flexibility, but flexibility can create clutter if you are not careful. A lean taxonomy is easier to maintain and easier for readers to understand. If you are just starting out, fewer categories usually create a stronger publication experience.
## Prepare your content before launch day
Launching with one post is technically possible and strategically weak. Readers want evidence that the publication is active, considered, and worth returning to.
Aim to launch with enough content to establish tone and direction. For some sites, that means three to five cornerstone posts. For a newsletter-led publication, it may mean a strong archive page and a compelling welcome post. For a magazine-style brand, it may mean enough category coverage that the site does not feel empty.
Your initial content should also be balanced. One strong essay, one useful resource, and one clear about page can do more work than a stack of rushed articles. Ghost makes publishing easy, but your early editorial choices shape credibility. Quality matters more than volume in the first impression.
## Don’t treat email and membership as add-ons
One of Ghost’s biggest advantages is that publishing, newsletters, and memberships live in the same system. That makes it tempting to switch everything on at once. Sometimes that works. Often it creates unnecessary complexity.
If subscriptions are central to the business model, build around them from the start. Make the signup experience visible, explain what subscribers receive, and write a welcome email that sounds like your publication rather than a placeholder. If paid membership is part of the plan but not the immediate focus, it may be smarter to launch with free signup first and add paid tiers once your publishing rhythm is steady.
There is no prize for activating every Ghost feature on day one. A clean and confident setup usually converts better than a half-finished membership stack.
## The technical details that make launch feel complete
To launch a Ghost publication well, the final stretch is about finish, not experimentation. Connect your domain, upload your logo and social sharing image, set your brand colors, complete your metadata, and test your email delivery. Check your post cards, author pages, and mobile layout. Make sure buttons, forms, and navigation behave consistently.
This is also the moment to review [typography and spacing](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-apply-css-changes-in-your-ghost-theme/) with real content in place. Themes often look different once your actual headlines, excerpts, and images replace demo content. A design that felt perfect in preview may need small adjustments to feel balanced with your material.
That last bit is worth taking seriously. Good editorial design is rarely loud. It is the result of many small decisions that make the publication feel composed.
## Launch early, but not unfinished
There is a real difference between shipping lean and shipping sloppy. A lean launch has a clear point of view, enough content to establish quality, and a design system that feels deliberate. A sloppy launch has placeholder copy, empty sections, weak hierarchy, and no obvious editorial promise.
If you are waiting for perfection, you may delay too long. If you launch before the fundamentals are in place, you risk wasting the first wave of attention. The right moment is usually when the site feels focused, readable, and trustworthy - even if version two is already in your head.
A strong Ghost publication does not need to look oversized or overengineered. It needs to feel intentional. When the writing, design, and structure support each other, readers notice. And that is what gives a new publication its best chance to grow with confidence.
### How to Choose Publisher Website Themes
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-publisher-website-themes/
Last updated: 2026-06-01T12:27:10.000Z
A publisher site usually earns trust in the first few seconds. Before a reader subscribes, shares, or reads a second article, they make a quiet judgment about credibility, clarity, and taste. That is why publisher website themes matter more than many teams expect. The right theme does not just make a site look better. It shapes how writing is framed, how archives are explored, and how confidently a publication can grow.
For independent publishers, creators, and small editorial teams, this choice is rarely just visual. It affects workflow, brand perception, newsletter growth, and how much time you spend adjusting a template instead of publishing. A good theme should feel considered from the start, but it should also stay out of the way once your site is live.
## What publisher website themes actually need to do
A publisher theme is not the same as a generic business template with a blog attached. Editorial websites have different priorities. They carry larger volumes of content, rely more heavily on typography, and need layouts that support reading rather than compete with it.
That means strong publisher website themes should handle article pages, category or tag archives, featured stories, author presence, and subscription touchpoints with equal care. The homepage matters, but it cannot do all the work. Readers often land directly on a post from search, social, or email, so the article template needs as much attention as the front page.
This is where many themes fall short. They may look polished in a demo, then start to break down once real content is added. Headlines become cramped, featured images feel inconsistent, and navigation turns messy as the archive grows. A publication needs a design system, not just a pretty homepage.
## Start with the reading experience
If the core product is writing, the reading experience should lead every decision. That sounds obvious, but it is easy to get distracted by motion effects, oversized hero sections, or layout gimmicks that feel current for a season and dated shortly after.
A strong reading experience usually comes down to restraint. Typography should feel confident and easy to scan. Spacing should give articles room to breathe. Contrast should be high enough to support long-form reading without feeling harsh. On mobile, the layout should remain calm and readable, not compressed into a stack of competing elements.
There is also a branding question here. Minimal does not mean generic. The best editorial themes create enough structure to feel distinctive while leaving space for the publication’s voice to come through. If the design is louder than the writing, it is probably working too hard.
## How to evaluate publisher website themes before you buy
The smartest way to assess a theme is to look past the demo styling and study the underlying choices. Ask what happens when your own content replaces the placeholder copy. A theme that looks impressive with art-directed images and perfectly sized excerpts can feel ordinary with everyday publishing materials.
Pay close attention to the article page first. Read a full post in the demo, preferably on desktop and mobile. Notice headline scale, paragraph width, caption styling, pull quotes, related posts, and newsletter calls to action. These details shape the reader experience far more than decorative homepage sections.
Then look at archive behavior. Browse the homepage, tag pages, and author pages. A publication rarely succeeds on single articles alone. Readers need clear paths into more content, and editors need layouts that continue to feel organized as the catalog expands.
Finally, consider how much setup is required to get a refined result. Some themes depend on extensive customization before they look coherent. Others are thoughtfully crafted out of the box, with enough flexibility to adapt to your brand without asking you to redesign the product yourself. For most publishers, the second option is far more valuable.
## Design quality is not the same as visual complexity
There is a persistent idea that premium design has to feel layered, animated, or feature-heavy. For editorial brands, that is often the wrong direction. Sophistication usually comes from hierarchy, rhythm, proportion, and consistency.
The better theme is often the one with fewer decisions exposed to the user and more design discipline built into the system. That might mean cleaner card layouts, more balanced type scales, stronger whitespace, or smarter defaults for image handling. These are quieter choices, but they age better and support real publishing work.
This is especially important for solo publishers and small teams. If a theme only looks good when carefully art-directed every week, it creates pressure. If it still looks sharp with a fast publishing workflow, it becomes an asset.
## Flexibility matters, but so do boundaries
Most buyers say they want flexibility. What they usually mean is that they want a theme that can fit their brand and evolve with their content. That is reasonable. The problem starts when flexibility turns into open-ended complexity.
A [well-designed theme](https://themex.studio/guides/clean-ghost-website-design-that-feels-premium/) gives you meaningful options without making you responsible for every design decision. You should be able to adjust branding, feature different content types, and create a distinct editorial feel. You should not need to rebuild page structures or patch over weak defaults to get a professional result.
There is a trade-off here. Highly customizable themes can appeal to teams with a clear design system and technical support. More opinionated themes are often better for creators and lean publications that want confidence, speed, and polish. It depends on your resources as much as your taste.
## Why Ghost-specific design makes a difference
For publishers [using Ghost](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-theme-that-fits/), platform fit is not a small detail. Ghost has its own publishing patterns, membership features, and content model. Themes built with those realities in mind usually feel cleaner and more natural to use.
A Ghost theme should support newsletters, memberships, featured posts, tags, authors, and [editorial navigation](https://themex.studio/navigation-enhancements/) without awkward workarounds. It should also respect the simplicity that draws many publishers to Ghost in the first place. If the setup feels bloated or fragile, the theme is working against the platform.
This is one reason specialist theme shops tend to produce better results than general template marketplaces. They understand how real Ghost sites are structured, what publishers actually need, and where design choices affect everyday publishing. Thoughtful documentation and direct support matter too, especially when you are launching under time pressure.
## The hidden cost of generic themes
A cheaper theme can still become an expensive decision if it costs you weeks in setup time, compromises your brand, or makes your publication feel interchangeable. Generic themes often promise broad compatibility, but that breadth can come at the expense of editorial focus.
The signs are familiar: bloated feature panels, weak article templates, awkward typography, and a visual style that feels designed for everyone and no one. These themes may technically function, but they do not always help a publication feel credible or memorable.
By contrast, a thoughtfully crafted editorial theme reduces friction. It gives structure to your content, supports your publishing workflow, and helps the site feel finished sooner. That is not just a design benefit. It changes how confidently you can launch, promote, and grow.
## What the best choice usually looks like
The best publisher website themes tend to share a few qualities. They are visually restrained but not plain. They are flexible but not chaotic. They prioritize article pages as much as homepages. And they make strong design decisions on your behalf without locking you into a rigid identity.
If you are comparing options, try to picture your site six months from now, not just on launch day. Will the theme still feel organized with dozens of posts? Will the archive still be easy to browse? Will your brand still come through once the novelty of the demo wears off?
That longer view usually leads to better choices. Publications grow through consistency, and consistency is easier when the design system is already doing its job. Brands like Themex Studio have built their reputation on that exact balance: minimal presentation, editorial clarity, and enough flexibility to support distinct publishing identities without adding unnecessary complexity.
A good theme should make your publication feel more like itself. When that happens, design stops being a distraction and starts doing what it should have done all along - giving your words a stronger place to land.
### Ghost vs WordPress Publishing: Which Fits?
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-vs-wordpress-publishing-which-fits/
Last updated: 2026-05-30T09:07:56.000Z
If you are choosing between Ghost vs WordPress publishing, the real question is not which platform is bigger. It is which one helps you publish with less friction, stronger design consistency, and a setup that still feels right six months from now.
This comparison matters most when content is the product. For a writer, newsletter publisher, startup media brand, or small editorial team, the publishing system shapes far more than the admin dashboard. It affects how quickly you can launch, how clean your site feels, how easy it is to maintain, and how much time you spend managing plugins instead of publishing.
## Ghost vs WordPress publishing at a glance
WordPress is the broader platform. It can become almost anything with enough plugins, custom development, and patience. That flexibility is the reason it powers a huge share of the web. It is also the reason many publishing setups become bloated over time.
Ghost is narrower by design. It was built for publishing, memberships, and newsletters. That focus changes the experience. The interface is cleaner, the content model is simpler, and the product pushes you toward a more disciplined editorial workflow.
If you want maximum extensibility for a site that may eventually include complex directories, ecommerce layers, learning portals, or highly customized integrations, WordPress still has the advantage. If you want a modern publishing platform that feels intentionally built for writing and reader relationships, Ghost often feels sharper and lighter.
## Where WordPress still wins
WordPress earns its reputation honestly. Its ecosystem is enormous, and that matters.
There is a plugin for almost everything. If your project has unusual requirements, WordPress gives you more ways to solve them. You can bolt on advanced SEO tools, custom fields, multilingual systems, complex page builders, membership plugins, forums, appointment tools, and ecommerce features with relatively low upfront cost.
That flexibility is useful for businesses whose publishing operation is only one part of a larger website. If your content sits beside a large marketing site, course platform, or custom funnel stack, WordPress can be easier to shape around those needs.
There is also a practical hiring advantage. Because WordPress has such a large market share, it is easier to find freelancers, agencies, developers, and support resources familiar with it.
But this is where the trade-off starts to show. More flexibility usually means more decisions, more configuration, and more points of failure. The same plugin ecosystem that makes WordPress adaptable can also create maintenance overhead, performance issues, style inconsistency, and admin clutter.
## Why Ghost feels different for publishers
Ghost is opinionated in a way many publishers end up appreciating.
The editor is clean. The content structure is straightforward. Native memberships and newsletters are built into the platform rather than assembled from third-party parts. For a publication that wants a site and email operation to work together, that changes the entire workflow.
Instead of asking, “Which plugin should handle this?” you are more often asking, “How should this publication be presented?” That is a better question for editorial teams.
Ghost also tends to reward restraint. Its architecture encourages a more focused stack, which often means fewer moving pieces and a more stable publishing environment. For creators and lean teams, that simplicity is not a limitation. It is often the thing that keeps the site usable.
## Design quality and editorial presentation
This is where the difference becomes especially visible.
WordPress can produce beautiful editorial sites, but the path to that result is uneven. Many WordPress themes are built to serve the broadest possible audience, which often leads to feature-heavy interfaces, generic layout options, and design systems that try to do too much. It is easy to end up with a site that looks assembled rather than art directed.
[Ghost themes](https://themex.studio/themes/), especially thoughtfully crafted premium ones, often feel more editorial from the start. Typography, spacing, image rhythm, post layouts, and [reading flow](https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-themes-with-typography-focus/) tend to be treated as core product decisions rather than optional styling layers.
That matters if your business depends on trust, clarity, and content quality. Readers notice when a site feels calm, legible, and consistent. They also notice when a page is crowded with widgets, plugin styling conflicts, and visual noise.
For brands that care about written content as a premium experience, Ghost usually creates a stronger foundation with less effort. That is one reason design-focused publishers often gravitate toward it.
## Newsletter and membership workflows
Ghost has a clear advantage here for many independent publishers.
Native email newsletters and memberships are built into the platform. You can publish to the web and email from the same editorial system, manage subscribers in one place, and create a tighter relationship between content and audience.
WordPress can absolutely support newsletters and memberships, but it usually relies on a stack of separate tools. That can work well, especially for teams with an established marketing setup. Still, the experience is often less unified. Subscriber data lives in one place, content in another, and paid access rules in another.
If your publication model includes free and paid content, subscriber growth, or recurring memberships, Ghost removes a lot of setup friction. It feels less like building a machine and more like using one that already understands publishing.
## SEO, performance, and technical overhead
WordPress has long been associated with strong SEO, mostly because its plugin ecosystem offers fine-grained control. For advanced users, that can be a real benefit.
Ghost is also very capable for SEO, but in a quieter way. Many essentials are already well handled. Clean markup, strong performance, structured content, canonical tags, and modern technical foundations reduce the need for constant optimization theater.
Performance is a similar story. A carefully managed WordPress site can be fast. The problem is that many are not carefully managed. As plugins pile up, speed often becomes a maintenance project.
Ghost sites tend to stay leaner. Fewer dependencies usually mean fewer performance compromises. For publishers, speed is not just a technical metric. It shapes reading quality, mobile usability, and perceived credibility.
## Ease of use after launch
This is the part many buyers underestimate.
Almost any platform can feel workable during setup. The better question is how it feels after 50 articles, two redesign tweaks, a few contributor accounts, and a newsletter audience that keeps growing.
WordPress can age well, but only if the setup is disciplined. Without that discipline, dashboards become crowded, updates need attention, and the publishing interface loses clarity.
Ghost generally remains cleaner over time because it starts from a narrower purpose. For solo publishers and small teams, that is a serious advantage. It reduces cognitive load and makes everyday publishing feel more focused.
This is also where a well-made [Ghost theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-theme-that-fits/) can make a big difference. A thoughtful theme framework gives non-technical publishers a polished system they can actually live with, not just launch with. That combination of editorial design and ease of use is often what turns Ghost from a good platform into the right one.
## Cost is more nuanced than it looks
At first glance, WordPress can appear cheaper. Open-source software, low-cost hosting, and inexpensive themes create a low entry point.
But publishing costs are not just subscription costs. They include setup time, plugin licensing, design compromise, maintenance, troubleshooting, and the hidden cost of complexity.
Ghost can look more premium upfront, especially if you are investing in managed hosting and a high-quality theme. Yet for many publishers, the total cost is easier to justify because the system is more focused and the result feels more finished.
A cheaper platform that requires constant patching is not always the more economical choice.
## Which platform is right for you?
If your site needs to do many things beyond publishing, WordPress may still be the better fit. It is the more expandable platform, and for some businesses that flexibility matters more than simplicity.
If your main goal is to run a publication, newsletter, membership site, or content-led brand with a clean and credible presentation, Ghost usually offers the stronger experience. It is especially well suited to independent writers, creators, startups, and editorial teams that want less technical drag and more design coherence.
That does not mean Ghost is for everyone. If you rely on a very specific plugin stack or need unusual site functionality, WordPress may save you from forcing a publishing-first tool into a broader role.
But if you keep returning to the same priorities - better writing flow, cleaner design, simpler maintenance, and a tighter relationship between site and subscriber - Ghost becomes increasingly hard to ignore. That is why many modern publishers are not just switching platforms. They are simplifying their entire publishing operation.
For teams that care how content looks, reads, and scales, the best platform is usually the one that removes noise. Pick the system that helps your publication feel more intentional every time you hit publish.
### Is Ghost Good for Newsletters? Yes, With Caveats
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/is-ghost-good-for-newsletters-yes-with-caveats/
Last updated: 2026-05-28T10:43:16.000Z
A lot of newsletter platforms feel optimized for one thing only: sending emails fast. That works until your publication starts needing more than a compose box and a subscriber count. If you’re asking is ghost good for newsletters, the real question is whether you want a newsletter tool or a publishing system that treats email as part of a larger editorial product.
For many independent publishers, creators, and startup teams, Ghost is a strong fit precisely because it does both. It lets you write and send newsletters, manage memberships, publish to the web, and present everything in a more considered brand environment. But it is not automatically the best choice for everyone. The right answer depends on how much you care about design, ownership, monetization, and workflow.
## Is Ghost good for newsletters for most publishers?
Yes, especially if your newsletter is not meant to live in isolation.
Ghost works well for newsletters because it combines email publishing with a full website, audience management, paid subscriptions, and clean editorial structure. That matters if you want your issues to be readable both in the inbox and on the web, searchable over time, and organized like a real publication instead of an endless archive of sends.
This is where Ghost feels more mature than many newsletter-first tools. You are not bolting a blog onto an email product or forcing a website builder to behave like a media platform. The publishing model is already integrated. A post can be an email, a web article, a member-only piece, or all three. That flexibility is useful when your content strategy evolves, which it usually does.
Still, “good” depends on what you need from day one. If your priority is maximum simplicity and you do not care much about site design, custom structure, or brand presentation, Ghost may feel like more platform than you need. If your goal is to build a publication with a strong visual identity, membership revenue, and a more durable content library, it starts to look much more compelling.
## Where Ghost stands out for newsletters
The clearest advantage is that Ghost treats newsletters as editorial products, not disposable campaigns.
When you publish in Ghost, your content can live beautifully on the web with the same care it receives in email. That means better typography, stronger archives, clearer navigation, and a more credible experience for new readers who discover you outside the inbox. For writers and publishers building a brand, this matters. A newsletter is often the front door, but the site is what gives it depth and permanence.
Memberships are another reason Ghost works well. Paid subscriptions, free tiers, gated content, and member management are built into the platform. You do not have to stitch together multiple tools just to offer premium issues or subscriber-only archives. That simplicity becomes more valuable as your operation grows.
Ghost also gives you more control over presentation than newsletter platforms that prioritize templates over editorial design. For design-conscious publishers, this is a major point in its favor. The difference between “sent an email” and “launched a publication” often comes down to the visual system around the writing.
It also helps that the editor is clean and focused. You can create long-form pieces, short dispatches, recurring series, and member content without feeling boxed into a campaign-builder mindset. The workflow feels closer to publishing than email marketing, which is exactly why many writers prefer it.
## The trade-offs you should know
Ghost is not the best option if you want deep email marketing automation.
That is probably the most important caveat. Ghost handles newsletters very well, but it is not trying to be a full lifecycle marketing platform. If your business depends on complex automations, advanced behavioral segmentation, intricate customer journeys, or ecommerce-style email flows, you may find it limited compared with dedicated email software.
Its strengths are publication, membership, and audience ownership. Its weaker side is high-complexity marketing automation.
There is also a setup difference. With Ghost, the website matters. That is a benefit, but it also means design decisions matter more. You will likely spend more time shaping your publication’s structure, homepage, archive, and member experience than you would on a bare-bones newsletter platform. For some teams, that is welcome. For others, it feels like extra work.
Cost can also shift depending on your setup. Ghost can be very efficient when you consolidate tools, but it may not be the cheapest route if you only want a lightweight newsletter and have no interest in a full publication site. The value improves when you actually use what Ghost includes.
## Is Ghost good for newsletters if design matters?
Absolutely. In fact, this is one of the strongest reasons to choose it.
Many newsletter tools let you send content. Fewer help you present that content in a way that feels editorial, distinctive, and aligned with your brand. Ghost gives you the foundation for that, and the [theme layer](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-magazine-theme/) is what turns the foundation into something memorable.
If your publication depends on trust, clarity, and visual restraint, the site experience is not a side detail. It shapes how readers perceive your work before they read a word. A thoughtfully crafted Ghost theme can make subscriber acquisition pages feel sharper, archives easier to browse, and premium content more credible. For independent publishers especially, that level of polish can narrow the gap between a solo publication and a larger media brand.
This is also why generic design tends to hold newsletters back. If every issue lands in the inbox with some care but the website feels forgettable, the brand weakens. Ghost gives you room to fix that. And when the theme is built specifically for editorial reading, the whole product feels more cohesive.
## Who Ghost is best for
Ghost is a strong choice for independent writers building a paid newsletter, creators who want a cleaner publishing home, startup teams running a content-led publication, and small editorial brands that need both audience growth and membership revenue.
It is especially well suited to people who care about ownership. You control your site, your subscriber experience, and the way your content is organized. That makes Ghost feel less like renting attention on someone else’s platform and more like building an asset.
It is also a good fit for teams that want fewer moving parts. Instead of managing one platform for the site, another for paid memberships, and another for email publishing, Ghost brings those functions together in a more coherent system.
Where it is less ideal is for creators who want the fastest possible start with the fewest decisions, or brands that mainly need a marketing automation engine rather than a publishing platform. In those cases, Ghost may feel elegant but misaligned.
## What to consider before choosing Ghost
Think about your newsletter in twelve months, not just next week.
If you expect to add paid tiers, build a stronger archive, improve your website, publish member-only content, or create a more branded reading experience, Ghost makes a lot of sense. It supports that next stage without forcing a rebuild later.
If you simply want to send regular issues and keep everything minimal, another tool may get you there faster. That does not make Ghost worse. It just means its advantages show up most clearly when your newsletter is part of a broader publishing strategy.
It is also worth considering your comfort with design choices. Ghost rewards intention. The platform looks best when the structure, theme, and content model are aligned. That is good news for publishers who care about craft. It can be a hurdle for anyone hoping the platform will make every aesthetic decision for them.
For that reason, the Ghost experience often depends on the [quality of the theme you choose](https://themex.studio/guides/best-ghost-themes-for-creators/). A well-designed theme does more than change appearance. It shapes readability, conversion paths, archive logic, and the tone of the publication. That is where specialist theme makers like Themex Studio can make the platform feel considerably more refined.
## So, is Ghost good for newsletters?
Yes - very good, if you want your newsletter to function as a real publication.
Ghost is at its best when email, website, membership, and brand experience need to work together. It gives writers and publishers a cleaner operating system for content, not just a sending tool. That makes it a smart choice for people building something with more longevity than a weekly blast.
The caveat is simple: if your needs are mostly marketing automation or ultra-lightweight sending, you may be paying for strengths you will not use.
But if you care about editorial design, audience ownership, paid subscriptions, and a publication that looks as thoughtful as the writing itself, Ghost is one of the strongest newsletter platforms available. Choose it when you want to send emails, yes, but also when you want every issue to belong to a publication worth returning to.
### Clean Ghost Website Design That Feels Premium
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/clean-ghost-website-design-that-feels-premium/
Last updated: 2026-05-26T10:39:19.000Z
A cluttered publishing site usually fails in the first five seconds. Not because the writing is weak, but because the design asks readers to work too hard. Too many visual signals, inconsistent spacing, noisy layouts, and unclear hierarchy can make strong content feel forgettable. Clean Ghost website design solves that problem by giving words, images, and brand cues the right amount of structure - no more, no less.
For writers, creators, and editorial teams, clean design is not about emptiness. It is about control. It shapes how readers move through a page, how credible a publication feels, and how easily a site can grow without turning into a patchwork of design decisions.
## What clean Ghost website design actually means
A clean Ghost website design is built on restraint. The layout feels calm, typography does more of the heavy lifting, and every interface element has a clear purpose. Readers should understand where to look first, what matters most, and how to continue without friction.
In practice, that usually means strong type scale, generous spacing, a consistent grid, limited color use, and carefully handled featured images. Navigation stays simple. Calls to action are present, but not aggressive. The site feels edited.
This is especially important in Ghost because the platform is already well suited to publishing. It supports memberships, newsletters, [editorial workflows](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-an-editorial-ghost-theme/), and content-focused site structures. When the design matches that strength, the result feels coherent. When it does not, even a capable Ghost setup can feel generic or overbuilt.
## Why clean design works so well on Ghost
Ghost is at its best when it is allowed to be editorial. It is not trying to be everything for everyone. That focus gives publishers an advantage, but only if the front-end design respects it.
A clean approach tends to perform well because it aligns with the reasons people choose Ghost in the first place. Publishers want speed, clarity, and a site that puts content first. A thoughtful theme can reinforce all three.
Performance is part of the equation. Cleaner layouts often lead to fewer distractions and less visual overhead, but the real value is perceptual. Fast-loading pages feel more trustworthy when the design is also quiet and ordered. Readers interpret that as professionalism, even if they never say it out loud.
There is also a practical benefit for site owners. Minimal systems are easier to maintain. If your theme has clear rules for cards, post templates, archive pages, and membership prompts, your site stays consistent as you publish more. That matters a lot for solo operators and small teams who do not have a designer adjusting every page by hand.
## The difference between minimal and underdesigned
This is where many sites miss the mark. Minimal is not the same as plain. A sparse homepage with weak typography, awkward spacing, and no visual rhythm is not refined. It is unfinished.
Good clean Ghost website design still needs personality. That personality often shows up in subtler ways - a distinctive font pairing, a measured use of accent color, elegant post cards, polished dark mode, or a strong article template that makes long-form reading feel premium.
The trade-off is that restraint leaves less room to hide weak decisions. If the system is simple, every detail matters more. Line length, heading weight, image treatment, and mobile spacing all become visible. Clean design only feels premium when the fundamentals are handled well.
## The core elements that make it feel premium
Typography is usually the first signal. Editorial websites live and die by type, so the font system needs to do more than look attractive in a demo. It should support hierarchy, readability, and tone across homepage sections, archives, and long articles. If body text is too small, too gray, or too tightly spaced, the whole experience feels cheaper than it should.
Spacing is just as important. Clean sites breathe. Margins, padding, and vertical rhythm create confidence because they make the layout feel intentional. Crowded interfaces suggest compromise. Overly loose ones can feel vague. The right balance depends on the brand, but it should always feel deliberate.
Then there is hierarchy. Readers should know what is featured, what is recent, what is evergreen, and what is worth subscribing to. That does not require a busy homepage. In many cases, a few well-composed sections outperform a screen full of competing modules.
Image handling also matters. Some publications rely heavily on art direction. Others need visuals to stay secondary. A clean Ghost site should make that choice explicit. It should not feel like the theme is forcing oversized thumbnails or decorative media when the publication is really about words.
Finally, there is interaction design. Hover states, menu behavior, search, membership prompts, and post navigation should feel smooth and predictable. Not flashy. Just considered.
## What publishers should look for in a theme
The best Ghost themes are not only attractive in screenshots. They hold up during real publishing. That means they need flexible homepage sections, strong post templates, clean archive views, and sensible options for branding without requiring custom development for basic changes.
A polished theme should help you make fewer design decisions, not more. If every page requires workarounds, manual styling, or compromise, the system is not actually clean - it is fragile.
This is where design quality and support start to overlap. A well-crafted Ghost theme usually reflects a clear editorial point of view, but it should also be practical for non-technical users. Documentation, [setup guidance](https://themex.studio/docs/vincent-docs/), and thoughtful defaults are part of the product. For many publishers, that support is the difference between buying a theme and actually launching a site that feels finished.
Themex Studio approaches this well by treating Ghost themes as editorial systems rather than surface-level templates. That distinction matters when you are building a serious publication, newsletter brand, or creator site that needs to feel sharp from day one.
## Clean Ghost website design for different publishing models
Not every publisher needs the same version of clean. A personal essay site may benefit from a quieter visual language with more emphasis on reading comfort and author identity. A startup publication might need stronger categorization, featured story logic, and more structured homepage sections. A [paid newsletter site](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-newsletter-theme/) may prioritize subscription flow, member content clarity, and trust signals.
The underlying principle stays the same: remove friction, strengthen hierarchy, and let the brand show through the system rather than through clutter.
This is why it helps to choose a theme based on publishing model, not just visual taste. A design can look beautiful in a demo and still be wrong for your workflow. If your content cadence, monetization model, or editorial structure is more complex, the theme has to support that without losing simplicity.
## Common mistakes that make a Ghost site feel less clean
The most common issue is over-customization. A strong theme gets installed, then gradually filled with extra fonts, extra colors, extra homepage blocks, and mismatched images. The result is not more branded. It is less coherent.
Another mistake is treating the homepage as a storage unit for every content type. A clean site is selective. It shows enough to guide the reader, not every possible destination at once.
Weak content formatting is another problem. Even the best design cannot rescue posts with inconsistent headings, poor image crops, broken excerpt lengths, or careless metadata. Clean design depends on disciplined publishing.
There is also the temptation to imitate magazine complexity too early. If you are an independent writer or small team, a simpler structure often feels more credible than an oversized publication layout that your content volume cannot yet support.
## How to know if your current site needs a cleaner direction
If your content is strong but the site feels forgettable, that is a sign. If readers do not move naturally from homepage to article to subscribe, that is another. If every update creates new visual inconsistency, the design system is probably too loose.
A cleaner direction is often the right move when your site feels harder to manage than it should. Good design reduces decision fatigue. It makes publishing easier, not more precious.
It can also sharpen your brand positioning. When a site looks composed, readers assume the publication itself is composed. That perception matters for independent publishers trying to build loyalty, authority, and paid relationships.
Clean Ghost website design is less about stripping things away than choosing what deserves attention. When the system is thoughtfully crafted, the brand feels clearer, the content reads better, and the site is easier to trust. That is usually the difference between a website that simply exists and one readers want to return to.
### 9 Best Ghost Themes for Newsletters
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/9-best-ghost-themes-for-newsletters/
Last updated: 2026-05-25T11:02:18.000Z
If your newsletter lives on Ghost, the theme is doing more than setting the mood. It shapes how readers discover issues, how paid memberships feel, how archive pages hold up over time, and whether your publication looks like a serious editorial product or a quick setup that never quite matured. That is why choosing among the best ghost themes for newsletters is less about decoration and more about fit.
A strong newsletter theme should make writing feel central, not buried under layout tricks. It should support signups without turning every page into a sales prompt. And it should give your publication enough visual structure to feel distinct, especially if you are building a brand around recurring issues, essays, analysis, or paid access.
## What makes the best Ghost themes for newsletters
Newsletter publishers usually need a narrower set of things than a general blog or magazine site. The first is clarity. Readers should understand what the publication is, who it is for, and how to subscribe within a few seconds. That sounds obvious, but many themes look polished in a demo and then fall apart once real headlines, issue numbers, author bios, and signup flows are added.
The second is archive quality. Newsletters are recurring by nature, so your homepage cannot do all the work. Good Ghost themes for newsletters make post feeds, tag pages, featured sections, and issue archives feel intentional. If someone lands on a post from search or social, the surrounding layout should make it easy to browse the publication and subscribe.
The third is membership support. Ghost gives you built-in tools for free and paid subscriptions, member-only content, and email delivery. The best themes respect that workflow. They place signup forms naturally, handle account pages cleanly, and create a premium experience for paying readers without adding clutter.
Then there is editorial tone. A founder memo, a writer-led essay publication, and a startup industry newsletter should not all look the same. Typography, spacing, image handling, and content density all influence whether your site feels analytical, personal, luxurious, or fast-moving.
## How to evaluate a Ghost newsletter theme before you buy
The smartest way to compare themes is to ignore the demo for a moment and picture your actual publishing rhythm. Are you sending short weekly notes, long-form essays, or multi-section briefings? Do you need a strong homepage for discovery, or is email the main product with the site acting as an archive? Those answers change what “best” means.
If your newsletter is [writer-first](https://themex.studio/guides/choosing-a-ghost-theme-for-writers/), prioritize readability and post-page design. Long-form issues need excellent typography, generous spacing, and minimal distractions. A theme can be visually impressive and still make sustained reading feel cramped.
If growth is the focus, study the signup experience. Look at hero sections, inline forms, callout areas, and member CTAs across different templates. A good newsletter theme should encourage subscription in a natural way, not through constant repetition.
If you run paid memberships, review the account and pricing pages just as closely as the homepage. Many publishers spend time comparing article layouts and ignore the parts that affect conversion and retention.
[Customization also matters](https://themex.studio/guides/), but there is a trade-off here. Highly flexible themes can be useful if you have a clear brand system and the time to shape it. If not, a more opinionated theme often leads to a better result because it gives you a polished framework instead of unlimited choices.
## The main styles of newsletter themes on Ghost
There is no single best design direction for every publication. Most newsletter themes on Ghost tend to fall into a few categories, and each one fits a different kind of publisher.
### Minimal editorial themes
These are often the best choice for independent writers, analysts, and thoughtful niche publications. They rely on strong typography, clean post grids, restrained color, and clear hierarchy. The writing carries the experience.
The upside is longevity. Minimal editorial themes usually age well and make frequent publishing easier. The trade-off is that they need disciplined branding and good content to shine. If your visuals are weak or your messaging is vague, a minimal theme will not hide it.
### Magazine-inspired newsletter themes
These themes work well when your publication covers several topics, contributors, or recurring formats. They often include featured sections, category blocks, and more dynamic homepage layouts.
That structure can help readers explore, especially if your site does more than deliver email issues. The downside is complexity. If you publish one flagship newsletter and little else, a magazine-style theme may feel heavier than necessary.
### Personal brand and creator-focused themes
These themes combine newsletter publishing with a clear author presence. They typically spotlight the writer, support products or speaking pages, and make it easier to blend essays, updates, and brand storytelling.
They are a strong fit for consultants, founders, and creators whose newsletter sits inside a broader business. The trade-off is that the publication can feel secondary if the design leans too hard into personal branding.
## Traits that separate average themes from the best ghost themes for newsletters
The difference usually shows up in the details. Homepage balance is one of them. Strong themes know how to introduce the publication, feature recent issues, and place signup opportunities without making the page feel crowded.
Post templates are another. A newsletter issue should look finished when published on the web, not like an email copied into a blog post. Good themes handle headings, pull quotes, lists, embeds, and reading flow with editorial care.
Navigation matters more than many publishers expect. Readers often arrive through a single post, then decide whether the publication feels worth following. A clear menu, useful tag pages, and strong related-content patterns make that decision easier.
Performance and maintainability also count. A newsletter site does not need visual excess. In fact, heavy effects, overbuilt animations, and too many homepage widgets can hurt the reading experience. The best Ghost themes tend to be disciplined. They feel refined because they remove friction, not because they add novelty.
## Who should choose a more flexible premium theme
If your publication has a clear brand point of view, a premium theme is often the better investment. That is especially true for startups, paid newsletters, and editorial businesses that need to look credible from day one.
A well-crafted premium theme usually brings stronger design systems, more considered membership templates, better documentation, and support that shortens the setup curve. That matters when you want a polished launch without building a custom site.
This is also where product quality shows up beyond the screenshots. Thoughtful theme frameworks make it easier to adapt colors, sections, navigation, and homepage structure without breaking the overall design. For many publishers, that balance of flexibility and restraint is what actually saves time.
Themex Studio, for example, has built a reputation around [minimalist Ghost themes](https://themex.studio/themes/) that feel editorial, usable, and carefully resolved rather than overloaded with options. For newsletter publishers who want a premium look without unnecessary complexity, that approach tends to age better than trend-driven design.
## Common mistakes when picking a newsletter theme
One of the biggest mistakes is choosing based on homepage style alone. Newsletters live in their post archives, member flows, and recurring issue pages. If those areas feel generic or awkward, the site will start to feel thin after a few months of publishing.
Another mistake is overvaluing novelty. Distinctive design has value, but newsletters are repeat products. Readers come back for consistency. A theme should support habit and trust, not distract from them.
It is also easy to underestimate the role of support and documentation. Ghost is user-friendly, but most publishers still want help with setup, custom sections, or small brand adjustments. A beautiful theme with weak support can become expensive in time very quickly.
Finally, avoid choosing a theme that assumes a publishing model you do not actually have. If you send one weekly essay, you probably do not need a complex newsroom layout. If you run multiple verticals and premium tiers, you may outgrow a very simple theme.
## So what are the best Ghost themes for newsletters?
The best one is the theme that matches your publishing model, not the one with the flashiest demo. For a writer-led publication, that often means a minimal editorial design with strong typography and clean membership paths. For a startup or media brand, it may mean a more structured layout that supports categories, featured posts, and broader discovery. For creators building around a personal brand, the right theme should connect newsletter growth with authority and identity.
A good test is simple. Imagine your next 50 issues inside the theme, not just your launch week. Will the archive still look sharp? Will the signup flow still feel clear? Will the site support paid conversion, browsing, and reader trust without constant redesign?
That is the standard worth using. Newsletter publishing is cumulative. The theme should not just help you look good today. It should make the next year of publishing feel clear, consistent, and well considered.
Pick the theme that gives your writing room to lead, your readers room to stay, and your brand enough structure to grow with confidence.
### How to Pick a Ghost Theme for Personal Brand
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-pick-a-ghost-theme-for-personal-brand/
Last updated: 2026-05-24T09:12:06.000Z
A personal brand site usually fails in one of two ways. It either looks polished but says very little, or it says a lot inside a theme that makes every article, bio, and signup form feel generic. A strong ghost theme for personal brand work has to do more than look clean. It needs to make your point of view feel credible the moment someone lands on the page.
That matters whether you are a writer building a subscription business, a founder publishing essays, or a creative professional turning a portfolio into a publishing platform. On Ghost, the theme sets the tone quickly. Typography, spacing, hierarchy, navigation, and membership flows all shape whether your site feels considered or improvised.
## What a personal brand site actually needs
Personal brand websites often get treated like smaller company websites. That is usually the wrong model. A company site can lean on product pages, social proof blocks, and conversion patterns borrowed from SaaS. A personal brand site has a different job. It needs to build trust around a person, a voice, and a body of work.
That changes what matters in a theme. You are not just choosing layouts. You are choosing how your writing is framed, how your expertise is introduced, and how easy it is for a reader to move from one post to the next without friction.
The best themes for this kind of site usually get a few fundamentals right. They put typography first, keep visual noise low, and make room for both identity and content. They also avoid forcing you into a gimmick. If your site depends on trend-heavy design to feel current, it will age faster than your writing.
## What to look for in a ghost theme for personal brand
A good starting point is clarity. When someone arrives on your homepage, they should understand who you are, what you publish, and where to go next in a matter of seconds. That does not require a crowded hero section. It requires thoughtful structure.
Editorial hierarchy is often the difference between a premium personal site and a forgettable one. Your featured posts, archives, author introduction, newsletter signup, and navigation should feel connected rather than stacked. A theme with strong hierarchy makes your content easier to scan and your expertise easier to trust.
Flexibility matters too, but only the useful kind. Many creators ask for a highly customizable theme when what they really need is a well-designed system with a few meaningful controls. Too many options can slow down launch, create inconsistencies, and leave the site feeling half designed. A better approach is a theme that gives you room to express your brand through logos, color, imagery, homepage sections, and [typography treatments](https://themex.studio/native-custom-fonts-support/) without asking you to design everything from scratch.
Performance also deserves more attention than it usually gets. Personal brands often grow through writing, search, and newsletters. If your site feels slow or cluttered, that weakens the reading experience and reduces conversion. A minimal, well-built Ghost theme tends to outperform a visually busy one because it respects the main thing visitors came for: the content.
## Design signals that build credibility
Readers make fast judgments. Before they subscribe, reply, or share your work, they are deciding whether the site feels current, trustworthy, and aligned with the quality of the ideas on it.
This is where refined design does real business work. Strong type choices suggest editorial maturity. Consistent spacing signals care. Clear post layouts make long-form writing easier to read. A homepage that introduces your focus without trying to do ten things at once feels more confident than one packed with animations and widgets.
For personal brands, restraint usually wins. A minimal interface leaves more room for your voice. It also helps your expertise feel established rather than performative. That does not mean every site should look sparse. It means every visual choice should support the content instead of competing with it.
There is also a practical side to credibility. Readers want to know how to subscribe, where to start, and whether your archive is worth exploring. A theme should make those paths obvious. If someone likes one article, the next step should feel natural.
## The trade-off between personality and simplicity
This is where many theme decisions get stuck. You want the site to feel distinct, but you do not want it to become overdesigned. You want flexibility, but you do not want complexity. The right balance depends on the kind of personal brand you are building.
If your brand is built around writing and ideas, simplicity should do more of the work. Let the tone, quality, and consistency of your publishing create the personality. In this case, a quieter theme often has more long-term value.
If your brand depends heavily on visual identity, such as creative direction, photography, or design strategy, you may need more room for custom art direction and richer page composition. Even then, the theme should still preserve clarity. Personality works best when the structure underneath it is disciplined.
A useful question is this: does the theme amplify your content, or does it ask your content to adapt to the theme? The first is usually the better investment.
## Why Ghost is a strong fit for personal brands
Ghost works particularly well for personal brands because publishing is at the center of the platform. Posts, newsletters, memberships, and clean editorial workflows are not afterthoughts. They are core to the product.
That creates an advantage if your growth depends on consistent writing. You can publish essays, send newsletters, organize archives, and build recurring reader relationships without stitching together a stack of unrelated tools. The theme then becomes the layer that translates that publishing engine into a brand experience.
This is also why generic templates often underperform on Ghost. A personal brand on Ghost benefits from a theme that understands editorial patterns, membership design, and how readers move through a publication. The best options feel native to the platform rather than imported from another website model.
## Choosing a theme based on your publishing model
Not every personal brand publishes the same way, so the right theme depends on your format.
If you publish frequent essays or newsletters, prioritize legibility, archive structure, and subscription visibility. Readers should be able to browse recent and evergreen content without getting lost. If your site is more selective, with fewer but higher-value pieces, you may want a theme that gives featured content more room and makes each post feel intentional.
If you are combining articles with services or consulting, make sure the theme can support both editorial content and a clear professional introduction. Your site should not feel split between a blog and a brochure. The best themes handle both without creating tension.
For founders and operators, there is often another layer: authority. You may be writing to attract customers, partners, investors, or talent, not just subscribers. In that case, a polished editorial design can make your thinking feel more credible than a standard business template would.
## A practical way to evaluate a ghost theme for personal brand use
Before you choose, review the demo like a reader, not just like a buyer. Open a homepage, a post page, a tag archive, and the subscription flow. Ask whether each screen feels calm, clear, and aligned with your goals.
Then imagine your own content inside it. Not ideal content, but your real content. Your current headshots, your article titles, your publishing cadence, your archive. A strong theme should still look good when it is carrying an actual working brand, not just carefully staged demo copy.
[Documentation and support](https://themex.studio/docs/) matter more than many buyers expect. Even a thoughtfully crafted theme can need small adjustments during setup. Clear documentation reduces friction, and responsive support can turn a stalled launch into a smooth one. For many creators, that practical help is part of the product.
This is one reason premium Ghost themes often outperform free alternatives for serious personal brands. The visual quality is one part of the value. The other part is having a reliable framework that helps you launch confidently and keep improving after the site is live. Brands like Themex Studio have built their reputation on that combination of editorial design and hands-on usability.
## The right theme should make publishing easier
A theme is not just a skin. It shapes your workflow, your confidence, and the consistency of your publishing. If updating your homepage feels tedious, if every image placement turns into a [design decision](https://themex.studio/guides/easy-ghost-theme-setup-that-looks-premium/), or if your archive becomes messy after ten posts, the theme is working against you.
The better choice is usually the one that removes small points of friction. It lets you publish quickly, maintain a cohesive look, and trust that the site will still feel strong as your content library grows. That kind of simplicity is not basic. It is disciplined.
A personal brand becomes more convincing over time when the publishing experience stays sustainable. Choose a theme that respects the writing, gives your identity enough room to breathe, and still feels as good on post fifty as it does on day one. That is when design stops being decoration and starts becoming part of your voice.
### How to Choose an Editorial Ghost Theme
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-an-editorial-ghost-theme/
Last updated: 2026-05-23T08:56:34.000Z
A strong publication rarely feels busy. It feels considered. The spacing makes reading easier, the typography carries authority, and the layout knows when to step back. That is exactly why choosing the right editorial ghost theme matters. For writers, creators, and small publishing teams, the theme is not decoration. It is the system that shapes how your work is read, trusted, and remembered.
An editorial site has different demands than a general blog. It needs range. You may be publishing long-form essays, quick opinion pieces, newsletter archives, interviews, sponsor-supported posts, or a mix of all of them. Your theme has to handle that variety without looking fragmented. It should create consistency around the content, not force every post into the same visual mold.
## What makes an editorial Ghost theme different
The best editorial Ghost theme is built around reading behavior. That sounds obvious, but many themes still prioritize visual novelty over usability. Large effects, crowded cards, overworked navigation, and awkward mobile layouts can make a site look impressive in a demo while making it less effective in practice.
Editorial themes work differently. They use hierarchy with restraint. Headlines have room to breathe. Supporting text is easy to scan. Featured imagery feels intentional rather than mandatory. Category pages, author pages, and post templates contribute to a larger publishing system instead of existing as disconnected screens.
This is where the distinction matters. A [portfolio theme](https://themex.studio/braun/) can get away with atmosphere. An editorial theme has to earn attention through clarity. Your readers are there for ideas, reporting, commentary, or expertise. The design should support that exchange with confidence.
## Start with your publishing model, not the homepage
A common mistake is choosing a theme based on the first screen alone. Homepages matter, but they are not where most readers form their full impression. Many will arrive through search, newsletters, social shares, or direct links to individual articles. That means your post page, archive structure, navigation logic, and reading experience matter just as much.
Before choosing a theme, define how you publish. If your site revolves around flagship essays, you need strong long-form templates and typography that can carry extended reading sessions. If you run a modern media-style publication, you may need flexible homepage sections, featured stories, and category organization that helps readers browse quickly. If your business runs on [newsletters and memberships](https://themex.studio/translations-and-member-ux-polish/), you need a theme that treats subscriber journeys as part of the editorial experience rather than a separate layer awkwardly added on top.
An editorial Ghost theme should fit your publishing rhythm. The cleaner that match, the less customization you will need later.
## The core traits to look for in an editorial Ghost theme
Typography comes first. Readers may not consciously describe a site as typographically strong, but they absolutely feel the difference. Good type scale, generous line length control, sensible paragraph spacing, and clear contrast create trust. Weak typography makes even excellent writing feel disposable.
Layout flexibility is the next test. Editorial brands evolve. Today you may publish essays and newsletters. Six months from now, you may add interviews, podcast notes, paid archives, or startup updates. A theme should give you enough structure to stay consistent and enough flexibility to grow without redesigning everything.
Navigation also deserves more attention than it usually gets. Editorial sites often accumulate content quickly, and weak navigation makes that growth feel messy. Look for a theme that supports clear menus, logical content grouping, and archive pages that remain readable as your library expands.
Mobile presentation is non-negotiable. A polished desktop layout means very little if the reading experience collapses on phones. Text should stay comfortable, media should feel integrated rather than oversized, and spacing should preserve hierarchy on smaller screens.
Then there is the less glamorous side of quality: setup, customization, and support. A beautifully designed theme can still be frustrating if basic adjustments are hard to make or documentation is thin. Most buyers are not looking for an experimental front-end project. They want a refined framework that helps them launch with confidence.
## Minimal design is not the same as generic design
Many buyers say they want something minimal, but minimal can mean very different things. In weaker themes, minimal simply means bare. There is little visual clutter, but also little identity. The result feels interchangeable.
Good editorial minimalism is more disciplined than that. It uses fewer elements so the right elements can work harder. Type choices matter more. Spacing carries more meaning. Color accents, post cards, labels, and image treatments need to feel coherent because there is nowhere to hide inconsistency.
That is why a strong editorial Ghost theme often feels quieter and more distinctive at the same time. It removes unnecessary decoration while sharpening the underlying system. For a publication, that is a better long-term investment than trend-heavy styling that dates quickly.
## Where buyers often misjudge fit
The first trap is choosing a theme for how it looks with placeholder content. Demos are useful, but they are staged. Your own headlines may be longer. Your image style may be less uniform. Your publishing cadence may create uneven category volumes. A theme should still look composed when real-world content enters the picture.
The second trap is overvaluing feature count. More homepage modules, more hover effects, more display options - none of that automatically creates a better publication. Sometimes the opposite is true. Too much variation can weaken editorial consistency and make the site harder to manage over time.
The third trap is underestimating support. Even experienced Ghost users benefit from clear guidance during setup, customization, and launch. If you care about polish, [support is not a nice extra](https://themex.studio/docs/). It is part of the product experience.
## How to evaluate an editorial ghost theme before you buy
Look past the demo homepage and inspect the article pages carefully. Read a post on desktop, then read it again on mobile. Check the hierarchy between headline, deck, metadata, body copy, pull quotes, captions, and related content. If reading feels effortless, the theme is doing its job.
Next, review how the theme handles volume. Browse tag pages, author pages, and archives. A theme may look elegant with six sample posts and become clumsy with sixty. Editorial design is tested by repetition.
Then consider brand fit. Ask whether the theme gives your publication enough personality without asking you to fight its built-in aesthetic. Some themes are so stylized that every site built with them feels like the same publication wearing a different logo. Others are thoughtfully neutral in the best sense - recognizable in quality, but flexible in expression.
Finally, assess the implementation experience. Is the setup process clear? Are common customizations realistic for a non-developer? Is documentation written for actual users rather than buried behind assumptions? A premium theme should reduce friction, not introduce it.
## Why the best editorial themes feel calm
Calm design tends to perform well for editorial brands because it creates confidence. Readers know where to look. Writers know their work will be presented with care. Teams know that new content can be added without redesigning the site every week.
That calm is not accidental. It comes from restraint, hierarchy, and a strong underlying system. The strongest Ghost themes for editorial use are not trying to impress at every moment. They are trying to make your publication feel established, credible, and easy to return to.
For independent publishers especially, that matters. You may not have a design team, a front-end developer, or months to refine every detail. A thoughtfully crafted theme gives you a head start on quality. It lets you publish with a sharper visual standard from day one.
## The right theme should still fit a year from now
Choosing an editorial Ghost theme is partly about taste, but mostly about alignment. You are choosing the structure that will carry your writing, your brand, and your growth. That means the best option is rarely the loudest one. It is the one that keeps your content readable, your identity clear, and your workflow manageable as the publication evolves.
At Themex Studio, that balance between editorial sophistication and practical usability is the standard worth aiming for. A theme should feel polished on launch day, but it should also keep working when your archive deepens, your audience grows, and your brand becomes more defined.
If you are comparing options, pay close attention to how a theme reads, not just how it looks. The best choice is usually the one that makes the design disappear at exactly the right moments, so your publishing can speak with more authority.
### Ghost Themes With Typography Focus
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-themes-with-typography-focus/
Last updated: 2026-05-22T10:13:45.000Z
A reader can tell when a site respects text within seconds. The spacing feels calm, headlines carry weight without shouting, and long-form content stays readable past the first few paragraphs. That is why ghost themes with typography focus matter more than almost any visual flourish. For writers, publishers, and editorial brands on Ghost, typography is not decoration. It is the interface.
A well-designed type system shapes how your work is perceived before anyone evaluates the argument, story, or product behind it. If the text feels cramped, inconsistent, or generic, even strong writing can lose authority. If the typography feels considered, the site instantly appears more credible, more readable, and more worth spending time with.
## What typography-first Ghost themes actually do
A typography-focused theme is not simply a theme with nice fonts. It is a theme where the entire visual system is built around reading. The hierarchy between headings, body text, captions, pull quotes, and metadata is clear. Line length is controlled. Spacing is intentional. Responsive behavior protects readability on smaller screens instead of collapsing into a tighter, harsher experience.
This usually shows up in subtle ways. Article pages have enough breathing room around paragraphs. Headlines feel strong without becoming oversized billboards. Navigation, tags, and author details support the reading experience rather than competing with it. Even image treatment tends to be restrained, because the page is designed to keep attention on the words.
For Ghost users, this matters because the platform itself is excellent for publishing. It is fast, modern, and purpose-built for newsletters, memberships, and editorial sites. But Ghost will only look as refined as the theme sitting on top of it. The theme decides whether your publication feels like a credible editorial product or just another template.
## How to evaluate ghost themes with typography focus
The easiest mistake is judging a theme by the homepage alone. Homepages sell the theme. Article pages reveal its quality.
Start with the body text. Look at paragraph spacing, font size, line height, and line length. If the text block feels too wide, long-form reading becomes tiring. If it feels too narrow, the page can look precious and fragmented. Good themes find a balanced measure that works across laptop, tablet, and mobile.
Then check the heading system. H1, H2, and H3 styles should feel related, not randomly scaled. Strong editorial themes create hierarchy without resorting to dramatic jumps in size. The goal is rhythm, not noise.
Pay attention to secondary text as well. Metadata, captions, dates, and newsletter forms should be quieter than the article itself, but still legible. A theme that handles small text poorly often feels polished in mockups and frustrating in daily use.
Finally, examine contrast and spacing. Typography does not live in the font choice alone. Margin, padding, rule lines, content width, and color values all shape readability. A minimal theme can still feel harsh if the spacing is too tight or the contrast is unbalanced.
### The type system matters more than the typeface
Many buyers fixate on whether a theme uses a serif or sans-serif font. That can matter for tone, but it is rarely the deciding factor. A sophisticated sans-serif system can feel highly editorial. A poorly handled serif can feel clumsy.
What matters more is the system underneath. Does the theme establish a coherent scale? Are article titles, deck text, and body copy working together? Do lists, blockquotes, and code blocks feel integrated instead of bolted on? Good typography-first themes make every content element feel part of one language.
This is especially important if you publish a mix of essays, newsletters, interviews, product updates, and evergreen resources. The theme should handle different content formats without forcing you to redesign each post through manual formatting.
## Readability is a design decision, not a content problem
Writers often blame themselves when readers bounce from long articles. Sometimes the issue is the writing. Often, the issue is presentation.
If the page feels dense, people skim. If headings do not create natural entry points, readers lose orientation. If pull quotes, images, embeds, and newsletter forms are handled without restraint, the article starts to feel interrupted instead of guided.
Typography-focused themes reduce that friction. They create a reading environment where the content has room to work. That does not mean every site should look literary or conservative. A startup publication can still feel sharp and modern. A personal site can still feel expressive. But in both cases, the theme should help the reader settle into the content instead of constantly reminding them about the interface.
## The trade-off between personality and restraint
This is where theme selection gets more interesting. The most typography-conscious themes are often also the most restrained. That is usually a strength, but not always.
If your brand relies on bold visual identity, experimental art direction, or heavy product merchandising, a quiet editorial theme may feel too reserved. On the other hand, if your business depends on trust, expertise, and repeat reading, restraint tends to age better than novelty.
It depends on what role the site needs to play. For an independent writer or newsletter operator, typography should probably lead. For a creative studio, typography may need to share the stage with portfolio elements. For a [startup content hub](https://themex.studio/showcases/arvid-tech/), the theme may need to balance editorial credibility with conversion paths.
A good Ghost theme does not force a false choice between readability and brand presence. It gives you enough flexibility to shape the tone while keeping the reading experience intact.
## Where many Ghost themes fall short
A lot of themes promise [clean design](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-minimal-ghost-theme/), but clean is not the same as typographic quality. Some themes achieve minimalism by stripping away detail rather than refining it. The result is a site that looks sparse in demo form but feels unresolved in real use.
Common issues include oversized hero sections that push articles too far down the page, weak article typography hidden behind an attractive homepage, inconsistent spacing across templates, and mobile layouts that compress text too aggressively. Another frequent problem is excessive customization without a strong default system. Flexibility sounds appealing, but if the core typography is weak, extra settings will not save it.
This is why thoughtful defaults matter. A premium theme should look composed before you touch anything. Customization should help you fine-tune the brand, not repair the reading experience.
### What to check before you buy
Review at least three areas: the homepage, an article page, and a tag or archive page. Then imagine your own content in those spaces. Not the demo content - your content.
If you publish dense essays, check how long paragraphs, footnotes, or subheads are handled. If you rely on newsletters, see how subscription forms sit within the typographic system. If you run a multi-author publication, examine author pages and metadata treatment. The right theme should support your workflow as much as your aesthetic preferences.
Documentation and support matter here too. Even a beautifully designed theme loses value if setup is confusing or small adjustments require guesswork. For many Ghost users, especially solo publishers, responsive support is part of the product.
## Why typography-first themes usually feel more premium
Premium design is often mistaken for visual complexity. In publishing, the opposite is usually true. The most premium-feeling sites are often the most disciplined.
Typography-first themes feel expensive because they solve the hard parts quietly. They know when to give text more room. They keep visual hierarchy consistent across templates. They make content look edited, even before a reader has read a single sentence.
That is especially useful for independent publishers who need to appear established without building a custom site from scratch. A thoughtfully crafted Ghost theme can give a solo operator the visual credibility of a much larger editorial brand.
Themex Studio approaches this space with that exact priority in mind - flexible Ghost themes built around clean editorial systems, strong typography, and a publishing experience that feels polished without becoming complicated.
## Choosing the right fit for your publication
If you are [comparing options](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-the-right-ghost-blog-theme/), ask a simple question: does this theme make the writing feel better? Not louder, not trendier, not more decorated - better.
The right choice will make your articles easier to read, your brand more coherent, and your publishing workflow more confident. It should help your site feel finished, even as your content evolves.
Typography is one of those decisions that readers rarely name directly. They just feel the result. If your Ghost site is meant to be read, remembered, and trusted, that feeling is worth designing for from the start.
### Easy Ghost Theme Setup That Looks Premium
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/easy-ghost-theme-setup-that-looks-premium/
Last updated: 2026-05-21T10:27:59.000Z
A Ghost site can go live in an afternoon and still look like it took weeks - if the setup is handled in the right order. That is what makes an easy Ghost theme setup so valuable: not just speed, but a cleaner path to a site that feels intentional from day one.
The mistake most publishers make is treating theme setup like a technical checklist. Upload theme, add logo, change colors, done. The result usually works, but it rarely feels finished. A strong Ghost theme is more than a skin. It is a visual system for how your writing, homepage, archives, membership pages, and newsletter experience come together.
## What easy Ghost theme setup really means
Easy does not mean stripped down. It means the theme gives you a clear structure, sensible defaults, and enough flexibility to shape the site around your publication without forcing you into custom development.
For independent writers, creators, and lean editorial teams, that distinction matters. You want setup to feel straightforward, but you also want the final result to look credible. Readers notice spacing, hierarchy, typography, and consistency even if they never name those details directly. A polished theme reduces friction for you and builds trust for them.
An easy Ghost theme setup usually comes down to three things: the quality of the theme itself, the clarity of its documentation, and how disciplined you are about making a few foundational decisions before you start changing settings.
## Start with the right theme, not the most features
This is where many setups get harder than they need to be. A theme with dozens of toggles and layout variations can sound appealing, especially when you are trying to future-proof your site. In practice, too much flexibility often creates slower decisions and a less coherent brand presence.
A better approach is to choose a thoughtfully crafted theme with a strong editorial baseline. Look for clean typography, balanced post layouts, solid archive templates, and homepage sections that support the kind of publishing you actually do. If you run a newsletter-first brand, your subscription flow should feel native to the design. If you publish long-form essays or magazine-style features, the reading experience should carry more weight than decorative extras.
This is one area where premium Ghost themes tend to justify themselves. You are not only paying for files. You are paying for design judgment, better defaults, and fewer compromises during setup.
### Match the theme to your publishing model
A personal essay site, a startup publication, and a portfolio-led creator brand may all use Ghost, but they should not be set up in the same way.
If your site is writer-first, prioritize readability and author identity. If it is publication-first, think more about homepage structure, category flow, and archive clarity. If membership revenue matters, the theme should support sign-up prompts and subscriber paths without making every page feel like a sales funnel.
The easiest setup is the one that aligns with your actual workflow. Otherwise, you spend hours forcing a theme to be something it was never designed to be.
## The fastest way to get the foundation right
Before touching fonts, accents, or image styles, set the core brand elements inside Ghost. This part is often skipped because it feels basic, but it has the biggest effect on how cohesive the site looks.
Start with your site title, description, logo, and cover image. Then review your navigation. The main menu should be short and obvious. Most publishers need less than they think. Home, About, Archive or Topics, and Subscribe are usually enough. If everything is in the top navigation, nothing feels important.
Next, prepare your social links, publication icon, and membership settings. These small details shape how your site appears across the header, footer, search previews, and subscriber touchpoints. When they are handled early, the theme has the assets it needs to look complete.
### Content matters more than customization
One of the most overlooked parts of easy Ghost theme setup is sample content quality. A beautiful theme can still look weak if the first few posts, tags, and images are inconsistent.
Before finalizing the design, publish a handful of real posts. Create a realistic homepage. Add at least a few tags or sections. Upload featured images in a consistent style if your theme uses them heavily. This gives you something much closer to the final product than adjusting settings against an empty site.
Ghost themes are designed to present content systems, not just single pages. You need enough content in place to see whether the rhythm actually works.
## A practical easy Ghost theme setup workflow
The cleanest setup process usually follows a simple sequence. Install the theme. Activate it. Add brand assets. Set navigation. Publish core pages. Add real posts. Then review global settings and style options.
That order matters because design decisions become easier once the structure is visible. For example, you may think you want a large [homepage hero](https://themex.studio/guides/adding-longer-hero-text-to/) until you see it pushing your latest posts too far down. Or you may assume you need a featured image on every article, only to realize your writing looks stronger with a more minimal post layout.
This is also the moment to check how the theme handles key templates: homepage, post page, page template, tag archive, author page, and subscription or membership areas. A site should feel consistent across all of them, not just on the homepage demo.
### Keep customization selective
The strongest sites usually make fewer visual moves. Adjust the accent color, logo treatment, navigation labels, and maybe a couple of homepage decisions. Then stop.
When every option gets used, the design loses its restraint. Minimal themes work because the system is doing a lot of subtle work in the background. Over-customizing often breaks that balance.
That does not mean every site should look the same. It means brand distinction should come from your content, voice, imagery, and editorial focus first, with the theme supporting that identity rather than competing with it.
## Where setup gets stuck
If a Ghost theme setup stops feeling easy, it is usually because one of three things is happening.
The first is unclear positioning. If you do not know whether your site is a newsletter, magazine, blog, founder brand, or studio journal, you will keep second-guessing layout choices. The second is weak content preparation. Missing logos, inconsistent images, and unfinished pages make every review feel uncertain. The third is trying to customize beyond the intended scope of the theme.
This is where [support and documentation](https://themex.studio/docs/rand-docs/) make a real difference. A good Ghost theme should not leave you guessing which settings matter, what the homepage expects, or how to create the look shown in the demo. Clear guidance shortens the path from installation to launch.
## Design trade-offs worth making on purpose
Not every publishing site needs the same balance between simplicity and flexibility. A more minimal theme may give you a sharper brand presence and better reading experience, but it can also require stronger content discipline. A more modular theme may support broader use cases, but it may take longer to configure well.
That is not a flaw. It is just a trade-off.
If you publish frequently and want a [calm, credible presentation](https://themex.studio/rand/), simpler is often better. If you manage multiple content streams or need several homepage sections, you may want more layout control. The key is choosing intentionally rather than assuming more options automatically create a better site.
For many publishers, the best outcome is not the most customized setup. It is the one that feels settled quickly and gives you a stable editorial foundation.
## How to know your Ghost theme setup is done
Done does not mean perfect. It means the site feels coherent, usable, and ready for readers.
Your homepage should clearly communicate what the publication is, who it is for, and what to read next. Your post pages should feel comfortable to read. Your navigation should be easy to scan. Your subscribe experience should feel integrated, not bolted on. And the overall design should hold together across desktop and mobile.
If those pieces are working, you do not need another week of tweaking. You need to publish.
That is the real promise of an easy Ghost theme setup. It creates enough structure and polish that you can stop fussing with the site and return to the work that matters most - writing, publishing, and building a publication people want to come back to.
A thoughtfully built theme helps with that, and so does a thoughtful setup. If you keep the process focused, choose restraint over excess, and build around real content, your site can feel premium much sooner than most people expect.
### Ghost Theme Customization Guide
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/ghost-theme-customization-guide/
Last updated: 2026-05-20T10:16:00.000Z
A Ghost site can look finished in an afternoon and still feel slightly off for months. The typography is close, the homepage is decent, the post layout works well enough - but the brand doesn’t quite come through. That is usually where a good ghost theme customization guide becomes useful. Not because every site needs heavy design work, but because the smallest adjustments often make the biggest difference.
For most publishers, the goal is not to turn Ghost into a custom development project. It is to shape a strong theme into something that feels specific to your publication, your voice, and your readers. Done well, customization gives you a cleaner identity, better readability, and a more credible editorial presence without adding maintenance headaches.
## What to customize first in a Ghost theme
The instinct is often to start with colors or code. In practice, the best place to begin is structure. Before changing visual details, look at the parts of the theme that affect how readers move through the site: [the homepage](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-reorder-homepage-sections-in-ghosts-kyoto-theme/), navigation, post templates, archive pages, and calls to action.
If your homepage introduces the wrong priorities, no color palette will fix that. A writer-focused publication may need featured posts and recent essays near the top. A newsletter-led brand may need subscription touchpoints to appear earlier and more often. A startup publication may need a clearer split between editorial content and product updates.
Once structure is right, visual customization becomes more useful. At that point, each change supports an intentional publishing experience instead of decorating a layout that never quite fit.
## A practical ghost theme customization guide for publishers
The cleanest Ghost sites usually follow a simple rule: customize what improves clarity, and leave the rest alone. That means working through a few layers in order.
### Start with brand fundamentals
Your logo, site title, description, accent color, navigation labels, and cover imagery do more work than many people realize. These are basic settings, but they establish whether a site feels composed or improvised.
A refined theme can quickly lose its edge if the logo is low resolution, the accent color is too aggressive, or the navigation uses vague labels. Good customization is often editorial, not technical. Tighten the language in your navigation. Use a concise site description. Choose one accent color that supports the brand rather than competing with the content.
This is also where typography decisions matter. Some Ghost themes ship with excellent default type systems, and in many cases, keeping the defaults is the better choice. If your theme allows font adjustments, use them carefully. Readability should lead. A distinctive type pairing can elevate a publication, but not if it slows down reading or weakens hierarchy.
### Shape the homepage around intent
Your homepage should reflect how you publish, not just what the theme demo looked like.
For example, a personal essay site may benefit from a minimal hero area followed by a chronological stream of writing. A modern editorial brand may need stronger category sections, featured stories, and more visual separation between content types. A creator selling paid newsletters may want clearer membership prompts integrated into the page without turning the site into a landing page.
This is where theme flexibility matters. The strongest customization decisions are often about emphasis: which content appears first, how much visual weight to give featured stories, and how aggressively to promote subscriptions. There is no universal right answer. It depends on whether your publication is reader-supported, portfolio-driven, or designed to support a broader business.
### Refine post page reading experience
If the homepage earns attention, the post page earns trust. It deserves more attention than it usually gets.
Look closely at post width, heading hierarchy, image treatment, author blocks, and newsletter prompts. A post template should feel calm and consistent. If readers encounter cramped text, oversized media, weak spacing, or too many competing elements, the content loses authority.
This is one area where restraint usually wins. Clean margins, balanced type scale, and thoughtful image spacing tend to outperform more expressive layout experiments. Readers notice when a post page feels easy to read, even if they cannot explain why.
If your theme includes options for related posts, share buttons, or membership calls to action, treat them as editorial tools rather than mandatory features. Add what supports your publishing model. Remove what interrupts the reading rhythm.
## When to use theme settings vs custom code
A useful ghost theme customization guide should make one distinction very clear: not every change belongs in code.
Ghost themes often include built-in settings for color, logos, navigation, homepage sections, membership features, and social profiles. Those controls are usually the right place to begin because they are stable, upgrade-friendly, and easy to maintain.
Custom code becomes worthwhile when you need a specific layout adjustment, a custom content block, a deeper branding layer, or a behavior the native settings do not support. But every code change carries a cost. It can complicate future updates, create inconsistencies across templates, or turn a simple site into something fragile.
For non-technical publishers, the best threshold is practical: if a change materially improves brand alignment or usability, it may be worth custom code. If it is mostly decorative, it usually is not.
That trade-off matters. A polished Ghost site is not the same thing as a highly customized one.
## The most common customization mistakes
The first mistake is trying to customize everything at once. That usually leads to design drift, where the site slowly moves away from the internal logic that made the original theme strong.
The second is over-branding. Publishers sometimes assume that stronger identity means adding more visual personality - more colors, more graphic elements, more type styles, more homepage modules. In reality, editorial credibility often comes from consistency and restraint.
The third is ignoring mobile behavior. A layout that feels elegant on desktop can become crowded on smaller screens. Navigation length, card spacing, image ratios, and signup placements all need to hold up on mobile because that is where a large share of readers will see the site first.
The fourth is customizing without a content strategy. If you do not know whether you are building for archives, newsletter growth, recurring visits, or authority in a niche, it is hard to make good design decisions. Themes perform best when customization follows a clear publishing goal.
## How to know when your customization is enough
This is the question many site owners miss. They keep adjusting because the site still feels editable.
A theme is customized enough when the publication feels coherent. Your homepage highlights the right content. Your brand elements feel intentional. Your post pages are easy to read. Your calls to action are present without dominating. Nothing feels generic, but nothing feels forced either.
That balance matters more than novelty. Readers are not grading your site on originality alone. They are responding to whether it feels credible, legible, and aligned with the quality of your work.
A thoughtfully crafted [premium Ghost theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-premium-ghost-themes/) can get you most of the way there before custom work begins. That is one reason curated theme systems tend to outperform improvised setups. They give publishers a strong editorial foundation, then leave room for selective refinement.
## A better way to approach customization
Think like an editor, not just a site owner. Ask what deserves emphasis, what can be simplified, and what helps readers stay oriented. That mindset tends to produce better results than chasing design trends or adding features because they are available.
If you are using Ghost for a newsletter, publication, or personal brand, the best customization choices are usually the ones that make your content feel sharper and your workflow easier. Cleaner hierarchy. Better content framing. More disciplined visual choices. Fewer distractions.
That is also why [support and documentation](https://themex.studio/docs/) matter. A theme should not just look good in a demo. It should give you enough flexibility to adapt the design confidently without turning every decision into a technical problem. For publishers who want a premium result without agency-level complexity, that balance is where real value lives.
The best Ghost customization is rarely loud. It is the quiet kind that makes your publication feel fully resolved the moment a reader arrives.
### How to Choose a Ghost Theme That Fits
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-theme-that-fits/
Last updated: 2026-05-19T10:29:30.000Z
Picking a Ghost theme usually feels simple right up until you open a few demos and realize they all look polished. Then the real question appears: how to choose a Ghost theme that still feels right after launch, after your first ten posts, and after your publication starts to grow. A good theme should not just make your site look better on day one. It should support the way you publish, read, and evolve.
Ghost is especially strong when content is the product. That changes how theme selection should work. You are not choosing a decorative layer for a generic website builder. You are choosing the reading experience, the structure behind your archive, the presentation of your membership offering, and the design system your brand will live inside every week.
## Start with your publishing model, not the homepage
The most common mistake is choosing a theme by its homepage alone. Homepages matter, but for most Ghost sites they are not where the relationship is built. Readers spend more time on post pages, tag archives, author pages, newsletter signup forms, and search results than they do admiring a hero section.
If you are working out how to choose a Ghost theme, start by asking what you publish and how often. A writer sending one thoughtful essay a week needs something different from a startup running a content hub, and both need something different from a membership-driven publication.
A few examples make this clearer. If your work is essay-led, typography, spacing, reading width, and distraction-free post layouts matter more than flashy homepage modules. If you publish across multiple categories, your theme needs stronger archive logic and clearer content hierarchy. If email subscriptions are central to your business, signup placement and membership UX deserve more attention than visual novelty.
In other words, choose for the core publishing workflow, not for the demo banner.
## What to look for in a Ghost theme
A strong Ghost theme tends to balance five things well: editorial design, flexibility, speed, ease of setup, and support. The balance matters because every theme makes trade-offs.
### Editorial design should serve the content
The best Ghost themes do not compete with the writing. They shape it. Look closely at type scale, line length, margins, image treatment, pull quotes, galleries, and the way headings break up long articles. These details have more impact on perceived quality than decorative effects.
A minimal design is not automatically better, but restraint usually ages well. It gives your content room to breathe and makes your brand feel more intentional. On the other hand, if a theme is too stripped down, your site may lose personality or make it harder to surface key sections. The right answer depends on whether your publication needs quiet focus or stronger visual framing.
### Flexibility should be useful, not excessive
Many buyers ask whether a theme is customizable. That is the right instinct, but the better question is what kind of customization you actually need.
A thoughtful theme gives you enough control to align with your brand without forcing you into design decisions you never wanted to make. Fonts, color accents, navigation structure, homepage sections, and basic layout variations are useful. Endless switches, page builder behavior, or dozens of style combinations can create inconsistency fast.
This is where a well-crafted [theme framework](https://themex.studio/vincent-features/) matters. You want flexibility inside a coherent system, not flexibility that leaves you acting as your own design department.
### Performance is part of the design
A theme can look refined in a demo and still feel heavy in real use. Performance affects trust, readability, and conversion. Slow-loading hero images, excessive scripts, or cluttered page structures can make even a beautiful site feel less credible.
When evaluating a theme, pay attention to how clean the layout feels on desktop and mobile, how quickly pages appear to load, and whether the reading experience stays smooth as content stacks up. For Ghost publishers, speed is not a technical bonus. It is part of the editorial experience.
### Setup should be realistic for your skill level
Some users are comfortable editing code. Many are not, and should not need to be. A premium theme should make the essentials straightforward: branding, navigation, homepage setup, post formatting, membership flows, and common content blocks.
There is no shame in wanting a theme that is easy to configure. In fact, for most founders, writers, and lean teams, simplicity is an advantage. Less setup friction means faster publishing and fewer design inconsistencies later.
### Support is easy to undervalue until you need it
Theme support rarely gets top billing during the buying process, but it often determines whether the overall experience feels premium. [Clear documentation](https://themex.studio/docs/), update reliability, and responsive answers matter because your site is a live publishing product, not a static asset.
This is especially important if you are not building from scratch with a developer. A good support experience can save hours of guesswork and help you get more from the theme than a feature list ever will.
## How to choose a Ghost theme for your brand
Brand fit is usually less about logos and more about tone. Your theme should signal what kind of publication this is before anyone reads the first sentence.
A personal essay site may benefit from warmth, generous whitespace, and a more intimate article layout. A startup publication may need sharper hierarchy, stronger content navigation, and a more structured homepage. A design-forward portfolio or magazine may need bolder visual rhythm without sacrificing readability.
Look at the theme demo and ask a simple question: if your content replaced the placeholder content today, would the design still feel like you? If the answer is no, the theme may be attractive but mismatched.
It also helps to think about the audience's expectations. Readers decide quickly whether a site feels trustworthy, current, and easy to read. A theme that feels too generic can flatten your brand. One that feels too stylized can distract from it.
## Evaluate the pages readers will actually use
When comparing options, spend less time on the landing page and more time on these key views: the article page, the post feed, tag pages, search, navigation, newsletter signup moments, and membership or subscription screens if you use them.
This is where many themes reveal their strengths and weaknesses. A polished homepage can hide mediocre article design. A striking card grid can become repetitive when every post looks the same. A signup area may look good in a demo but feel awkward in the actual reading flow.
If possible, imagine your own publishing rhythm inside the theme. What happens when you have 100 posts, six tags, two lead magnets, and a paid newsletter tier? Does the structure still make sense? Good theme choices hold up under real editorial conditions.
## Avoid choosing based on features alone
Feature comparison has its place, but it can lead you in the wrong direction. More sections, more toggles, and more templates do not necessarily produce a better site. Often they just produce more decisions.
A better filter is asking whether the theme helps you publish clearly and consistently. The strongest themes usually make smart decisions for you. They reduce clutter, create hierarchy, and keep the visual system tight enough that your site remains cohesive even as content grows.
That is why a curated [premium theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-premium-ghost-themes/) often outperforms a feature-heavy alternative. You are not just buying options. You are buying judgment.
## A practical way to decide
If you are stuck between a few choices, narrow the decision using three criteria. First, which theme presents your content most clearly on the article page? Second, which one fits your brand without needing obvious customization? Third, which one feels easiest to maintain over the next year?
That last question matters more than most people expect. A theme that looks exciting but requires constant tweaking can become a burden. A theme that feels clean, flexible, and well-resolved from the start usually creates a better long-term publishing experience.
This is also the point where documentation and support can tip the balance. A thoughtfully crafted Ghost theme backed by clear guidance often gives you more confidence than a technically capable theme that leaves too much unexplained. That is part of what makes premium theme studios valuable. The product is not just the files. It is the system around them.
Themex Studio, for example, approaches Ghost themes with that editorial lens in mind: minimal, flexible design paired with documentation and hands-on support that helps publishers get to a polished result faster.
## The best theme is the one that disappears
The ideal Ghost theme does not ask readers to admire the interface. It gives your words, images, and ideas a strong frame and then gets out of the way. That is harder to achieve than it sounds, and it is why thoughtful theme selection matters.
If you are deciding how to choose a Ghost theme, aim for one that feels calm, clear, and durable. A theme should make publishing easier, reading better, and your brand more recognizable over time. When that happens, the design stops feeling like a template and starts feeling like your publication.
### Best Ghost Themes for Creators
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/best-ghost-themes-for-creators/
Last updated: 2026-05-18T10:53:47.000Z
A creator site usually fails in one of two ways. It either looks polished but feels rigid once real content starts piling up, or it ships fast and looks forgettable from day one. That is exactly why choosing the right ghost themes for creators matters more than most people expect. A theme is not just a visual layer. It shapes how your writing is read, how your archive grows, and how confidently your brand comes across.
For creators using Ghost, the standard is higher than “works fine.” You need a theme that respects the writing, supports memberships or newsletters if they matter to your business, and gives you enough flexibility to evolve without turning every update into a design project. The best choice is rarely the flashiest one. It is the one that makes your content feel more credible, more readable, and easier to maintain.
## What creators actually need from a Ghost theme
Creators tend to outgrow generic templates quickly. A personal brand site, newsletter hub, editorial publication, or startup media property all need different things, but they share a few core requirements.
First, typography carries more weight than many buyers realize. If your site lives on written content, the type system is the design system. Headings need contrast without feeling decorative. Body text needs to stay comfortable across long reads. Spacing has to create rhythm, not dead air. A Ghost theme can be minimal and still feel rich if the typography is handled with intent.
Second, structure matters as much as style. Creators publish across formats now - essays, short updates, podcasts, interviews, premium posts, landing pages, and newsletters. A good theme should organize that variety without making the homepage feel busy. This is where restraint becomes a real advantage. Clean grids, clear hierarchy, and thoughtful use of featured content tend to age far better than novelty.
Third, the membership experience should feel native. Ghost is strong because publishing and audience monetization live in the same system. If you plan to grow subscribers, offer paid tiers, or gate content, your theme should make those moments feel integrated rather than bolted on. Sign-up prompts, account pages, and paid post presentation all need to feel consistent with the rest of the site.
## How to evaluate ghost themes for creators
The easiest mistake is judging a theme from a static homepage screenshot. A homepage can look excellent and still break down once you imagine your actual content inside it. The better approach is to evaluate a theme as a publishing framework.
Start with the archive pages. Look at how posts are listed, how tags are displayed, and whether different content types can coexist cleanly. Many creators focus on the homepage, but most returning readers enter through article pages, collections, or newsletter emails. Your archive and post templates carry more daily value than a hero section.
Then look at the post page itself. Is the reading width comfortable? Are images handled elegantly? Do pull quotes, galleries, bookmarks, and callouts feel intentional? If you publish long-form work, small spacing decisions matter. If you publish often, consistency matters even more.
It also helps to think about editorial range. Some creators need a sharp personal brand presence. Others need a more neutral design that can support multiple authors or broader coverage over time. A highly stylized theme can be powerful when the brand is already well defined, but it may become limiting if your publication expands.
This is where flexible, thoughtfully crafted Ghost themes tend to outperform trend-driven ones. They leave room for content to lead.
## Design trade-offs worth thinking through
There is no single best theme for every creator because the right answer depends on your publishing model.
If your business is newsletter-first, your priorities may center on subscriber conversion, member navigation, and clean email-to-site continuity. In that case, a theme with strong subscription touchpoints and uncluttered article templates often makes more sense than one built around visually dense magazine layouts.
If you are building an editorial brand or startup publication, content categorization becomes more important. You may need homepage sections, featured story treatments, author support, and stronger archive navigation. A leaner writing-focused theme can still work, but only if it handles structure without feeling improvised.
For [portfolio-led creators](https://themex.studio/naoto/), the balance shifts again. You may want editorial credibility without losing room for visual work, case studies, or project pages. Here, minimalism helps, but only if it is paired with enough layout flexibility to avoid every page looking the same.
The trade-off is usually between expressiveness and longevity. More visual personality can help you stand out early. More restraint often gives you a stronger foundation as your content library grows. The best ghost themes for creators usually sit in the middle - distinctive enough to feel branded, disciplined enough to stay usable.
## The features that matter more than feature lists
Theme buyers often get distracted by quantity. More homepage blocks, more toggles, more options. But extra controls do not automatically create a better publishing experience.
What matters more is whether the theme makes smart default decisions. Good defaults save time, protect visual consistency, and reduce the need for constant tweaking. Creators should not have to act as full-time art directors just to publish a clean article.
A few things tend to be genuinely useful. Multiple homepage compositions can help if you are balancing newsletter growth with editorial content. Well-designed custom pages are valuable if you need an About page, podcast page, landing page, or resource page that feels aligned with the rest of the site. Tag and author templates become more important as the archive grows. And clear support for Ghost memberships is essential if subscriptions are part of your model.
Performance matters too, but not in the abstract. Fast themes improve real reading conditions, especially on mobile. The same goes for responsive typography, image handling, and simple navigation. A premium theme should not just look better in a demo. It should feel easier to use when you are publishing every week.
## Why editorial design is a competitive advantage
Creators often think of design as brand polish. It is that, but it is also a trust signal.
When a reader lands on your site, they make quick judgments about authority, consistency, and seriousness. Clean spacing, strong hierarchy, and balanced typography create a sense that the work is worth reading. That matters whether you are selling subscriptions, building a media brand, or simply trying to turn casual readers into loyal ones.
Editorial design also protects the content from unnecessary friction. If every page element competes for attention, the writing loses force. If the layout is too plain or generic, the brand loses memorability. The strongest themes solve both problems quietly.
That is why design-conscious Ghost creators often gravitate toward themes built with restraint. A refined visual system does not distract from the content. It gives the content a stronger stage.
## Choosing a theme you will still like a year from now
A useful test is to picture your site after 100 posts, not after launch week. Will the homepage still feel organized? Will category pages still look intentional? Will your article template still support the kinds of posts you want to publish next year?
You should also think about [support and documentation](https://themex.studio/docs/) before buying. Even experienced Ghost users benefit from clear setup guidance and responsive help. A well-designed theme is only part of the experience. Good documentation shortens launch time. Good support reduces hesitation when you need to customize something or troubleshoot a workflow.
This is one reason many creators prefer specialized Ghost theme shops over broad template marketplaces. A more focused product ecosystem usually means stronger Ghost-specific decisions, better onboarding, and a clearer understanding of how real publications evolve. Brands like Themex Studio have built trust precisely by pairing premium editorial design with [practical support](https://themex.studio/faq/).
The smartest purchase is not the theme with the longest feature list. It is the one that fits your content model, reinforces your brand, and keeps the publishing process uncomplicated.
If you are choosing among ghost themes for creators, look past the demo glow. Read the design through the lens of your own workflow. The right theme should make publishing feel calmer, your brand feel sharper, and your writing easier to return to tomorrow.
### 12 Best Ghost Themes for Modern Publishers
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/12-best-ghost-themes-for-modern-publishers/
Last updated: 2026-05-17T08:56:37.000Z
A Ghost site can look polished in an afternoon or feel off for months because of one early decision: the theme. That is why choosing among the best ghost themes is less about chasing features and more about finding the right publishing system for your content, brand, and workflow.
Ghost is already fast, focused, and built for publishing. The theme should extend that clarity, not bury it under decorative layouts, bloated options, or styling that fights your voice. For writers, editorial teams, and creator-led brands, the strongest themes tend to share a few traits: disciplined typography, flexible content blocks, thoughtful navigation, and enough customization to shape a distinct identity without turning setup into a design project.
## What actually makes the best Ghost themes
The best Ghost themes are rarely the ones with the longest feature lists. They are the ones that make publishing feel straightforward while giving your work a more credible visual frame.
Design quality comes first. A premium theme should feel resolved at every level - homepage hierarchy, article spacing, card layouts, archive pages, and signup placements. Many themes look strong in a demo and weaker in real use because they rely on stock imagery or overly specific content assumptions. A good test is simple: can the theme still look convincing with your headlines, your bylines, and your publishing rhythm?
Typography matters just as much. Ghost is a [writing-first platform](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-the-right-ghost-blog-theme/), so the reading experience should carry real weight. Strong type scale, comfortable line length, clean contrast, and consistent spacing do more for perceived quality than a dozen homepage widgets. If a theme makes long-form articles easier to read, it is already doing one of the hardest jobs well.
Flexibility is the next filter. Not every publisher needs a large magazine-style homepage. A solo writer may need a quiet personal publication. A startup may want a sharp publication layer that supports product storytelling and thought leadership. A newsletter operator may care most about subscriber flow and featured posts. The right theme should adapt to those goals without requiring custom development.
Then there is usability. Theme settings should feel intentional, not overwhelming. The best setups let you control logo treatment, color accents, homepage sections, post feed styles, and membership elements without making every visual choice manual. For non-technical users, that balance matters a lot.
## How to choose the best Ghost themes for your site
Start with format, not aesthetics. Ask what your site is primarily trying to do.
If you publish essays, interviews, and long-form reporting, prioritize typography, archives, and article templates. If you run a newsletter, look closely at subscription calls to action, post previews, and membership integration. If you are building a creator business or startup publication, the homepage needs to handle brand positioning as well as editorial content.
It also helps to think in terms of content velocity. A theme that works beautifully for one carefully published article per week may not be the best fit for a high-volume publication with multiple categories and recurring columns. More sections are not automatically better, but structure does need to match output.
Visual style should come after that. Minimal is not a universal good if it removes useful context. On the other hand, heavily stylized themes can age quickly or make your brand feel borrowed. Usually, the most durable choice is a restrained design system with enough personality to feel distinct.
Finally, look beyond screenshots. Review the demo carefully. Read a full article. Open tag pages. Check author pages. Notice whether the navigation feels calm or crowded. A theme is not just a homepage. It is the full reading environment.
## 12 best Ghost themes worth considering
### 1\. Aalto
Aalto suits publishers who want a refined editorial presence with a calm visual rhythm. It leans minimal, but not empty. The strength is in proportion, type hierarchy, and the way content holds attention without visual noise. For writers, newsletters, and thoughtful editorial brands, that restraint works in its favor.
### 2\. Enjin
Enjin is a smart choice for startups, product-led publications, and modern media brands that need sharper structure. It supports a more modular presentation without losing clarity. If your publication sits close to a business or brand narrative, this kind of theme often creates the right balance between content and positioning.
### 3\. Vincent
Vincent feels especially well suited to creator publications and editorial sites that want character without clutter. It has enough visual distinction to avoid feeling generic, yet it still keeps written content at the center. That balance is hard to get right.
### 4\. Rand
Rand is useful when you want flexibility across multiple publishing styles. It can work for a personal brand, magazine, or startup content hub, depending on how you configure the homepage and content structure. This is often the right direction for teams that need room to evolve.
### 5\. A typography-first personal publishing theme
This category works well for essayists, newsletter writers, and independent thinkers whose main asset is voice. The ideal version keeps the homepage quiet, makes articles beautiful to read, and uses signup prompts with restraint. The trade-off is that these themes can feel too spare for brands that need heavier content promotion.
### 6\. A magazine-style editorial theme
For publications with multiple categories, featured stories, and a more active archive, a magazine layout can be effective. It gives readers more entry points and supports higher publishing volume. The risk is complexity. If your content operation is still small, a dense layout can make the site feel busier than the brand really is.
### 7\. A newsletter-focused membership theme
Some Ghost themes are clearly designed around subscriptions, member journeys, and recurring publishing. They often give more attention to signup placements, premium content patterns, and email-centered UX. If paid memberships or subscriber growth are central goals, this can be a better fit than a purely editorial layout.
### 8\. A creator portfolio-publication hybrid
This type of theme is useful for designers, strategists, photographers, and other creative professionals who want articles and personal branding to live together. It should support a polished homepage, selected work, and a strong blog without forcing either side to feel secondary.
### 9\. A startup publication theme
Startups using Ghost often need more than a blog. They need a publication that supports credibility, thought leadership, hiring, and product storytelling. Themes in this category should feel contemporary and structured, with enough flexibility to carry both editorial and brand messaging.
### 10\. A minimalist brand journal theme
This is a strong option for premium brands with a careful point of view. The right execution feels elevated, spacious, and deliberate. The wrong execution feels too thin. Minimal themes need strong content and strong art direction to hold up.
### 11\. A visual editorial theme
For publishers who rely on photography, illustrations, or richer art direction, a more image-aware theme can be the better choice. The key is maintaining reading quality. Strong visuals should support the article, not compete with it.
### 12\. A flexible all-purpose Ghost theme
Some themes are designed to cover a lot of ground gracefully. They are useful for teams that are still defining their content model or expect to iterate over time. Versatility is valuable, but only if the design still feels coherent. Too much flexibility can turn into a pile of options.
## Common mistakes when comparing Ghost themes
One mistake is buying for the homepage alone. It is easy to get pulled in by a striking hero section, but most visitors will spend their time on article pages, archives, and email touchpoints. If those are weak, the homepage will not save the experience.
Another mistake is overvaluing customization. More controls do not automatically produce a better site. In many cases, they just create more room for inconsistent decisions. A thoughtfully crafted default system is usually more valuable than endless settings.
It is also common to underestimate support and documentation. Even polished themes need setup guidance, especially around navigation, homepage composition, [custom routes](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-create-multiple-course-pages-in-ghost-using-routes-yaml/), or membership behavior. Good support shortens the path between [buying a theme](https://themex.studio/bundle/) and launching a site that actually feels finished. That is one reason many publishers prefer specialist theme shops like Themex Studio rather than broader marketplaces.
## The real question behind the best Ghost themes
Most people searching for the best ghost themes are not really looking for a theme. They are looking for confidence. They want to know that the site will feel credible, that publishing will stay simple, and that the design will not get in the way six months from now.
That is the right instinct. A theme should not just make your site look better on launch day. It should give your writing, newsletter, or publication a stable design system that continues to work as your archive grows, your audience expands, and your brand gets sharper.
Choose the theme that makes your content look more like itself. That is usually the one that lasts.
### How to Choose a Ghost Theme for Startups
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-theme-for-startups/
Last updated: 2026-05-16T08:29:55.000Z
A startup site usually starts with one urgent job: make the company look credible before the company feels fully formed. That is why picking the right ghost theme for startups matters more than many teams expect. The theme is not just a visual layer. It shapes how clearly you explain the product, how confidently you publish, and how easily your team can keep the site moving.
For early-stage teams, the wrong theme creates drag in quiet ways. Pages feel harder to structure. Posts look inconsistent. The site starts to lean on workarounds instead of a system. What looked fast at the beginning becomes expensive in attention later.
Ghost is a strong fit for startups that treat content as part of the product, not just a marketing add-on. It is clean, fast, and publishing-focused by design. But Ghost works best when the theme respects that simplicity instead of fighting it with clutter, novelty, or too many decisions.
## What a ghost theme for startups needs to do
A startup website usually has to wear a few hats at once. It needs to present the brand well, support a blog or publication, explain the product, capture leads or subscribers, and give the team room to evolve. That means a ghost theme for startups should not be judged only by homepage polish.
The stronger question is whether the theme creates a stable editorial and brand system. Can your team publish announcements, essays, changelogs, customer stories, and thought leadership without redesigning the page every time? Can the site feel consistent when three different people are uploading content? Can it still look sharp six months from now, after the initial launch energy has passed?
This is where thoughtful restraint usually wins. Startups often assume they need a theme packed with animations, modules, and flashy homepage sections to look modern. In practice, a [cleaner framework](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-minimal-ghost-theme/) tends to age better. Strong typography, deliberate spacing, and clear hierarchy do more for credibility than decoration.
## Editorial clarity matters more than feature volume
Many startup teams buy themes the same way they buy software. They compare feature lists. More layouts, more widgets, more toggles. That approach can be useful, but it often misses what makes a publishing site feel premium.
If your startup plans to publish regularly, editorial clarity matters more than feature volume. Readers should understand where to look first, what the piece is about, and how the content is organized. Good design gets out of the way without feeling plain.
This is one of the most common trade-offs. A highly flexible theme may offer more layout options, but it can also create inconsistency if your team does not have a strong design hand internally. A more opinionated theme may give you fewer choices, yet produce a better result because the system is tighter. For many startups, especially lean teams, that is the better deal.
## Start with your publishing model, not your mood board
A lot of founders begin with aesthetics. They collect references, choose a color palette, and look for something that feels like the brand they want to become. That instinct is understandable, but it helps to start one layer deeper.
Ask how your team will actually publish over the next year. A startup focused on SEO-driven content has different needs than a founder-led brand publishing essays and newsletters. A product company with a resource center and case studies needs a different structure than a venture-backed media startup building an editorial publication.
The right theme should support your main publishing model without forcing awkward compromises. If your content will be text-heavy, typography and reading rhythm matter more than visual tricks. If your homepage needs to balance editorial content with product messaging, the layout should handle both without feeling stitched together. If email is central to your strategy, your Ghost setup should make subscription paths feel natural, not bolted on.
## Design signals that build trust quickly
Startups do not always get much time to earn trust. Investors, candidates, customers, and journalists often form an impression in seconds. A strong theme helps by sending the right signals quietly.
The first signal is visual discipline. Consistent spacing, sensible type scale, and a calm interface suggest that the company pays attention. The second is content hierarchy. Visitors should be able to scan headlines, summaries, navigation, and calls to action without friction. The third [is performance](https://themex.studio/performance-and-project-cards/). A fast, lightweight site feels more current and more professional.
These may sound basic, but they are often missing in lower-quality themes. A theme can look attractive in a demo and still fall apart with real startup content. That is why the best evaluation happens with your own material. Add a few posts, a product page, an about page, and a newsletter signup. If the system still feels clear, you are looking at a theme with real depth.
## The best ghost theme for startups is usually adaptable, not generic
There is a difference between adaptable and generic. Generic themes try to be everything to everyone. They often rely on broad feature sets and safe visual decisions that make the final site feel forgettable. Adaptable themes have a stronger point of view, but enough flexibility to fit different brands well.
That balance matters for startups. You want a site that feels distinct without requiring custom design work from day one. A thoughtfully crafted Ghost theme gives you a clear visual foundation and enough room to shape it around your brand through logo treatment, accent color, imagery, homepage structure, and content strategy.
This is where startup teams often benefit from premium themes over free ones. Not because free themes cannot work, but because premium options are more likely to offer stronger editorial systems, better documentation, cleaner customization paths, and support when something needs adjusting. If your internal team is small, that support can save more time than the theme cost itself.
## What to look for before you commit
A good theme should feel polished in the demo, but your decision should go beyond surface appeal. Look closely at article pages, author pages, [tag archives](https://themex.studio/categories-tags-browsing-grid/), and navigation behavior. These templates shape the daily reading experience, not just the launch-day homepage.
Pay attention to how the theme handles long-form content. Does the text feel comfortable to read? Are images and embeds treated cleanly? Does the layout maintain rhythm across different post lengths? If your startup wants to publish sharp thinking, product updates, or recurring editorial series, these details carry real weight.
Also consider how much configuration is required to get the theme looking right. Some themes appear flexible because they need constant adjustment. Others are flexible because the defaults are strong. The second type is usually better for busy teams.
Support quality matters too. A startup team rarely wants to spend days inside forum threads trying to solve a simple setup issue. Clear documentation and responsive help can turn a theme from a nice asset into a reliable publishing tool. That hands-on layer is one reason many teams choose specialist Ghost theme providers rather than broad template marketplaces.
## Common mistakes startups make
One common mistake is choosing for the homepage alone. Another is overvaluing novelty. A dramatic layout can feel fresh on first view, then become limiting once the company needs to publish at scale.
A third mistake is ignoring internal workflow. If your theme requires too much formatting discipline, too many manual image decisions, or too much custom code for basic updates, your publishing cadence will slip. Good startup systems reduce friction. They do not add hidden maintenance.
There is also a branding trap worth mentioning. Some founders choose themes that feel overly corporate because they want to look established. Others choose something hyper-minimal and strip away too much character. The better path is usually controlled personality. Clean, modern, and editorially confident is often enough.
## A smarter way to decide
If you are comparing options, treat the choice less like buying a template and more like choosing a framework for communication. Shortlist a few themes, then pressure-test them using your real goals. Can this support product storytelling and publishing? Can non-designers use it well? Does it feel premium without feeling precious?
For startups using Ghost seriously, the right answer is often a theme that combines minimal design, flexible page building, strong typography, and support from a team that understands publishing. That combination gives you speed at launch and stability after launch, which are not always the same thing.
Themex Studio themes are often chosen for exactly that reason. They are designed to make written content look intentional, while keeping the setup experience clear for founders, marketers, and small editorial teams who want quality without unnecessary complexity.
The best site for your startup is rarely the loudest one. It is the one that helps your ideas read clearly, your brand feel credible, and your team publish with confidence long after the launch is over.
### How to Choose the Right Ghost Blog Theme
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-the-right-ghost-blog-theme/
Last updated: 2026-05-15T09:36:53.000Z
A ghost blog theme does more than control layout. It sets the pace of reading, frames your voice, and decides whether a first-time visitor feels trust in a few seconds or leaves without a second look.
That is why choosing a theme for Ghost is less about decoration and more about editorial fit. Writers, creators, startups, and small publishers often start by comparing homepage styles or post cards. Those details matter, but the better question is simpler: does this theme help your content feel sharper, clearer, and easier to return to?
## What a ghost blog theme really controls
A good theme shapes the entire reading experience. [Typography](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-add-your-own-custom-fonts-to-ghost-theme/), spacing, image treatment, navigation, membership flows, author pages, and archive structure all affect how your site feels in use. On Ghost, where publishing is already clean and focused, the theme becomes the layer that turns a functional site into a distinctive publication.
That distinction matters more than many buyers expect. A minimalist design can make a newsletter archive feel credible and calm. A more magazine-oriented layout can help a publication surface categories, featured stories, and recurring series. A portfolio-led creator site might need room for writing, media, and personal branding without feeling crowded.
The trade-off is that no single approach is best for every publisher. The right theme depends on what you publish, how often you publish, and what action you want readers to take next.
## Start with editorial goals, not features
The easiest way to choose the wrong theme is to shop by feature count alone. More options can sound appealing, but they often create visual noise or add setup complexity you will not use.
Start with your actual publishing model. If you are an independent writer sending essays and building a paid newsletter, you likely need strong post pages, clean subscription prompts, and a homepage that highlights recent work without clutter. If you run a startup publication, you may care more about content hierarchy, multi-author presentation, and flexibility across categories. If you are a creator with a personal brand, your site may need to balance articles, about pages, and light portfolio elements.
Once those goals are clear, theme selection gets easier. You are not asking which design has the most widgets. You are asking which one creates the right publishing system for your work.
## How to evaluate a Ghost blog theme
The strongest Ghost themes usually share a few qualities, but the way they combine those qualities is what matters.
### Typography should carry the site
On a content-led Ghost site, typography is not a finishing touch. It is the product experience. Headlines should feel considered, body text should be comfortable over long reading sessions, and spacing should create rhythm without drawing attention to itself.
If a demo looks impressive because of oversized imagery or heavy visual effects, look closer at the article template. Read several paragraphs. Scan subheads. Check blockquotes, lists, captions, and callouts. A refined reading experience is often quieter than a flashy one.
### The homepage should match your publishing rhythm
Some homepages are built for frequent publishing, where multiple posts, tags, and [featured sections](https://themex.studio/showcase-specific-posts-on-your-homepage/) need room to breathe. Others are better for slower, more intentional publishing where each story deserves more prominence.
Neither model is better. It depends on cadence. A writer publishing weekly essays may benefit from a clean reverse-chronological layout. A publication with several formats may need modular sections to guide readers through different content types.
When people choose a homepage that looks good in a static demo but does not fit their actual output, the site starts to feel awkward within a month.
### Membership and newsletter UX should feel native
Ghost is widely used for newsletters and memberships, so this part deserves real attention. Subscription forms, member CTAs, paid content prompts, and account areas should feel integrated into the design rather than dropped in as an afterthought.
A theme can look polished on the surface and still create friction around conversion. Pay attention to where email capture appears, how naturally it fits into article pages, and whether the design supports both free readers and paying members without becoming pushy.
### Flexibility matters, but clarity matters more
Many buyers want a flexible theme, and that instinct is reasonable. You want room to customize brand colors, imagery, navigation, and page structures. But flexibility has a point of diminishing returns.
If every decision requires a workaround, code edits, or dozens of design settings, the theme may be too open-ended for a lean publishing workflow. Good flexibility gives you range while preserving a clear visual system. It helps non-technical users make the site their own without breaking consistency.
### Performance should support the design
Fast load times are not separate from design quality. They are part of it. Readers feel speed before they can explain it. A lighter, well-structured theme often creates a more premium impression than one loaded with movement, effects, and oversized media.
This is especially true for editorial brands. If the site exists to be read, performance should protect that goal.
## The hidden cost of choosing by visuals alone
A common mistake is choosing a theme because the demo feels aspirational, then discovering that the structure does not support day-to-day publishing. Maybe featured images are required to make the layout work. Maybe category pages feel weak. Maybe the navigation assumes a larger publication than you actually run.
This is where buyers should think beyond screenshots. Ask whether the theme still feels strong with your content mix, your headline lengths, your image quality, and your publishing volume. A theme should not only look good at launch. It should still feel coherent after fifty posts.
That is also why support and documentation matter. Even a well-designed Ghost blog theme will raise practical questions during setup. [Clear documentation](https://themex.studio/faq/) shortens the gap between purchase and launch. Responsive support makes customization less intimidating, especially for founders and creators who want a premium result without hiring a developer.
## Minimal does not mean generic
There is a persistent assumption that minimal themes all feel the same. In practice, the best minimalist designs are highly differentiated. The difference shows up in proportion, type scale, card density, whitespace, navigation patterns, and how the theme handles emphasis.
A thoughtful minimal theme removes noise, not character. It gives written content room to lead while still feeling unmistakably designed. That balance is harder to achieve than it looks. Too little structure and the site feels plain. Too much styling and the content starts competing with the interface.
For editorial brands, restraint is often a stronger signal of quality than novelty. A clean design with disciplined choices tends to age better, adapt better, and keep attention where it belongs.
## When a premium theme is worth it
Not every site needs a premium theme. If you are experimenting, validating an idea, or publishing casually, a simpler starting point may be enough.
But once design starts affecting credibility, conversion, or workflow, a premium theme often pays for itself quickly. A stronger visual system can make a solo publication look established. Better templates can improve article readability and newsletter signups. Cleaner customization can save hours of trial and error.
For many Ghost users, the real value is not only the design file. It is the combination of thoughtful defaults, Ghost-specific decisions, documentation, updates, and support. That package reduces friction at the exact moment when most publishers want momentum.
Themex Studio, for example, has built its reputation around that balance - themes that feel editorial and refined, but remain approachable for non-technical users who want to launch confidently.
## Questions to ask before you buy a ghost blog theme
Before you commit, it helps to pressure-test the theme against your real use case. How will your homepage look after ten posts, not just one? Does the article template make long-form writing feel better or busier? Can you present authors, tags, and archives in a way that suits your publication? Will newsletter and membership components feel aligned with your brand?
You should also think about longevity. If your publication evolves from a personal blog into a small media brand, will the theme still hold up? Some themes are ideal for a focused solo site but strain once content structure expands. Others offer enough room to grow without becoming overbuilt from the start.
The right answer is rarely the theme with the most features or the loudest design. It is the one that makes your publishing model feel intentional.
A good Ghost theme should disappear at the right moments. Readers notice the clarity, the confidence, and the ease of moving through your site, but their attention stays on the work itself. That is usually the clearest sign you chose well.
### How to Choose a Ghost Portfolio Theme
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-portfolio-theme/
Last updated: 2026-05-14T09:25:09.000Z
A portfolio site has to do two jobs at once. It needs to present your work with confidence, and it needs to stay out of the way long enough for that work to speak. That is exactly where the right ghost portfolio theme matters - not as decoration, but as the framework that shapes how your projects, writing, and point of view are experienced.
For creators, writers, founders, and small studios, Ghost is an appealing foundation because it is built around publishing. But a portfolio is not the same thing as a blog with a grid of posts. The best portfolio themes understand that distinction. They create room for editorial storytelling, selective visual presentation, and clear navigation without turning your site into a maze of filters, widgets, and visual noise.
## What a ghost portfolio theme should actually do
A strong portfolio theme is less about showing everything and more about establishing hierarchy. Visitors should understand who you are, what kind of work you do, and where to go next within a few seconds. If the homepage looks impressive but leaves people unsure how to browse projects, read case studies, or contact you, the theme is working against you.
That is why structure matters more than novelty. A good ghost portfolio theme should help you combine different content types naturally. Maybe you want a featured projects section, a compact about page, a writing archive, and a [newsletter signup](https://themex.studio/vincent/) that does not feel bolted on. Maybe you need long-form case studies that include images, captions, testimonials, and process notes. The theme should support those choices without forcing awkward workarounds.
Design restraint is usually an advantage here. Minimal layouts, consistent spacing, [thoughtful typography](https://themex.studio/ida/), and clear content blocks tend to age better than themes built around visual tricks. Animation can be useful, but only when it reinforces clarity. In portfolio design, attention is a limited resource. Every design choice either directs it well or wastes it.
## The difference between a portfolio and an editorial portfolio
Many people searching for a ghost portfolio theme are not photographers or illustrators in the traditional sense. They are writers with a body of published work, designers with case studies, founders with product essays, consultants with a perspective, or creators building a personal brand around both projects and ideas.
That changes the brief.
A purely visual portfolio often prioritizes galleries, hover effects, and image-heavy browsing. An editorial portfolio needs more range. It should make room for strong headlines, excerpts, reading flow, metadata, and a content architecture that supports both scanning and deeper reading. You are not only displaying work. You are framing it, contextualizing it, and giving it narrative weight.
This is one reason Ghost works especially well for modern portfolios. It treats publishing as the core experience, which means your project pages, essays, updates, and newsletter can live in one coherent system. The right theme turns that flexibility into something that feels composed rather than fragmented.
## How to evaluate a ghost portfolio theme before you buy
The fastest way to make a poor choice is to shop by screenshots alone. A polished homepage can hide a lot of friction underneath. Before choosing a theme, look closely at how it handles the less glamorous parts of a real site.
Start with project presentation. Ask whether individual project pages feel substantial enough for your work. If you create strategic, editorial, or process-driven work, you may need more than a thumbnail and a short caption. Look for templates that can support long-form storytelling, image rhythm, section breaks, and embedded media without collapsing into a generic blog post.
Next, review the archive experience. Your visitors may land on your homepage first, but many will move quickly into index pages, tag pages, author pages, or content feeds. Those pages should feel intentional. If a theme only looks refined in the hero section and becomes inconsistent elsewhere, that inconsistency will show.
Then consider the homepage itself. A good portfolio homepage does not try to cram every feature into one scroll. It introduces your positioning, highlights selected work, and creates a clear path into the rest of the site. Simplicity here is not a lack of ambition. It is confidence.
Finally, pay attention to customization. Most buyers do not need endless controls. They need the right controls. Typography, [color accents](https://themex.studio/dark-mode-and-new-preset-colors/), navigation structure, featured sections, and content order usually matter more than dozens of visual toggles. A theme should feel flexible, but not so open-ended that you end up designing from scratch.
## Design details that matter more than people expect
Typography carries a huge share of the user experience on a portfolio site, especially for anyone whose work includes writing, strategy, commentary, or case studies. The best themes understand spacing, line length, hierarchy, and contrast at a level that makes reading feel easy. You notice this most when it is missing.
Image handling matters too, but not only in the obvious sense. It is not just about whether the site can display large visuals. It is about whether those visuals sit comfortably within the layout, whether captions feel considered, and whether the image system supports both polished mockups and more documentary process imagery.
Responsive behavior is another quiet differentiator. A portfolio often gets reviewed on a phone before it is ever seen on a desktop. If your navigation becomes clumsy, your text blocks feel cramped, or your project cards lose their hierarchy on smaller screens, the site will feel less premium than it should.
Performance deserves equal attention. A portfolio should feel fast and calm. Heavy effects, oversized assets, and overbuilt scripts can make even beautiful design feel sluggish. Speed is not only a technical concern. It affects how polished your brand feels.
## When minimal is smart - and when it is not
Minimal themes are popular for good reason. They foreground content, reduce distraction, and usually make a site easier to maintain. For many portfolios, that is exactly the right move.
Still, minimal should not mean empty. A theme can be visually restrained and still feel distinctive through typography, spacing, editorial rhythm, and image treatment. The goal is not to remove personality. It is to express personality through a more disciplined system.
There are cases where a more expressive theme makes sense. If your brand is highly visual, your audience expects experimentation, or your work depends on motion and atmosphere, a stricter minimalist framework may feel too quiet. The better question is not whether minimal is good or bad. It is whether the theme gives your work the right amount of presence.
## A ghost portfolio theme should support growth
The portfolio you launch this month is rarely the portfolio you will want a year from now. New projects appear. Old work gets retired. Writing becomes a larger part of your brand. A newsletter starts to matter. You begin separating client work from original publishing.
This is where many themes fall short. They are designed for a snapshot, not for evolution.
A better theme supports growth without forcing a redesign every time your content strategy matures. It should let you add new sections, expand into publishing, refine your navigation, and reorganize content as your body of work becomes more defined. This is especially valuable for solo operators and small teams who need a site that can adapt without becoming a maintenance project.
That practical flexibility is often more useful than flashy feature depth. In many cases, the best theme is the one that still feels right after your third or fourth iteration, not just on launch day.
## Support and documentation are part of the product
Theme buyers often focus on layout and forget the implementation experience. That is a mistake. Even a well-designed theme can become frustrating if documentation is thin, setup is unclear, or basic customization requires guesswork.
For non-technical users, support is not a bonus. It is part of what makes a premium theme premium. Clear documentation shortens the path from installation to a finished site. Responsive support helps you make better decisions, not just fix problems. That difference is one reason buyers often prefer specialist Ghost theme shops over generic marketplaces.
This is also where a more curated approach stands out. A thoughtfully crafted Ghost theme with strong guidance often produces a better result than a more feature-heavy option that leaves you on your own. At Themex Studio, that balance between editorial design, usability, and hands-on support is part of the appeal for creators who want a polished outcome without unnecessary complexity.
## Choosing for fit, not just aesthetics
The best ghost portfolio theme is the one that aligns with how you work and how you want to be perceived. If your site needs to function as a portfolio, publication, and brand touchpoint at the same time, choose a theme that respects all three roles.
Look for a design system that feels calm, credible, and adaptable. Make sure project pages can carry real substance. Check that the reading experience is as considered as the visual presentation. And give weight to support, documentation, and long-term flexibility, because those details shape the actual ownership experience.
A good portfolio theme makes your site look better. A great one helps your work feel clearer, more intentional, and easier to trust. That is usually the difference people remember.
### How to Choose a Ghost Magazine Theme
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-magazine-theme/
Last updated: 2026-05-13T09:33:51.000Z
A strong ghost magazine theme does more than make a publication look polished. It shapes how readers move through stories, how editors present depth without clutter, and how a brand earns trust in a few seconds. For writers, creators, and lean editorial teams on Ghost, the right theme is often the difference between a site that feels credible and one that feels unfinished.
The problem is that magazine-style design can be easy to misread. Many themes promise editorial impact, but what you actually get may be a busy homepage, weak typography, awkward content hierarchy, or layout options that look good in a demo and fall apart once real publishing starts. A better way to evaluate a theme is to look past surface styling and focus on how it supports the work of publishing.
## What makes a ghost magazine theme work
A magazine theme should help you present volume, variety, and hierarchy. That sounds simple, but it asks a lot from the design system. You may be publishing essays, short posts, interviews, newsletters, featured stories, and evergreen content all at once. The theme needs to organize those formats clearly without making the homepage feel overloaded.
That usually starts with structure. A good editorial layout creates obvious entry points: a lead story, supporting stories, category groupings, and enough visual rhythm to keep the page readable. Readers should understand what matters first without having to think about it. If every post card has the same visual weight, the site feels flat. If everything is oversized and competing for attention, the site feels noisy.
Typography carries just as much weight as layout. Magazine sites live or die by readability. Headlines need personality, but not at the expense of scanability. Body text should feel calm and comfortable across devices. Spacing matters more than many buyers expect. Tight line heights, crowded cards, and inconsistent margins can make a premium publication feel generic very quickly.
Then there is restraint. The best editorial themes know when not to add more. They avoid decorative UI patterns that distract from the writing, and they give images, headlines, and metadata enough room to breathe. That kind of simplicity is not plain. It is controlled.
## How to evaluate a ghost magazine theme before you buy
The smartest buyers do not start with features. They start with fit.
Think about your publishing model first. If you run a high-frequency publication with multiple categories, your needs are different from a solo writer sending one weekly essay and a monthly roundup. Both may want a magazine-style homepage, but the first needs stronger content grouping and navigation logic, while the second may need a cleaner, more selective layout.
Look closely at the homepage system. Not just the top section, but the full page. Ask whether the design still works after the hero area. Can you surface featured posts, recent stories, and topic-based sections without repetition? Does the layout create hierarchy naturally, or does it rely on large thumbnails to do all the work? A good theme should hold together from top to bottom.
You should also review the post page with the same care. Magazine branding often begins on the homepage, but reader experience is won on the article template. Check the width of the content column, the treatment of headings, image spacing, pull quotes, galleries, and related posts. If the article page feels like an afterthought, the whole publication will feel thinner than it should.
Navigation deserves more attention than it usually gets. Editorial sites often grow faster than expected. A theme that feels clean with five menu items can become awkward with nine. Make sure the navigation can support your actual sections, newsletter pages, archives, and any membership paths you may add later.
## The trade-offs behind magazine-style design
Not every ghost magazine theme should do everything. In fact, themes that try to cover every use case often lose clarity.
A highly modular homepage gives you flexibility, but it may also require more setup and stronger editorial judgment. A simpler layout is easier to manage, though it may offer fewer ways to showcase different types of content. Neither approach is automatically better. It depends on how hands-on you want to be and how often you plan to update your homepage structure.
Visual richness has trade-offs too. Large imagery can create impact, especially for culture, design, travel, or startup publications. But image-heavy layouts demand stronger art direction and more consistent asset quality. If your publication is primarily text-led, oversized visuals may create more friction than value.
The same is true of dense homepage sections. A publication with many categories may benefit from more content blocks and varied card styles. But if the hierarchy is not carefully managed, readers can lose the thread. Often, the strongest magazine design is selective rather than exhaustive.
## Features that matter more than they sound
Some of the most useful theme qualities are not the flashy ones.
Flexibility matters, but usable flexibility matters more. You want enough options to shape the site around your brand, not a settings panel filled with controls that create inconsistency. The best themes make sensible decisions for you and leave room for meaningful customization where it counts: fonts, color accents, content sections, logos, navigation, and homepage emphasis.
[Performance matters](https://themex.studio/blur-load-images-pagination-and-performance/) because editorial trust is partly technical. A fast site feels considered. A slow one feels compromised. This is especially important for publications that rely on first-time visitors from search, social, or newsletter referrals. Design should add atmosphere, not drag.
Responsiveness is another quiet differentiator. Magazine layouts are harder to translate to mobile than simple blogs. Multiple columns, feature blocks, and layered hierarchy can collapse badly if the mobile experience is not thoughtfully designed. Check whether the theme still feels coherent on a phone, or whether it turns into a long stack of identical cards.
Ghost-native support is equally valuable. Themes built with a clear understanding of Ghost tend to handle memberships, newsletters, tags, authors, and routes with less friction. That means less time forcing a generic design to fit a publishing platform it was not really built around.
## Signs a ghost magazine theme is the wrong fit
A beautiful demo can hide a lot.
If a theme depends on stock photography to feel premium, be careful. The real test is whether it still looks strong with your actual posts, your actual images, and your publishing cadence. If every layout block looks designed for one perfect launch week, it may not age well.
Be cautious with themes that overload the homepage with sliders, motion, or too many card treatments. Those devices can feel impressive at first glance, but they often weaken clarity and make content management harder over time. Editorial confidence usually comes from consistency, not novelty.
Another warning sign is weak documentation or vague support. A premium theme is not just a design file wrapped in code. It is part of your publishing workflow. Clear setup guidance, [thoughtful documentation](https://themex.studio/docs/), and direct support make a meaningful difference, especially for non-technical teams who still care deeply about presentation.
## Choosing for brand, not just layout
The right theme should feel aligned with your editorial identity.
If your brand is serious, analytical, and text-first, you may want a quieter visual system with strong typography and measured use of imagery. If your publication is more visual or culture-led, a theme with bolder media presentation may make sense. If you are a founder, creator, or independent writer blending essays with product thinking and newsletter growth, a flexible hybrid between magazine and personal publishing often works best.
This is where thoughtful design earns its keep. A well-crafted theme gives your content a point of view without overpowering it. It helps readers recognize your publication as intentional. It gives you enough structure to stay consistent and enough simplicity to keep publishing.
For many Ghost users, that balance is the whole point. You do not want a custom build with endless decisions. You do not want a generic template either. You want a system that feels refined, easy to work with, and credible from day one. That is exactly why products from specialist studios such as [Themex Studio](https://themex.studio/themes/) tend to stand out: they are built around real editorial use, not just theme marketplace expectations.
## What to prioritize when making the final call
Choose the theme that makes your content easier to understand, not just easier to admire.
If two options both look good, pick the one with stronger hierarchy, calmer typography, better mobile behavior, and clearer documentation. Pick the one that still feels elegant when you imagine it filled with 100 posts instead of 10\. Pick the one that supports the publication you are building next year, not just the homepage you want this week.
A good ghost magazine theme should make publishing feel more focused. It should reduce design second-guessing, sharpen your presentation, and give your writing the kind of editorial frame that invites people to stay awhile. That is usually the clearest sign you have chosen well.
### How to Choose a Ghost Newsletter Theme
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-ghost-newsletter-theme/
Last updated: 2026-05-12T09:28:40.000Z
A good newsletter site usually gives itself away in the first few seconds. The typography feels calm. The signup path is obvious. The homepage knows whether it is selling a subscription, showcasing writing, or doing both. That is why choosing a ghost newsletter theme is less about decoration and more about editorial fit.
For writers, creators, and lean publishing teams, the theme shapes how readers experience your work before they read a single sentence. It affects trust, clarity, conversion, and how much effort it takes to keep the site looking sharp over time. A theme can make publishing feel focused, or it can quietly create friction in every part of the workflow.
## What a ghost newsletter theme really needs to do
A newsletter-first Ghost site has a different job than a generic blog. It is not only organizing posts. It is building a relationship around recurring reading. That changes the design priorities.
A strong ghost newsletter theme should make subscription feel native to the experience, not bolted on at the edges. Readers should understand where to subscribe, what they are subscribing to, and why it is worth it without hunting through menus or popups. The design should support this with clear hierarchy, confident spacing, and thoughtful placement of calls to action.
It also needs to handle the dual role many publishers now have. Your site may function as archive, homepage, and conversion engine at once. Some readers arrive from search and want to browse. Others click through from social and need immediate context. Existing subscribers may visit to read past issues or premium content. The theme has to support all three behaviors without feeling busy.
That is where simplicity matters. Not empty minimalism for its own sake, but a visual system with enough restraint that the writing remains central.
## Design matters more than most publishers expect
Newsletter operators often focus first on deliverability, pricing, and content cadence. Those are real business concerns. But design has a direct effect on whether readers stay, trust you, and subscribe.
A cluttered layout can make even strong writing feel less credible. Weak typography can make long-form content tiring to read. Overdesigned interfaces often pull attention away from the thing readers came for in the first place.
By contrast, a thoughtfully crafted theme creates confidence. It signals that the publication is intentional. It gives each article room to breathe. It helps paid or free subscription prompts feel like part of the editorial brand rather than a sales interruption.
This is especially important for independent publishers. If you do not have a custom design team, your theme is doing a lot of brand work for you. It is setting tone, establishing consistency, and helping the publication feel established from day one.
## Start with your publishing model, not the demo
A polished demo can be persuasive, but demos are controlled environments. They show a theme at its best. Your real test is whether the theme fits the way you publish.
If your newsletter is essay-driven, you may need a homepage that foregrounds recent writing and keeps navigation minimal. If you run a media brand with multiple sections, tags, or contributors, you will need more structure without losing clarity. If your business depends on membership, premium content, or lead generation, conversion paths need to be integrated from the start.
The right question is not simply, "Does this look good?" It is, "Will this still work when I publish every week for the next year?"
That changes how you evaluate a theme. Look at how posts are listed, how featured content is handled, how author pages appear, and whether the site still feels coherent when populated with real archives rather than sample content. A theme should not only launch well. It should age well.
## The best ghost newsletter theme balances beauty and utility
There is a trade-off many buyers run into. Some themes look refined in screenshots but become awkward once you start customizing them. Others offer endless options but lack a clear editorial point of view.
The best ghost newsletter theme usually sits in the middle. It has a strong default design language, so the site feels polished immediately, but it is flexible enough to adapt to your brand, content mix, and growth path.
That flexibility should feel controlled. You want meaningful choices, not a settings panel that turns every design decision into work. Good theme frameworks help non-technical users make smart adjustments without damaging the integrity of the layout.
This is where premium Ghost themes often justify themselves. You are not only paying for templates. You are paying for design judgment, tested patterns, documentation, and support that reduce the risk of building on a weak foundation.
## What to look for before you buy
[Typography should](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-add-your-own-custom-fonts-to-ghost-theme/) be one of the first things you evaluate. Newsletter sites live or die by readability. Look for generous line spacing, well-sized body text, and heading styles that create structure without shouting. If the theme cannot make a plain article page feel inviting, the rest will not save it.
Next, pay attention to homepage behavior. Some themes are too generic here, treating every publication as if it has the same goals. A newsletter site benefits from a homepage that can present a clear value proposition, guide readers into recent issues, and support subscription without visual clutter.
Membership support is another practical checkpoint. Even if you are not monetizing today, your theme should work comfortably with Ghost's membership and subscription features. Growth plans change. It helps when the theme already understands that.
Tag architecture matters more than it seems, too. If you publish across topics, categories, or series, your theme should make navigation intuitive. Readers should be able to discover depth in your archive without getting lost.
Finally, consider the [support experience](https://themex.studio/docs/). Themes are not static purchases. Setup questions happen. Edge cases happen. Design decisions evolve once real content goes live. Clear documentation and responsive help can save hours and prevent small issues from turning into launch delays.
## Why minimalist themes tend to work well for newsletters
[Minimal design](https://themex.studio/zurich/) is often misunderstood as a style preference. For newsletter publishing, it is usually a performance choice.
A minimalist theme reduces visual competition. It gives the writing authority. It makes subscription prompts clearer because fewer elements are fighting for attention. It also tends to hold up better as your archive grows, since clean systems scale more gracefully than highly decorative layouts.
That said, minimal should not mean sterile. The strongest editorial themes still have personality. They use spacing, typography, image treatment, and proportion to create a distinct presence. The goal is not to disappear. It is to support the publication with enough character to feel branded and enough restraint to stay readable.
For creators and startups especially, this balance matters. You want the site to feel premium, but you also want it to stay easy to manage when you are publishing on a real schedule.
## A theme should reduce decisions, not create more of them
This is one of the less obvious advantages of choosing well. A thoughtful theme reduces the number of design problems you need to solve every week.
When the visual system is clear, you spend less time wondering how to format a feature, structure a landing page, or keep your archive tidy. The site has rules built into it. That consistency helps readers, but it also helps you maintain momentum as a publisher.
This is especially valuable for solo operators. You may be writing, editing, promoting, and managing subscriber growth yourself. The theme should carry part of that load. It should make good presentation feel automatic.
A premium Ghost theme from a focused studio often reflects this kind of thinking. Rather than piling on novelty, it gives you a clean framework for publishing with confidence.
## The right choice is the one that fits your next stage
It depends on where your publication is headed. A personal essay newsletter has different needs than a startup media brand or a portfolio-led creator publication. The right theme is the one that supports your current content while leaving enough room for growth.
That may mean prioritizing simplicity now and monetization later. Or choosing a more structured layout because you already know your archive will expand quickly. Neither approach is universally better. The better choice is the one that aligns with your editorial model and keeps the reader experience clear.
If you are comparing options, look past the surface. Ask whether the theme respects writing, supports subscriptions naturally, and gives you a design system you can live with for the long term. Themex Studio themes are built with exactly that editorial balance in mind.
A newsletter grows issue by issue, and the best theme helps each one land with a little more clarity, credibility, and ease.
### Choosing a Ghost Theme for Writers
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/choosing-a-ghost-theme-for-writers/
Last updated: 2026-05-11T10:27:00.000Z
A writer can feel the difference between a site that presents words with confidence and one that gets in their way. The right ghost theme for writers does more than make a homepage look polished. It shapes how readers move through essays, newsletters, archives, and subscriptions - and whether the work feels serious, current, and worth returning to.
Ghost is already a strong publishing system for independent writers because it treats content, newsletters, and memberships as part of one workflow. But the theme is what turns that workflow into an editorial experience. If you are choosing one, the question is not simply which design looks nicest in a demo. It is which structure helps your writing carry more authority with less friction.
## What writers actually need from a Ghost theme
Writers usually do not need endless layout controls or decorative effects. They need clarity. A strong theme should make long-form reading comfortable, highlight the value of a subscription, and keep navigation simple enough that readers can move from one piece to the next without thinking about the interface.
Typography is the first place to look. If the type feels cramped, too small, or too stylized, even strong writing loses momentum. Good editorial themes pay close attention to line length, heading hierarchy, spacing, contrast, and mobile reading comfort. These details are easy to overlook until you compare two sites side by side. One feels composed. The other feels improvised.
The next consideration is structure. Writers often publish in a few repeatable formats - essays, notes, interviews, newsletters, reviews, or series. A theme should support those formats without asking you to redesign the site every time your content shifts slightly. Flexibility matters, but so does restraint. Too many options usually produce inconsistency.
## A ghost theme for writers should support the business side too
For many independent publishers, a site is not just a portfolio. It is part publication, part newsletter product, and part membership engine. That changes what the right ghost theme for writers needs to do.
Subscription prompts should feel integrated, not bolted on. The same goes for paid member content, author pages, archive browsing, and featured posts. If these pieces are awkwardly placed, readers notice. They may not describe the problem in design terms, but they feel the hesitation.
This is where Ghost-specific design matters. A general blogging aesthetic is not enough. The theme should understand how Ghost handles memberships, post access, email capture, and recurring publishing. Writers benefit most from a framework that respects those native features instead of forcing workarounds.
## Design signals matter more than many writers expect
There is a practical argument for good design, not just an aesthetic one. Readers use visual cues to decide whether a publication feels credible. Clean spacing, consistent image treatment, thoughtful hierarchy, and a calm interface all influence trust before a single paragraph is read.
That does not mean every writer needs a sparse, monochrome site. It means the design should feel intentional. A personal brand can still be warm. A startup publication can still feel sharp. A culture newsletter can still have personality. The key is that the visual system should support the editorial voice rather than compete with it.
Writers often underestimate how much clutter weakens authority. Sidebars, badges, pop-ups, mismatched cards, and too many homepage sections can make strong content feel diluted. A premium theme tends to solve this by narrowing focus. It gives each element a job and removes the rest.
## How to evaluate a ghost theme for writers
When you review demos, start with the post page, not the homepage. Homepages are easy to decorate. The article template is where writers live. Read a full demo post on desktop and mobile. Notice whether headings are balanced, blockquotes feel elegant, images sit naturally within the flow, and newsletter forms interrupt or complement the reading experience.
Then check the archive pages. Writers with growing libraries need category pages, tag pages, and index views that still feel curated. If everything collapses into a grid with no hierarchy, discovery becomes shallow. If everything is oversized and dramatic, your archive may become harder to scan over time. The right balance depends on whether your work is more magazine-like, essay-driven, or newsletter-first.
Also pay attention to author presentation. Some writers want the publication brand to lead, while others are building around a personal name. A theme should make either approach feel deliberate. Small details like author bio placement, profile styling, and featured image behavior affect how personal or editorial the site feels.
## Minimal does not mean generic
Many writers say they want a minimal theme, but minimal can mean very different things. Sometimes it means reduced clutter and strong typography. Other times it means a template so stripped back that it loses personality.
The best minimalist themes are not empty. They are edited. They use spacing, rhythm, and proportion to create a premium feel without relying on visual noise. That distinction matters. Writers do not benefit from a theme that disappears so completely it leaves no impression. They benefit from one that creates a clean frame around the work while still giving the publication its own identity.
This is often where [thoughtful customization](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-update-your-ghost-theme-without-losing-customizations/) matters most. A well-crafted theme gives you enough range to align the site with your voice through fonts, colors, navigation, and content emphasis, but not so much freedom that the design loses coherence. For non-technical publishers, that balance is valuable.
## Common mistakes writers make when choosing a theme
One common mistake is choosing based on novelty. A dramatic homepage animation or unusual layout can look memorable in a demo, but writing sites live or die on repeat visits. Readers come back for consistency, comfort, and trust. A clever interface can wear thin quickly.
Another mistake is underestimating scale. A theme might look excellent with six posts and one signup form. It may feel less convincing once you have 150 articles, multiple tags, several premium tiers, and a more complex content strategy. Writers planning for long-term publishing should choose with growth in mind.
There is also a tendency to overvalue customization claims. More settings do not always mean more usefulness. In practice, many writers want a theme that arrives with good judgment built in. If you have to spend days adjusting every spacing rule and card style, the theme may be giving you work rather than saving it.
## When premium makes sense
[A free theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-minimal-ghost-theme/) can be enough for testing an idea or launching quickly with minimal stakes. But once your publication is part of your business, premium themes tend to justify themselves through polish, support, and time saved.
That value is not only visual. [Documentation, updates](https://themex.studio/docs/), Ghost compatibility, and responsive support matter when you are trying to publish consistently. A strong premium theme reduces uncertainty. It helps you make fewer design decisions, avoid technical detours, and get to a finished site faster.
For writers who want their site to feel editorial rather than improvised, that difference is usually visible. This is one reason brands like Themex Studio focus on minimalist Ghost themes with a more refined publishing framework. The best outcome is not a flashy site. It is a site that makes your work feel sharper the moment it goes live.
## The right fit depends on your publishing model
A personal essay site, a niche paid newsletter, and a startup media brand may all need different versions of the same core qualities. They each benefit from strong typography, clean navigation, and thoughtful membership design, but the emphasis changes.
If your work is deeply personal, look for a theme that gives the author presence without becoming diary-like. If subscriptions drive revenue, prioritize conversion elements that feel native to the reading experience. If you run a broader editorial publication, think carefully about homepage hierarchy, multi-author support, and archive depth.
This is why the best choice is rarely the theme with the longest feature list. It is the one with the clearest point of view for your kind of publishing.
A good ghost theme for writers should feel quiet in the right ways. It should remove doubt, frame your work with care, and give readers a reason to stay with the sentence in front of them. When the design is doing its job, the site feels composed, the workflow feels lighter, and the writing gets the attention it deserves.
### How to Choose a Minimal Ghost Theme
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-a-minimal-ghost-theme/
Last updated: 2026-05-10T15:36:09.000Z
A clean homepage looks easy until you try to build one. Then the trade-offs show up fast - typography that feels too plain, layouts that look elegant in a demo but fall apart with real content, and theme settings that promise flexibility while adding friction. If you are looking for a minimal ghost theme, the real question is not how little it shows. It is how well it supports what you publish.
Minimal design works best when it is doing more than reducing visual noise. For writers, creators, and editorial teams, it should create focus, improve reading flow, and give your publication a stronger point of view. A good Ghost theme is not just sparse. It is structured, intentional, and capable of carrying your brand without making you fight the system.
## What a minimal ghost theme should actually do
The word minimal gets overused. In practice, a minimal ghost theme should not feel empty or generic. It should create a clear visual hierarchy, let your content lead, and remove interface decisions that do not serve the reading experience.
That usually [starts with typography](https://themex.studio/native-custom-fonts-support/). If the type scale is weak, the whole site feels weak, no matter how clean the layout is. Headlines need authority. Body text needs comfortable rhythm. Supporting elements like tags, dates, captions, and author blocks should be present without becoming visual clutter.
Spacing matters just as much. Minimal themes rely on restraint, which means every gap, margin, and alignment choice carries more weight. When spacing is handled well, the site feels calm and premium. When it is not, the same layout can feel unfinished.
A strong minimal theme also respects different publishing formats. Some sites are newsletter-first. Others depend on long-form essays, podcast posts, startup updates, or magazine-style archives. Minimalism should adapt to the format rather than flatten everything into the same presentation.
## Why minimal works so well in Ghost
Ghost is already built around publishing. That makes it a natural match for minimal design, because the platform does not need heavy visual packaging to feel complete. The editor is streamlined, membership tools are integrated, and content structures are already oriented around posts, pages, authors, and subscriptions.
The benefit is clarity. A minimal Ghost site can feel polished quickly because the platform itself does not require layers of plugins or page-builder workarounds just to achieve a professional result. For independent publishers and lean teams, that matters. Less setup complexity means more attention can go into the publication itself.
There is also a brand advantage. Minimal design tends to age better than trend-heavy themes. If your site is built around strong type, balanced spacing, and thoughtful content templates, it is less likely to feel dated six months after launch.
## The hidden difference between minimal and basic
This is where many buyers get stuck. A basic theme removes features. A minimal theme removes distraction.
Those are not the same thing. Basic themes often look clean in screenshots because there is not much there. But once you start adding featured images, multiple authors, newsletter CTAs, tags, or longer headlines, the design can lose control fast.
A well-crafted minimal ghost theme accounts for real publishing conditions. It handles content variation gracefully. It gives enough options to shape your brand, but not so many that setup becomes a design project in itself. It keeps the interface quiet while still supporting growth.
That balance is harder to get right than it looks. Good restraint takes more design discipline than visual excess.
## How to evaluate a minimal ghost theme before you buy
Start with the demo, but do not stop at the homepage. Homepages are easy to style. The better test is the post page, tag archive, author page, and navigation behavior on mobile. If those templates feel resolved, the theme is probably built with real use in mind.
Look closely at headline length. Do long titles wrap well? Are excerpts visually balanced? Does the layout hold up when images are inconsistent or absent? Minimal designs are less forgiving when content structure varies, so resilience matters.
You should also check how the theme handles calls to action. If you plan to run memberships or newsletter signups, those elements should feel integrated into the design rather than bolted on. A clean site can still convert well, but only if subscription prompts are placed with care.
Customization is another factor. Most publishers do not need unlimited control. They need the right control. Color settings, typography options, logo treatment, navigation choices, and homepage sections should be enough to make the site feel branded without requiring code for basic decisions.
Support is worth weighing too. Even experienced Ghost users run into [setup questions](https://themex.studio/faq/), migration issues, or small customization needs. A premium theme becomes more valuable when documentation is clear and the person behind the product actually helps customers move forward.
## Design details that matter more than feature lists
Feature lists can be useful, but they rarely tell you why one theme feels refined and another feels off. The better signals are in the details.
The first is rhythm. Scroll through a demo and pay attention to pace. Do sections feel balanced, or does the page become repetitive? Minimal themes need variation in composition, even when the overall system stays restrained.
The second is image handling. Some publishers rely heavily on photography. Others barely use images at all. A thoughtful theme should work in both scenarios. If it only looks polished with perfect art direction, it may not be practical for everyday publishing.
The third is [navigation clarity](https://themex.studio/navigation-enhancements/). Minimal navigation should feel effortless, not stripped down to the point of confusion. Readers should know where they are, how to browse archives, and where to subscribe without having to hunt.
Finally, look at tone. Design communicates before the first sentence is read. Some minimal themes feel soft and literary. Others feel sharper and more product-oriented. Neither is automatically better. The right choice depends on whether your publication wants to feel like a journal, a newsroom, a founder brand, or a modern studio.
## When a minimal ghost theme is the wrong choice
Minimal is not the answer for every publication. If your site depends on dense category navigation, heavy monetization modules, comparison tables, or a large amount of utility content above the fold, an ultra-restrained theme may work against you.
The same goes for brands that need strong visual personality through motion, illustration, or layered campaign storytelling. A minimal framework can support a strong brand, but it does so through subtlety. If your strategy depends on loud differentiation, you may want a more expressive layout system.
It also depends on your content habits. Minimal themes reward editorial consistency. If your posts vary wildly in tone, image use, and structure, the site can feel less cohesive. That is not always a theme problem. Sometimes it is a publishing workflow problem.
## The best minimal themes feel invisible for the right reasons
When a theme is working, you stop noticing it. Readers focus on the article. Subscribers move naturally toward the signup form. The brand feels clear without pushing too hard. That kind of invisibility is not generic. It is a result of careful design decisions holding everything together quietly.
For Ghost users, that is often the sweet spot. You want enough sophistication to look established, enough flexibility to shape the site around your content, and enough simplicity to keep publishing easy. A minimal Ghost theme should help you get there faster, not give you another system to manage.
That is why the strongest options tend to come from designers who understand editorial design, not just theme packaging. At Themex Studio, that design philosophy shows up in themes that feel restrained but never empty, flexible but never messy, and polished without becoming difficult to use.
Choosing a theme is partly aesthetic, but it is mostly operational. You are choosing the structure your content will live in for months or years. Pick the one that makes your writing look sharper, your brand feel clearer, and your publishing process feel lighter. The best minimal design leaves room for your work to matter more.
### How to Choose Premium Ghost Themes
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-choose-premium-ghost-themes/
Last updated: 2026-05-10T15:36:09.000Z
A Ghost site can look polished in a screenshot and still feel frustrating the moment you start publishing. That gap is usually the difference between a decent template and a truly considered theme. If you're comparing premium ghost themes, the real question is not which one looks best in a demo. It is which one helps your publication feel credible, readable, and easy to run week after week.
For independent publishers, writers, and lean teams, a theme is not decoration. It shapes first impressions, sets the reading experience, and influences how efficiently you can launch new content. On Ghost, where publishing is meant to stay focused and clean, the best premium options extend that philosophy rather than bury it under styling tricks and unnecessary controls.
## What premium ghost themes should actually improve
A premium theme earns its place when it improves both presentation and workflow. Good design matters, but design alone is not enough. If a theme looks refined and then forces you into awkward workarounds, hard-coded layouts, or confusing customization steps, the premium label does not mean much.
The strongest themes create a clear visual system around your content. Typography feels deliberate. Spacing is consistent. Archive pages, post layouts, navigation, and signup forms all belong to the same design language. That consistency is what gives a publication a more editorial, trustworthy feel.
Just as important, a premium theme should reduce decisions, not multiply them. Many site owners think more settings equals more flexibility. In practice, too many controls often produce uneven pages and slower setup. A thoughtfully crafted theme gives you useful options, but within a structure that keeps the site cohesive.
## Design quality is more than visual taste
Most buyers can quickly spot whether a theme is minimal, bold, modern, or editorial. That part is easy. The harder part is judging whether the design has enough discipline to support real publishing.
Look closely at how headlines break across different screen sizes. Check whether featured images feel integrated or just pasted into a layout. Notice the rhythm between text blocks, cards, captions, and callouts. Premium design is often less about dramatic flourishes and more about restraint. A site feels expensive when nothing looks accidental.
This matters even more for publishers whose product is written content. If readers are coming for essays, reporting, analysis, or newsletters, the theme should direct attention toward reading rather than constantly asking to be noticed. Strong typography and calm hierarchy usually outperform flashy effects.
That said, minimal does not mean generic. The best Ghost themes balance simplicity with character. They leave room for brand identity through type, color, imagery, and layout choices, while still maintaining a strong default experience.
## The best premium ghost themes fit your publishing model
A personal essay site, a startup publication, and a media brand do not need the same homepage. This is where many theme decisions go wrong. Buyers choose based on style alone, then discover the content model does not fit how they publish.
If your site depends on a newsletter-first strategy, pay attention to how signup forms, member areas, and post previews are integrated into the design. If you publish a magazine-style archive, category presentation and homepage modularity matter more. If your site is a [portfolio-publication hybrid](https://themex.studio/kyoto/), the theme needs to handle both editorial credibility and selective self-promotion.
Think about volume as well. A theme that looks excellent with six carefully chosen posts may feel thin or repetitive with two hundred articles. On the other hand, a layout built for large archives can make a smaller publication feel empty at launch. The right choice depends on your content library now and where it will be in six months.
## Customization should feel guided, not technical
One of the biggest advantages of using Ghost is that it can stay refreshingly straightforward. A premium theme should preserve that experience. You should be able to make meaningful brand adjustments without feeling like you are managing a front-end project.
That means the customization model matters. Some themes advertise flexibility but rely on fragile code edits or scattered instructions. Others offer a clearer framework, where core brand changes are predictable and documented. For most creators and startups, the second approach is far more valuable.
A useful test is to ask how easily you can [adapt the theme](https://themex.studio/docs/zurich-doc/) to your identity without weakening the design. Can you change the logo, navigation, accent color, homepage emphasis, and content blocks while keeping everything visually coherent? If yes, that is real flexibility. If every change risks breaking the balance of the layout, the theme is probably less mature than it appears.
## Support is part of the product
Theme buyers often focus on the demo and overlook what happens after checkout. For [premium products](https://themex.studio/themes/), support is not an extra courtesy. It is part of what you are paying for.
A well-supported Ghost theme helps you solve the small but critical issues that affect launch quality: image behavior, navigation logic, homepage setup, membership flows, and light customization questions. Documentation should be clear enough for self-serve setup, but responsive human support is what turns a theme purchase into a smoother implementation.
This is especially valuable for non-technical operators. A founder, writer, or marketer may not need custom development, but they do need confidence that the theme will work as expected. When support is thoughtful and product-specific, setup friction drops quickly.
That is one reason curated theme studios often outperform large marketplaces. A focused product line usually means more deliberate quality control, clearer documentation, and better familiarity with real customer use cases.
## Common mistakes when comparing premium themes
The first mistake is buying for the homepage alone. Homepages matter, but your readers will spend more time on article pages, archives, search results, and signup flows. Those areas deserve equal attention.
The second mistake is overvaluing novelty. Distinctive design can be useful, but publishing sites need longevity. A theme that feels fresh today should still feel credible after a year of regular use. Highly stylized layouts sometimes age quickly or become harder to scale.
The third mistake is confusing complexity with sophistication. More animations, more panel options, and more layout variations do not automatically create a better publishing experience. Often they introduce inconsistency and maintenance overhead.
Another frequent issue is ignoring the default state. Many buyers assume they will customize everything later. Most do not, at least not right away. A premium theme should look strong with minimal adjustment. If the defaults are weak, the setup process becomes more work than expected.
## What to look for before you buy
When reviewing premium ghost themes, spend less time imagining endless possibilities and more time evaluating the actual publishing experience. Open the demo on desktop and mobile. Read a full post instead of skimming the homepage. Check how tags, authors, featured posts, and CTAs are presented. Notice whether the site feels calm and usable or busy and overdesigned.
It also helps to assess whether the product appears maintained with care. Clear release notes, current compatibility, strong documentation, and examples of thoughtful support are all useful signals. Premium should mean the product has been refined, not just packaged attractively.
If you are choosing for a business rather than a personal project, brand alignment becomes even more important. Ask whether the theme helps you appear more established without looking corporate or generic. For startups, creative studios, and niche publications, that balance is often where the best themes prove their value.
A studio like Themex Studio stands out when this balance is handled well: the themes feel editorial and polished, but they remain practical for creators who want to publish rather than wrestle with setup.
## Why the right theme pays off over time
A premium Ghost theme is rarely just a visual upgrade. It changes how confidently you present your work and how efficiently you maintain your site. Better structure leads to cleaner publishing. Better readability improves engagement. Better defaults reduce the temptation to keep redesigning instead of writing.
There is also a quieter benefit: consistency builds trust. When a publication feels composed across every page, readers assume the content is worth their attention. That may not show up as a single feature in a sales page, but it shapes how your brand is perceived.
The right choice usually feels less exciting than buyers expect. It is not the theme with the most effects or the loudest personality. It is the one that gives your content a strong frame, supports your workflow, and still feels considered after the launch rush fades. Pick the theme that makes publishing feel clearer, and your site will keep getting better every time you press publish.
### Ida Docs
URL: https://themex.studio/docs/ida-docs/
Last updated: 2026-06-28T13:42:01.000Z
##### On this page
Welcome to the Ida theme documentation. This guide will help you set up, customize, and make the most of your new Ghost theme.
For general questions about Ghost, visit the [Ghost Help Center](https://ghost.org/help/?ref=themex.studio).
---
## Introduction
Ida is a clean, editorial Ghost theme designed for minimal portfolios, profiles, and blogs. It offers flexible content management through Ghost's page and tag system, allowing you to create a dynamic homepage with multiple configurable sections.
### What you can do with Ida
- Create a stunning editorial homepage with multiple layout options
- Display featured posts, tag-based sections, and custom content
- Choose from 7 different post layouts for your articles
- Set up YouTube video and podcast sections
- Display testimonials, author showcases, and logo marquees
- Configure light/dark mode with 8 preset color schemes
---
## Getting started
### Quick start checklist
Here's what you need to do to get your site up and running:
1. Install and activate the Ida theme
2. Set up your site branding (logo, accent color)
3. Configure appearance settings (colors, light/dark mode)
4. Create your homepage sections
5. Customize your navigation
### Install theme
#### Upload zip file
To begin, **unzip** the downloaded package by double-clicking it on a Mac or by right-clicking and selecting "Extract All" on Windows.
Inside the new **Ida folder**, you will find the `ida.zip` theme file.
###### Step-by-step to upload the theme to your website
1. Log in to your Ghost website admin (example.com/ghost).
2. Click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to **Design & branding > Customize > Change theme**.
4. Click **Upload theme** and select the `ida.zip` theme file.
5. Once uploaded, click **Activate now** to activate the theme.
\[TK image: theme upload screen\]
> \[!note\] This theme does not require a routes.yaml file. All homepage sections are managed through Ghost pages and tags.
---
## General settings
### Colors and appearance
Ida offers extensive color customization through Ghost's design settings.
#### Accent color
The accent color is used throughout your site for buttons, links, and highlights.
###### Step-by-step to set accent color
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Brand**.
2. Click on **Accent color**.
3. Choose your preferred color using the color picker or enter a hex code.
4. Click **Save**.
#### Color combinations
Ida includes 8 preset color combinations that adjust your site's overall color scheme.
| Combination | Description |
| ----------- | --------------------------- |
| Default | Balanced, neutral tones |
| Pure | Clean black and white |
| Onyx | Dark, sophisticated palette |
| Rust | Warm, earthy tones |
| Fossil | Muted, natural colors |
| Mint | Fresh, cool greens |
| Ember | Warm orange accents |
| Ice | Cool blue tones |
###### Step-by-step to change color combination
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize**.
2. Find **Color combinations** in the theme settings.
3. Select your preferred combination from the dropdown.
4. Click **Save**.
### Light and dark mode
Control how your site handles light and dark appearances.
| Option | Description |
| ------ | ------------------------------------ |
| Light | Always use light mode |
| Dark | Always use dark mode |
| System | Match visitor's device preference |
| User | Let visitors choose their preference |
###### Step-by-step to set appearance mode
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize**.
2. Find **Appearance** in the theme settings.
3. Select your preferred option.
4. Click **Save**.
> \[!note\] When set to "User", visitors can toggle between modes using the theme switcher in your site's navigation.
### Alternate logo
Upload a secondary logo for use on dark backgrounds, such as hero sections with background images or the footer.
###### Step-by-step to add alternate logo
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize**.
2. Find **Alternate logo** in the theme settings.
3. Click **Upload** and select your light-colored logo image.
4. Click **Save**.
### Social links
Add your social media profiles to display icons in your site's footer.
###### Step-by-step to add social links
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize**.
2. Find **Social links** in the theme settings.
3. Enter your profile URLs separated by commas.
4. Click **Save**.
**Example:**
```
https://x.com/yourhandle, https://instagram.com/yourhandle, https://youtube.com/@yourchannel
```
The theme automatically detects the platform and displays the appropriate icon.
### Header navigation
The primary navigation appears in your site's header.
###### Step-by-step to add an item to header navigation
1. Go to **Settings > Navigation > Primary Navigation**.
2. Type the page's name in the label field as you'd like it to appear on your menu.
3. Click on the item's URL. The blog URL will already be auto-populated.
4. When satisfied with your page configurations, click the **Save** button.
You can create dropdown sub-menus in your Ghost site navigation to organize your content more effectively and improve site navigation.
###### Add dropdown menu
1. In your Ghost Admin panel, go to **Settings → Navigation**.
2. Add your main menu items normally.
3. To create submenu items, add them with a dash (-) prefix before the child item.
4. Arrange items in the order you want them to appear.
Example settings:
```
Home /
About /about
- Team /team
- Contact /contact
Blog /blog
```
Header profile displays Publication logo from **Settings → Design & branding → Brand → Publication logo**. If no logo is uploaded, the site title will display instead.
### Footer navigation
Like the header, you can add the footer navigation links from the Ghost Admin **Settings > Navigation > Secondary**.
To group footer items into different groups, add `#` before the name.
Footer navigation groups
Example configuration:
```
#Company
About Us /about
Careers /careers
#Legal
Privacy /privacy
Terms /terms
```
---
## Homepage
The Ida homepage is a dynamic, editorial layout with multiple configurable sections. Sections are created using Ghost pages with special internal tags, giving you complete control over what appears on your homepage.
### Hero section
The hero section displays your featured posts in an eye-catching layout at the top of your homepage.
#### Layout options
Ida offers two hero layouts:
**Layout 1** (default)
- Row 1: One large center post with two side posts
- Row 2: Four text-only posts
**Layout 2**
- Left column: Two posts (one with image, one text-only)
- Center: Primary featured post with large accent title
- Right column: Two posts (one with image, one text-only)
###### Step-by-step to change hero layout
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize**.
2. Find **Homepage hero layout** in the theme settings.
3. Select **Layout 1** or **Layout 2**.
4. Click **Save**.
#### Featured posts
Posts appear in the hero section when marked as "Featured" in Ghost.
###### Step-by-step to feature a post
1. Open the post you want to feature.
2. Click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) in the top right.
3. Toggle **Feature this post** to on.
4. Update the post.
### Latest stories section
This section automatically displays your 4 most recent posts in a grid layout below the hero. It shows post images, authors, and tags.
> \[!note\] This section appears automatically and doesn't require configuration.
### Dual feature section
Display two featured posts from a specific tag in a prominent layout.
###### Step-by-step to add dual feature section
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize**.
2. Find **Featured tags** in the homepage settings.
3. Enter the tag slug for the posts you want to feature.
4. Click **Save**.
**Example:** Enter `photography` to display posts tagged with "Photography".
### Primary tag sections
Create prominent sections for your main content categories. Each section displays:
- A hero row with the first featured post (text left, large image right)
- A secondary row with 4 additional text-only posts
###### Step-by-step to add primary tag sections
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize**.
2. Find **Primary tags** in the homepage settings.
3. Enter tag slugs separated by commas.
4. Click **Save**.
**Example:** `news, technology, culture` creates three primary sections.
### Secondary tag sections
Create additional content sections with a mixed layout:
- Row 1: Three posts with images (varying aspect ratios)
- Row 2: Four text-only posts
###### Step-by-step to add secondary tag sections
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize**.
2. Find **Secondary tags** in the homepage settings.
3. Enter tag slugs separated by commas.
4. Click **Save**.
### Custom homepage sections
Create unique sections on your homepage using Ghost pages with special internal tags. Sections are displayed in the order of their publish dates (oldest first).
#### How custom sections work
1. Create a Ghost **page** (not a post)
2. Add the appropriate `#section-*` tag
3. Optionally add a positioning tag
4. Publish the page
The page title becomes the section heading, and the content varies based on the section type.
### Logo carousel section
Display a horizontal scrolling marquee of logos—perfect for showcasing clients, partners, or brands.
###### Step-by-step to add logo carousel section
1. In Ghost admin, go to **Pages** and create a new page.
2. Give it a title (this becomes the section heading).
3. In the page content, add a **Gallery card** with your logo images.
4. Add `#section-logos` to the Tags field.
5. Publish the page.
> \[!note\] For best results, use logo images with transparent backgrounds and consistent heights.
### Static text section
Display custom text or HTML content in a highlighted section.
###### Step-by-step to add static text section
1. Create a new page.
2. Add your title.
3. Add your content using Ghost's editor (text, images, HTML cards, etc.).
4. Add `#section-static-text` to the Tags field.
5. Publish the page.
### Testimonials section
Display a grid of quotes or testimonials.
###### Step-by-step to add testimonials section
1. Create a new page.
2. Add a title for the section.
3. Add individual testimonial entries using the page content.
4. Add `#section-testimonials` to the Tags field.
5. Publish the page.
### Authors section
Showcase your site's authors with their profile images, bios, and post counts.
###### Step-by-step to add authors section
1. Create a new page.
2. Add a title (e.g., "Meet the team" or "Our writers").
3. Add `#section-authors` to the Tags field.
4. Publish the page.
> \[!note\] The section automatically pulls author information from Ghost. Make sure your authors have profile images and bios configured.
### Podcast section
Display your latest podcast episodes in a horizontal scrolling layout.
###### Step-by-step to add podcast section
1. Create a new page.
2. Add a title for the section.
3. Add `#section-podcast` to the Tags field.
4. Publish the page.
5. Set up the media proxy (see [Media proxy setup](#media-proxy-setup) section).
> \[!note\] This section requires the media proxy to be configured with your podcast RSS feed URL.
### YouTube section
Display your latest YouTube videos in a scrollable grid.
###### Step-by-step to add YouTube section
1. Create a new page.
2. Add a title for the section.
3. Add `#section-youtube` to the Tags field.
4. Publish the page.
5. Set up the media proxy (see [Media proxy setup](#media-proxy-setup) section).
> \[!note\] This section requires the media proxy to be configured with your YouTube channel ID.
### Members-only posts section
Display posts that are only visible to your members. You can filter by membership level using additional tags.
###### Step-by-step to add subscribers section
1. Create a new page.
2. Add a title for the section.
3. Add `#section-subscribers` to the Tags field.
4. Optionally add a filter tag (see table below).
5. Publish the page.
#### Filter by membership level
Control which member posts appear in the section:
| Tag | Shows posts visible to |
| --------------- | ------------------------------ |
| (no filter tag) | Signed-in Members only post |
| #paid | Paid members only |
| #tiers | Specific membership tiers only |
**Example:** A page with tags `#section-subscribers` and `#paid` displays only posts restricted to paid members.
### Section positioning
By default, custom sections appear at the top of the homepage, after the hero. Use positioning tags to control where sections appear.
| Tag | Position |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| (no tag) | Top of page, after hero |
| #middle | Between primary and secondary tag sections |
| #bottom | Bottom of page |
| #homepage-exclude | Section page exists but doesn't show on homepage |
###### Step-by-step to position a section
1. Open the page for your section.
2. Add the positioning tag alongside your section tag.
3. Update the page.
**Example:** A page with tags `#section-testimonials` and `#bottom` displays testimonials at the bottom of the homepage.
---
## Post templates
Ida offers seven distinct post layouts to showcase your content. You can set a default layout for all posts or choose a specific layout for individual posts.
### Default post layout
Set the default layout used for all new posts.
###### Step-by-step to set default post layout
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize**.
2. Find **Default post hero layout** in the post settings.
3. Select your preferred layout.
4. Click **Save**.
### Available layouts
#### No feature image
A clean, text-focused layout without any feature image. Ideal for essays, editorials, or posts where imagery isn't the focus.
#### Wide feature image
The feature image displays at content width above the post. A balanced layout that works well for most content types.
#### Full feature image
The feature image spans the full viewport width, creating a dramatic header. Best for high-quality, wide images.
#### Overlay feature image
Post title and metadata overlay the feature image with a gradient veil effect. Creates an immersive, magazine-style header.
#### Split layout
A side-by-side layout with the feature image on one side and post title/metadata on the other. Modern and distinctive.
#### Split reverse
Same as split layout but with the image and content positions reversed.
#### Solid hero
A full-width colored hero section using your accent color, without an image. Clean and bold.
### Choosing a layout for a specific post
###### Step-by-step to select post template
1. Open the post you want to customize.
2. Click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) in the top right.
3. Scroll down to **Template**.
4. Select your preferred layout from the dropdown.
5. Update the post.
### Common post features
All post templates include these features:
#### Visibility badges
Posts display badges indicating their access level:
- **Public** \- Available to everyone
- **Members** \- Available to free and paid members
- **Paid** \- Available to paid members only
- **Tier name** \- Available to specific membership tiers
#### Author byline
Display author information including profile image and name. You can toggle this off in theme settings.
###### Step-by-step to show/hide author byline
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize**.
2. Find **Show author** in the post settings.
3. Toggle on or off.
4. Click **Save**.
#### Related posts
Each post automatically displays up to 6 related posts from the same primary tag in a 3-column grid.
#### Comments
If Ghost's native comments are enabled, a comments section appears at the bottom of each post.
#### Social sharing
Posts include social sharing buttons for visitors to share your content.
#### Email signup box
Public posts display an email signup box encouraging visitors to subscribe. You can customize the heading and description.
###### Step-by-step to customize email signup box
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize**.
2. Find **Email signup heading** and **Email signup description** in the post settings.
3. Enter your custom text.
4. Click **Save**.
### Table of contents
You can add a table of contents (TOC) to any post for better navigation through long-form content. The TOC automatically generates from h2 and h3 headings in your post.
###### Step-by-step to add table of contents
1. Create a new post and write your post using h2 and h3 headings.
2. Right under the title, add an HTML card.
3. Insert the following code:
```html
```
1. Publish and review it.
> **Note:** The TOC will automatically populate with links to all h2 headings in your post. You can change the title "On this page" to any text you prefer.
Reuse Table of Content
You can easily save the Table of Contents snippet and reuse it in other posts in Ghost. Simply give it a name (for example, TOC). Next time, you can simply type /TOC, and the snippet will appear, allowing you to insert it into the post to create a perfect Table of Contents.
#### Customizing TOC heading levels
By default, the table of contents displays only h2\. If you want to show only specific heading levels (for example, show both h2 and h3 headings), you can customize this using Code Injection.
###### Step-by-step to customize TOC headings
1. Go to **Settings > Code injection** in Ghost Admin
2. Add the following code to the **Site Header** section:
```html
```
1. Modify the `headingSelector` value to match your needs:
- `'h2'` \- Only h2 headings
- `'h2, h3'` \- Both h2 and h3 headings (default)
- `'h2, h3, h4'` \- h2, h3, and h4 headings
2. Click **Save**
That's it! You only need to specify the setting you want to change. The theme will automatically merge your custom configuration with the default settings.
> **Note:** This code must be added to the **Site Header** section (not Site Footer) so it loads before the theme's TOC initialization script.
---
## Page templates
### Standard page
The default page template uses the same hero layout options as posts. Configure the layout per-page using the template selector.
### Authors listing page
Display all site authors in a grid layout.
###### Step-by-step to create authors page
1. Create a new page.
2. Give it a title (e.g., "Authors" or "Our team").
3. Click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ).
4. Under **Template**, select **Zpage Authors**.
5. Publish the page.
The page displays:
- First 4 authors in a 3-column grid (larger cards)
- Remaining authors in a 4-column grid (smaller cards)
Each author card shows their profile image, name, bio, and post count.
### Timeline page
Display posts in a vertical timeline format, perfect for portfolios, project showcases, or chronological content.
###### Step-by-Step to Create Full Content Timeline Page:
1. Go to **Pages** in Ghost admin
2. Click **New page**
3. Add a title for your timeline (e.g., "Project Journey" or "Development Log")
4. (Optional) Add introductory content in the page editor—this appears above the timeline
5. (Optional) Add a feature image
6. In the **Page settings** sidebar (click the settings icon), find the **Template** dropdown
7. Select **Zpage Timeline** from the template options
8. In the **Twitter description** field, enter the tag slug for content you want to display (e.g., `project-alpha`)
9. (Optional) To show pages instead of posts as content, add the `#source-pages` tag to your page
10. Publish
Example of timeline page using pages as content instead of posts
### Timeline minimal page
A cleaner version of the timeline without feature images. Ideal for text-focused content.
###### Step-by-Step to Create Full Content Timeline Page:
1. Go to **Pages** in Ghost admin
2. Click **New page**
3. Add a title for your timeline (e.g., "Project Journey" or "Development Log")
4. (Optional) Add introductory content in the page editor—this appears above the timeline
5. (Optional) Add a feature image
6. In the **Page settings** sidebar (click the settings icon), find the **Template** dropdown
7. Select **Zpage Timeline Minimal** from the template options
8. In the **Twitter description** field, enter the tag slug for content you want to display (e.g., `project-alpha`)
9. (Optional) To show pages instead of posts as content, add the `#source-pages` tag to your page
10. Publish
### Tag pages
When visitors click a tag, they see a dedicated tag page with:
- Tag name as the heading
- Tag description (if configured)
- Optional feature image with hero overlay
- 3-column grid of posts with that tag
- "Load more" pagination
### Author pages
Individual author pages display:
- Author name and location
- Bio and social links
- Profile image
- 3-column grid of their posts
### Error page
A styled 404 error page displays when visitors reach a page that doesn't exist.
---
## Media proxy setup
Display YouTube videos and podcast episodes on your site using a Cloudflare Worker proxy.
### Why a proxy is needed
Browsers block direct requests to YouTube and podcast feeds from other websites (called CORS restrictions). The Cloudflare Worker fetches the content on your behalf, allowing it to display on your Ghost site.
### Prerequisites
Before starting, you'll need:
- A **Cloudflare account** (free tier works)
- A **YouTube API key** from Google Cloud Console (for YouTube content)
- Your **YouTube channel ID** (starts with `UC`)
- Your **podcast RSS feed URL** (for podcast episodes)
### Setting up the Cloudflare Worker
#### Create a new worker
###### Step-by-step
1. Log in to your [Cloudflare dashboard](https://dash.cloudflare.com/?ref=themex.studio).
2. Click **Compute > Workers & Pages** in the left sidebar.
3. Click **Create application**.
4. Select **Start with Hello World**.
5. Give your worker a name (e.g., `media-proxy`).
6. Click **Deploy** to create the worker.
#### Add the worker code
###### Step-by-step
1. After deploying, click **Edit code**.
2. Delete all the default code in the editor.
3. Copy the contents of the `cloudflare-media-proxy-worker.js` file from the theme's `scripts` folder.
4. Paste it into the Cloudflare editor.
5. Click **Deploy**.
#### Add your YouTube API key
###### Step-by-step
1. Go to your Worker's **Settings** tab.
2. Click **Variables and Secrets**.
3. Under **Environment Variables**, click **Add**.
4. Set the variable name to: `YOUTUBE_API_KEY`
5. Paste your YouTube API key as the value.
6. Click **Save**.
#### Note your worker URL
Your Worker URL looks like:
```
https://media-proxy.your-account.workers.dev
```
You'll need this URL when configuring Ghost.
### Getting a YouTube API key
#### Create a Google Cloud project
###### Step-by-step
1. Go to the [Google Cloud Console](https://console.cloud.google.com/?ref=themex.studio).
2. Click the project dropdown at the top of the page.
3. Click **New Project**.
4. Enter a project name (e.g., "My Ghost Site").
5. Click **Create**.
#### Enable the YouTube Data API
###### Step-by-step
1. In your new project, go to **APIs & Services > Library**.
2. Search for "YouTube Data API v3".
3. Click on it, then click **Enable**.
#### Create an API key
###### Step-by-step
1. Go to **APIs & Services > Credentials**.
2. Click **Create Credentials > API Key**.
3. Copy the generated API key.
4. Click **Close**.
> \[!note\] For better security, restrict your API key to only the YouTube Data API v3 in the key's settings.
### Finding your YouTube channel ID
Your YouTube channel ID is a unique identifier that starts with `UC` and is 24 characters long.
###### Step-by-step to find your channel ID
1. Go to your YouTube channel page.
2. Look at the URL in your browser's address bar.
3. If your URL looks like `youtube.com/channel/UCxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx`, the `UCxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx` part is your channel ID.
4. If your URL uses a custom handle (like `youtube.com/@username`), click on any of your videos, then click your channel name to get the `/channel/UC...` URL.
**Example valid channel ID:** `UCBcRF18a7Qf58cCRy5xuWwQ`
> \[!note\] Common mistakes: Using your channel handle (@username), using a playlist ID (starts with PL), or using an incomplete ID.
### Finding your podcast RSS feed URL
Your podcast RSS feed URL is needed to display episodes on your site.
###### Step-by-step
1. Log in to your podcast hosting platform (e.g., RSS.com, Anchor, Buzzsprout, Libsyn).
2. Go to your podcast's **Settings** or **Distribution** section.
3. Look for **RSS Feed**, **RSS Feed URL**, or **Podcast Feed**.
4. Copy the full URL.
The RSS feed URL typically looks like:
- `https://media.rss.com/yourpodcast/feed.xml`
- `https://anchor.fm/s/xxxxxxxx/podcast/rss`
- `https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/xxxxxxx.rss`
> \[!note\] If you can't find your RSS feed URL, search your podcast host's help documentation for "RSS feed" or contact their support.
### Configuring Ghost
Add the following code to your Ghost site's code injection.
###### Step-by-step
1. Go to **Settings > Code injection**.
2. In the **Site Header** section, paste your configuration code.
3. Click **Save**.
#### For YouTube videos only
```html
```
#### For YouTube Shorts
```html
```
#### For podcast episodes only
```html
```
#### For both YouTube and podcast
```html
```
### Configuration reference
| Variable | Required | Description |
| ---------------------- | ------------ | -------------------------------- |
| MEDIA\_WORKER\_URL | Yes | Your Cloudflare Worker URL |
| YOUTUBE\_CHANNEL\_ID | For YouTube | Your channel ID (starts with UC) |
| YOUTUBE\_CONTENT\_TYPE | No | 'shorts' (default) or 'videos' |
| PODCAST\_FEED\_SOURCE | For podcasts | Your podcast RSS feed URL |
### Troubleshooting
#### YouTube videos not appearing
**"YOUTUBE\_API\_KEY environment variable not configured"**
- Add the API key to your Cloudflare Worker under Settings > Variables and Secrets.
**"Invalid YouTube channel ID"**
- Your channel ID must start with `UC` and be 24 characters long.
**"YouTube API returned 403"**
- Check that YouTube Data API v3 is enabled in Google Cloud Console.
- If you restricted the key, ensure YouTube Data API v3 is allowed.
**No videos appearing but no error**
- Your channel may not have public videos.
- Try switching `YOUTUBE_CONTENT_TYPE` between `'videos'` and `'shorts'`.
#### Podcast episodes not appearing
**"Feed returned 404"**
- Double-check your podcast RSS feed URL is correct.
- Test the feed URL directly in your browser.
**Missing episode artwork**
- Some podcast feeds don't include episode artwork.
- The theme uses channel artwork as a fallback.
#### Testing your worker directly
Test your Worker by visiting these URLs in your browser:
**Test YouTube:**
```
https://your-worker.workers.dev/?youtube=UCxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&type=videos
```
**Test podcast:**
```
https://your-worker.workers.dev/?feed=https://your-podcast-feed-url
```
If working correctly, you should see content. If there's an error, you'll see a JSON error message.
#### Still having issues?
1. Open your browser's Developer Tools (F12).
2. Go to the Console tab.
3. Reload your page.
4. Look for error messages starting with "YouTube" or "Podcast".
---
## Advanced settings
### Code injection
Add custom code to your site without editing theme files.
###### Step-by-step to add code injection
1. Go to **Settings > Code injection**.
2. Add code to **Site Header** (for CSS/JS that loads on every page).
3. Add code to **Site Footer** (for JS that runs after page load).
4. Click **Save**.
### Custom fonts
Replace the default fonts with your own choice.
###### Step-by-step to add custom fonts
1. Go to **Settings > Code injection**.
2. In **Site Header**, add your font import and CSS:
```html
```
1. Click **Save**.
### Hiding sections
Remove sections from the homepage without deleting the content.
###### Step-by-step to hide a section
1. Open the page for your section.
2. Add `#hash-homepage-exclude` to the Tags field.
3. Update the page.
The section page still exists and can be accessed directly, but it won't appear on the homepage.
### Translation and localization
Ida supports Ghost's translation system for multilingual sites.
###### Step-by-step to translate theme text
1. In your theme files, locate the `locales` folder.
2. Copy `en.json` and rename it to your language code (e.g., `es.json` for Spanish).
3. Translate the text strings in the new file.
4. Upload the modified theme to Ghost.
For more information on translations, see [Ghost's localization documentation](https://ghost.org/docs/themes/helpers/translate/?ref=themex.studio).
---
## Image sizes
Ida uses responsive images with these breakpoints:
| Size | Width |
| ---- | ----------------------- |
| xs | 50px (blur placeholder) |
| s | 400px |
| m | 750px |
| l | 960px |
| xl | 1140px |
| xxl | 1920px |
Ghost automatically generates these sizes when you upload images. The theme serves the appropriate size based on the visitor's screen.
---
## Need help?
If you have questions about your Ida theme:
1. Check this documentation for your answer
2. Visit the [Ghost Help Center](https://ghost.org/help/?ref=themex.studio) for general Ghost questions
3. Contact theme support for Ida-specific issues
### ida-features
URL: https://themex.studio/ida-features/
Last updated: 2026-04-10T04:04:18.000Z
2 editorial homepage hero layouts
8 customizable color schemes
7 flexible post layout templates
Tag-based homepage sections
Podcast & YouTube embed sections
Progressive blur image loading
Built-in dark & light mode
Full Ghost membership support
### Ida
URL: https://themex.studio/ida/
Last updated: 2026-05-15T02:34:39.000Z
### Fixed Book template counter
URL: https://themex.studio/fixed-book-template-counter/
Last updated: 2026-03-20T03:44:27.000Z
- Fixed book page total count display. No more stuck at 100 counter (Ghost's default)
### Performance and iOS Safari fixes
URL: https://themex.studio/performance-and-ios-safari-fixes/
Last updated: 2026-03-02T07:51:09.000Z
- Cleaned up dominant color extraction code, eliminating external CDN dependency for faster page loads and improved reliability
- Fixed iOS Safari status bar color sampling issue with Liquid Glass
- Fixed table of contents script loading for cleaner initialization
- Fixed header z-index layering issue when announcement bar is active
### Translations and member UX polish
URL: https://themex.studio/translations-and-member-ux-polish/
Last updated: 2026-02-27T07:41:35.000Z
- Added "Other Topics" and "Member discussion" translations to all 7 supported languages (English, German, Spanish, French, Japanese, Dutch, Chinese)
- Hide sidebar subscription box for logged-in members to reduce redundant signup prompts
### Blur-load images, pagination and performance
URL: https://themex.studio/blur-load-images-pagination-and-performance/
Last updated: 2026-02-27T05:29:21.000Z
- Added progressive blur-to-sharp image loading for faster site perception and smoother visual experience
- Added pagination to the [books template](https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/#books-page) for browsing large collections (more than 100+ posts)
- Optimized code structure for better speed performance
### aifiles.co
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/aifiles-co/
Last updated: 2026-02-27T02:34:46.000Z
_No content available._
### flowstep.ai
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/flowstep-ai/
Last updated: 2026-02-27T02:33:37.000Z
_No content available._
### new.morsecom.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/new-morsecom-com/
Last updated: 2026-02-27T02:32:53.000Z
_No content available._
### jodiecook.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/jodiecook-com/
Last updated: 2026-02-13T03:55:14.000Z
_No content available._
### monopol.mindklok.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/monopol-mindklok-com/
Last updated: 2026-02-13T03:54:06.000Z
_No content available._
### jimlaczkowski.net
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/jimlaczkowski-net/
Last updated: 2026-02-13T03:53:17.000Z
_No content available._
### paintbycode.blog
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/paintbycode-blog/
Last updated: 2026-02-13T03:52:10.000Z
_No content available._
### aioperatordaily.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/aioperatordaily-com/
Last updated: 2026-02-13T03:50:48.000Z
_No content available._
### filipvault.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/filipvault-com/
Last updated: 2026-02-13T03:49:25.000Z
_No content available._
### gameplayarts.org
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/gameplayarts-org/
Last updated: 2026-02-13T03:47:01.000Z
_No content available._
### julirodriguez.pro
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/julirodriguez-pro/
Last updated: 2026-02-13T03:45:52.000Z
_No content available._
### hellomidlands.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/hellomidlands-com/
Last updated: 2026-02-13T03:44:52.000Z
_No content available._
### yovko.net
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/yovko-net/
Last updated: 2026-02-13T03:44:03.000Z
_No content available._
### emmabolton.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/emmabolton-com/
Last updated: 2026-02-13T03:43:28.000Z
_No content available._
### citrano.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/citrano-com/
Last updated: 2026-02-13T03:42:40.000Z
_No content available._
### futureethics.ai
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/futureethics-ai/
Last updated: 2026-02-13T03:41:22.000Z
_No content available._
### history.mn
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/history-mn/
Last updated: 2026-02-13T03:34:25.000Z
_No content available._
### Hero images, sidebar toggle, and content flexibility
URL: https://themex.studio/hero-images-sidebar-toggle-and-content-flexibility/
Last updated: 2026-02-09T08:32:07.000Z
- Added support for featured images in custom hero sections
- Added gallery content source setting to choose between Posts or Pages for homepage gallery
- Added toggle to hide or show homepage right sidebar through Ghost admin settings
- Added support for using posts as content source in homepage sections alongside pages
- Added `#no-link` tag support to prevent cards from displaying clickable links
- Improved gallery to use pages instead of posts with better responsive sizing
- Fixed hero rotation animation, testimonial styling, and split card layout issues
### Aalto Docs
URL: https://themex.studio/docs/aalto-docs/
Last updated: 2026-07-05T15:35:21.000Z
##### On this page
## Introduction
Aalto gives editorial teams the infrastructure to build trusted publications on work, lifestyle, and mental health—with the design depth and content curation readers expect from serious journalism.
Since this is a Ghost theme documentation, you are assumed to have a basic knowledge of the Ghost CMS. If you're starting with Ghost, it is best to see the guides in the official [Ghost Help Center](https://ghost.org/help/?ref=themex.studio) – check this out, and you'll have all the available information.
Aalto theme homepage overview
---
## Getting started
### Welcome
Aalto is built on a simple philosophy: serious content deserves serious presentation. This theme gives editorial teams the structure of a professional publication with the flexibility to make it distinctly yours. With customizable homepage sections, multiple post layouts, and extensive theme options, you have everything you need to create a trusted publication.
### Quick start
Here's a quick overview of the key tasks to set up your Aalto theme:
1. Upload and activate the theme
2. Customize the homepage hero section
3. Configure featured posts
4. Add homepage sections (logos, testimonials, authors, etc.)
5. Set up topics/categories navigation
6. Customize colors and appearance
7. Configure post settings
### Install theme
#### Upload zip file
To begin, **unzip** the downloaded package by double-clicking it on a Mac or by right-clicking and selecting "Extract All" on Windows.
Inside the new **Aalto folder**, you will find the Aalto.zip theme file.
###### Step-by-step to upload the theme to your website
1. Log in to your Ghost website admin (example.com/ghost).
2. Click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to **Design & branding > Theme > Change theme**.
4. Click **Upload theme** and select the Aalto.zip theme file.
5. Once uploaded, click **Activate now** to activate the theme.
---
## General settings
### Colors
The theme supports changing the accent color and offers different preset color combinations.
#### Set accent color
The accent color is the primary color used throughout your publication theme in buttons, links, and other interactive elements. You can change the theme accent color from the Ghost admin.
Change the accent color from the admin **Settings > Design & branding > Customize > Brand > Accent color**.
#### Preset color combinations
Color combination options
The theme provides 8 different color combinations. Choose the one that fits your style:
- **Default** \- Classic and versatile color scheme
- **Pure** \- Clean, minimalist black and white
- **Onyx** \- Deep, sophisticated dark tones
- **Rust** \- Warm, earthy palette
- **Fossil** \- Natural, muted tones
- **Mint** \- Fresh, cool greens
- **Ember** \- Warm, energetic oranges
- **Ice** \- Cool, crisp blues
###### Step-by-step to choose your preferred color combination
1. Go to the admin **Settings > Design & branding > Customize > Theme**.
2. Click on **Color combinations** and select your color combination.
3. Preview and Save.
### Light / dark mode
You can easily switch between light, dark, system, or user-defined modes directly from your Ghost admin panel.
Light and dark mode settings
The theme supports:
- **Light** \- Always display light mode
- **Dark** \- Always display dark mode
- **System** \- Automatically match the user's operating system preference
- **User** \- Allow users to toggle between light and dark mode with their preference saved
###### Step-by-step to customize
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme** from the admin menu.
2. Choose a preferred mode by clicking on **Appearance**.
3. Click **Save**.
> **Note:** When set to "User", a theme toggle button appears in the header allowing visitors to switch between light and dark modes. Their preference is saved locally.
### Typography
Ghost provides built-in custom font functionality, allowing users to select heading and body fonts from a curated list directly in the admin interface.
###### Step-by-step to change fonts
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize > Brand**.
2. Under **Typography**, select:
- **Title font** for headings
- **Body font** for main text
3. Click **Save**.
#### Host your own fonts
You can change any font from the Ghost admin interface using Code Injection and Google Fonts, or your own font. For example, if you want to use "EB Garamond" fonts from Google Fonts, your code in Code Injection will be:
```html
```
### Header navigation
###### Step-by-step to add an item to header navigation
1. Go to **Settings > Navigation > Primary Navigation**.
2. Type the page's name in the label field as you'd like it to appear on your menu.
3. Click on the item's URL. The blog URL will already be auto-populated.
4. When satisfied with your page configurations, click the **Save** button.
You can create dropdown sub-menus in your Ghost site navigation to organize your content more effectively and improve site navigation.
###### Add dropdown menu
1. In your Ghost Admin panel, go to **Settings → Navigation**.
2. Add your main menu items normally.
3. To create submenu items, add them with a dash (-) prefix before the child item.
4. Arrange items in the order you want them to appear.
Example settings:
```
Home /
About /about
- Team /team
- Contact /contact
Blog /blog
```
Header profile displays Publication logo from **Settings → Design & branding → Brand → Publication logo**. If no logo is uploaded, the site title will display instead.
### Header call-to-action button
You can add your own CTA text and link in the header. If you leave it empty, the button will be hidden.
Header call-to-action button
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme**.
2. Scroll to **Header action text**:
- Add the text to **Header action text**. Leave it empty if you want to hide it.
- Add link to **Header action link**.
3. Click **Save**.
Example configurations:
- Contact button:
- Text: "Contact Us"
- Link: "/contact"
- External link:
- Text: "Get Started"
- Link: "https://example.com/start"
### Category navigation
The category navigation is a horizontal scrollable bar that appears below the main header on your homepage and tag pages. It helps visitors quickly browse content by topic.
#### Default behavior
By default, the category navigation displays:
- An "All Articles" link to your homepage
- Up to 13 of your most popular public tags (sorted by post count)
#### Customizing with your own tags
You can replace the automatic popular tags with your own curated list of tags.
###### Step-by-step to customize category navigation
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize > Theme**.
2. Scroll to the **Homepage** section.
3. Find the **Category navigation** field.
4. Enter the tag slugs you want to display, separated by commas.
- Example: `design,technology,lifestyle,tutorials`
5. Click **Save**.
> **Tip:** To find a tag's slug, go to **Tags** in Ghost admin, click on the tag, and copy the text in the **Slug** field.
The final settings should look like the following:
Settings > Design & branding > Customize > Theme > Category navigation
---
### White logo on dark mode
If you use a black logo image and enable dark mode, you would need your logo visible when users enable dark mode.
You can use Code injection and insert this CSS to support different logo color on light/dark mode:
```html
```
### Footer navigation
Like the header, you can add the footer navigation links from the Ghost Admin **Settings > Navigation > Secondary**.
To group footer items into different groups, add `#` before the name.
Footer navigation groups
Example configuration:
```
#Company
About Us /about
Careers /careers
#Legal
Privacy /privacy
Terms /terms
```
### Social links
The Aalto theme includes a comprehensive global social links system that automatically detects and displays social media icons from URLs you provide. The social links appear in the hero section (when enabled) and in the footer.
Simply paste the full URL to your profile on any supported platform. The theme will automatically detect the platform and display the correct icon.
#### Supported platforms
The theme automatically recognizes and displays icons for many platforms, including:
- **Social media:** Instagram, Threads, Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, Mastodon, Pinterest
- **Professional:** GitHub, Dribbble, Behance, Medium
- **Media:** YouTube, Vimeo, Spotify
- **Communication:** Email, WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord
###### Step-by-step to add social links
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme**.
2. Find the **Social links** field in the theme settings.
3. Add your social media profile URLs separated by commas.
4. Example: `https://twitter.com/yourusername, https://instagram.com/yourusername, https://github.com/yourusername`
5. Click **Save**.
#### Display locations
Social links appear in two locations:
1. **Hero section** \- When you select "Social links" in the Hero actions dropdown (Settings > Theme > Homepage > Hero actions)
2. **Footer** \- Social links always appear in the footer
#### Adding special link types
**Email links:**
- Add `mailto:your@email.com` or just `your@email.com`
- The theme will automatically display an email icon
**Phone links:**
- Add `tel:+1234567890` or just `+1234567890`
- The theme will automatically display a phone icon
---
## Homepage
### Homepage overview
The Aalto theme homepage is designed for flexibility and easy customization. You can build a dynamic homepage using Ghost's built-in features, managing sections directly from the Ghost admin interface—no coding required!
The homepage consists of several key sections:
1. **Hero section** \- Introduction with site title/description and optional actions
2. **Featured posts** \- Highlighted content in a grid layout
3. **Custom sections** \- Tag-based landing sections (logos, testimonials, custom posts, authors, static content)
4. **Topics** \- Category/tag-based navigation section
5. **Latest posts** \- Recent articles feed with pagination
All sections are fully customizable through the Ghost admin panel.
### Hero section
The hero section is the first thing visitors see on your homepage. It displays a customizable heading and description that you can set directly in your theme settings.
###### Step-by-step to customize hero content
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Homepage**.
2. Find the **Hero heading** field and enter your main hero title.
3. Find the **Hero description** field and enter your supporting text.
4. Click **Save**.
> **Note:** Both the heading and description fields support HTML formatting. You can use tags like ``, ``, or ` ` for text formatting if needed.
### Hero actions
Choose to show social links, subscription box, or nothing below the hero content.
- Hero section with social links
- Hero section with subscription form
###### Step-by-step to set hero action
1. Log in to your Ghost Admin dashboard.
2. Go to **Settings → Site → Design & branding → Customize**.
3. Go to **Theme** tab and find the **Homepage** section.
4. Locate the **Hero actions** dropdown, select the option you want:
- **Social links:** Display your global social links configured in theme settings
- **Subscription form:** Display the subscription box
- **None:** No action shown
5. Save and refresh the homepage.
> **Note:** To configure which social links appear, see the [Social links](#social-links) section in General settings.
### Featured posts section
The featured posts section displays up to 6 featured posts at the top of your homepage in a 3-column grid layout.
###### Step-by-step to configure featured posts
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Homepage**.
2. Find **Featured posts title** and enter a title for the section (e.g., "Featured posts" or "Editor's picks").
3. Click **Save**.
> **Tip:** Leave the **Featured posts title** empty to hide this section entirely from the homepage.
###### How to mark a post as featured
1. Go to **Posts** in Ghost admin.
2. Click on the post you want to feature.
3. Click the settings icon (⚙️) in the top right.
4. Toggle **Feature this post** to ON.
5. Update the post.
### Topics section
The topics section displays a grid of tag cards, allowing visitors to explore your content by category.
###### Step-by-step to set up topics section
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Homepage**.
2. Find **Topics title** and enter a title (e.g., "Topics" or "Categories").
3. Find **Topics slugs** and enter tag slugs separated by commas.
4. Example: `design,technology,lifestyle,health`
5. Click **Save**.
> **Tip:** To find the exact tag slug, go to **Tags** in the Ghost admin, click on the tag name, then copy the text in the **Slug** field.
### Latest posts section
The latest posts section displays your most recent blog posts in a grid layout with pagination.
###### Step-by-step to customize latest posts section
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Homepage**.
2. Find **Home feed title** and enter a title (e.g., "Latest posts" or "Recent articles").
3. Click **Save**.
#### Feed image orientation
Control the aspect ratio of post card images throughout your site.
###### Step-by-step to set image orientation
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Homepage**.
2. Find **Feed image orientation**.
3. Select your preferred option:
- **Landscape** \- Horizontal rectangular images
- **Square** \- Equal width and height
- **Portrait** \- Vertical rectangular images
- **Free** \- Original aspect ratio maintained
4. Click **Save**.
> **Note:** This setting applies to post cards throughout the site, including homepage, tag pages, and related posts.
### Custom homepage sections
Aalto uses a powerful tag-based section system to create dynamic homepage layouts. Each section is created as a Ghost page with a special internal tag (starting with `#section-`). These sections automatically appear on your homepage in the order they were published.
**Key concepts:**
- Sections are Ghost pages with special internal tags
- Sections appear in chronological order (by publish date)
- Use `#bottom` tag to position a section at the bottom of the homepage
- Use `#homepage-exclude` tag to hide a section from the homepage
- Use `#no-title` tag to hide the section title
**Available section types:**
| Section | Tag | Description |
| -------------- | ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| Logo wall | #section-logos | Display partner/client logos in a marquee |
| Testimonials | #section-testimonials | Customer testimonials and reviews |
| Authors | #section-authors | Grid of site authors |
| Custom posts | #section-custom-posts | Display posts filtered by tag |
| Static text | #section-static-text | Custom text content |
| Static banner | #section-static-banner | Full-width banner content |
| Custom content | #section-custom-content | Raw HTML/custom content |
### Logo wall section
Display partner logos, client logos, or featured brands in an auto-scrolling marquee.
###### Step-by-step to add logo wall section on homepage
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the homepage.
3. Upload all logos you want to show on the homepage as images in the page content.
- **Important:** Don't add any line breaks above, between, or after the images. It will create odd alignment.
4. In the Page Setting sidebar, add a tag named: `#section-logos` (with `#` symbol).
5. Publish and check your homepage.
The final page content should look like the following:
> **Tip:** If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag to the page.
### Testimonials section
Display testimonials from your users, clients, or partners.
###### Step-by-step to add testimonial section on homepage
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the homepage.
3. Add `#section-testimonials` (with `#` symbol) to the Tags field.
4. In the page content, add a new Product card. You can find this card by clicking on the + icon on the left side of the editor or by typing `/product` in the editor, then select the **Product** option.
5. On the product card, fill in the details:
- **Title** \- The testimonial main text (the quote)
- **Description** \- Person's name and job title
- **Image** \- Profile picture
- **Stars** \- Rating (1-5 stars)
6. Add more Product cards to add more testimonials.
7. Publish.
The final page content should look like the following:
### Authors section
Display your site's authors and contributors in a professional grid layout. Each author card shows their profile photo, name, bio, and post count.
Authors section
###### Step-by-step to add authors section on homepage
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be the section title on the homepage (e.g., "Our Writers" or "Contributors").
3. Add `#section-authors` to the Tags input.
4. (Optional) To create a dedicated Authors page, select **Zpage Authors** in **Page settings > Template**.
5. Publish.
The section will automatically display the top 4 authors on your site, sorted by post count (authors with the most posts appear first).
> **Note:** If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag to the page.
### Custom posts section
Display a curated collection of posts filtered by a specific tag on your homepage.
###### Step-by-step to add custom posts section on homepage
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be the section title on the homepage.
3. Add `#section-custom-posts` to the Tags input.
4. In **Page settings**, find the **Twitter description** field, enter the tag slug for posts you want to display (e.g., `featured` or `editors-picks`).
5. (Optional) To create a dedicated page for this content, select **Zpage Collection** in **Page settings > Template**.
6. Publish.
The final page settings should look like the following:
On the homepage, the section displays up to 6 posts. On dedicated pages using the Collection template, it displays all matching posts.
### Static text section
The static text section is useful for adding custom text on the homepage, such as your services, working principles, or values.
###### Step-by-step to add static text section on homepage
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the homepage.
3. Add `#section-static-text` (with `#` symbol) to the Tags field.
4. In the page content, add a new Product card. You can find this card by clicking on the + icon on the left side of the editor or by typing `/product` in the editor, then select the **Product** option.
5. On the product card, fill in the title, description, image, and link (optional).
6. Add more Product cards to add more static text cards.
7. Publish.
> **Tip:** If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag.
If you want to create multiple sections using Static text, create a new page and repeat the same steps above.
### Static banner section
Similar to the static text section, the static banner section displays custom formatted content on the homepage. Use this for important banners, callouts, or announcements.
###### Step-by-step to add static banner section on homepage
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the homepage.
3. Add `#section-static-banner` to the Tags field.
4. In the page content, add your banner content using text, images, HTML cards, or other elements.
5. Add more content blocks as needed for your banner layout.
6. Publish.
> **Tip:** If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag.
### Custom content section
This section allows you to display any custom content of a specific page on the homepage. Use this for adding rich formatted content, HTML, or any special content blocks.
###### Step-by-step to add custom content section on homepage
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title; this title won't be shown on the homepage.
3. Add your custom content in the page editor (text, images, galleries, HTML cards, etc.).
4. Add `#section-custom-content` to the Tags input.
5. Publish.
The entire content of this page will be rendered as a section on the homepage, giving you complete flexibility to add any type of content.
### Positioning sections at the bottom
By default, homepage sections appear above the latest posts feed. To position a section at the bottom of the homepage (after the latest posts), add the `#bottom` tag.
###### Step-by-step to position section at bottom
1. Create your section page as normal (e.g., with `#section-testimonials`).
2. In the page settings, add the `#bottom` tag along with your section tag.
3. Publish the page.
4. The section will now appear at the bottom of the homepage.
### Excluding sections from homepage
Sometimes you want to create a section page but not display it on the homepage. The `#homepage-exclude` tag allows you to do exactly that.
###### Step-by-step to exclude a section from homepage
1. Create your section page as normal (e.g., with `#section-addons`).
2. In the page settings, add the `#homepage-exclude` tag along with your section tag.
3. Publish the page.
4. The section will not appear on the homepage but can be accessed via its page URL.
### Hiding section titles
By default, each homepage section displays its page title as the section heading. You can hide these titles using the `#no-title` tag for a cleaner, more minimal look.
###### Step-by-step to hide section title
1. Create your section page as normal.
2. Add the `#no-title` tag to the page (along with your section tag).
3. Publish the page.
4. The section content will appear without the title heading.
### Section background colors
Each homepage section can have a custom background color by using tag accent colors. This creates visual separation between sections.
###### Step-by-step to add section background color
1. Go to **Tags** in Ghost admin.
2. Find the tag you're using in your section's page.
3. Click on the tag to edit it.
4. Set the **Accent color** for that tag.
5. Save the tag.
6. The section on your homepage will automatically display with that background color.
### Reordering sections
Sections appear on the homepage in the order they were published (oldest first). To change the order:
1. Go to **Pages** in Ghost admin.
2. Find the section page you want to reorder.
3. Click the settings icon (⚙️).
4. Change the **Publish date** to control the order.
5. Earlier dates = appear first on homepage.
---
## Post templates
The theme provides different post layout options to showcase your content in unique ways.
### Available post templates
1. **Default** \- Standard post layout with feature image
2. **No feature image** \- Clean text-focused layout without feature image
3. **Wide feature image** \- Feature image spanning content width
4. **Full feature image** \- Feature image spanning full viewport width
### Choosing layout for individual posts
To choose which template to use when you publish a specific post:
1. In the post editor page, click the settings icon (⚙️) in the top right corner to open the **Post settings**.
2. Find the **Template** selector and choose the style you want for your post.
3. Publish or update your post.
### Post page options
The theme supports additional post customizations to control what appears on post pages.
###### Step-by-step to customize post options
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Post**.
2. Toggle options:
- **Show author** \- Display author card with bio
- **Use dropcap** \- Enable decorative first letter styling
3. Click **Save**.
### Table of contents
You can add a table of contents (TOC) to any post for better navigation through long-form content. The TOC automatically generates from h2 and h3 headings in your post.
###### Step-by-step to add table of contents
1. Create a new post and write your post using h2 and h3 headings.
2. Right under the title, add an HTML card.
3. Insert the following code:
```html
```
1. Publish and review it.
> **Note:** The TOC will automatically populate with links to all h2 headings in your post. You can change the title "On this page" to any text you prefer.
Reuse Table of Content
You can easily save the Table of Contents snippet and reuse it in other posts in Ghost. Simply give it a name (for example, TOC). Next time, you can simply type /TOC, and the snippet will appear, allowing you to insert it into the post to create a perfect Table of Contents.
#### Customizing TOC heading levels
By default, the table of contents displays only h2\. If you want to show only specific heading levels (for example, show both h2 and h3 headings), you can customize this using Code Injection.
###### Step-by-step to customize TOC headings
1. Go to **Settings > Code injection** in Ghost Admin
2. Add the following code to the **Site Header** section:
```html
```
1. Modify the `headingSelector` value to match your needs:
- `'h2'` \- Only h2 headings
- `'h2, h3'` \- Both h2 and h3 headings (default)
- `'h2, h3, h4'` \- h2, h3, and h4 headings
2. Click **Save**
That's it! You only need to specify the setting you want to change. The theme will automatically merge your custom configuration with the default settings.
> **Note:** This code must be added to the **Site Header** section (not Site Footer) so it loads before the theme's TOC initialization script.
### Email signup text
Customize the email subscription box that appears at the bottom of posts.
###### Step-by-step to customize email signup
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Post**.
2. Edit the following fields:
- **Email signup text** \- Main heading (default: "Subscribe to my newsletter")
- **Email signup description** \- Supporting text
3. Click **Save**.
---
## Other templates
### Individual tag pages
Each tag has its own page showing all posts with that tag.
###### Step-by-step to customize tag information
1. Go to **Tags** in Ghost admin.
2. Click on the tag you want to edit.
3. Add or edit:
- Tag name
- Tag description
- Tag image
- Accent color
4. Click **Save**.
### Authors page template
Create a dedicated page to showcase all your site's authors and contributors using the Authors page template.
###### Step-by-step to create authors page
1. Go to **Pages** in Ghost admin.
2. Click **New page**.
3. Add a title (e.g., "Our Authors" or "Contributors").
4. (Optional) Add a feature image.
5. In the **Page settings** sidebar (click the settings icon), find the **Template** dropdown.
6. Select **Zpage Authors** from the template options.
7. Publish.
### Individual author pages
Each author has their own page showing their profile and posts.
###### Step-by-step to customize author information
1. Go to **Settings > Staff** in Ghost admin.
2. Click on the author you want to edit.
3. Add or edit:
- Profile photo
- Name
- Bio
- Location
- Website
- Social media links
4. Click **Save**.
### Collection page template
Create curated collection pages that display posts filtered by specific tags. This template is perfect for creating topic-based collections or featured content galleries.
###### Step-by-step to create collection page
1. Go to **Pages** in Ghost admin.
2. Click **New page**.
3. Add a title for your collection (e.g., "Featured Articles" or "Design Resources").
4. (Optional) Add introductory content in the page editor—this appears above the filtered posts.
5. (Optional) Add a feature image.
6. In the **Page settings** sidebar, find the **Template** dropdown.
7. Select **Zpage Collection** from the template options.
8. In the **Twitter description** field, enter the tag slug(s) you want to filter posts by.
- Single tag: `design`
- Multiple tags: `design+technology`
9. Publish.
### Timeline templates
The Enjin theme includes two specialized timeline templates for displaying content in chronological order. These templates are perfect for journey documentation, timeline, history, or any content where chronological presentation matters.
#### Timeline (full content) template
The full content timeline template displays posts or pages in expanded format, showing the complete content of each entry. This creates an immersive, story-like reading experience perfect for project logs, series, or detailed journeys.
**Use cases for full content timeline:**
- Project development logs showing progress over time
- Tutorial series where each step builds on the previous
- Journey documentation (travel blogs, learning journeys)
- Company history or milestone timeline
- Portfolio showcases with detailed case studies
- Behind-the-scenes content series
###### Step-by-Step to Create Full Content Timeline Page:
1. Go to **Pages** in Ghost admin
2. Click **New page**
3. Add a title for your timeline (e.g., "Project Journey" or "Development Log")
4. (Optional) Add introductory content in the page editor—this appears above the timeline
5. (Optional) Add a feature image
6. In the **Page settings** sidebar (click the settings icon), find the **Template** dropdown
7. Select **Zpage Timeline** from the template options
8. In the **Twitter description** field, enter the tag slug for content you want to display (e.g., `project-alpha`)
9. (Optional) To show pages instead of posts, add the `#source-pages` tag to your page
10. Publish
**Twitter description examples:**
- Single tag: `project-updates` \- Shows all posts tagged with "project-updates"
- Multiple tags: `development,frontend` \- Shows posts with BOTH tags
> **Note:** The timeline template shows posts by default. Add the `#source-pages` tag to your timeline page to show pages instead.
#### Timeline minimal template
The minimal timeline template displays a compact list view showing only titles, dates, and brief excerpts. This creates a clean, scannable overview perfect for changelogs, resumes, or long lists of entries.
**Use cases for minimal timeline:**
- Changelog or version history
- Resume or CV (work history, education)
- Life events or personal milestones
- Publication archive
- Company news timeline
- Quick reference lists
###### Step-by-Step to Create Minimal Timeline Page:
1. Go to **Pages** in Ghost admin
2. Click **New page**
3. Add a title for your timeline (e.g., "Changelog" or "Work History")
4. (Optional) Add introductory content in the page editor
5. (Optional) Add a feature image
6. In the **Page settings** sidebar, find the **Template** dropdown
7. Select **Zpage Timeline Minimal** from the template options
8. In the **Twitter description** field, enter the tag slug for content you want to display
9. (Optional) Add the `#source-pages` tag to show pages instead of posts
10. Publish
---
## Custom settings
### Posts per page
By default, the homepage and other listing pages display a maximum of 12 posts per page, but you can change this number.
###### Step-by-step to change posts per page
1. Download your theme from Ghost admin (**Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Advanced > Download**).
2. Unzip the theme folder.
3. Open `package.json` in a text editor.
4. Find this section:
```json
"config": {
"posts_per_page": 12
}
```
1. Change `12` to your preferred number (e.g., `9`, `15`, `18`).
2. Save the file.
3. Re-zip the theme folder.
4. Upload and activate the theme in Ghost admin.
> **Tip:** Choose numbers that divide evenly into your grid layout. For a 3-column grid, use multiples of 3 (6, 9, 12, 15).
### Google analytics
To integrate Google Analytics, I recommend using the [Google Analytics](https://ghost.org/integrations/google/?ref=themex.studio) integration by Ghost.
### Comments
The theme comes with [Ghost Native Comments](https://ghost.org/changelog/native-comments/?ref=themex.studio) integration.
###### Step-by-step to enable comments
1. Go to **Settings > Membership > Access**.
2. Click **Edit** next to your membership settings.
3. Find the **Commenting** section.
4. Choose who can comment:
- All members
- Paid members only
- Nobody (disable comments)
5. Click **Save**.
Comments will appear at the bottom of post pages when enabled.
### Syntax highlighting
You can add a fenced code block by placing triple backticks before and after the code block.
#### Highlighted code block
To highlight a code block, add a language alias like `css` or `js` after the opening backticks. For example:
```css
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
#### Prism.js
The theme ships with [Prism.js](https://prismjs.com/?ref=themex.studio), a lightweight, robust, and elegant syntax highlighter.
You can add support for more languages by adding the Prism autoloader script:
###### Step-by-step to enable autoloader
1. Go to **Settings > Code injection**.
2. Add the following script to the **Site Footer** section:
```html
```
1. Click **Save**.
### Responsive tables
The responsive table will display a horizontal scroll bar if the screen is too small to display the full content.
###### Step-by-step to add responsive table
1. In your post or page editor, add a **Markdown card**.
2. Add the markdown to create a table. To generate a table, you can use the tool [Markdown Tables Generator](https://www.tablesgenerator.com/markdown%5Ftables?ref=themex.studio).
3. Publish your post or page.
### Languages
The theme is fully translatable by enabling a publication language in the settings of the Ghost Admin.
###### Step-by-step to add translation
1. Inside the `../locales/` folder, add target language files for each translatable language used on your site. For example, `fr.json` is for French, and `pl.json` is for Polish.
2. Translate the sentences used in the theme inside your new language files.
3. Upload the theme with the new language file.
4. Go to the **General** settings in the Ghost Admin.
5. At the top of the page, you'll see the **Publication info** section.
6. Enter the correct language code into your **Publication language** settings menu.
7. Click **Save** to activate.
> **Note:** If you edited the active language, you must restart Ghost to make the changes effective.
---
## Advanced settings
### Editing a theme's code
To edit theme files, you will need to unzip the theme archive – at this point, you will have access to the necessary files.
###### Step-by-step to edit theme files
1. To edit your theme files, download a copy of the theme. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Advanced > Download**.
2. Unzip the theme locally.
3. Edit files using a code editor like [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/?ref=themex.studio) or [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/?ref=themex.studio).
4. After changing the theme code, re-zip the theme directory.
5. Upload the modified theme via **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Upload theme**.
6. Click **Activate** to activate the theme.
### Code injection
Code injection is a powerful feature for customization without editing theme files directly.
###### Example: Change title color and size
1. Go to **Settings > Code injection**.
2. Add this code to the **Site Header** section:
```html
```
1. Click **Save**.
Check out [How to use Code Injection](https://ghost.org/tutorials/use-code-injection-in-ghost/?ref=themex.studio) Ghost guide for more information.
### Theme deploy with GitHub Actions
Aalto can be integrated with the [Deploy Ghost Theme](https://github.com/marketplace/actions/deploy-ghost-theme?ref=themex.studio) GitHub action for automatic deployment.
This allows you to:
- Edit theme files locally
- Push changes to GitHub
- Automatically deploy to your Ghost site
- Version control your theme customizations
---
## Conclusion
Congratulations on setting up your Aalto theme! We hope this documentation has been helpful in getting you started with creating a beautiful and functional publication.
Aalto is designed to give editorial teams the infrastructure to build trusted publications with the design depth and content curation readers expect from serious journalism. With its customizable homepage sections, multiple post layouts, and extensive customization options, you have everything you need to create a professional online presence.
If you need additional support or have questions, please visit [Themex Studio](https://themex.studio/) or consult the [Ghost Help Center](https://ghost.org/help/?ref=themex.studio).
### Archive year labels and French translation
URL: https://themex.studio/archive-year-labels-and-french-translation/
Last updated: 2026-02-02T04:06:46.000Z
- Fixed archive page year labels not displaying correctly for years before 2015 and after 2025
- Updated French translation with complete localization for all UI strings including subscription, pagination, and access labels
### 🚀 Launching Aalto
URL: https://themex.studio/launching-aalto/
Last updated: 2026-07-05T15:22:32.000Z
The exclusive Ghost theme built for startup teams who need to publish without friction.
### How to update your Ghost theme without losing customizations
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-update-your-ghost-theme-without-losing-customizations/
Last updated: 2026-01-22T02:50:51.000Z
You've customized your Ghost theme to make it perfect for your site. Now there's a new version available with bug fixes and features you want—but you're worried about losing all your hard work.
This is one of the most common challenges Ghost theme users face. The good news? You can have both your customizations and the latest updates.
**What you'll learn:**
- Why theme updates overwrite your changes
- How to identify every customization you've made
- A step-by-step method to merge your changes into the new version
- How to avoid this problem in the future
## Why updating themes breaks customizations
When you edit theme files directly and then upload a new version, Ghost replaces those files entirely. Your customizations disappear because they were never separated from the original theme code.
The solution is to identify exactly what you changed, then carefully reapply those changes to the new version.
## The compare folders method
The easiest way to see your customizations is to compare your modified theme against the original using VS Code's Compare Folders extension. This free tool shows you exactly what changed, line by line.
### What you'll need
- **VS Code** — A free code editor ([download here](https://code.visualstudio.com/?ref=themex.studio))
- **Compare Folders extension** — A free VS Code extension
- **The original theme** — The exact version you started with before making changes
- **Your customized theme** — The theme files you've been editing
### Step 1: Install the Compare Folders extension
Open VS Code, click the Extensions icon in the sidebar (it looks like four squares), and search for "Compare Folders." Install [Compare Folders by MoshFeu](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=moshfeu.compare-folders&ref=themex.studio).
### Step 2: Download the original theme version
Download the exact version of the theme you initially installed. This is your baseline for comparison.
**Not sure which version you have?** Open the `package.json` file in your customized theme folder and look for the `"version"` line. Then download that same version from where you originally purchased or downloaded the theme.
### Step 3: Set up your folders
1. Unzip the original theme file
2. Rename the folder to something clear like `theme-original`
3. Make sure your customized theme is in a separate folder
You should now have two folders on your computer:
- `theme-original` — The untouched original theme
- `theme-customized` — Your current theme with all your changes
### Step 4: Compare the folders
1. In VS Code, click the Compare Folders icon in the left sidebar
2. Click "Select folders to compare"
3. Select your `theme-original` folder first
4. Then select your `theme-customized` folder
The extension will analyze both folders and show you the differences.
0:00
/0:15
1×
### Step 5: Review and document your changes
The extension highlights exactly which files are different and shows the specific lines you changed.
**Common places where customizations live:**
- **CSS files** — Colors, fonts, spacing, layouts
- **Template files (.hbs)** — Page structure and HTML
- **JavaScript files** — Interactive features and functionality
Take note of each change you find. You'll need to reapply these to the new theme version.
### Step 6: Apply your changes to the new theme
1. Download the new theme version
2. Unzip it to a new folder
3. Open the new theme files in VS Code
4. Carefully copy your customizations from the comparison into the new theme files
5. If your theme uses a build process, [compile the theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-apply-css-changes-in-your-ghost-theme/) before zipping
### Step 7: Upload to Ghost with the correct filename
**This step is critical.** Name your zip file exactly the same as your original theme.
Ghost links your Design & branding settings to the theme's filename. If your original theme was `theme.zip` and you upload `theme-v2.zip`, Ghost treats it as a completely different theme—and all your Design & branding settings will reset to defaults.
### Step 8: Test everything
Check every page where you made customizations:
- Homepage layout
- Post pages
- Navigation menus
- Any custom features you added
Make sure everything looks and works correctly before considering the update complete.
## Avoid this problem in the future
Next time you want to customize your theme, consider using Ghost's **code injection** feature instead of editing theme files directly.
Code injection lets you add custom CSS and JavaScript without touching theme files. Your customizations stay separate from the theme, so updates become painless—just upload the new version and your changes remain intact.
To access code injection, go to **Settings → Code injection** in your Ghost admin panel.
### Mobile menu and category grid fixes
URL: https://themex.studio/mobile-menu-and-category-grid-fixes/
Last updated: 2026-01-07T06:42:08.000Z
- Fixed mobile navigation menu items being hidden on mobile devices
- Enhanced category grid with blur-to-clear image loading
### Image loading and mobile menu fixes
URL: https://themex.studio/image-loading-and-mobile-menu-fixes/
Last updated: 2026-01-07T06:37:32.000Z
- Added progressive blur loading for images to improve perceived performance and visual polish
- Fixed mobile navigation menu items being hidden on mobile devices
- Improved hero section scroll animations and optimized performance
### Aalto
URL: https://themex.studio/aalto/
Last updated: 2026-02-27T05:36:30.000Z
### Image loading and grid interaction
URL: https://themex.studio/image-loading-and-grid-interaction/
Last updated: 2026-01-02T14:24:54.000Z
- Added progressive blur-to-clear image loading, improving perceived performance
- Enhanced category grid interaction with hover intent detection to prevent accidental triggers and flickering when moving between items
- Improved dropdown menu behavior with cleaner code and more reliable state handling
- Fixed navigation menu flickering on page load
- Improved dark mode text readability by brightening text color opacity from 70% to 75%
- Refined blockquote styling for cleaner visual presentation
- Fixed header z-index layering issue
- Fixed missing post count display in category navigation
### Performance and project cards
URL: https://themex.studio/performance-and-project-cards/
Last updated: 2025-12-26T06:51:01.000Z
- Improved page load performance by switching from CDN-hosted libraries to local assets for Prism.js and Tocbot
- Optimized table of contents initialization to only load on post and page templates when needed
- Added support for small square thumbnail images in side project cards with rounded borders
- Added support for external project links that open in new tabs with proper security attributes
### Preset background images
URL: https://themex.studio/preset-background-images/
Last updated: 2025-12-24T03:30:32.000Z
- Added link in theme settings to download preset background images for Enjin
- Extended background color support to additional homepage sections for more flexible styling options
### Enjin Backgrounds
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/enjin-bg/
Last updated: 2025-12-23T04:23:47.000Z
Add a stunning visual background to your Enjin Ghost theme hero section to create a more impactful first impression.
_This post is for subscribers only._
### 🚀 Launching Enjin
URL: https://themex.studio/launching-enjin/
Last updated: 2025-12-24T02:51:49.000Z
Initial release of Enjin theme, the exclusive Ghost theme built for startup teams who need to publish without friction.
###### Features:
- Progressive blur depth effects
- Instant category filter (no reload)
- 12+ preset background
- 6 flexible post layout templates
- Timeline pages for changelogs
- Collection pages for resources
- Built-in dark & light mode
- Full Ghost membership support
### poetowl.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/poetowl-com/
Last updated: 2025-12-18T04:55:39.000Z
_No content available._
### Enjin Docs
URL: https://themex.studio/docs/enjin-docs/
Last updated: 2026-06-11T14:49:47.000Z
##### On this page
### Introduction
The theme's core concept is for content-first creators who want to build a subscriber-based publication around deep, research-driven content in arts, culture, history, tech, lifestyle. This is a solid, professional theme with strong editorial design, strong visual hierarchy. This is also a highly customizable Ghost theme.
Since this is a Ghost theme documentation, you are assumed to have a basic knowledge of the Ghost CMS. If you're starting with Ghost, it is best to see the guides in the official [Ghost Help Center](https://ghost.org/help/?ref=themex.studio) – check this out, and you'll have all the available information.
---
## Getting started
### Welcome
Enjin is built on a simple philosophy: your content deserves to be presented like it matters. This theme gives you the structure of a professional magazine with the flexibility to make it unmistakably yours. Change colors, swap fonts, adjust imagery—the foundation remains solid: organized, readable, and designed to build an audience.
### Install theme
#### Upload zip file
To begin, **unzip** the downloaded package by double-clicking it on a Mac or by right-clicking and selecting "Extract All" on Windows.
Inside the new **Enjin folder**, you will find the Enjin.zip theme files.
###### Step-by-Step to Upload the Theme to Your Website
1. Log in to your Ghost website admin (example.com/ghost).
2. Click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to **Design & branding > Theme > Change theme**.
4. Click **Upload theme** and select the Enjin.zip theme file.
5. Once uploaded, click **Activate now** to activate the theme.
---
## General settings
### Colors
The theme supports changing the Accent color and offers different color combinations.
#### Set accent color
The Accent color is the primary color used throughout your publication theme in buttons, social sharing hovers, links, and other interactive elements. You can change the theme Accent color from the Ghost admin.
Change the Accent color from the admin **Settings > Design & Branding > Customize > Brand > Accent color**.
#### Preset color combinations
The theme provides 8 different color combinations. Choose the one that fits your style:
- **Default** \- Classic and versatile color scheme
- **Pure** \- Clean, minimalist black and white
- **Onyx** \- Deep, sophisticated dark tones
- **Rust** \- Warm, earthy palette
- **Fossil** \- Natural, muted tones
- **Mint** \- Fresh, cool greens
- **Ember** \- Warm, energetic oranges
- **Ice** \- Cool, crisp blues
###### Step-by-Step to Choose Your Preferred Color Combination:
1. Go to the admin **Settings > Design & Branding > Customize > Theme**.
2. Click on **Color combinations** and select your color combination.
3. Preview and Save.
!\[TK: Color combination options\]
### Light / dark mode
You can easily switch between light, dark, system, or user-defined modes directly from your Ghost admin panel.
The theme supports:
- **Light** \- Always display light mode
- **Dark** \- Always display dark mode
- **System** \- Automatically match the user's operating system preference
- **User defined** \- Allow users to toggle between light and dark mode with their preference saved
###### Step-by-Step to Customize
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme** from the admin menu
2. Choose a preferred mode by clicking on **Appearance**
3. Click **Save**
!\[TK: Light/dark mode settings\]
> **Note:** When set to "User defined", a theme toggle button appears in the header allowing visitors to switch between light and dark modes. Their preference is saved locally.
### Typography
Depending on the selected option, this setting will change the heading and body text fonts.
#### Custom fonts
Ghost provides built-in custom font functionality, allowing users to select heading and body fonts from a curated list directly in the admin interface.
###### Step-by-Step to Change Fonts:
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize > Brand**
2. Under **Typography**, select:
- **Title font** for headings
- **Body font** for main text
3. Click **Save**
!\[TK: Typography settings\]
#### Host your own fonts
You can change any font from the Ghost admin interface using Code Injection and Google Fonts, or your own font. For example, if you want to use "EB Garamond" fonts from Google Fonts, your code in Code Injection will be:
```html
```
You can also use your custom local font by including it in your theme with a code editor. This technique is more advanced but allows you to add 'your own' fonts.
[Check out the detailed guide to add your own fonts](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-add-your-own-custom-fonts-to-ghost-theme/)
### Header navigation
###### Step-by-Step to Add an Item to Header Navigation:
1. Go to **Settings > Navigation > Primary Navigation**.
2. Type the page's name in the label field as you'd like it to appear on your menu.
3. Click on the item's URL. The blog URL will already be auto-populated.
4. When satisfied with your page configurations, click the **Save** button.
### Navigation dropdown menus
You can create dropdown sub-menus in your Ghost site navigation to organize your content more effectively and improve site navigation. This feature helps visitors quickly find specific pages under broader categories.
Follow these steps to set up dropdown navigation menus:
1. In your Ghost Admin panel, go to **Settings → Navigation**
2. Add your main menu items normally
3. To create submenu items, add them with a dash (-) prefix before the child item
4. Arrange items in the order you want them to appear
Example Settings:
```
Home /
About /about
- Team /team
- Contact /contact
Blog /blog
```
### Header logo
Header profile displays Publication logo from **Settings → Design & branding → Brand → Publication logo**. If no logo is uploaded, the site title will display instead.
### Header call-to-action button
You can add your own CTA text and link in the header. If you leave it empty, the button will be hidden.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Header CTA:
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme**
2. Scroll to **Header action text**:
- Add the text to **Header action text**. Leave it empty if you want to hide it.
- Add link to **Header action link**
3. Click **Save**
Example configurations:
- Contact button:
- Text: "Contact Us"
- Link: "/contact"
- External link:
- Text: "Get Started"
- Link: "https://example.com/start"
### White logo on dark mode
If you use a black logo image and enable dark mode, you would need your logo visible when users enable dark mode.
You can use Code injection and insert this CSS to support different logo color on light/dark mode
```html
```
### Footer
Like the header, you can add the footer navigation links from the Ghost Admin **Settings > Navigation > Secondary**
To group footer items into different groups, add `#` before the name.
Example configuration:
```
#Company
About Us /about
Careers /careers
#Legal
Privacy /privacy
Terms /terms
```
### Footer social links
The Enjin theme includes a comprehensive global social links system that automatically detects and displays social media icons from URLs you provide. The social links appear in the hero section (when enabled) and in the footer, providing consistent social presence across your site.
Simply paste the full URL to your profile on any supported platform. The theme will automatically detect the platform and display the correct icon. No need to specify the platform name or icon.
#### Supported platforms
The theme automatically recognizes and displays icons for 40 platforms, including:
**Social media:** Instagram, Threads, Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, Mastodon, Pinterest, Reddit, Snapchat, WeChat
**Professional:** GitHub, Dribbble, Behance, Medium, Stack Overflow, CodePen
**Media:** YouTube, Vimeo, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Twitch
**Communication:** Email, Phone, WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack
**Business:** Etsy, Amazon, Ko-fi, Patreon, Trustpilot, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Maps
**And more...** The system automatically detects the platform from your URL and displays the appropriate icon.
###### Step-by-step to add social links
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme**
2. Find the **Social links** field in the theme settings
3. Add your social media profile URLs separated by commas
4. Example: `https://twitter.com/yourusername, https://instagram.com/yourusername, https://github.com/yourusername`
5. Click **Save**
#### Display locations
Social links appear in two locations:
1. **Hero section** \- When you select "Social links" in the Hero actions dropdown (Settings > Theme > Homepage > Hero actions)
2. **Footer** \- Social links always appear in the footer alongside your traditional Ghost social links (Facebook, Twitter)
#### Adding special link types
**Email links:**
- Add `mailto:your@email.com` or just `your@email.com`
- The theme will automatically display an email icon
**Phone links:**
- Add `tel:+1234567890` or just `+1234567890`
- The theme will automatically display a phone icon
**Custom URLs:**
- For platforms not automatically recognized, add the URL anyway
- The theme may display a generic link icon or skip unsupported platforms
---
## Homepage
### Homepage overview
The Enjin theme homepage is designed for flexibility and easy customization. You can build a dynamic homepage using Ghost's built-in features, managing sections directly from the Ghost admin interface—no coding required!
The homepage consists of several key sections:
1. **Hero Section** \- Introduction with site title/description or custom content
2. **Featured Posts** \- Highlighted content with auto-generated color backgrounds
3. **Latest Posts** \- Recent articles feed
4. **Category Navigation** \- Tag-based navigation bar for content exploration
5. **Tag-based Posts Sections** \- Curated collections grouped by topic tags (configured via theme settings)
6. **Posts by Category** \- Tag-filtered content sections (configured via pages)
7. **Additional Sections** \- Logos, testimonials, authors, static text, custom content
All sections are fully customizable through the Ghost admin panel.
### Hero section
The hero section is the first thing visitors see on your homepage. It displays a customizable heading and description that you can set directly in your theme settings.
###### Step-by-step to customize hero content
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Homepage**
2. Find the **Hero heading** field and enter your main hero title
3. Find the **Hero description** field and enter your supporting text
4. Click **Save**
> **Note:** Both the heading and description fields support HTML formatting. You can use tags like ``, ``, or ` ` for text formatting if needed.
### Hero background image
Add a stunning visual background to your hero section to create a more impactful first impression. The hero background image feature lets you upload a custom image that spans the full width of the hero section.
The theme comes with a set of beautiful, minimal and text-ready background to use. You can download it from here:
[Enjin BackgroundsAdd a stunning visual background to your Enjin Ghost theme hero section to create a more impactful first impression.Themex StudioTrong Themex](https://themex.studio/guides/enjin-bg/)
###### Step-by-step to add hero background image
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Homepage**
2. Find the **Hero background image** option
3. Click **Upload** and select your background image
4. The image will automatically be displayed at responsive sizes (up to 1920px wide)
5. Click **Save**
> **Tip:** For best results, use high-quality images with at least 1920px width. Images with subtle patterns or soft gradients work well as backgrounds.
#### Black hero text option
When you use a hero background image, you might find that your hero text isn't easy to read depending on the image's colors. The black hero text option allows you to change the hero text color to black for better readability on light-colored background images.
###### Step-by-step to enable black hero text
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Homepage**
2. Find the **Black hero text** toggle
3. Enable it by switching the toggle to ON
4. Click **Save**
> **Note:** This option only works when you have a hero background image set. Use this when your background image is light-colored and the default white text is hard to read.
### Hero actions
Choose to show social links, subscription box, or nothing below the hero content.
###### Step-by-step to set hero action
1. Log in to your Ghost Admin dashboard.
2. Go to **Settings** → **Site** → **Design & branding** → **Customize**
3. Go to **Theme** tab and find the **Homepage** section.
4. Locate the **Hero actions** dropdown, select the option you want:
- **Social links:** Display your global social links configured in theme settings (see [Social links](#social-links) section)
- **Subscription form:** Display the subscription box
- **None:** No action shown
5. Save and refresh the homepage
> **Note:** To configure which social links appear, see the [Social links](#social-links) section in General settings. The social links system supports 40+ platforms and automatically detects icons from URLs.
### Featured posts section
The featured posts section displays prominent content at the top of your homepage with multiple display options. You can showcase a single featured post, multiple featured posts in a grid, or even featured pages.
Enjin offers five options for the featured posts section:
1. **One featured post** \- Display a single large featured post card
2. **Multiple featured posts** \- Show multiple featured posts in a compact grid (first post expanded, others collapsed)
3. **Multiple featured posts (all expanded)** \- Show multiple featured posts with all cards fully expanded
4. **Featured pages** \- Display featured pages instead of posts (useful for portfolios, case studies, or static content)
5. **None** \- Hide the featured section completely
###### Step-by-step to configure featured posts
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Homepage**
2. Find **Define type of featured posts** dropdown
3. Select your preferred option:
- **One featured post** \- Displays one large featured post with full details
- **Multiple featured posts** \- Shows a grid with the first post expanded and others as smaller cards
- **Multiple featured posts (all expanded)** \- Shows all featured posts as large expanded cards
- **Featured pages** \- Shows pages marked as featured instead of posts
- **None** \- Hides the featured section entirely
4. Click **Save**
###### How to mark content as featured
**For posts:**
1. Go to **Posts** in Ghost admin
2. Click on the post you want to feature
3. Click the settings icon (⚙️) in the top right
4. Toggle **Feature this post** to ON
5. Update the post
**For pages:**
1. Go to **Pages** in Ghost admin
2. Click on the page you want to feature
3. Click the settings icon (⚙️) in the top right
4. Toggle **Feature this page** to ON
5. Update the page
> **Tip:** Use "One featured post" for a bold, magazine-style homepage. Use "Multiple featured posts" for a more dynamic layout with several highlights. Choose "Featured pages" when you want to showcase portfolio work, case studies, or evergreen content instead of blog posts.
### Tag navigation bar
The tag filter navigation system is one of Enjin's most powerful features for content discovery. It displays a horizontal navigation bar with your chosen tags, allowing visitors to filter and explore posts by topic without leaving the homepage.
The tag filter navigation is JavaScript-powered and provides a smooth, fast filtering experience with:
- Dynamic post loading without page refresh
- Smooth scroll navigation for long tag lists
- Skeleton loading states for visual feedback
- "View all" button for filtered tag archives
- Automatic tag selection or custom tag curation
#### Setting up tag filter navigation
You have two options for configuring which tags appear in the navigation bar:
**Option 1: Automatic selection (default)**
- Leave the tag settings empty
- The theme automatically displays your top 8 tags by post count
- Perfect for getting started quickly
**Option 2: Custom tag selection (recommended)**
- Manually select which tags to display
- Control the order of tags
- Better for curated content experiences
###### Step-by-step to customize tag filter navigation
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Homepage**
2. Find **Home category bar tags** field
3. Enter tag slugs separated by commas (no spaces)
4. Example: `ai-trends,engineering,design,product,marketing`
5. Click **Save**
> **Tip:** To find the exact tag slug, go to **Tags** in the Ghost admin, click on the tag name, then copy the text in the **Slug** field. The slug is the URL-friendly version of your tag name (e.g., "AI Trends" becomes "ai-trends").
### All articles posts
The All articles section displays your most recent blog posts in a grid layout with pagination. This is typically the main content area of your homepage, showing your newest published content.
The latest posts section includes:
- Grid layout with your recent posts
- Automatic pagination for older posts
- Integration with tag filter navigation
#### Feed image orientation
Control the aspect ratio of post card images throughout your site.
###### Step-by-Step to Set Image Orientation
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Homepage**
2. Find **Feed image orientation**
3. Select your preferred option:
- **Landscape** \- Horizontal rectangular images
- **Square** \- Equal width and height
- **Portrait** \- Vertical rectangular images
- **Free** \- Original aspect ratio maintained
4. Click **Save**
> **Note:** This setting applies to post cards throughout the site, including homepage, blog page, tag pages, and related posts.
#### Customizing posts per page
By default, the homepage displays 12 posts per page. You can change this number by editing your theme's `package.json` file.
###### Step-by-step to change posts per page
1. Download your theme from Ghost admin (**Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Advanced > Download**)
2. Unzip the theme folder
3. Open `package.json` in a text editor
4. Find this section:
```json
"config": {
"posts_per_page": 12
}
```
1. Change `12` to your preferred number (e.g., `9`, `15`, `18`)
2. Save the file
3. Re-zip the theme folder
4. Upload and activate the theme in Ghost admin
> **Tip:** Choose numbers that divide evenly into your grid layout. For a 3-column grid, use multiples of 3 (6, 9, 12, 15). For a 2-column grid, use even numbers (6, 8, 10, 12).
> **Note:** The posts per page setting affects pagination throughout your site, including tag pages, author pages, and the blog page.
### Logo wall section
Sometimes you want to show some kind of social proof, and a logo board can help achieve that. Display partner logos, client logos, or featured brands.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Logo Wall
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the homepage.
3. Upload all logos you want to show on the homepage as images in the page content.
- **Important:** Don't add any line breaks above, between, or after the images. It will create odd alignment.
4. In the Page Setting sidebar, add a tag named: `#section-logos`. (with `#` symbol)
5. Publish and check your homepage.
> **Tip:** If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag to the page.
### Testimonials section
Display testimonials from your users, clients, or partners in a rotating slider format.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Testimonial Section
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the Homepage.
3. Add `#section-testimonials` (with `#` symbol) to the Tags field.
4. In the page content, add a new Product card. You can find this card by clicking on the + icon on the left side of the editor or by typing `/product` in the editor, then select the **Product** option.
5. On the product card, fill in the details:
- **Title** \- The testimonial main text
- **Description** \- Person's name and job title
- **Image** \- Profile picture
- **Stars** \- Rating (1-5 stars)
6. Add more Product cards to add more testimonials.
7. Publish.
### Static text section
The static text section is useful for adding custom text on the homepage, such as your services, working principles, or values.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Static Text Section
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the Homepage.
3. Add `#section-static-text` (with `#` symbol) to the Tags field.
4. In the page content, add a new Product card. You can find this card by clicking on the + icon on the left side of the editor or by typing `/product` in the editor, then select the **Product** option.
5. On the product card, fill in the title, description, image, and link (optional).
6. Add more Product cards to add more static text cards.
7. Publish.
> **Tip:** If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag.
If you want to create multiple sections using Static text, create a new page and repeat the same steps above.
### Static banner section
Similar to the static text section, the static banner section displays custom formatted content on the homepage. Use this for important banners, callouts, or announcements.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Static Banner Section
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the homepage.
3. Add `#section-static-banner` to the Tags field.
4. In the page content, add your banner content using text, images, HTML cards, or other elements.
5. Add more content blocks as needed for your banner layout.
6. Publish.
> **Tip:** If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag.
If you want to create multiple banner sections, create a new page and repeat the same steps above.
### Add-ons section
Display resource cards, tools, or add-ons in a 3-column grid layout. This section is perfect for showcasing supplementary resources or plugins.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Add-ons Section
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the homepage (e.g., "Resources" or "Tools").
3. Add `#section-addons` to the Tags field.
4. In the **Twitter description** field, enter the tag slug for posts or pages you want to display (e.g., `resources`).
- Leave empty to show no items
5. Add the tag `#source-pages` if you want to filter pages, or leave it to filter posts (default)
6. (Optional) To add a separate page for this content, select **ZPage Collection** in **Page settings / Template**
7. Publish.
> **Note:** If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag to the page.
On the homepage, the section displays up to 3 items. On dedicated pages, it displays all matching items.
### Authors section
Display your site's authors and contributors in a professional grid layout. Each author card shows their profile photo, name, bio, and post count.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Authors Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be the section title on the homepage (e.g., "Our Writers" or "Contributors").
3. Add `#section-authors` to the Tags input.
4. (Optional) To add a Authors page, select **ZPage Authors** in **Page settings / Template**
5. Publish.
The section will automatically display the top 4 authors on your site, sorted by post count (authors with the most posts appear first).
> **Note:** If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag to the page.
### Tag-based posts sections
Display multiple curated collections of posts grouped by topic tags directly on your homepage. Unlike page-based sections, this feature allows you to create tag-filtered post sections simply by entering tag slugs in your theme settings—no page creation required.
This feature is perfect for:
- Showcasing content from multiple topics or categories
- Highlighting posts from specific subject areas
- Building topic-based content hubs on your homepage
#### How tag-based sections work
When you enter tag slugs in the theme settings, the theme automatically:
1. Creates a section for each tag you specify
2. Uses the tag name as the section title
3. Displays the 3 most recent posts with that tag
4. Adds a "View all" link to the tag archive page
The sections appear on your homepage in the order you list the tags, and each section automatically updates as you publish new posts with those tags.
#### Setting up tag-based sections
###### Step-by-step to add tag-based posts sections
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Homepage**
2. Find the **Home tag sections** field
3. Enter tag slugs separated by commas (no spaces needed)
4. Example: `design,engineering,product,marketing`
5. Click **Save**
> **Tip:** To find the exact tag slug, go to **Tags** in the Ghost admin, click on the tag name, then copy the text in the **Slug** field. The slug is the URL-friendly version of your tag name (e.g., "AI Trends" becomes "ai-trends").
#### Configuration examples
**Simple topic sections:**
```
design,technology,lifestyle
```
This creates three sections showing posts tagged with "design", "technology", and "lifestyle".
**Multi-word tag slugs:**
```
web-development,product-design,case-studies,behind-the-scenes
```
For tags with multiple words, use the slug format with hyphens.
### Custom content section
This section allows you to display any custom content of a specific page on the homepage. Use this for adding rich formatted content, HTML, or any special content blocks.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Custom Content Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title; this title won't be shown on the homepage.
3. Add your custom content in the page editor (text, images, galleries, HTML cards, etc.).
4. Add `#section-custom-content` to the Tags input.
5. Publish.
The entire content of this page will be rendered as a section on the homepage, giving you complete flexibility to add any type of content.
### Advanced homepage features
The Enjin theme includes several advanced features for fine-tuning your homepage sections. These features give you precise control over which content appears, how it's sourced, and how sections are displayed.
#### Excluding sections from homepage
Sometimes you want to create a section page but not display it on the homepage. The `#homepage-exclude` tag allows you to do exactly that.
###### Step-by-Step to Exclude a Section from Homepage
1. Create your section page as normal (e.g., with `#section-testimonials` or `#section-addons`)
2. In the page settings, add the `#homepage-exclude` tag along with your section tag
3. Publish the page
4. The section will not appear on the homepage but can be accessed via its page URL
#### Section background colors
Each homepage section can have a custom background color by using tag accent colors. This creates visual separation between sections and allows for creative color blocking.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Section Background Color
1. Go to **Tags** in Ghost admin
2. Find the tag you're using in your section's page
3. Click on the tag to edit it
4. Set the **Accent color** for that tag
5. Save the tag
6. The section on your homepage will automatically display with that background color
**Example:**
- Section: "Resources" (`#section-addons`)
- Tag "#section-addons" accent color: Light blue (#E3F2FD)
- Result: Resources section has light blue background
> **Tip:** Use subtle, light colors for section backgrounds to maintain readability. Dark colors work best with dark mode.
#### Hiding section titles
By default, each homepage section displays its page title as the section heading. You can hide these titles using the `#no-title` tag for a cleaner, more minimal look.
###### Step-by-Step to Hide Section Title
1. Create your section page as normal
2. Add the `#no-title` tag to the page (along with your section tag)
3. Publish the page
4. The section content will appear without the title heading
### Reordering homepage sections
By default, homepage sections appear in a predefined order. However, you can customize the order of sections without editing theme files by using CSS flexbox order property through Code Injection.
#### Understanding section classes
Each homepage section has a unique CSS class that you can target for reordering:
| Section | CSS Class |
| ------------------------------------------- | ----------------------- |
| Hero Section | .hero-intro |
| Featured Posts | .featured-posts-section |
| Logo Wall | .section-logo-board |
| Feed or Latest Post (together with Tag bar) | .feed-container |
| Testimonials | .section-testimonials |
| Category Navigation | .cat-nav |
| Static Text | .section-static-text |
| Static Banner | .section-static-banner |
| Add-ons | .section-addons |
| Authors | .section-authors |
| Custom Content | .section-custom-content |
#### How flexbox order works
The parent container `.site-layout` uses flexbox, allowing you to control the order of child sections using the `order` property. Sections with lower order values appear first, while sections with higher values appear later.
- Default order value: `0`
- Lower numbers (e.g., `-1`, `-2`) move sections earlier
- Higher numbers (e.g., `1`, `2`, `3`) move sections later
###### Step-by-Step to Reorder Sections
1. Go to **Settings > Code injection** in Ghost Admin
2. Add CSS code to the **Site Header** section
3. Use the `order` property to rearrange sections
4. Click **Save**
#### Example: Basic reordering
This example moves the Latest Posts section before the Featured Posts section:
```html
```
#### Example: Advanced reordering
Move testimonials and logo wall to appear right after the hero section:
```html
```
## Post templates
The theme provides 6 different post layout options to showcase your content in unique ways.
### Available post templates:
1. **No feature image** \- Clean text-focused layout without feature image
2. **Wide feature image** \- Feature image spanning content width
3. **Full feature image** \- Feature image spanning full viewport width
4. **Overlay feature image** \- Feature image with overlay text effect
5. **Split** \- Content and image in two-column layout
6. **Split reverse** \- Split layout with image on left
### Setting default post layout
You can set a default post layout that applies to all new posts.
###### Step-by-Step to Set Default Post Layout:
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Post**
2. Find **Default post hero layout**
3. Select your preferred default layout
4. Click **Save**
### Choosing layout for individual posts
To choose which template to use when you publish a specific post:
1. In the post editor page, click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Post settings**.
2. Find the **Template** selector and choose the style you want for your post.
3. Publish or update your post.
> **Note:** Layouts with "color" generate a unique background color based on the dominant color of your feature image, creating a cohesive visual experience.
### Post page options
The theme supports additional post customizations to control what appears on post pages.
###### Step-by-Step to Customize Post Options
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Post**
2. Toggle options:
- **Show author** \- Display author card with bio and social links
3. Click **Save**
### Table of contents
You can add a table of contents (TOC) to any post for better navigation through long-form content. The TOC automatically generates from h2 and h3 headings in your post.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Table of Contents
1. Create a new post and write your post using h2 and h3 headings
2. Right under the title, add an HTML card
3. Insert the following code:
```html
```
1. Publish and review it
> **Note:** The TOC will automatically populate with links to all h2 and h3 headings in your post. You can change the title "On this page" to any text you prefer, or remove the h4 element entirely for a TOC without a title.
#### Customizing TOC heading levels
By default, the table of contents displays only h2\. If you want to show only specific heading levels (for example, show both h2 and h3 headings), you can customize this using Code Injection.
###### Step-by-step to customize TOC headings
1. Go to **Settings > Code injection** in Ghost Admin
2. Add the following code to the **Site Header** section:
```html
```
1. Modify the `headingSelector` value to match your needs:
- `'h2'` \- Only h2 headings
- `'h2, h3'` \- Both h2 and h3 headings (default)
- `'h2, h3, h4'` \- h2, h3, and h4 headings
2. Click **Save**
That's it! You only need to specify the setting you want to change. The theme will automatically merge your custom configuration with the default settings.
> **Note:** This code must be added to the **Site Header** section (not Site Footer) so it loads before the theme's TOC initialization script.
### Videos for posts and pages hero
You can use a videos as the feature media to your posts and pages to create engaging, dynamic content. Videos will autoplay when visitors scroll to them and pause when scrolled out of view. This feature works on post hero sections, post cards, and collection pages.
###### Step-by-step to add a video
1. Create or edit a post or page in Ghost admin
2. Add a feature image (this will be used as the video poster frame)
3. Click the settings icon (⚙️) in the top right corner to open **Post/Page settings**
4. Scroll to the **Meta data** section
5. In the **Facebook description** field, paste the direct URL to your video file (e.g., `https://example.com/video.mp4`)
6. Update or publish your post/page
!\[TK: Video settings example\]
> **Note:** The Facebook description field (og\_description) is repurposed for video URLs. Your actual meta description should be set in the **Excerpt** field instead.
### Email signup text
Customize the email subscription box that appears at the bottom of posts and on the homepage.
###### Step-by-Step to Customize Email Signup
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Post**
2. Edit the following fields:
- **Email signup heading** \- Main heading (default: "Subscribe to my newsletter")
- **Email signup description** \- Supporting text (default: "Subscribe to my newsletter to get the latest updates and news")
3. Click **Save**
## Other templates
### Individual tag pages
Each tag has its own page showing all posts with that tag.
Tag pages include:
- Tag name and description (if set)
- Count of posts
- Grid of posts with the tag
- Pagination for tags with many posts
###### Step-by-Step to Customize Tag Information:
1. Go to **Tags** in Ghost admin
2. Click on the tag you want to edit
3. Add or edit:
- Tag name
- Tag description
- Tag image
4. Click **Save**
### Authors template
Create a dedicated page to showcase all your site's authors and contributors using the Authors page template.
This custom template displays authors in a 4-column grid layout, showing up to 8 authors sorted by post count (most prolific authors first).
###### Step-by-Step to Create Authors Page:
1. Go to **Pages** in Ghost admin
2. Click **New page**
3. Add a title (e.g., "Our Authors" or "Contributors")
4. (Optional) Add a feature image
5. In the **Page settings** sidebar (click the settings icon), find the **Template** dropdown
6. Select **Zpage Authors** from the template options
7. Publish
### Individual author pages
Each author has their own page showing their profile and posts.
Author pages include:
- Author photo
- Author name and bio
- Social links
- Count of posts
- Grid of author's posts
- Pagination
###### Step-by-Step to Customize Author Information:
1. Go to **Settings > Staff** in Ghost admin
2. Click on the author you want to edit
3. Add or edit:
- Profile photo
- Name
- Bio
- Location
- Website
- Social media links (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)
4. Click **Save**
### Collection template
Create curated collection pages that display posts filtered by specific tags. This template is perfect for creating topic-based collections, featured content galleries, or any custom grouping of posts.
The Collection page template allows you to:
- Add custom introductory content at the top of the page
- Display posts filtered by one or more tags
###### Step-by-Step to Create Collection Page:
1. Go to **Pages** in Ghost admin
2. Click **New page**
3. Add a title for your collection (e.g., "Featured Articles" or "Design Resources")
4. (Optional) Add introductory content in the page editor—this appears above the filtered posts
5. (Optional) Add a feature image
6. In the **Page settings** sidebar (click the settings icon), find the **Template** dropdown
7. Select **Zpage Collection** from the template options
8. In the **Twitter description** field, enter the tag slug(s) you want to filter posts by
- Single tag: `design`
- Multiple tags: `design+technology`
9. Publish
#### Specifying which posts to display
The Collection template uses the **Twitter description** field to determine which posts to show. This is a clever use of an existing Ghost field.
**Examples:**
- To show all posts tagged "featured": Enter `featured` in Twitter description
- To show posts with "design" OR "technology": Enter `design,technology`
- To show posts with "design" AND "technology": Enter `design+technology`
### Timeline templates
The Enjin theme includes two specialized timeline templates for displaying content in chronological order. These templates are perfect for journey documentation, timeline, history, or any content where chronological presentation matters.
#### Timeline (full content) template
The full content timeline template displays posts or pages in expanded format, showing the complete content of each entry. This creates an immersive, story-like reading experience perfect for project logs, series, or detailed journeys.
**Use cases for full content timeline:**
- Project development logs showing progress over time
- Tutorial series where each step builds on the previous
- Journey documentation (travel blogs, learning journeys)
- Company history or milestone timeline
- Portfolio showcases with detailed case studies
- Behind-the-scenes content series
###### Step-by-Step to Create Full Content Timeline Page:
1. Go to **Pages** in Ghost admin
2. Click **New page**
3. Add a title for your timeline (e.g., "Project Journey" or "Development Log")
4. (Optional) Add introductory content in the page editor—this appears above the timeline
5. (Optional) Add a feature image
6. In the **Page settings** sidebar (click the settings icon), find the **Template** dropdown
7. Select **Zpage Timeline** from the template options
8. In the **Twitter description** field, enter the tag slug for content you want to display (e.g., `project-alpha`)
9. (Optional) To show pages instead of posts, add the `#source-pages` tag to your page
10. Publish
**Twitter description examples:**
- Single tag: `project-updates` \- Shows all posts tagged with "project-updates"
- Multiple tags: `development,frontend` \- Shows posts with BOTH tags
> **Note:** The timeline template shows posts by default. Add the `#source-pages` tag to your timeline page to show pages instead.
#### Timeline minimal template
The minimal timeline template displays a compact list view showing only titles, dates, and brief excerpts. This creates a clean, scannable overview perfect for changelogs, resumes, or long lists of entries.
**Use cases for minimal timeline:**
- Changelog or version history
- Resume or CV (work history, education)
- Life events or personal milestones
- Publication archive
- Company news timeline
- Quick reference lists
###### Step-by-Step to Create Minimal Timeline Page:
1. Go to **Pages** in Ghost admin
2. Click **New page**
3. Add a title for your timeline (e.g., "Changelog" or "Work History")
4. (Optional) Add introductory content in the page editor
5. (Optional) Add a feature image
6. In the **Page settings** sidebar, find the **Template** dropdown
7. Select **Zpage Timeline Minimal** from the template options
8. In the **Twitter description** field, enter the tag slug for content you want to display
9. (Optional) Add the `#source-pages` tag to show pages instead of posts
10. Publish
---
## Custom settings
### Posts per page
By default, the homepage and other listing pages display a maximum of 12 posts per page, but you can change this number.
###### Step-by-Step to Change Posts Per Page
1. You'll need to open the theme's `package.json` file in your code editor and find the following:
```json
"config": {
...
"posts_per_page": 12
...
}
```
1. Change the value of `12` to your expected value.
2. Save your `package.json` file in the root folder.
3. Re-zip the theme and upload it to Ghost.
### Google analytics
To integrate Google Analytics, I recommend using the [Google Analytics](https://ghost.org/integrations/google/?ref=themex.studio) integration by Ghost.
This official integration allows you to:
- Add your Google Analytics tracking ID
- Track pageviews automatically
- Monitor user behavior
- No code editing required
### Syntax highlighting
You can add a fenced code block by placing triple backticks ```` ``` ```` before and after the code block.
#### Basic code block (no highlighting)
```
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
This will produce a gray code block without syntax highlighting.
#### Highlighted code block
To highlight a code block, add a language alias like `css` or `js` after the opening backticks. For example:
```
```css
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
```
This will produce a colored, syntax-highlighted code block.
#### Inline code
To add **inline code**, wrap the text between two backticks "\`".
For example: `const myVariable = 'value';`
#### Prism.js
The theme ships with [Prism.js](https://prismjs.com/?ref=themex.studio), a lightweight, robust, and elegant syntax highlighter.
The initial Prism package includes some languages, like *Markup*, *CSS*, *C-like*, and *JavaScript*.
You can add support for more languages by adding the Prism `autoloader` script, which will automatically load the languages you need.
###### Step-by-Step to Enable Autoloader:
1. Go to **Settings > Code injection**
2. Add the following script to the **Site Footer** section:
```html
```
1. Click **Save**.
Now Prism will automatically load syntax highlighting for any programming language you use in code blocks.
### Responsive tables
The responsive table will display a horizontal scroll bar if the screen is too small to display the full content. The following description applies to the table added using the markdown card.
> By default, the table adapts to the window width. If you have a table that is too wide, it will display a horizontal scroll bar when needed.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Responsive Table
1. In your post or page editor, add a **Markdown card**.
2. Add the markdown to create a table. To generate a table, you can use the tool [Markdown Tables Generator](https://www.tablesgenerator.com/markdown%5Ftables?ref=themex.studio). Below is an example:
```
| # | Heading | Heading | Heading | Heading | Heading |
|:--|:--------|:--------|:--------|:--------|:--------|
| 1 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
| 2 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
| 3 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
```
1. Publish your post or page.
### Member comments
The theme comes with [Ghost Native Comments](https://ghost.org/changelog/native-comments/?ref=themex.studio) integration.
###### Step-by-Step to Enable Comments:
1. Go to **Settings > Membership > Access**
2. Click **Edit** next to your membership settings
3. Find the **Commenting** section
4. Choose who can comment:
- All members
- Paid members only
- Nobody (disable comments)
5. Click **Save**
Comments will appear at the bottom of post pages when enabled.
### Languages
The theme is fully translatable by enabling a publication language in the settings of the Ghost Admin. Before that, you must prepare your language file.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Translation
1. Inside the `../locales/` folder, add target language files for each translatable language used on your site. For example, `fr.json` is for French, and `pl.json` is for Polish. ISO 639-1 language code must be used.
2. Translate the sentences used in the theme inside your new language files. For example, in `en.json`:
```json
{
"Subscribe": "Subscribe",
"Sign in": "Sign in",
"Account": "Account",
"Browse": "Browse",
...
}
```
1. Edit to translate into your target language (French example for `fr.json`):
```json
{
"Subscribe": "S'abonner",
"Sign in": "Se connecter",
"Account": "Compte",
"Browse": "Parcourir",
...
}
```
1. Upload the theme with the new language file.
2. Go to the **General** settings in the Ghost Admin.
3. At the top of the page, you'll see the **Publication info** section.
4. Enter the correct language code into your **Publication language** settings menu.
5. Finally, click **Save** to activate.
> **Note:** If you edited the active language, you must restart Ghost to make the changes effective. Alternatively, enter another language code and click **Save** to activate, then switch back to your code.
---
## Advanced settings
### Editing a theme's code
You will encounter information about editing theme files in many places in this documentation.
To edit files, you will need to unzip the theme archive – at this point, you will have access to the necessary files indicated in the theme documentation.
#### Edit HTML/Handlebars files
###### Step-by-Step to Edit Theme Files
1. To edit your theme files, download a copy of the theme. For this purpose, go to the **Design** settings in the Ghost Admin and click **Change theme** in the bottom left corner.
2. Use the **Advanced** dropdown menu in the upper right corner to download your theme, then unzip the theme locally.
3. Once the theme is unzipped, the files can be edited using a code editor – make the changes indicated in the theme documentation.
> **Recommended Code Editors:** You can edit files using applications such as [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/?ref=themex.studio), [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/?ref=themex.studio), or [Brackets](https://brackets.io/?ref=themex.studio). Using native text editors like TextEdit on macOS may add formatting that may cause the theme to work incorrectly.
1. After changing the theme code, re-zip the theme directory to upload it back to Ghost.
> **Creating Zip Archives:** To create a zip archive on macOS, **right-click** on the theme folder to view the context menu, then click the **Compress** option. On Windows, **right-click** on the theme folder, select **Send to**, and then select **Compressed (zipped) folder**.
1. To upload the modified theme, go to the **Design** settings in the Ghost Admin and click **Change theme** in the bottom left corner.
2. Click the **Upload theme** button in the upper right corner.
3. Once uploaded, click **Activate** to activate the theme on your site.
#### Edit CSS
The best way to make minor CSS changes is to use Ghost's built-in Code injection. The change will be applied right after you save.
If you need more powerful CSS customization, you can edit CSS files in the theme directory. This requires a more technical setup.
Follow this guide: [How to apply CSS changes in your Ghost theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-apply-css-changes-in-your-ghost-theme/)
> **Tip:** If you're only looking to make minor updates to a theme, code injection may be enough.
### Code injection
Code injection is a powerful feature for customization without editing theme files directly.
For a CSS example, you can use the code in the **Site Header** section to change colors and styling.
###### Example: Change title color and size
1. Go to **Settings > Code injection**
2. Add this code to the **Site Header** section:
```html
```
1. Click **Save**
Check out [How to use Code Injection](https://ghost.org/tutorials/use-code-injection-in-ghost/?ref=themex.studio) Ghost guide for more information.
### Theme deploy with GitHub Actions
Enjin comes integrated with the [Deploy Ghost Theme](https://github.com/marketplace/actions/deploy-ghost-theme?ref=themex.studio) GitHub action. The purpose of the GitHub action is to take the theme from the GitHub repo and send it to your website automatically.
This allows you to:
- Edit theme files locally
- Push changes to GitHub
- Automatically deploy to your Ghost site
- Version control your theme customizations
Follow this guide to set up GitHub Actions: [Streamline the deployment of your Ghost theme using GitHub Action](https://themex.studio/guides/streamline-the-deployment-of-your-ghost-theme-using-github-action/)
---
- **Set Meta Descriptions**: Always add custom excerpts to posts and pages for better search results
- **Use Descriptive Titles**: Write clear, descriptive titles that include relevant keywords
- **Add Alt Text**: Include descriptive alt text for all images
- **Internal Linking**: Link between related posts to improve site structure
---
Congratulations on setting up your Enjin theme! We hope this documentation has been helpful in getting you started with creating a beautiful and functional website.
Enjin is designed to be flexible and easy to customize, offering a wide range of options to make your site unique. With its customizable homepage sections, multiple post layouts, and extensive customization options, you have everything you need to create a professional online presence that showcases your content like it matters.
If you need additional support or have questions, please visit [Themex Studio](https://themex.studio/) or consult the [Ghost Help Center](https://ghost.org/help/?ref=themex.studio).
### enjin-features
URL: https://themex.studio/enjin-features/
Last updated: 2025-12-24T03:18:53.000Z
Progressive blur depth effects
Instant category filter (no reload)
12 free preset background images
6 flexible post layout templates
Timeline pages for changelogs
Collection pages for resources
Built-in dark & light mode
Full Ghost membership support
### Development cleanup, featured posts and feed improvements
URL: https://themex.studio/development-cleanup-featured-posts-and-feed-improvements/
Last updated: 2025-12-09T07:32:52.000Z
- Removed localhost livereload script reference for production builds
- Fixed bug where hero section wasn't rendering properly with shadow effects applied
- Improved featured posts carousel layout with enhanced styling and animations
- Updated feed layout with better spacing and visual hierarchy
### gluexpfoten.ch
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/gluexpfoten-ch/
Last updated: 2025-12-05T04:09:06.000Z
_No content available._
### tbreak.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/tbreak-com/
Last updated: 2025-12-29T03:44:07.000Z
_No content available._
### sirotinintelligence.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/sirotinintelligence-com/
Last updated: 2025-12-03T03:05:58.000Z
_No content available._
### richardlemon.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/richardlemon-com/
Last updated: 2025-12-03T03:05:21.000Z
_No content available._
### Blog category navigation
URL: https://themex.studio/blog-category-navigation/
Last updated: 2025-12-01T08:17:32.000Z
- Added arrow scroll buttons to blog category navigation for easier browsing when there are many categories
- Fixed gradient mask width on timeline and series pages to prevent horizontal overflow
### Navigation icons, layout, and empty state enhancements
URL: https://themex.studio/navigation-icons-layout-and-empty-state-enhancements/
Last updated: 2025-12-01T08:11:51.000Z
- Added default social media icons for sidebar navigation. Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn,... are supported as default, without needing to manually add them from Code Injection.
- Increased default content width to **720px** for improved readability on larger screens
- Enhanced [internal tag sections](https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/#homepage-sections) to work with tags in any position, not just the first tag
- Enhanced default empty state, now with blog posts and default hero section
- Fixed text color display in Ghost header cards and signup cards with transparent backgrounds to properly use theme colors
- Simplified wide hero layout from 3 columns to 1 columns for cleaner presentation
### Hide sections from homepage, posts as content for collection template
URL: https://themex.studio/hide-sections-from-homepage-posts-as-content-for-collection-template/
Last updated: 2025-11-24T08:24:48.000Z
- Added support to display posts with `#source-posts` tag instead of pages in collection sections (addons, blocks, blocks vertical, and showcases sections). [View documentation.](https://themex.studio/docs/naoto-docs/#step-by-step-to-add-showcase-section-on-homepage)
- Added support for `#homepage-exclude` tag to hide specific sections from the homepage. [View documentation.](https://themex.studio/docs/naoto-docs/#hide-sections-from-the-homepage)
- Improved section filter matching logic. The section tag can be in any position; it doesn't have to be the first tag anymore.
- Updated split narrow template to include metadata for better SEO
- Other minor improvement for signup, header cards
### Enjin
URL: https://themex.studio/enjin/
Last updated: 2026-01-07T07:48:52.000Z
0:00
/0:09
1×
### Accessibility, social links, performance & sharing improvements
URL: https://themex.studio/accessibility-social-links-performance-sharing-improvements/
Last updated: 2025-11-14T13:48:06.000Z
- Fixed accessibility issues identified by Google PageSpeed
- Enhanced hero section with improved spacing, padding, and styling adjustments
- Added comprehensive global social links system supporting 40+ platforms
- Added copy-URL-to-clipboard button to post share section
- Optimized dominant color extraction performance
- Enhanced split layout on mobile devices to prioritize content readability by displaying text before images
- Enhanced ToC interaction
### Announcement bar & UI improvements
URL: https://themex.studio/announcement-bar-ui-improvements/
Last updated: 2025-11-12T07:47:19.000Z
Initial release of Vincent theme. Editorial Ghost theme for serious content creators. Built with strong editorial design and visual hierarchy.
- Changed default [Table of Content (TOC)](https://themex.studio/docs/vincent-docs/#customizing-table-of-contents-heading-levels) behavior to display only h2 headings for cleaner, more focused navigation
- Fixed announcement bar positioning and spacing to properly adjust header position when announcement bar is active
- Fixed table overflow issues on mobile devices by enabling horizontal scrolling with fixed table layout
### Vincent
URL: https://themex.studio/vincent/
Last updated: 2026-01-08T07:09:28.000Z
0:00
/0:10
1×
### Vincent Docs
URL: https://themex.studio/docs/vincent-docs/
Last updated: 2026-02-27T02:57:44.000Z
##### On this page
### Introduction
The theme's core concept is for content-first creators who want to build a subscriber-based publication around deep, research-driven content in arts, culture, history, tech, lifestyle. This is a solid, professional theme with strong editorial design, strong visual hierarchy. This is also a highly customizable Ghost theme.
Since this is a Ghost theme documentation, you are assumed to have a basic knowledge of the Ghost CMS. If you're starting with Ghost, it is best to see the guides in the official [Ghost Help Center](https://ghost.org/help/?ref=themex.studio) – check this out, and you'll have all the available information.
---
## Getting started
### Welcome
Vincent is built on a simple philosophy: your content deserves to be presented like it matters. This theme gives you the structure of a professional magazine with the flexibility to make it unmistakably yours. Change colors, swap fonts, adjust imagery—the foundation remains solid: organized, readable, and designed to build an audience.
The theme offers these key features:
- **Customizable homepage** with multiple section components easily added from Ghost admin panel
- **Custom hero intro** with subscription form or social links
- **Category navigation bar** to show different tags/categories for better exploring experience
- **Featured posts** with card background color auto-generated from feature image
- **Flexible content display** \- featured posts, posts with specific tags, or pages filtered by tags
- **Define number of featured posts** on homepage
- **Latest posts section** with customizable title
- **Posts by category** for organized content presentation
- **Logo wall** for showcasing partners or clients
- **Testimonials slide** for social proof
- **Static text cards** for custom messaging
- **Custom content blocks** showing a page's content as a section on homepage
- **Post/page hero** with beautiful background generated from feature image
- **Light and dark mode** (4 options: light, dark, system, user-defined)
- **Beautiful color presets** (8 options: Default, Pure, Onyx, Rust, Fossil, Mint, Ember, Ice)
- **Multiple blog layouts** with table of content support
- **Two header layout options** (default overlay menu with carousel slider, alternative horizontal menu)
- **9 post layout options** including split layouts with color-generated backgrounds
- Support for all built-in Ghost features
### Install theme
#### Upload zip file
To begin, **unzip** the downloaded package by double-clicking it on a Mac or by right-clicking and selecting "Extract All" on Windows.
Inside the new **Vincent folder**, you will find the Vincent.zip theme files.
###### Step-by-Step to Upload the Theme to Your Website
1. Log in to your Ghost website admin (example.com/ghost).
2. Click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to **Design & branding > Theme > Change theme**.
4. Click **Upload theme** and select the Vincent.zip theme file.
5. Once uploaded, click **Activate now** to activate the theme.
### Upload routes.yaml
The `routes.yaml` is required if you want to show the following pages:
1. Tags/Categories
If you don't want any page above, you can skip this step.
###### Step-by-Step to Upload the routes file:
1. Unzip the Vincent.zip theme file.
2. In your Ghost admin, click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to **Labs** and click **Open**.
4. Click the **Upload routes YAML** button.
5. Select and upload the `routes.yaml` file inside the theme folder.
6. Done.
## General settings
### Colors
The theme supports changing the Accent color and offers different color combinations.
#### Set accent color
The Accent color is the primary color used throughout your publication theme in buttons, social sharing hovers, links, and other interactive elements. You can change the theme Accent color from the Ghost admin.
Change the Accent color from the admin **Settings > Design & Branding > Customize > Brand > Accent color**.
#### Preset color combinations
The theme provides 8 different color combinations. Choose the one that fits your style:
- **Default** \- Classic and versatile color scheme
- **Pure** \- Clean, minimalist black and white
- **Onyx** \- Deep, sophisticated dark tones
- **Rust** \- Warm, earthy palette
- **Fossil** \- Natural, muted tones
- **Mint** \- Fresh, cool greens
- **Ember** \- Warm, energetic oranges
- **Ice** \- Cool, crisp blues
###### Step-by-Step to Choose Your Preferred Color Combination:
1. Go to the admin **Settings > Design & Branding > Customize > Theme**.
2. Click on **Color combinations** and select your color combination.
3. Preview and Save.
### Light / dark mode
You can easily switch between light, dark, system, or user-defined modes directly from your Ghost admin panel.
The theme supports:
- **Light** \- Always display light mode
- **Dark** \- Always display dark mode
- **System** \- Automatically match the user's operating system preference
- **User defined** \- Allow users to toggle between light and dark mode with their preference saved
###### Step-by-Step to Customize
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme** from the admin menu
2. Choose a preferred mode by clicking on **Appearance**
3. Click **Save**
> **Note:** When set to "User defined", a theme toggle button appears in the header allowing visitors to switch between light and dark modes. Their preference is saved locally.
### Typography
Depending on the selected option, this setting will change the heading and body text fonts.
#### Custom fonts
Ghost provides built-in custom font functionality, allowing users to select heading and body fonts from a curated list directly in the admin interface.
###### Step-by-Step to Change Fonts:
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize > Brand**
2. Under **Typography**, select:
- **Title font** for headings
- **Body font** for main text
3. Click **Save**
#### Host your own fonts
You can change any font from the Ghost admin interface using Code Injection and Google Fonts, or your own font. For example, if you want to use "Inter" and "EB Garamond" fonts from Google Fonts, your code in Code Injection will be:
```html
```
You can also use your custom local font by including it in your theme with a code editor. This technique is more advanced but allows you to add 'your own' fonts.
[Check out the detailed guide to add your own fonts](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-add-your-own-custom-fonts-to-ghost-theme/)
### Header navigation
The Vincent theme offers two distinct header layout options to suit different design preferences.
#### Default header layout (overlay menu)
The default header features a minimal design with a hamburger menu that opens an overlay navigation with a featured posts carousel.
#### Alternative header layout (horizontal menu)
The alternative header displays navigation links horizontally across the header.
###### Step-by-Step to Enable Alternative Header:
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme**
2. Find **Header layout alternative**
3. Toggle on to enable horizontal navigation
4. Click **Save**
###### Step-by-Step to Add an Item to Header Navigation:
1. Go to **Settings > Navigation > Primary Navigation**.
2. Type the page's name in the label field as you'd like it to appear on your menu.
3. Click on the item's URL. The blog URL will already be auto-populated.
4. When satisfied with your page configurations, click the **Save** button.
### Header logo
Header profile displays Publication logo from **Settings → Design & branding → Brand**
The logo appears in the center of the header on both desktop and mobile views. If no logo is uploaded, the site title will display instead.
### Header call-to-action button
You can add your own CTA text and link in the header. If you leave it empty, the button will be hidden.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Header CTA:
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme**
2. Scroll to **Header action text**:
- Add the text to **Header action text**. Leave it empty if you want to hide it.
- Add link to **Header action link**
3. Click **Save**
Example configurations:
- Contact button:
- Text: "Contact Us"
- Link: "/contact"
- External link:
- Text: "Get Started"
- Link: "https://example.com/start"
### Carousel slider (default header only)
When using the default header layout with overlay menu, you can customize the featured posts carousel that appears in the navigation overlay.
###### Step-by-Step to Customize Carousel:
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme**
2. Find **Header slider posts**
3. Enter a tag slug to show posts with that specific tag (e.g., `featured` or `design`)
4. Leave empty to show all featured posts
5. Click **Save**
> **Note:** The carousel displays up to 7 posts and is only visible when using the default header layout (not the alternative horizontal menu).
### Navigation dropdown menus (alternative header only)
You can create dropdown sub-menus in your Ghost site navigation to organize your content more effectively and improve site navigation. This feature helps visitors quickly find specific pages under broader categories.
Follow these steps to set up dropdown navigation menus:
1. In your Ghost Admin panel, go to **Settings → Navigation**
2. Add your main menu items normally
3. To create submenu items, add them with a dash (-) prefix before the child item
4. Arrange items in the order you want them to appear
Example Settings:
```
Home /
About /about
- Team /team
- Contact /contact
Blog /blog
```
### White logo on dark mode
If you use a black logo image and enable dark mode, you would need your logo visible when users enable dark mode.
You can use Code injection and insert this CSS to support different logo color on light/dark mode
```html
```
### Footer
Like the header, you can add the footer navigation links from the Ghost Admin **Settings > Navigation > Secondary**
To group footer items into different groups, add `#` before the name.
Example configuration:
```
#Company
About Us /about
Careers /careers
#Legal
Privacy /privacy
Terms /terms
```
### Footer social links
The Vincent theme includes a comprehensive global social links system that automatically detects and displays social media icons from URLs you provide. The social links appear in the hero section (when enabled) and in the footer, providing consistent social presence across your site.
#### Supported platforms
The theme automatically recognizes and displays icons for 40 platforms, including:
- **Social media:** Instagram, Threads, Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, Mastodon, Pinterest, Reddit, Snapchat, WeChat
- **Professional:** GitHub, Dribbble, Behance, Medium, Stack Overflow, CodePen
- **Media:** YouTube, Vimeo, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Twitch
- **Communication:** Email, Phone, WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack
- **Business:** Etsy, Amazon, Ko-fi, Patreon, Trustpilot, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Maps
- **And more...** The system automatically detects the platform from your URL and displays the appropriate icon.
###### Step-by-step to add social links
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme**
2. Find the **Social links** field in the theme settings
3. Add your social media profile URLs separated by commas
4. Example: `https://twitter.com/yourusername, https://instagram.com/yourusername, https://github.com/yourusername`
5. Click **Save**
#### Adding special link types
**Email links:**
- Add `mailto:your@email.com` or just `your@email.com`
- The theme will automatically display an email icon
**Phone links:**
- Add `tel:+1234567890` or just `+1234567890`
- The theme will automatically display a phone icon
### Hide footer copyright
Host requires all themes available on the marketplace to include the text “Published with Ghost” in the footer. If you want to hide it, you can use Code Injection to hide it.
```html
```
---
## Homepage
### Homepage overview
The Vincent theme homepage is designed for flexibility and easy customization. You can build a dynamic homepage using Ghost's built-in features, managing sections directly from the Ghost admin interface—no coding required!
The homepage consists of several key sections:
1. **Hero Section** \- Introduction with site title/description or custom content
2. **Category Navigation** \- Tag-based navigation bar for content exploration
3. **Featured Posts** \- Highlighted content with auto-generated color backgrounds
4. **Latest Posts** \- Recent articles feed
5. **Posts by Category** \- Tag-filtered content sections
6. **Additional Sections** \- Logos, testimonials, authors, static text, custom content
All sections are fully customizable through the Ghost admin panel.
### Hero section
The hero section is the first thing visitors see on your homepage. Vincent supports both simple and extensive hero content with optional reveal animations.
#### Default hero option
By default, the theme shows the Site title and description from General settings in the hero.
###### Step-by-Step to change default option
1. Log in to your Ghost Admin dashboard.
2. Go to **Settings** → **General settings** → **Title & description** → Edit
3. Edit Site title and Site description to change the content.
4. Save and refresh the homepage
#### Extensive hero option
For more extensive hero text with formatting options and reveal animation on scroll.
###### Step-by-Step to use Extensive option
1. Log in to your Ghost Admin dashboard.
2. Click on **Pages** in the left sidebar.
3. Click **New page** to create a new page.
4. Add your hero text content in the editor. You can:
- Format text with **bold**, *italic*, or other styles
- Add multiple paragraphs, headings, images, etc.
- Include links or other content elements
5. Add the tag `#home-hero` to the "Tags" input (important!)
6. Publish the page when you're done.
☝️
****Tips**
Add the tag `#text-left` to align hero text to the left instead of center.
#### Hide hero section
If you don’t want to show the Hero section at all, you can hide it in Code Injection with this CSS
```html
```
### Hero actions
Choose to show social links, subscription box, or nothing below the hero content.
###### Step-by-Step to set hero action
1. Log in to your Ghost Admin dashboard.
2. Go to **Settings** → **Site** → **Design & branding** → **Customize**
3. Go to **Theme** tab and find the **Homepage** section.
4. Locate the **Hero actions** dropdown, select the option you want:
- **Social links:** show the author's Social Links
- **Subscription form:** show the subscription box
- **None:** No action shown
5. Save and refresh the homepage
###### Edit subscription box text
Refer to [Email signup customization](#email-signup-customization)
###### Edit social links
Refer to [Footer social links](#footer-social-links)
### Category navigation
Display a horizontal navigation bar showcasing your main content categories, making it easy for visitors to explore different topics. You can customize both the section title and which categories appear.
###### Step-by-step to add category navigation
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme**
2. Find **Category navigation** setting
3. Enter tag slugs separated by commas (e.g., `design,technology,lifestyle`)
4. (Optional) Find **Category title** setting to customize the section heading
- Enter a custom title like "Explore topics" or "Browse categories"
- Leave empty to hide the section title completely
5. Click **Save**
> **Tip:** To find the exact tag slug, go to Tags in the Ghost admin, click on the tag name, then copy the text in the Slug field.
The category navigation automatically displays tag names, featured images (if available), and post counts for each category, creating an engaging way for visitors to discover your content by topic.
### Featured posts section
The featured posts section displays prominent content cards with background colors automatically generated from the post's feature image. This creates a visually stunning presentation that adapts to your content.
Vincent offers three options for the featured posts section:
1. **Featured posts** \- Show posts marked as featured in Ghost
2. **Posts-by-Tag** \- Show posts filtered by a specific tag
3. **Pages-by-Tag** \- Show pages filtered by a specific tag
###### Step-by-Step to Configure Featured Posts
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Homepage**
2. Find **Feature feed type** and select your preferred option:
- **Featured posts** \- automatically shows posts marked as featured
- **Posts-by-Tag** \- requires entering a tag slug
- **Pages-by-Tag** \- requires entering a tag slug
3. If you selected Posts-by-Tag or Pages-by-Tag, enter the tag slug in **Feature feed tag**
4. Set **Number of featured posts** (default is 3)
5. Click **Save**
> **Note:** The background color of each featured post card is automatically generated from the dominant color of the post's feature image, creating a unique and cohesive visual presentation.
### Latest posts section
Display your most recent blog posts with a customizable section title.
###### Step-by-Step to Configure Latest Posts
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Homepage**
2. Find **Home feed title** and enter your desired title (default is "Latest posts")
3. To hide this section completely, leave the field empty
4. Click **Save**
The latest posts section displays posts in a grid layout with the number of posts per page defined in your theme configuration (default is 9 posts per page).
#### Feed image orientation
Control the aspect ratio of post card images throughout your site.
###### Step-by-Step to Set Image Orientation
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Homepage**
2. Find **Feed image orientation**
3. Select your preferred option:
- **Landscape** \- Horizontal rectangular images
- **Square** \- Equal width and height
- **Portrait** \- Vertical rectangular images
- **Free** \- Original aspect ratio maintained
4. Click **Save**
> **Note:** This setting applies to post cards throughout the site, including homepage, blog page, tag pages, and related posts.
### Posts by category
Display multiple sections of posts, each filtered by a different tag. This is perfect for organizing content by topic or category.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Posts by Category
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Homepage**
2. Find **Home tag sections**
3. Enter tag slugs separated by commas (e.g., `design,technology,lifestyle`)
4. Click **Save**
Each tag will create a separate section showing up to 3 posts with that tag. The section title will be the tag name, and each section includes a "View all" link to the tag page.
### Logo wall section
Sometimes you want to show some kind of social proof, and a logo board can help achieve that. Display partner logos, client logos, or featured brands.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Logo Wall
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the homepage.
3. Upload all logos you want to show on the homepage as images in the page content.
- **Important:** Don't add any line breaks above, between, or after the images. It will create odd alignment.
4. In the Page Setting sidebar, add a tag named: `#section-logos`.
5. Publish and check your homepage.
> **Tip:** If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag to the page.
### Testimonials section
Display testimonials from your users, clients, or partners in a rotating slider format.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Testimonial Section
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the Homepage.
3. Add `#section-testimonials` to the Tags field.
4. In the page content, add a new Product card. You can find this card by clicking on the + icon on the left side of the editor or by typing `/product` in the editor, then select the **Product** option.
5. On the product card, fill in the details:
- **Title** \- The testimonial main text
- **Description** \- Person's name and job title
- **Image** \- Profile picture
- **Stars** \- Rating (1-5 stars)
6. Add more Product cards to add more testimonials.
7. Publish.
> **Note:** The testimonials automatically rotate in a slider format. Visitors can also navigate between testimonials manually.
### Static text section
The static text section is useful for adding custom text on the homepage, such as your services, working principles, or values.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Static Text Section
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the Homepage.
3. Add `#section-static-text` to the Tags field.
4. In the page content, add a new Product card. You can find this card by clicking on the + icon on the left side of the editor or by typing `/product` in the editor, then select the **Product** option.
5. On the product card, fill in the title, description, image, and link (optional).
6. Add more Product cards to add more static text cards.
7. Publish.
> **Tip:** If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag.
If you want to create multiple sections using Static text, create a new page and repeat the same steps above.
### Custom content section
This section allows you to display any custom content of a specific page on the homepage. Use this for adding rich formatted content, HTML, or any special content blocks.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Custom Content Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title; this title won't be shown on the homepage.
3. Add your custom content in the page editor (text, images, galleries, HTML cards, etc.).
4. Add `#section-custom-content` to the Tags input.
5. Publish.
The entire content of this page will be rendered as a section on the homepage, giving you complete flexibility to add any type of content.
### Authors section
Display your site's authors and contributors in a professional grid layout. Each author card shows their profile photo, name, bio, and post count.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Authors Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be the section title on the homepage (e.g., "Our Writers" or "Contributors").
3. Add `#section-authors` to the Tags input.
4. (Optional) To add a separate page for Authors, in Template dropdown, select Zpage Authors.
5. Publish.
The section will automatically display the top 4 authors on your site, sorted by post count (authors with the most posts appear first).
> **Note:** If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag to the page.
### Reordering homepage sections
By default, homepage sections appear in a predefined order. However, you can customize the order of sections without editing theme files by using CSS flexbox order property through Code Injection.
#### Understanding section classes
Each homepage section has a unique CSS class that you can target for reordering:
| Section | CSS Class |
| ------------------- | ----------------------- |
| Hero Section | .hero-intro |
| Category Navigation | .cat-nav |
| Featured Posts | .featured-posts-section |
| Latest Posts | .latest-posts-section |
| Posts by Category | .tag-posts-section |
| Logo Wall | .section-logo-board |
| Testimonials | .section-testimonials |
| Static Text | .section-static-text |
| Custom Posts | .section-custom-posts |
| Authors | .section-authors |
| Custom Content | .section-custom-content |
#### How flexbox order works
The parent container `.site-layout` uses flexbox, allowing you to control the order of child sections using the `order` property. Sections with lower order values appear first, while sections with higher values appear later.
- Default order value: `0`
- Lower numbers (e.g., `-1`, `-2`) move sections earlier
- Higher numbers (e.g., `1`, `2`, `3`) move sections later
###### Step-by-Step to Reorder Sections
1. Go to **Settings > Code injection** in Ghost Admin
2. Add CSS code to the **Site Header** section
3. Use the `order` property to rearrange sections
Click **Save**
#### Example: Basic reordering
This example moves the Latest Posts section before the Featured Posts section:
```html
```
#### Example: Advanced reordering
Move testimonials and logo wall to appear right after the hero section:
```html
```
## Other templates
### Post templates
The theme provides 9 different post layout options to showcase your content in unique ways.
#### Available post templates:
1. **No feature image** \- Clean text-focused layout without feature image
2. **Wide feature image** \- Feature image spanning content width
3. **Wide feature image with color** \- Wide image with color-generated background
4. **Full feature image** \- Feature image spanning full viewport width
5. **Full feature image with color** \- Full-width image with color-generated background
6. **Split** \- Content and image in two-column layout
7. **Split with color** \- Split layout with color-generated background
8. **Split reverse** \- Split layout with image on left
9. **Split reverse with color** \- Reverse split with color-generated background
#### Setting default post layout
You can set a default post layout that applies to all new posts.
###### Step-by-Step to Set Default Post Layout:
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Post**
2. Find **Default post hero layout**
3. Select your preferred default layout
4. Click **Save**
#### Choosing layout for individual posts
To choose which template to use when you publish a specific post:
1. In the post editor page, click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Post settings**.
2. Find the **Template** selector and choose the style you want for your post.
3. Publish or update your post.
> **Note:** Layouts with "color" generate a unique background color based on the dominant color of your feature image, creating a cohesive visual experience.
#### Manual background color override
For posts and pages using color-based layouts, you can manually set a specific background color instead of using the auto-generated color from the feature image. This is useful when you want precise control over the color scheme.
###### Step-by-Step to set manual background color:
1. In the post or page editor, click the settings icon in the top right corner to open **Post/Page settings**
2. Go to the **Tags** section
3. Add an internal tag with the format: `#color-HEXCODE` (without the # symbol in the hex code)
4. Examples:
- `#color-FF5733` for a vibrant orange
- `#color-2C3E50` for a dark blue-gray
- `#color-27AE60` for a green
5. Publish or update your post/page
The theme will automatically:
- Apply your custom color as the background
- Calculate appropriate text color (black or white) based on contrast
- Override the auto-generated color from the feature image
🗒️
****Note**
This manual color override works for posts, pages, and post cards throughout your site, including the homepage featured posts section.
### Adding videos to posts and pages hero
You can add videos to your posts and pages to create engaging, dynamic content. Videos will autoplay when visitors scroll to them and pause when scrolled out of view. This feature works on post hero sections, homepage post cards, and collection pages.
###### Step-by-step to add a video
1. Create or edit a post or page in Ghost admin
2. Add a feature image (this will be used as the video poster frame)
3. Click the settings icon (⚙️) in the top right corner to open **Post/Page settings**
4. Scroll to the **Meta data** section
5. In the **Facebook description** field, paste the direct URL to your video file (e.g., `https://example.com/video.mp4`)
6. Update or publish your post/page
**Note:* The Facebook description field (og\_description) is repurposed for video URLs. Your actual meta description should be set in the *Excerpt* field instead.*
### Post options
The theme supports additional post customizations to control what appears on post pages.
###### Step-by-Step to Customize Post Options
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Post**
2. Toggle options:
- **Show author** \- Display author card with bio and social links
- **Show social share** \- Display social sharing buttons (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)
3. Click **Save**
### Email signup customization
Customize the email subscription box that appears at the bottom of posts and on the homepage.
###### Step-by-Step to Customize Email Signup
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Post**
2. Edit the following fields:
- **Email signup text** \- Main heading (default: "Subscribe to my newsletter")
- **Email signup description** \- Supporting text (default: "Subscribe to my newsletter to get the latest updates and news")
3. Click **Save**
### Footnotes
Footnotes serve as essential tools in academic and professional writing, providing valuable supplementary information without disrupting the main text.
In the Ghost admin > Post/Page, you can add footnotes by placing your footnote marker using this format:
```
This is your main text[^ Your footnote content goes here]
```
Add as many footnotes as needed throughout your content. For example:
```
Ghost websites benefit from clear documentation[^ According to usage studies, well-documented websites see 47% higher user engagement]. This is especially true for specialized themes[^ Kyoto and Braun themes consistently rank in the top 10 for user satisfaction].
```
Save and preview your post to verify the footnotes appear correctly.
- The markers should convert to numbered superscript links
- Clicking a link should scroll to the corresponding footnote
- Footnotes should appear in an ordered list at the bottom of your post
### Tags template
The tags template displays all tags used on your site in an organized grid layout.
This page is automatically available at `/tags/` after uploading the routes.yaml file. It shows:
- Tag name
- Number of posts for each tag
- Link to individual tag pages
### Individual tag pages
Each tag has its own page showing all posts with that tag.
###### Step-by-Step to Customize Tag Information:
1. Go to **Tags** in Ghost admin
2. Click on the tag you want to edit
3. Add or edit:
- Tag name
- Tag description
- Tag image
4. Click **Save**
### Author pages
Each author has their own page showing their profile and posts.
Author pages include:
- Author photo
- Author name and bio
- Social links
- Grid of author's posts
- Pagination
###### Step-by-Step to Customize Author Information:
1. Go to **Settings > Staff** in Ghost admin
2. Click on the author you want to edit
3. Add or edit:
- Profile photo
- Name
- Bio
- Location
- Website
- Social media links (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)
4. Click **Save**
### Authors page template
Create a dedicated page to showcase all your site's authors and contributors using the Authors page template.
This custom template displays authors in a 4-column grid layout, showing up to 8 authors sorted by post count (most prolific authors first).
###### Step-by-Step to Create Authors Page:
1. Go to **Pages** in Ghost admin
2. Click **New page**
3. Add a title (e.g., "Our Authors" or "Contributors")
4. (Optional) Add a feature image
5. In the **Page settings** sidebar (click the settings icon), find the **Template** dropdown
6. Select **Zpage Authors** from the template options
7. Publish
The page will automatically populate with author cards showing:
- Author profile photo
- Author name
- Number of posts
- Author bio
- Link to individual author page
> **Note:** The page content area is not used for this template—all author information is automatically pulled from your Ghost author settings.
### Collection page template
Create curated collection pages that display posts filtered by specific tags. This template is perfect for creating topic-based collections, featured content galleries, or any custom grouping of posts.
The Collection page template allows you to:
- Add custom introductory content at the top of the page
- Display posts filtered by one or more tags
- Show up to 100 posts in a grid layout
- Use the tag's accent color as the section background
###### Step-by-Step to Create Collection Page:
1. Go to **Pages** in Ghost admin
2. Click **New page**
3. Add a title for your collection (e.g., "Featured Articles" or "Design Resources")
4. (Optional) Add introductory content in the page editor—this appears above the filtered posts
5. (Optional) Add a feature image
6. In the **Page settings** sidebar (click the settings icon), find the **Template** dropdown
7. Select **Zpage Collection** from the template options
8. In the **Twitter description** field, enter the tag slug(s) you want to filter posts by
- Single tag: `design`
- Multiple tags: `design,technology`
9. Publish
---
## Other custom settings
### Table of contents
You can add a table of contents (TOC) to any post for better navigation through long-form content. The TOC automatically generates from h2 and h3 headings in your post.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Table of Contents
1. Create a new post and write your post using h2 and h3 headings
2. Right under the title, add an HTML card
3. Insert the following code:
```html
```
1. Publish and review it
**Note:* You can save this Table of content HTML and reuse in other pages by clicking on Save as snippet.*
#### Customizing Table of Contents heading levels
By default, the table of contents displays only h2\. If you want to show specific heading levels (for example, h2 and h3 headings), you can customize this using Code Injection.
###### Step-by-step to customize TOC headings
1. Go to **Settings > Code injection** in Ghost Admin
2. Add the following code to the **Site Header** section:
```html
```
1. Modify the `headingSelector` value to match your needs:
- `'h2'` \- Only h2 headings
- `'h2, h3'` \- Both h2 and h3 headings (default)
- `'h2, h3, h4'` \- h2, h3, and h4 headings
2. Click **Save**
**Note:* This code must be added to the *Site Header* section (not Site Footer) so it loads before the theme's TOC initialization script.*
### Posts per page
By default, the homepage and other listing pages display a maximum of 9 posts per page, but you can change this number.
###### Step-by-Step to Change Posts Per Page
1. You'll need to open the theme's `package.json` file in your code editor and find the following:
```json
"config": {
...
"posts_per_page": 9
...
}
```
1. Change the value of `9` to your expected value.
2. Save your `package.json` file in the root folder.
3. Re-zip the theme and upload it to Ghost.
### Google analytics
To integrate Google Analytics, I recommend using the [Google Analytics](https://ghost.org/integrations/google/?ref=themex.studio) integration by Ghost.
This official integration allows you to:
- Add your Google Analytics tracking ID
- Track pageviews automatically
- Monitor user behavior
- No code editing required
### Syntax highlighting
You can add a fenced code block by placing triple backticks ```` ``` ```` before and after the code block.
#### Basic code block (no highlighting)
```
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
This will produce a gray code block without syntax highlighting.
#### Highlighted code block
To highlight a code block, add a language alias like `css` or `js` after the opening backticks. For example:
```
```css
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
```
This will produce a colored, syntax-highlighted code block.
### Responsive tables
The responsive table will display a horizontal scroll bar if the screen is too small to display the full content. The following description applies to the table added using the markdown card.
> By default, the table adapts to the window width. If you have a table that is too wide, it will display a horizontal scroll bar when needed.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Responsive Table
1. In your post or page editor, add a **Markdown card**.
2. Add the markdown to create a table. To generate a table, you can use the tool [Markdown Tables Generator](https://www.tablesgenerator.com/markdown%5Ftables?ref=themex.studio). Below is an example:
```
| # | Heading | Heading | Heading | Heading | Heading |
|:--|:--------|:--------|:--------|:--------|:--------|
| 1 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
| 2 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
| 3 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
```
1. Publish your post or page.
### Member comments
The theme comes with [Ghost Native Comments](https://ghost.org/changelog/native-comments/?ref=themex.studio) integration.
###### Step-by-Step to Enable Comments:
1. Go to **Settings > Membership > Access**
2. Click **Edit** next to your membership settings
3. Find the **Commenting** section
4. Choose who can comment:
- All members
- Paid members only
- Nobody (disable comments)
5. Click **Save**
Comments will appear at the bottom of post pages when enabled.
### Languages
The theme is fully translatable by enabling a publication language in the settings of the Ghost Admin. Before that, you must prepare your language file.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Translation
1. Inside the `../locales/` folder, add target language files for each translatable language used on your site. For example, `fr.json` is for French, and `pl.json` is for Polish. ISO 639-1 language code must be used.
2. Translate the sentences used in the theme inside your new language files. For example, in `en.json`:
```json
{
"Subscribe": "Subscribe",
"Sign in": "Sign in",
"Account": "Account",
"Browse": "Browse",
...
}
```
1. Edit to translate into your target language (French example for `fr.json`):
```json
{
"Subscribe": "S'abonner",
"Sign in": "Se connecter",
"Account": "Compte",
"Browse": "Parcourir",
...
}
```
1. Upload the theme with the new language file.
2. Go to the **General** settings in the Ghost Admin.
3. At the top of the page, you'll see the **Publication info** section.
4. Enter the correct language code into your **Publication language** settings menu.
5. Finally, click **Save** to activate.
> **Note:** If you edited the active language, you must restart Ghost to make the changes effective. Alternatively, enter another language code and click **Save** to activate, then switch back to your code.
---
## Advanced settings
### Editing a theme's code
You will encounter information about editing theme files in many places in this documentation.
To edit files, you will need to unzip the theme archive – at this point, you will have access to the necessary files indicated in the theme documentation.
#### Edit HTML/Handlebars files
###### Step-by-Step to Edit Theme Files
1. To edit your theme files, download a copy of the theme. For this purpose, go to the **Design** settings in the Ghost Admin and click **Change theme** in the bottom left corner.
2. Use the **Advanced** dropdown menu in the upper right corner to download your theme, then unzip the theme locally.
3. Once the theme is unzipped, the files can be edited using a code editor – make the changes indicated in the theme documentation.
> **Recommended Code Editors:** You can edit files using applications such as [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/?ref=themex.studio), [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/?ref=themex.studio), or [Brackets](https://brackets.io/?ref=themex.studio). Using native text editors like TextEdit on macOS may add formatting that may cause the theme to work incorrectly.
1. After changing the theme code, re-zip the theme directory to upload it back to Ghost.
> **Creating Zip Archives:** To create a zip archive on macOS, **right-click** on the theme folder to view the context menu, then click the **Compress** option. On Windows, **right-click** on the theme folder, select **Send to**, and then select **Compressed (zipped) folder**.
1. To upload the modified theme, go to the **Design** settings in the Ghost Admin and click **Change theme** in the bottom left corner.
2. Click the **Upload theme** button in the upper right corner.
3. Once uploaded, click **Activate** to activate the theme on your site.
#### Edit CSS
The best way to make minor CSS changes is to use Ghost's built-in Code injection. The change will be applied right after you save.
If you need more powerful CSS customization, you can edit CSS files in the theme directory. This requires a more technical setup.
Follow this guide: [How to apply CSS changes in your Ghost theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-apply-css-changes-in-your-ghost-theme/)
> **Tip:** If you're only looking to make minor updates to a theme, code injection may be enough.
### Code injection
Code injection is a powerful feature for customization without editing theme files directly.
For a CSS example, you can use the code in the **Site Header** section to change colors and styling.
###### Example: Change title color and size
1. Go to **Settings > Code injection**
2. Add this code to the **Site Header** section:
```html
```
1. Click **Save**
Check out [How to use Code Injection](https://ghost.org/tutorials/use-code-injection-in-ghost/?ref=themex.studio) Ghost guide for more information.
### Theme deploy with GitHub Actions
Vincent comes integrated with the [Deploy Ghost Theme](https://github.com/marketplace/actions/deploy-ghost-theme?ref=themex.studio) GitHub action. The purpose of the GitHub action is to take the theme from the GitHub repo and send it to your website automatically.
This allows you to:
- Edit theme files locally
- Push changes to GitHub
- Automatically deploy to your Ghost site
- Version control your theme customizations
Follow this guide to set up GitHub Actions: [Streamline the deployment of your Ghost theme using GitHub Action](https://themex.studio/guides/streamline-the-deployment-of-your-ghost-theme-using-github-action/)
---
Congratulations on setting up your Vincent theme! We hope this documentation has been helpful in getting you started with creating a beautiful and functional website.
Vincent is designed to be flexible and easy to customize, offering a wide range of options to make your site unique. With its customizable homepage sections, multiple post layouts, and extensive customization options, you have everything you need to create a professional online presence that showcases your content like it matters.
If you need additional support or have questions, please visit [Themex Studio](https://themex.studio/) or consult the [Ghost Help Center](https://ghost.org/help/?ref=themex.studio).
### 🚀 Launching Vincent
URL: https://themex.studio/launching-v/
Last updated: 2025-11-12T07:44:20.000Z
Initial release of Vincent theme. Editorial Ghost theme for serious content creators. Built with strong editorial design and visual hierarchy.
### Vincent features
URL: https://themex.studio/vincent-features/
Last updated: 2025-10-30T04:45:04.000Z
Professional editorial design
Customize without code
Built for subscription growth
Nine flexible post layouts
Long-form content tools
Performance optimized
Focus on writing, not design
### Kyoto features
URL: https://themex.studio/kyoto-features/
Last updated: 2025-10-29T06:39:40.000Z
Minimal design
Flexible homepage
10+ custom page templates
Simple customization
Light/dark mode support
Built for Speed and Responsiveness
Different post layout
#### “Your themes are very thoughtful and clever with how certain features are implemented within Ghost. I've found my theme, Kyoto, to provide a great bridge to migrating from Squarespace to using Ghost”
**—* [Kris Black](https://www.writedrawcode.com/?ref=themex.studio), Visual Designer & Cartoonist
### thismortalportal.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/thismortalportal-com/
Last updated: 2025-10-24T07:43:02.000Z
_No content available._
### foxwizard.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/foxwizard-com/
Last updated: 2025-10-24T07:39:14.000Z
_No content available._
### crucialtracks.org
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/crucialtracks-org/
Last updated: 2025-10-24T07:25:15.000Z
_No content available._
### Braun features
URL: https://themex.studio/braun-features/
Last updated: 2025-10-24T07:01:39.000Z
Flexible homepage
15 customizable sections for any layout
10 templates for any purpose
Easy customization from Ghost admin
Regular updates and support
One-click demo import
Mobile-responsive design
#### “I was hunting around for a theme that had strong navigation to surface some of the content I had - and Braun had the combination of clean design, and strong CMS features. The design and feel of the site is absolutely what I was aiming for. ”
**—* [Matt Rutherford](https://mattrutherford.co.uk/?ref=themex.studio), Coach/People Manager
#### “I've been blown away by the quality of support.”
**—* [Tiffany Chu](https://tiffanychu.ghost.io/?ref=themex.studio), Book Author
### cedric.fm
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/cedric-fm/
Last updated: 2025-10-23T05:40:54.000Z
_No content available._
### primaryfocus.tv
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/primaryfocus-tv/
Last updated: 2025-10-23T05:37:36.000Z
_No content available._
### thelifeinsurance.pro
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/thelifeinsurance-pro/
Last updated: 2025-10-23T05:36:57.000Z
_No content available._
### aithena-tech.de
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/aithena-tech-de/
Last updated: 2025-10-23T05:36:00.000Z
_No content available._
### oleandercraw.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/oleandercraw-com/
Last updated: 2025-10-23T05:35:03.000Z
_No content available._
### generator.ghost.io
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/generator-ghost-io/
Last updated: 2025-10-23T05:33:23.000Z
_No content available._
### Singapore features
URL: https://themex.studio/singapore-features/
Last updated: 2025-10-23T05:00:44.000Z
6 homepage layouts
5 post layouts
Dropdown menu support
No coding required
Light/dark modes
Fully responsive
Complete Ghost feature support
#### “The Singapore theme has great functionality and is easy to use. The documentation guide is extremely thorough and provides easy to follow step by step instructions for how to customize the theme in Ghost.”
**—* Oleander Craw, Book Author
### goto-code.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/goto-code-com/
Last updated: 2025-10-22T15:49:11.000Z
_No content available._
### roykohn.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/roykohn-com/
Last updated: 2025-10-22T15:41:02.000Z
_No content available._
### internet-scout.de
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/internet-scout-de/
Last updated: 2025-10-22T15:40:31.000Z
_No content available._
### brycehalliday.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/brycehalliday-com/
Last updated: 2025-10-22T15:39:47.000Z
_No content available._
### Hero highlight & animation effects
URL: https://themex.studio/hero-highlight-animation-effects/
Last updated: 2025-10-22T15:07:35.000Z
- Added progressive [text reveal animation](https://themex.studio/docs/kyoto-docs/#extensive-option) that highlights words as users scroll through hero sections
- Enhanced hero visual effects with improved blur transitions and opacity animations
- Fixed margin spacing inconsistencies in hero sections
### Hero section styling and animation
URL: https://themex.studio/hero-section-styling-and-animation/
Last updated: 2025-10-22T14:55:45.000Z
- Improved hero intro text highlighting with better color contrast using tertiary text color and fine-tune [the text reveal animation](https://themex.studio/docs/naoto-docs/#extensive-option).
- Enhanced hero section spacing with consistent margins between elements
### UI refinements and dark mode updates
URL: https://themex.studio/ui-refinements-and-dark-mode-updates/
Last updated: 2025-10-22T14:49:21.000Z
- Added dark mode styling for Pure color combination with enhanced contrast
- Updated post and feed metadata separators from "//" to a cleaner "✻" symbol for better visual consistency
- Increased logo board image size from 80px to 12rem for improved visibility and readability
- Updated demo content and internal tags with refreshed examples and configurations
### 🚀 Launching Rand
URL: https://themex.studio/launching-rand/
Last updated: 2025-10-22T15:01:14.000Z
Initial release of Rand theme. When minimalist magazine meets personal portfolio design with ghost 6+ compatible.
0:00
/0:07
1×
### Rand Docs
URL: https://themex.studio/docs/rand-docs/
Last updated: 2026-02-09T08:29:43.000Z
##### On this page
### Introduction
Since this is a Ghost theme documentation, you are assumed to have a basic knowledge of the Ghost CMS.
If you're starting with Ghost, it is best to see the guides in the official [Ghost Help Center](https://ghost.org/help/?ref=themex.studio) – check this out, and you'll have all the available information.
---
## Getting Started
### Welcome
The Rand theme concept is built for flexibility and easy customization. It leverages existing Ghost features of tags & pages to help you customize your own Ghost site from the Ghost admin interface. Rand is a minimalist magazine meets personal portfolio theme designed for clean, elegant content presentation.
The theme offers these key features:
- Customizable homepage with multiple section components
- Landing page builder using section components
- Resource template for useful listings
- Blog template with horizontal tag navigation
- Linktree-like template for featured links
- Series template for linear reading experiences
- Event calendar
- Light and dark mode
- Beautiful color presets
- Multiple blog posts layouts with table of content support
- About page template for personal profiles
- Rotating gallery section for visual showcases
### Install Theme
#### Upload Zip File
To begin, **unzip** the downloaded package by double-clicking it on a Mac or by right-clicking and selecting "Extract All" on Windows.
Inside the new **Rand folder**, you will find the Rand.zip theme files.
###### Step-by-Step to Upload the Theme to Your Website
1. Log in to your Ghost website admin (example.com/ghost).
2. Click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to **Design & branding > Theme > Change theme**.
4. Click **Upload theme** and select the Rand.zip theme file.
5. Once uploaded, click **Activate now** to activate the theme.
### Upload Routes.yaml
The `routes.yaml` is required if you want to show the following pages:
1. Blog
2. Tags
3. Archive
If you don't want any page above, you can skip this step.
###### Step-by-Step to Upload the routes file:
1. Unzip the Rand.zip theme file.
2. In your Ghost admin, click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to **Labs** and click **Open**.
4. Click the **Upload routes YAML** button.
5. Select and upload the `routes.yaml` file inside the theme folder.
6. Done.
### Import demo content (optional)
Demo content accelerates your theme setup by providing a fully configured example of the theme's capabilities. Instead of building from scratch, you'll have working examples of content structures, internal tags that showcase best practices for your theme's features.
Before importing demo content, export your existing content as a backup.
0:00
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###### To import the demo content:
1. Navigate to **Settings > Advanced > Import/Export**
2. Under **Import**, upload the `demo-content.json` file from your theme directory
3. The demo content includes all pages and posts on the demo site.
###### To manage demo content:
1. Go to **Pages/Posts**
2. Filter by the `Demo` tag
3. Edit or replace the content with your own
The demo content provides a foundation to understand the theme's structure and capabilities. You can modify, remove, or expand upon these sections using the theme's built-in components and layouts.
### Import Internal Tags (Optional)
This step is to import all the available tags we will use to create content on the homepage.
After importing tags, you can select them from Ghost admin without worrying about typo mistakes that can cause the theme to not work as expected.
0:00
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1×
###### Step-by-Step to Import Internal Tags:
1. In your Ghost admin, go to **Settings > Advanced > Import/Export**.
2. Under **Export**, click **Export content.** This ensures you have a full backup of your current data. Once done, proceed to the next step.
3. Under **Import**, click **Universal import**.
4. Select and upload the `internal-tags.json` file from the unzipped theme folder.
5. Now, navigate to the **Tags** page within your admin panel to view all available tags under **Internal tags**.
6. That's all for the theme installation!
---
## General Settings
### Colors
The theme supports changing the Accent color and offers different color combinations.
#### Set Accent Color
The Accent color is the primary color used throughout your publication theme in buttons, social sharing hovers, etc. You can change the theme Accent color from the Ghost admin.
Change the Accent color from the admin **Settings > Design & Branding > Customize > Brand > Accent color**.
#### Preset Color Combinations
The theme provides different color combinations. Choose the one that fits your style:
- Default
- Pure
- Onyx
- Rust
- Fossil
- Mint
- Ember
- Ice
###### Step-by-Step to Choose Your Preferred Color Combination:
1. Change the Accent color from the admin **Settings > Design & Branding > Customize > Theme**.
2. Click on **Color combinations** and select your color combination.
Preview and Save.
Color combination options
### Light / Dark Mode
You can easily switch between light, dark, system, or user-defined modes directly from your Ghost admin panel.
The theme supports:
- Light
- Dark
- System-based
- User defined
###### Step-by-Step to Customize
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Brand** from the admin menu
2. Choose a preferred mode by clicking on **Appearance**
3. Click **Save**
Light/dark mode settings
### Typography
Depending on the selected option, this setting will change the heading and body text fonts.
#### Custom Fonts
Ghost provides built-in custom font functionality, allowing users to select heading and body fonts from a curated list directly in the admin interface.
###### Step-by-Step to Change Fonts:
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize > Brand**
2. Under **Typography**, select:
- **Title font** for headings
- **Body font** for main text
3. Click **Save**
Typography settings
#### Host your own Fonts
You can change any font from the Ghost admin interface using Code Injection and Google Fonts, or your own font. For example, if you want to use "Inter" and "EB Garamond" fonts from Google Fonts, your code in Code Injection will be:
```html
```
You can also use your custom local font by including it in your theme with a code editor. This technique is more advanced but allows you to add 'your own' fonts.
[Check out the detailed guide to add your own fonts](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-add-your-own-custom-fonts-to-ghost-theme/)
### Header Navigation
###### Step-by-Step to Add an Item to Header Navigation:
1. Go to **Settings > Navigation > Primary Navigation**.
2. Type the page's name in the label field as you'd like it to appear on your menu.
3. Click on the item's URL. The blog URL will already be auto-populated.
4. When satisfied with your page configurations, click the **Save** button.
### Header logo
Header profile displays Publication logo from **Settings → Design & branding → Brand**
### Header Call-to-Action Buttons
You can add your own CTA text and link in the header. If you leave it empty, the button will be hidden.
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme**
2. Scroll to **Navigation buttons**:
- Add the text to **Header action text**. Leave it empty if you want to hide it.
- Add link to **Header action link**
Example configurations:
- Contact button:
- Text: "Contact Us"
- Link: "/contact"
- External link:
- Text: "View Pricing"
- Link: "https://example.com/pricing"
### Navigation Dropdown Menus
You can create dropdown sub-menus in your Ghost site navigation to organize your content more effectively and improve site navigation. This feature helps visitors quickly find specific pages under broader categories.
Example of dropdown menu
Follow these steps to set up dropdown navigation menus:
1. In your Ghost Admin panel, go to **Settings → Navigation**
2. Add your main menu items normally
3. To create submenu items, add them with a dash (-) prefix before the child item
4. Arrange items in the order you want them to appear
Example Settings
### White Logo on Dark Mode
If you use a black logo image and enable dark mode, you would need your logo visible when users enable dark mode.
You can use Code injection and insert this CSS to support different logo color on light/dark mode
```html
```
### Footer
Footer navigation example
Like the header, you can add the footer navigation links from the Ghost Admin **Settings > Navigation > Secondary**
To group footer items into different groups, add `#` before the name.
Footer navigation groups
---
## Homepage
### Homepage sections
The Rand theme is designed for flexibility and easy customization, allowing you to build a dynamic homepage using Ghost's built-in features. You can manage your homepage sections directly from the Ghost admin interface, no coding required!
After uploading the theme and uploading the routes.yaml file, the homepage is up with several default sections including Hero, Gallery, Highlights, and Blog. If they are all you need, you can skip this section.
But if you want to add more sections to the homepage, do follow the guide below.
### Homepage Layout Structure
The Rand theme divided into two part: Top and Bottom.
#### Top part
Including those sections
- Hero section
- Highlights section
- Home gallery
- Logos section
Homepage top part
#### Bottom part
The bottom part uses a unique two-column layout for the homepage content area.
**Left Column (Main Content):**
- Contains the main homepage sections like Blog, Showcases, Blocks, and all other available sections listed here.
- Displays the primary content sections configured in your homepage settings
**Right Column (Sidebar):**
- Contains the subscription box with email signup
- Displays secondary sections like Events and latest Now sections
This layout creates a balanced homepage that emphasizes your main content while providing a dedicated space for subscription and timely information.
#### How it works
The Rand theme homepage is built from pages that you create in Ghost admin. Each section is controlled by:
1. Special tags - Internal tags that define what type of section it is
2. Configuration setting - Controls which sections actually appear on your homepage
3. Publish dates - Determines the order of sections
### List of sections and its slug
| Section Name | Tag to Use | Corresponding Slug | Usage |
| --------------- | ------------------------ | ---------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Home Intro | #home-intro | hash-home-intro | Display the intro section on homepage |
| Gallery | #home-gallery | hash-home-gallery | Display rotating gallery images with optional links |
| Highlights | #section-highlights | hash-section-highlights | Display a grid of highlighted/featured content or resources. |
| Addons | #section-addons | hash-section-addons | Display a grid of add-ons or resources. |
| Blocks | #section-blocks | hash-section-blocks | Show a grid of blocks (e.g., products, features). |
| Blocks Vertical | #section-blocks-vertical | hash-section-blocks-vertical | Show blocks in a vertical layout. |
| Showcases | #section-showcases | hash-section-showcases | Highlight showcase items or projects. |
| Testimonials | #section-testimonials | hash-section-testimonials | Display testimonials from users or clients. |
| Experiences | #section-experiences | hash-section-experiences | List work experiences or milestones. |
| Static Banner | #section-static-banner | hash-section-static-banner | Show a static banner section. |
| Static Text | #section-static-text | hash-section-static-text | Display a static text section. |
| Custom Posts | #section-custom-posts | hash-section-custom-posts | Show a row of specific posts by tag. |
| Now | #section-now | hash-section-now | Display the latest 'Now' post (see Now page instructions). |
| Custom Content | #section-custom-content | hash-section-custom-content | Add any custom content from a page |
| Events | #section-events | hash-section-events | List events or event cards. |
| Logos | #section-logos | hash-section-logos | Display a logo wall or list of logos. |
**Notes on using internal tags:**
- In the page editor, find the **Tags** field and type the tag (e.g., `#section-addons`)
- You can easily see the pattern between tag name and its slug. Tags with `#` prefix are added a label `hash-` before the name
- It only works when the tag is the first one
- Internal tags start with a `#` and are not visible to visitors, so your site is clean from search engines.
### Arrange Section Order
The order of homepage sections is determined by the **publish date** of each page, older pages show first. To change the order:
1. Go to **Pages** in Ghost admin.
2. Click on the page of the section page you want to move.
3. In **Page settings**, adjust the **Publish date**. Older dates appear first.
4. Click **Update** to save changes.
### Sections Configuration
You can control which sections appear on the homepage from the theme settings.
You can easily add/remove section showings on the homepage. You can do that from Theme's Settings at **Settings** → **Design & branding** → **Customize** → **Theme** → **Homepage sections**
#### Default Section
**Homepage sections** contains a comma-separated list of section tags that controls what appears on your homepage.
By default, the theme displays Experiences, Testimonials, and Custom Posts in the left column, with permanent Hero, Gallery, Highlights/Logos, and Blog sections.
```
hash-section-experiences,hash-section-testimonials,hash-section-custom-posts
```
**Note:** The Gallery, Highlights, and Logos sections are configured separately and appear in the upper section of the homepage automatically when content is tagged appropriately.
#### Adding a Section
Add the section tag to the Homepage sections:
```
hash-section-showcases,hash-section-static-text,hash-section-logos,hash-section-testimonials
```
↳ Added Testimonials section
#### Removing a Section
Delete the section tag from the Homepage sections:
```
hash-section-showcases,hash-section-static-text
```
↳ Removed Logos section
### Hero Section
The hero section is permanently set to the top section of the homepage.
The theme supports both simple and extensive text with reveal animation on scroll, giving you more flexibility for your homepage introduction.
#### Default option
By default, the theme shows the Site title and description from General settings in the hero.
###### Step-by-Step to change default option
1. Log in to your Ghost Admin dashboard.
2. Go to **Settings** → **General settings** → **Title & description** → Edit
3. Edit Site title and Site description to change the content.
4. Save and refresh the homepage
#### Extensive option
For more extensive hero text with formatting options and animation.
###### Step-by-Step to use Extensive option
1. Log in to your Ghost Admin dashboard.
2. Click on **Pages** in the left sidebar.
3. Click **New page** to create a new page.
4. Add your hero text content in the editor. You can:
- Format text with **bold**, *italic*, or other styles
- Add multiple paragraphs, headings, images, etc.
- Include links or other content elements
5. Add the tag `#home-intro` to the page (important!)
- Click the settings icon (⚙️) in the top right
- Go to the "Tags" section
- Type and select `#home-intro`
6. To add reveal animation, add the second additional tag `#animate` to the Tags section
7. Publish the page when you're done.
Example of hero section page settings
#### Hero Actions
Choosing to show social links, subscription box or just nothing.
###### Step-by-Step to set hero action
1. Log in to your Ghost Admin dashboard.
2. Go to **Settings** → **Site** → **Design & branding** → **Customize**
3. Go to **Theme** tab and find the **Homepage** section.
4. Locate the **Hero actions** dropdown, select the option you want
1. **Social links:** show the author's Social Links
2. **Subscription form:** show the subscription box
3. None: No action shown
5. Save and refresh the homepage
Hero actions settings
###### Edit Author Social Links
1. In the Ghost Admin Settings, go to Staff and select the primary author whose social links you want to display. (Note: The primary author is the first author added in the Authors field of the `#section-hero` page we created above)
2. Add your social profiles (such as Website, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Threads, Mastodon, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram) in the corresponding fields.
3. Save your changes.
### Gallery Section
The gallery section displays a collection of rotating images on your homepage, creating an engaging visual showcase. Each gallery item can optionally link to its content page or external URLs, making it perfect for portfolios, photo galleries, or featured work.
Gallery section on homepage
The gallery automatically creates a rotation effect with images positioned at different angles to create visual interest.
###### Gallery Content Source
You can choose whether your gallery pulls content from Posts or Pages.
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Homepage**
2. Find **Gallery content source** setting
3. Select either **Posts** or **Pages**
1. When using **Posts** as the source, **posts** tagged with `#home-gallery` will be shown.
2. When using **Pages** as the source, **pages** tagged with `#home-gallery` will be shown.
4. Click **Save**
###### Step-by-Step to Add Gallery Section
1. Create posts/pages (depend onf Gallery Content Source above) with featured images for each gallery item you want to display.
2. Tag each post with `#home-gallery` (this is an internal tag that won't be visible to visitors). If you want static item (instead of link), add `#no-link` tag.
3. The gallery will automatically display up to 6 posts tagged with this tag.
4. Images are automatically optimized for responsive display.
###### Gallery Link
**When gallery links are enabled:**
- Posts with a **Canonical URL** will link to the external URL and open in a new tab
- Posts without a Canonical URL will link to the post
**When gallery links are disabled (with** `#no-link`**):**
- Images are displayed without clickable functionality
- Creates a purely visual gallery experience
Example setting for gallery item with no link
### Highlights Section
Display a grid of highlighted or featured content prominently on your homepage. This section is perfect for showcasing your most important work, featured articles, or key offerings. The highlights section displays content in a compact, visually appealing grid format.
Highlights section
###### Setup Highlights Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be shown on the homepage.
3. **\[⭐️ Important\]** Add `#section-highlights` to Tags input.
1. To show **posts** instead of **pages**, add `#source-posts` tag as well.
4. **\[⭐️ Important\]** Click on **X Card → X description** field, add the tag slug of the page you want to show as the content. This will 'filter' specific pages for this section. You can filter multiple tags. i.e. putting `featured,highlights,showcase` if you want to show pages that are tagged as `Featured, Highlights, Showcase`
5. If you want to create separate page showing Highlights content, select **Page Collection** in Template — the View all link will lead to this page.
6. View all link options
1. By default, **View all** will link to that separate page
2. If you want it to lead to a different page, add the new **URL in Meta data → Canonical URL**
3. If you want to hide it, add `#no-title` to the Tags
7. Publish.
☝️ To find the exact tag slug, go to Tags in the Ghost admin home, click on the tag name, then copy the text in the Slug field.
###### Add Highlights Content
Blog Feed Section
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** (or **Posts** if you added `#source-posts`) > click on **New page**.
2. Enter information for this project. Page title as the title, Excerpt as the project description, X description as eyebrow sub-header (above the title), and featured image.
3. Tag the page with the tag you used in the **X description** field in the showcase section page above (e.g. Works)
4. (Optional) If you want to lead visitors to an external site, add the URL at **Metadata > Canonical URL**. By default, the link will lead to the Page detail.
5. (Optional) If you want to show a highlight text, add the text to **Facebook card → Facebook description**
6. Publish.
7. Repeat the same steps to create different content blocks for the showcase section.
### Blog Feed Section
The blog section will contain the latest posts that you published and a shortcut link to go to the /blog page.
By default, the blog section is shown right under the hero section. You can change the section name in the Settings (**Settings** → **Site** → **Design & branding** → **Theme** → **Home feed title**).
But if you want to easily change the order of the blog section to any position, follow these steps:
###### Step-by-Step to Add the Blog Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new page.
2. Give it a title, any name. This title will be the title shown on the homepage and the blog page.
3. From the **Page settings**, ensure that the **Page URL** setting is `blog`. This is the most important step.
4. Publish and open the homepage to check.
#### Different Post Styles
Rand supports different post styles and different featured image aspect ratios.
You can set your favorite style at **Ghost admin > Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Feed layout** and **Feed image orientation** for the post image ratio (Landscape, Square, Portrait).
The post style will be applied across the site, including the homepage, blog, and related posts under the post detail page.
#### Exclude Posts from Blog Feed on Homepage
Control which posts appear on your homepage feed by excluding specific tags.
###### Step-by-Step to Exclude Posts
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme**
2. Find **Excluded tags**
3. Enter tag slugs separated by commas (e.g., `internal,draft,private`)
4. Click **Save**
Posts with these tags won't appear in the homepage feed but remain accessible via direct links or tag pages.
### Custom Posts Row Sections
Posts row section
This section allows you to display a row of specific posts filtered by a tag on your homepage.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Posts Row Sections on Homepage
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be shown on the homepage.
3. In Page settings, add `#section-custom-posts` to the Tags input.
4. In Template dropdown, choose **Page Collection** (This will create a new page showing those posts)
5. Click on **X Card** and add the tag slug of the posts you want to show in this row on the Homepage. i.e. putting `newsletter` if you want to show posts that are tagged as `Newsletter`
6. Publish and preview it on your homepage.
### Logos Section
Sometimes you want to show some kind of social proof, and a logo board can help achieve that.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Logo Board
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the homepage.
3. Upload all logos you want to show on the homepage. Note: Don't add any line breaks above, between, or after the Images. It will create some odd alignment.
4. In the Page Setting sidebar, add a tag named: `#section-logos`.
5. Publish and check your homepage.
Example of logo section settings
☝️ If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag.
### Showcase Section
Highlight showcase items, such as portfolio pieces, case studies, or featured projects.
Showcase section
###### Step-by-Step to Add Showcase Section on Homepage
1. In Ghost admin, create a new page.
2. Give it a title, any name. This title will be the title shown on the homepage and the blog page.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-showcase` to Tags input.
1. To show **posts** instead of **pages**, add `#source-posts` tag as well.
4. \[⭐️ Important\] Click on **X Card → X description** field, add the tag slug of the page you want to show as the content. This will 'filter' specific Pages for this section. i.e. putting `works` if you want to show pages that are tagged as `Works`
5. If you want to create separate page showing Showcase content, select **Page Collection** in Template — the View all link will lead to this page.
6. View all link options
1. By default, **View all** will link to that separate page
2. If you want it to lead to a different page, add the new **URL in Meta data → Canonical URL**
3. If you want to hide it, add `#no-title` to the Tags
Publish.
Now the showcase section is visible on the homepage. Next, to add content for that section.
#### Add Showcase Items
###### Step-by-Step to Add Showcase Items
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** (or **Posts** if you added `#source-posts`) > click on **New page**.
2. Enter information for this project. Page title as the title, Excerpt as the project description, X description as eyebrow sub-header (above the title), and featured image.
3. Tag the page with the tag you used in the **X description** field in the showcase section page above (e.g. Works)
4. (Optional) If you want to lead visitors to an external site, add the URL at **Metadata > Canonical URL**. By default, the link will lead to the Page detail.
5. (Optional) If you want to use the video as the thumbnail, paste the video URL to **Facebook card → Facebook description**
6. Publish.
7. Repeat the same steps to create different content blocks for the showcase section.
Example of showcase item settings
#### Change Showcase Layout
For the showcase card, the theme provides some showcase item layout options.
1. Go to **Ghost admin > Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Showcase card style**
2. Select your choice.
3. Save.
Showcase layout options
### Blocks Sections
Display a grid of blocks, such as products, features, or services.
###### Setup Blocks Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be shown on the homepage and the blog page.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-blocks` to Tags input. To show **posts** instead of **pages**, add `#source-posts` tag as well.
4. \[⭐️ Important\] Click on **X Card → X description** field, add the tag slug of the page you want to show as the content. This will 'filter' specific pages for this section. You can filter multiple tags. i.e. putting `goods,health,food` if you want to show pages that are tagged as `Goods, Health, Food`
5. If you want to create separate page showing Showcase content, select **Page Collection** in Template — the View all link will lead to this page. 6\. View all link options
1. By default, **View all** will link to that separate page
2. If you want it to lead to a different page, add the new **URL in Meta data → Canonical URL**
3. If you want to hide it, add `#no-title` to the Tags
6. Publish.
☝️ To find the exact tag slug, go to Tags in the Ghost admin home, click on the tag name, then copy the text in the Slug field.
Repeat these two steps to create different blocks sections on the homepage. You can have as many resource sections as you want.
###### Add Blocks Content
Refer to [Step-by-Step to Add Showcase Items](#step-by-step-to-add-showcase-section-on-homepage) steps. They work the same way.
Resource card anatomy
### Blocks Vertical Section
Show blocks in a vertical (column) layout, ideal for books or vertical image lists.
###### Setup Blocks Vertical Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be shown on the homepage and the blog page.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-blocks-vertical` to Tags input.
1. To show **posts** instead of **pages**, add `#source-posts` tag as well.
4. \[⭐️ Important\] Click on **X Card → X description** field, add the tag slug of the page you want to show as the content. This will 'filter' specific pages for this section. You can filter multiple tags. i.e. putting `book,health,food` if you want to show pages that are tagged as `Book, Health, Food`
5. If you want to create separate page showing Showcase content, select **Page Collection** in Template — the View all link will lead to this page. 6\. View all link options
1. By default, **View all** will link to that separate page
2. If you want it to lead to a different page, add the new **URL in Meta data → Canonical URL**
3. If you want to hide it, add `#no-title` to the Tags
Publish.
Blocks vertical section settings
###### Add Blocks Vertical Content
Refer to [Step-by-Step to Add Showcase Items](#step-by-step-to-add-showcase-section-on-homepage) steps. They work the same way.
Vertical resource card anatomy
### Addons Section
Showcase a grid of add-ons, plugins, or resources you want to highlight. Great for listing tools, downloads, or partner products.
Addons section
###### Setup Addons Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be shown on the homepage and the blog page.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-addons` to Tags input. To show **posts** instead of **pages**, add `#source-posts` tag as well.
4. \[⭐️ Important\] Click on **X Card → X description** field, add the tag slug of the page you want to show as the content. This will 'filter' specific pages for this section. You can filter multiple tags. i.e. putting `book,health,food` if you want to show pages that are tagged as `Book, Health, Food`
5. If you want to create separate page showing Showcase content, select **Page Collection** in Template — the View all link will lead to this page. 6\. View all link options
1. By default, **View all** will link to that separate page
2. If you want it to lead to a different page, add the new **URL in Meta data → Canonical URL**
3. If you want to hide it, add `#no-title` to the Tags
Publish.
Addons section settings
###### Add Addons Content
Refer to [Step-by-Step to Add Showcase Items](#step-by-step-to-add-showcase-section-on-homepage) steps. They work the same way.
Addons card anatomy
### Testimonials Section
Display testimonials from your users, clients, or partners.
To add a testimonials section, create a new page, give it a title, then add an internal tag `#section-testimonials` in the page settings.
Testimonials section
###### Step-by-Step to Add Testimonial Section
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the Homepage.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-testimonials` to the Tags field.
4. In the page content, add a new Product card. You can find this card by clicking on the + icon on the left side of the editor or by typing `/product` in the editor, then select the **Product** option.
5. On the product card, fill in the details:
- Title is the testimonial main text.
- Description shows a person's name and job title.
- Image as a profile picture.
- Stars as a rating.
6. Add more Product cards to add more testimonials.
7. Publish.
Example of testimonial section settings
### Static Text Section
The static text section is useful for adding custom text on the homepage, such as your services, working principles, or values.
Static text section
###### Step-by-Step to Add Static Text Section
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the Homepage.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-static-text` to the Tags field.
4. In the page content, add a new Product card. You can find this card by clicking on the + icon on the left side of the editor or by typing `/product` in the editor, then select the **Product** option.
5. On the product card, fill in the title, description, image, and link (optional).
6. Add more Product cards to add more static text cards.
7. Publish.
☝️ If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag.
Example of static text section settings
If you want to create multiple sections using Static text, create a new page and repeat the same steps above.
### Static Banner Section
If you prefer to show static images instead of text, you can use the static banner section.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Banner Text Section
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the Homepage.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-static-banner` to the Tags field.
4. In the page content, add a new Product card. You can find this card by clicking on the + icon on the left side of the editor or by typing `/product` in the editor, then select the **Product** option.
5. On the product card, fill in the title, description, image, and link (optional).
6. Add more Product cards to add more static text cards.
7. Publish.
☝️ If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag.
### Experiences Section
List your work experiences, milestones, or career highlights.
Work experiences section
###### Step-by-Step to Add Experiences Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the Homepage.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-experiences` to the Tags input.
4. In the page content, add a new Product card. You can find this card by clicking on the + icon on the left side of the editor or by typing `/product` in the editor, then select the **Product** option.
5. On the product card, fill in the title, description, image, and link (optional).
6. Add more Product cards to add more static text cards.
7. Publish.
Example of work experiences section settings
### Now Section
Display the latest post tagged as "Now" or any custom tag — perfect for sharing what you're currently focused on.
Now section
###### Step-by-Step to Add Now Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be shown on the homepage.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-now` to the Tags input.
4. \[⭐️ Important\] Click on **X Card → X description** field, add the tag slug of the post you want to show as the content. This will 'filter' specific pages for this section. i.e. putting `now` if you want to show pages that are tagged as `Now`
5. If you want to create separate page showing Showcase content, select **Page Now** in Template — the View all link will lead to this page. 6\. View all link options
1. By default, **View all** will link to that separate page
2. If you want it to lead to a different page, add the new **URL in Meta data → Canonical URL**
3. If you want to hide it, add `#no-title` to the Tags
Publish.
Example of now section settings
Now you need to add Now content:
###### Step-by-Step to Add Now Content
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Posts** \> click on **New posts**.
2. Give it any title and add your content (Now section won't display Post title)
3. Tag the posts with the tag you used in the **X description** field in the Now section page above (e.g. Now)
4. Publish.
5. Repeat the same steps to create different content blocks for the showcase section.
The latest post tagged with "Now" will be displayed in this section.
Now content example
### Custom Content Section
This section allows you to display any custom content of a specific page on the homepage.
Content block section
###### Step-by-Step to Add Custom Content Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
1. Give it a title; this title won't be shown on the homepage.
2. Add `#section-custom-content` to the Tags input.
3. Publish.
Example of content block section settings
### Event Calendar Section
This section shows a list of upcoming events with dates.
Event calendar section
###### Step-by-Step to Add Event Calendar Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new page.
2. Give it a title, any name. This title will be the title shown on the homepage and the blog page.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-events` to Tags input.
4. \[⭐️ Important\] Click on **X Card → X description** field, add the tag slug of the page you want to show as the content. This will 'filter' specific Pages for this section. i.e. putting `event` if you want to show pages that are tagged as `Event`
5. If you want to create separate page showings Showcase content, select **Page Collection** in Template — the View all link will lead to this page.
6. View all link options
1. By default, **View all** will link to that separate page
2. If you want it to lead to a different page, add the new **URL in Meta data → Canonical URL**
3. If you want to hide it, add `#no-title` to the Tags
7. Publish.
Example of event calendar section settings
Now you need to add Event content:
Event content example
###### Step-by-Step to Add Event Content
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter information for this project. Page title as the title, Excerpt as the project description, X description as eyebrow sub-header (above the title).
3. Choose event dates by using the Publish date. Since Ghost doesn't support future dates, use this data to display event dates. We only show the date and month, so to show a "future date", use the date from the past year. Example: today is Jul 29, 2025\. You have an event in Aug 2, 2025\. To show that date, select Aug 2, 2024 as the Publish date.
- If you upload a feature image, it will replace the date as the thumbnail.
4. Tag the page with the tag you used in the **X description** field in the Event page above (e.g. Event).
5. (Optional) If you want to lead visitors to an external site, add the URL at **Metadata > Canonical URL**. By default, the link will lead to the Page detail.
6. Publish.
Repeat the same steps to create different content blocks for the showcase section.
Event card anatomy
### Other Customizations
#### Hide Section Title
If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` to the Tags input.
#### Hide Section Link
If you want to hide the link section, add `#no-link` to the Tags input.
---
## Other Pages
### Blog Page
A blog page displays all your posts in Ghost.
Blog page example
☝️ **Important:** Ensure you upload the `routes.yaml` file.
If you've already created a blog section on the homepage, you can skip this step to create a blog page.
###### Step-by-Step to Create the Blog Page:
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Add a title (e.g., 'Blog').
3. Add a description or feature image for this page (optional). If you want to add a video, add the video URL to **Facebook card > Facebook description**
4. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**.
5. Ensure the **Page URL** is `blog`.
6. Click **Publish**.
Now you have a blog page with the URL `yourblog.com/blog`.
#### Blog Category Navigation
By default, the blog category navigation shows the top 5 tags sorted by the number of posts for each tag. You can also define which tags you want to display in the header.
Blog category header
###### Step-by-Step to Add Custom Items on the Category Header
1. From Ghost admin, go to **Settings** \> **Design & Branding** \> **Theme**.
2. In **Blog category navigation**, enter the slugs for each tag, separated by commas without any whitespace (e.g., `design,code,mindset`).
3. Click **Save**.
Example of blog category settings
### Collection Template
This template lets you create a custom page that shows your own content at the top, followed by a section that automatically displays all pages tagged with one or more tags you specify.
This is perfect for building a focused collection, such as a resource list, a collection of case studies, or a single-topic showcase.
Collection template example 1
###### Step-by-Step to Create a Collection Page:
1. **Create a new page** in Ghost admin (Pages > New page).
2. **Add your main content** in the editor. This will appear at the top of your landing page.
3. In the **Page settings** (top right corner):
- **Tags:** Use one of those tags to set the style for the content item: `#section-addons`, `#section-blocks`, `#section-blocks-vertical`
- **Template:** Select `Page Collection` from the Template dropdown.
- **Twitter Description:** Enter one or more tags (comma-separated) you want to show for the section below your main content. For example, entering `resources,downloads` will show all pages tagged with either `resources` or `downloads`.
4. (Optional): You can set the Page access to public or Member only to define who can see the collection.
5. **Publish** your page.
You can create as many collections as you want with the same steps.
Collection page settings
### Landing Page Template
This template lets you create a custom page that shows different sections like we show on the home page.
This is perfect for building focused landing pages, such as a resource list, a collection of case studies, or a multi-topic showcase.
Landing page template example
#### List of applicable sections and its slug for Landing Page Template
| Section Name | Tag to Use | Description |
| --------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Highlights | #section-highlights | Display a grid of highlighted/featured content or resources. |
| Addons | #section-addons | Display a grid of add-ons or resources. |
| Blocks | #section-blocks | Show a grid of blocks (e.g., products, features). |
| Blocks Vertical | #section-blocks-vertical | Show blocks in a vertical layout. |
| Showcases | #section-showcases | Highlight showcase items or projects. |
| Testimonials | #section-testimonials | Display testimonials from users or clients. |
| Experiences | #section-experiences | List work experiences or milestones. |
| Static Banner | #section-static-banner | Show a static banner section. |
| Static Text | #section-static-text | Display a static text section. |
| Custom Posts | #section-custom-posts | Show a row of specific posts by tag. |
| Now | #section-now | Display the latest 'Now' post (see Now page instructions). |
| Custom Content | #section-custom-content | Add custom content or HTML. |
| Events | #section-events | List events or event cards. |
| Logos | #section-logos | Display a logo wall or list of logos. |
###### Step-by-Step to Create a Landing Page
1. **Create a new page** in Ghost admin (Pages > New page).
2. **Add your main content** in the editor. This will appear at the top of your landing page.
3. In the **Page settings** (top right corner):
- **Template:** Select `Page Landing Page` from the Template dropdown.
- **Twitter Description:** Enter one or more tags (comma-separated) of sections you want to show. For example, entering `hash-section-addons,hash-section-blocks` will show two sections that the pages tagged with either `hash-section-addons` or `hash-section-blocks`.
4. (Optional): You can set the Page access to public or Member only to define who can see the collection.
5. **Publish** your page.
You can create as many collections as you want with the same steps.
Landing page settings
### Timeline Template
Timeline shows content of posts filtered by tags.It shows the newest posts first. It's ideal for showing your milestones by time for timelines.
Timeline template example
###### Step-by-Step to Create a Timeline Page
1. **Create a new page** in Ghost admin (Pages > New page).
2. **Add a title** (e.g., "My Timeline" or the name of your collection).
3. **Add an introduction** or overview in the content editor (optional).
4. In **Page settings**:
- Set the **Template** to `Page Timeline` or `Page Timeline Minimal`. Timeline Minimal will show the feature image and the excerpt of the post, while Timeline shows the whole content of the post.
- In **X Description**, enter the tag slug that all posts in your series will use (e.g., `timeline`).
5. **Publish** your page.
6. Tag each post you want to include in the timeline with the same tag you entered in X Description.
Following these steps, the page will display all the posts tagged as `timeline` and sort them by publish time, newest first.
Timeline page settings
### About Page Template
The About page template is specifically designed for creating compelling personal or company about pages. It features a unique layout that combines your content with a portrait image and social links, perfect for profiles.
About page template example
###### Step-by-Step to Create an About Page
1. **Create a new page** in Ghost admin (Pages > New page).
2. **Add your title, excerpt and featured image**
3. **Add your main content** in the editor - this will appear in the left column.
4. In **Page settings**:
- Set the **Template** to `Page About` from the Template dropdown.
- (Optional) In **Twitter Description**, add tags to include dynamic content sections from other pages.
5. **Add author information** \- the template automatically displays social links for the first author added to the page.
6. **Publish** your page.
About page settings
#### Adding Social Links
The About template automatically displays social media links for the page's author:
1. Go to **Settings > Staff** in Ghost admin.
2. Select the author whose social links you want to display.
3. Add social media URLs in the corresponding fields (Website, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.).
4. Save your changes.
The social links will appear vertically aligned below the portrait image.
#### Dynamic Content Sections
You can add additional content sections to your About page using internal tags:
1. In the **Twitter Description** field, enter tags of sections you want to include (e.g., `hash-section-experiences,hash-section-testimonials`).
2. Create separate pages tagged with these internal tags.
3. The content from these tagged pages will automatically appear in your About page.
This allows you to create rich About pages that include testimonials, work experience, or other structured content.
### Now Template
Now is a nice place for you to show what this person is focused on at this point in their life.
It's inspired by [nownownow.com](https://nownownow.com/?ref=themex.studio) projects. But we treat it differently by showing the whole history of the page, not just the latest update.
Now template example
###### Step-by-Step to use Now template
1. **Create a new page** in Ghost admin (Pages > New page).
2. **Add a title** (e.g., "Now" or the name of your collection).
3. In **Page settings**:
- Set the **Template** to `Page Now`.
- In **X Description**, enter the tag slug that all posts in your series will use (e.g., `now`).
4. **Publish** your page.
5. Tag each post you want to include in the Now page with the same tag you entered in X Description. The Now Template doesn't show individual post titles
Following these steps, the page will display all the posts tagged as `now` and sort them by publish time, newest first.
### Post Templates
The theme provides different post templates:
1. Default
2. Wide featured image
3. Full featured image
4. No featured image
5. Split
6. Split reverse
To choose which template to use when you publish a post:
1. In the post editor page, click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Post settings**.
2. Find the **Template** selector and choose the style you want for your post.
#### Post Page Options
The theme supports other customizations:
1. Hide/Show author
2. Hide/Show social sharing buttons
###### Step-by-Step to Customize Post Options
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Post**
2. Toggle on/off each option to show/hide them from the Post page
3. Click **Save**
### Contact Page
To provide a way for your readers to contact you, create a contact page using [Formspree](https://formspree.io/?ref=themex.studio).
###### Step-by-Step:
1. Create a new page and give it a title (e.g., 'Contact').
2. Add a feature photo (optional) and choose a layout from the **Template** option.
3. Choose any template; a special template named "Page" is available under the template option. You can choose any other template as well.
4. Add your content and the contact form code using Formspree. See the code example below.
5. Click **Publish**.
6. To add the page to the navigation, refer to the Navigation section.
```html
```
### Dark Page
Besides supporting a light/dark theme for the entire website, this theme allows setting specific pages to dark mode.
For instance, if your default theme is light, but you want certain pages (e.g., Gallery page) to be dark, you can achieve this.
###### Step-by-Step:
1. In the Ghost admin, go to any page or post you want to set to dark mode.
2. Open the **Page/Post settings** panel.
3. In the Tags input, add the tag `#dark`.
4. Click **Update**.
---
## Custom Settings
### Table of Content
You can add a table of contents (TOC) to any post. Add this HTML code to your post.
```html
```
###### Step-by-Step
1. Create a new post and write your post
2. Right under the title, add an HTML card
3. Insert the code above. You might want to change the TOC's header text. Maybe you call it `Table of Contents.`
4. Publish and review it
Note: If you don't want a title (e.g., On this page), remove it from the HTML code you see above.
### Posts Per Page
By default, the homepage, author's, and tag's page display a maximum of 12 posts per page, but you can change this number.
###### Step-by-Step
1. You'll need to open the theme's `package.json` file in your code editor and find the following:
```json
"config": {
...
"posts_per_page": 12
...
}
```
1. Change the value of the `12` to the expected value.
2. Save your `package.json` file in root folder.
### Google Analytics
To integrate Google Analytics, I recommend using the [Google Analytics](https://ghost.org/integrations/google/?ref=themex.studio) integration by Ghost.
### Syntax Highlighting
You can add a fenced code block by placing triple backticks ```` ``` ```` before and after the code block. For example:
```
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
This will produce the following gray look:
To highlight a code block, add a language alias like `css` or `js` to the code block. For example, the CSS code in the previous example will wrap between ```` ```css ```` and ```` ``` ```` as follows:
```
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
This will produce the following colored look:
To add **inline code**, wrap the text between two backticks "\`".
#### Prism
The theme ships with [Prism.js](https://prismjs.com/?ref=themex.studio), a lightweight, robust, and elegant syntax highlighter.
The initial Prism package includes some languages, like *Markup*, *CSS*, *C-like*, and *JavaScript*.
You can add support for more languages by adding the Prism `autoloader` script, which will automatically load the languages you need. Add the following script to the website admin **Code Injection (Site Footer)** to do this.
```html
```
Click **Save**.
### Responsive Tables
The responsive table will display a horizontal scroll bar if the screen is too small to display the full content. The following description applies to the table added using the markdown card.
> By default, the table adapts to the window width. If you have a table that is too wide, it will display a horizontal scroll bar when needed.
###### Step-by-Step
1. To add a responsive table, use the **Markdown card**.
2. Add the markdown to create a table. To generate a table, you can use the tool [Markdown Tables Generator](https://www.tablesgenerator.com/markdown%5Ftables?ref=themex.studio). Below is an example
```
| # | Heading | Heading | Heading | Heading | Heading |
|:--|:--------|:--------|:--------|:--------|:--------|
| 1 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
| 2 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
| 3 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
```
Subscription is placed at the bottom of the post page and on the homepage next to the Latest post area.
You can change the subscription box's title from the Ghost Admin.
Two subscription boxes use the same copy. When you change the text, it will change in both places.
###### Step-by-Step
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Homepage** in Ghost Admin
2. Change the copy in **Email signup text** input.
3. Finally, click **Save**.
The theme comes with [Ghost Native Comments](https://ghost.org/changelog/native-comments/?ref=themex.studio) integration. You can turn the comments on from your Ghost admin **Settings > Membership > Access > Edit > Commenting**.
### Languages
The theme is fully translatable by enabling a publication language in the settings of the Ghost Admin. Before that, you must prepare your language file.
###### Step-by-Step
1. Inside the `../locales/` folder, add target language files for each translatable language used on your site. For example, `fr.json` is for French, and `pl.json` is for Polish. code must be used.
2. Translate the sentences used in the theme inside your new language files, for example, in `en.json`:
```json
{
"Subscribe": "Subscribe",
"Sign in ": "Sign in",
"Account": "Account",
...
}
```
1. And edited to translate into French for `fr.json`:
```json
{
"Subscribe": "S'abonner",
"Sign in ": "Se connecter",
"Account": "Compte",
...
}
```
1. Upload a theme with a new language file.
2. Go to the **General** settings in the Ghost Admin.
3. At the top of the page, you'll see the **Publication info** section
4. Enter the correct language code into your **Publication language** settings menu.
5. Finally, click **Save** to activate.
> **Note:** Reactivate the translation file. If you edited the active language, you must restart Ghost to make the changes effective. Alternatively, enter another language code and click **Save** to activate, then switch back to your code.
---
## Advanced Settings
### Editing a Theme's Code
You will encounter information about editing theme files in many places in this documentation.
To edit files, you will need to unzip the theme archive – at this point, you will have access to the necessary files indicated in the theme documentation.
#### Edit HTML
###### Step-by-Step
1. To edit your theme files, download a copy of the theme. For this purpose, go to the **Design** settings in the Ghost Admin and click **Change theme** in the bottom left corner.
2. Use the **Advanced** dropdown menu in the upper right corner to download your theme, then unzip the theme locally.
3. Once the theme is unzipped, the files can be edited using a code editor – make the changes indicated in the theme documentation.
> You can edit files using applications (code editor) such as [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/?ref=themex.studio), [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/?ref=themex.studio) or [Brackets](https://brackets.io/?ref=themex.studio). Using native text editors like TextEdit on macOS may add formatting that may cause the theme to work incorrectly.
1. After changing the theme code, re-zip the theme directory to upload it back to Ghost.
> To create a zip archive on a macOS, **right-click** on the theme folder to view the context menu. Then, click the **Compress** option. On Windows, **right-click** on the theme folder, select **Send to**, and then select **Compressed (zipped) folder**.
1. To upload a theme, go to the **Design** settings in the Ghost Admin and click **Change theme** in the bottom left corner.
2. Click the **Upload theme** button in the upper right corner.
3. Once uploaded, click **Activate** to activate the theme on your site.
#### Edit CSS
The best way to change the CSS is to use Ghost's built-in Code injection, the change will be applied right after you save the change.
If you need a more powerful way to change the CSS, you can edit it in the theme file. But it would need more technical setup. Follow this guide on [How to apply CSS changes in your Ghost theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-apply-css-changes-in-your-ghost-theme/)
> If you're only looking to make minor updates to a theme, code injection may be enough.
### Code Injection
Another choice for customization is to use the Ghost **Code Injection** settings in Ghost admin.
For a CSS example, you can use the code in the *Site Header* section to change the title color and font size.
```html
```
Code injection example
Check out [How to use Code Injection](https://ghost.org/tutorials/use-code-injection-in-ghost/?ref=themex.studio) Ghost guide for more information.
### Theme Deploy with GitHub Actions
Rand comes integrated with the [Deploy Ghost Theme](https://github.com/marketplace/actions/deploy-ghost-theme?ref=themex.studio) Github action. The purpose of the GitHub action is to take the theme from the GitHub repo and send it to your website.
Follow this guide to add GitHub actions [Streamline the deployment of your Ghost theme using GitHub Action](https://themex.studio/guides/streamline-the-deployment-of-your-ghost-theme-using-github-action/).
---
Congratulations on setting up your Rand theme! We hope this documentation has been helpful in getting you started with creating a beautiful and functional website.
Rand is designed to be flexible and easy to customize, offering a wide range of options to make your site unique. With its modular homepage sections, diverse page templates, and extensive customization options, you have everything you need to create a professional online presence.
### Rand features
URL: https://themex.studio/rand-features/
Last updated: 2025-09-29T07:19:41.000Z
Paul Rand-inspired minimal aesthetic
Clean typography optimized for readability
15 customizable sections for any layout
10 page templates for any purpose
Easy customization from Ghost admin
Regular updates and support
One-click demo import
Mobile-responsive design
### Rand
URL: https://themex.studio/rand/
Last updated: 2025-10-13T07:53:11.000Z
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Homepage
Homepage
About
Blog/Writing
Collection 1
Collection 2
Custom Landing Page
Post Detail
### Support different site width
URL: https://themex.studio/support-different-site-width/
Last updated: 2025-09-02T13:41:04.000Z
Control your site's presentation with width options: Narrow for minimalist elegance or Wide for comprehensive functionality.
### Add Static Banner
URL: https://themex.studio/ad/
Last updated: 2025-08-27T03:24:30.000Z
Static banner section for static content. [See demo](https://naoto.themex.studio/multiple-landing-page/?ref=themex.studio). Check[ detailed guide ](https://themex.studio/docs/naoto-docs/#static-banner-section)to add it.
### 🚀 Launching Naoto
URL: https://themex.studio/luanching-naoto/
Last updated: 2025-08-13T05:52:57.000Z
The most minimal & flexible Ghost theme for personal website &portfolio
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### Naoto features
URL: https://themex.studio/naoto-features/
Last updated: 2025-08-13T07:36:49.000Z
15 customizable sections for any layout
10 page templates for any pupose
Portfolio, blog, and collection templates included
Timeline pages for courses and stories
Beautiful light/dark modes
Mobile-responsive design
#### “Naoto feels more clean, a bit more modern, more visual, not too much branding to it, a lot of possible sections. Exactly what I was looking for for a while now!”
**—* James Mitchell, Startup Founder
### Naoto
URL: https://themex.studio/naoto/
Last updated: 2025-10-13T07:52:37.000Z
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### Kyoto is 100% compatible with Ghost 6
URL: https://themex.studio/kyoto-is-100-compatible-with-ghost-6/
Last updated: 2025-08-05T03:58:19.000Z
If you're excited about Ghost 6, you can update it now.
### Braun is 100% compatible with Ghost 6
URL: https://themex.studio/ghost-6-support-2/
Last updated: 2025-08-05T03:59:21.000Z
Braun is 100% compatible with Ghost 6\. If you're excited about Ghost 6, you can update it now.
### How to download the latest theme versions from Lemon Squeezy
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-download-the-latest-theme-versions-from-lemon-squeezy/
Last updated: 2025-07-28T03:27:44.000Z
The URL for customers to access all of their latest theme versions is [app.lemonsqueezy.com/my-orders](https://app.lemonsqueezy.com/my-orders?ref=themex.studio).
[Visit → ](https://app.lemonsqueezy.com/my-orders?ref=themex.studio)
## 1\. Accessing assets with a Lemon Squeezy account
After purchasing a digital asset from **Lemon Squeezy**, you can download the latest files by logging into your Lemon Squeezy account and accessing your ["My Orders"](https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/online-store/my-orders?ref=themex.studio) page in the dashboard.
**Step-by-step:**
- Go to the Lemon Squeezy website.
- Click **log in** and sign in with the email you used for your purchase.
- Navigate to your dashboard and go to the **my orders** section.
- Select the relevant order/product.
- Download links to the latest versions of all purchased themes will be available directly on the order details page.
**Note:** If we have updated the digital files since your purchase, the latest versions will always be accessible here. You do not need to repurchase or perform any special steps for updates—they're automatically included for your account. You can return and redownload at any time.
## 2\. Accessing assets as a guest (no account)
If you purchased the theme from Lemon Squeezy as a guest (without signing up for an account), you can still access your downloads using your email.
After your purchase, Lemon Squeezy sends a confirmation email to the address you provided at checkout. This email contains a secure link ("magic link") that allows you to view and download your purchased files.
**Step-by-step:**
- After checkout, check your email inbox (and spam/junk folder) for a message from Lemon Squeezy.
- Look for a **purchase confirmation email**—it will include your receipt and a download link for your theme.
- Click the provided download link. This link lets you access and download the latest version of the theme, even without an account.
- If you need to access your files later but can't find the original email:
- Go to the Lemon Squeezy **my orders** page.
- Enter the email address you used at purchase.
- Lemon Squeezy will email you a secure "magic link" to instantly access your order and downloads—no password or account needed.
**Note:** With this system, your purchase is always tied to your email. You can redownload updates and license keys whenever needed. If you have trouble locating the email or accessing the link, find the product creator's contact info in your original receipt for further assistance.
## Quick tips
- **Always use the same email** for purchases to easily track and access all your assets.
- **Check your spam/junk folder** if you're missing your confirmation email.
- For product updates, simply access your downloads again using your account or the email "magic link"—no repurchase is needed.
- If you encounter issues, [contact us](https://themex.studio/contact/).
By following these steps, both account holders and guest buyers can always access the most up-to-date versions of the themes from Themex Studio.
### Naoto Docs
URL: https://themex.studio/docs/naoto-docs/
Last updated: 2026-02-04T04:54:13.000Z
##### On this page
### Introduction
Since this is a Ghost theme documentation, you are assumed to have a basic knowledge of the Ghost CMS.
If you're starting with Ghost, it is best to see the guides in the official [Ghost Help Center](https://ghost.org/help/?ref=themex.studio) – check this out, and you'll have all the available information.
---
## Getting Started
### Welcome
The Naoto theme concept is built for flexibility and easy customization. It leverages existing Ghost features of tags & pages to help you customize your own Ghost site from the Ghost admin interface.
The theme offers these key features:
- Customizable homepage with multiple section components
- Landing page builder using section components
- Resource template for useful listings
- Blog template with horizontal tag navigation
- Linktree-like template for featured links
- Series template for linear reading experiences
- Event calendar
- Light and dark mode
- Beautiful color presets
- Multiple blog posts layouts with table of content support
### Install Theme
#### Upload Zip File
To begin, **unzip** the downloaded package by double-clicking it on a Mac or by right-clicking and selecting "Extract All" on Windows.
Inside the new **Naoto folder**, you will find the Naoto.zip theme files.
###### Step-by-Step to Upload the Theme to Your Website
1. Log in to your Ghost website admin (example.com/ghost).
2. Click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to **Design & branding > Theme > Change theme**.
4. Click **Upload theme** and select the Naoto.zip theme file.
5. Once uploaded, click **Activate now** to activate the theme.
### Upload Routes.yaml
The `routes.yaml` is required if you want to show the following pages:
1. Blog
2. Tags
3. Archive
If you don't want any page above, you can skip this step.
###### Step-by-Step to Upload the routes file:
1. Unzip the Naoto.zip theme file.
2. In your Ghost admin, click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to **Labs** and click **Open**.
4. Click the **Upload routes YAML** button.
5. Select and upload the `routes.yaml` file inside the theme folder.
6. Done.
### Import demo content (optional)
Demo content accelerates your theme setup by providing a fully configured example of the theme's capabilities. Instead of building from scratch, you'll have working examples of content structures, internal tags that showcase best practices for your theme's features.
Before importing demo content, export your existing content as a backup.
###### To import the demo content:
1. Navigate to **Settings > Advanced > Import/Export**
2. Under **Import**, upload the `demo-content.json` file from your theme directory
3. The demo content includes all pages and posts on the demo site.
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###### To manage demo content:
1. Go to **Pages/Posts**
2. Filter by the `Demo` tag
3. Edit or replace the content with your own
The demo content provides a foundation to understand the theme's structure and capabilities. You can modify, remove, or expand upon these sections using the theme's built-in components and layouts.
### Import Internal Tags (Optional)
This step is to import all the available tags we will use to create content on the homepage.
After importing tags, you can select them from Ghost admin without worrying about typo mistakes that can cause the theme to not work as expected.
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How to import internal tags
###### Step-by-Step to Import Internal Tags:
1. In your Ghost admin, go to **Settings > Advanced > Import/Export**.
2. Under **Export**, click **Export content.** This ensures you have a full backup of your current data. Once done, proceed to the next step.
3. Under **Import**, click **Universal import**.
4. Select and upload the `internal-tags.json` file from the unzipped theme folder.
5. Now, navigate to the **Tags** page within your admin panel to view all available tags under **Internal tags**.
6. That's all for the theme installation!
---
## General Settings
### Colors
The theme supports changing the Accent color and offers different color combinations.
#### Set Accent Color
The Accent color is the primary color used throughout your publication theme in buttons, social sharing hovers, etc. You can change the theme Accent color from the Ghost admin.
Change the Accent color from the admin **Settings > Design & Branding > Customize > Brand > Accent color**.
#### Preset Color Combinations
The theme provides different color combinations. Choose the one that fits your style:
- Default
- Onyx
- Rust
- Fossil
- Mint
- Ember
- Ice
- Maelstrom
###### Step-by-Step to Choose Your Preferred Color Combination:
1. Change the Accent color from the admin **Settings > Design & Branding > Customize > Site Wide**.
2. Click on **Color combinations** and select your color combination.
3. Preview and Save.
### Light / Dark Mode
You can easily switch between light, dark, system, or user-defined modes directly from your Ghost admin panel.
The theme supports:
- Light
- Dark
- System-based
- User defined
###### Step-by-Step to Customize
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Site wide** from the admin menu
2. Choose a preferred mode by clicking on **Appearance**
3. Click **Save**
### Typography
Depending on the selected option, this setting will change the heading and body text fonts.
#### Custom Fonts
Ghost provides built-in custom font functionality, allowing users to select heading and body fonts from a curated list directly in the admin interface.
###### Step-by-Step to Change Fonts:
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize > Brand**
2. Under **Typography**, select:
- **Title font** for headings
- **Body font** for main text
3. Click **Save**
#### Host your own Fonts
You can change any font from the Ghost admin interface using Code Injection and Google Fonts, or your own font. For example, if you want to use "Inter" and "EB Garamond" fonts from Google Fonts, your code in Code Injection will be:
```html
```
You can also use your custom local font by including it in your theme with a code editor. This technique is more advanced but allows you to add 'your own' fonts.
[Check out the detailed guide to add your own fonts](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-add-your-own-custom-fonts-to-ghost-theme/)
### Header Navigation
###### Step-by-Step to Add an Item to Header Navigation:
1. Go to **Settings > Navigation > Primary Navigation**.
2. Type the page's name in the label field as you'd like it to appear on your menu.
3. Click on the item's URL. The blog URL will already be auto-populated.
4. When satisfied with your page configurations, click the **Save** button.
### Header Profile image
Header profile displays Publication logo from **Settings → Design & branding → Brand**
### Header Tagline
The tagline is shown under the name, you can change it at **Settings → Design & branding → Theme → Tagline text**
### Header Call-to-Action Buttons
You can add your own CTA text and link in the header. If you leave it empty, the button will be hidden.
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme**
2. Scroll to **Navigation buttons**:
- Add the text to **Header action text**. Leave it empty if you want to hide it.
- Add link to **Header action link**
Example configurations:
- Contact button:
- Text: "Contact Us"
- Link: "/contact"
- External link:
- Text: "View Pricing"
- Link: "https://example.com/pricing"
### Navigation Dropdown Menus
You can create dropdown sub-menus in your Ghost site navigation to organize your content more effectively and improve site navigation. This feature helps visitors quickly find specific pages under broader categories.
Example of dropdown menu
###### Creating Dropdown Submenus
Follow these steps to set up dropdown navigation menus:
1. In your Ghost Admin panel, go to **Settings → Navigation**
2. Add your main menu items normally
3. To create submenu items, add them with a dash (-) prefix before the child item
4. Arrange items in the order you want them to appear
Example Settings
### White Logo on Dark Mode
If you use a black logo image and enable dark mode, you would need your logo visible when users enable dark mode.
You can use Code injection and insert this CSS to support different logo color on light/dark mode
```html
```
### Footer
Like the header, you can add the footer navigation links from the Ghost Admin **Settings > Navigation > Secondary**
To group footer items into different groups, add `#` before the name.
###### Customize Footer with background image
1. Log in to your Ghost Admin dashboard.
2. Click **New page** to create a new page.
3. Add a feature image. It will be used as the background
4. \[⭐️ Important\] Add the tag `#footer` in the Tags input
5. Publish.
---
## Homepage
### Homepage sections
The Naoto theme is designed for flexibility and easy customization, allowing you to build a dynamic homepage using Ghost's built-in features. You can manage your homepage sections directly from the Ghost admin interface, no coding required!
After uploading the theme and uploading the routes.yaml file, the homepage is up with two default sections: Hero (simple version) and Blog. If they are all you need, you can skip this section.
But if you want to add more sections to the homepage, do follow the guide below.
#### How it works
The Naoto theme homepage is built from pages that you create in Ghost admin. Each section is controlled by:
1. Special tags - Internal tags that define what type of section it is
2. Configuration setting - Controls which sections actually appear on your homepage
3. Publish dates - Determines the order of sections
### List of sections and its slug
| Section Name | Tag to Use | Corresponding Slug | Usage |
| --------------- | ------------------------ | ---------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| Home Intro | #home-intro | hash-home-intro | Display the intro section on homepage |
| Addons | #section-addons | hash-section-addons | Display a grid of add-ons or resources. |
| Blocks | #section-blocks | hash-section-blocks | Show a grid of blocks (e.g., products, features). |
| Blocks Vertical | #section-blocks-vertical | hash-section-blocks-vertical | Show blocks in a vertical layout. |
| Showcases | #section-showcases | hash-section-showcases | Highlight showcase items or projects. |
| Testimonials | #section-testimonials | hash-section-testimonials | Display testimonials from users or clients. |
| Experiences | #section-experiences | hash-section-experiences | List work experiences or milestones. |
| Static Banner | #section-static-banner | hash-section-static-banner | Show a static banner section. |
| Static Text | #section-static-text | hash-section-static-text | Display a static text section. |
| Custom Posts | #section-custom-posts | hash-section-custom-posts | Show a row of specific posts by tag. |
| Now | #section-now | hash-section-now | Display the latest 'Now' post (see Now page instructions). |
| Custom Content | #section-custom-content | hash-section-custom-content | Add any custom content from a page |
| Events | #section-events | hash-section-events | List events or event cards. |
| Logos | #section-logos | hash-section-logos | Display a logo wall or list of logos. |
**Notes on using internal tags:**
- In the page editor, find the **Tags** field and type the tag (e.g., `#section-addons`)
- You can easily see the pattern between tag name and its slug. Tags with `#` prefix are added a label `hash-` before the name
- It only works when the tag is the first one
- Internal tags start with a `#` and are not visible to visitors, so your site is clean from search engines.
### Arrange Section Order
The order of homepage sections is determined by the **publish date** of each page, older pages show first. To change the order:
1. Go to **Pages** in Ghost admin.
2. Click on the page of the section page you want to move.
3. In **Page settings**, adjust the **Publish date**. Older dates appear first.
4. Click **Update** to save changes.
### Sections Configuration
You can control which sections appear on the homepage from the theme settings.
You can easily add/remove section showings on the homepage. You can do that from Theme's Settings at **Settings** → **Design & branding** → **Customize** → **Theme** → **Homepage sections**
#### Default Section
**Homepage sections** contains a comma-separated list of section tags that controls what appears on your homepage.
By default, the theme displays Showcases, Custom posts and latest Now section, beside two permanent Hero and Blog sections.
```
hash-section-showcases,hash-section-static-text,hash-section-logos
```
#### Adding a Section
Add the section tag to the Homepage sections:
```
hash-section-showcases,hash-section-static-text,hash-section-logos,hash-section-testimonials
```
↳ Added Testimonials section
#### Removing a Section
Delete the section tag from the Homepage sections:
```
hash-section-showcases,hash-section-static-text
```
↳ Removed Logos section
### Hide sections from the homepage
For version 1.1.2, you can now hide specific sections from your homepage without removing them from your settings. Let's say you want to create different pages with `#section-addons` but you want to show or hide some of the theme from showing on the homepage. You can add the `#homepage-exclude` tag to the Tags input.
This option is applied for all available sections on the homepage.
Use `#homepage-exclude` to hide that section from homepage.
### Hero Section
The hero section is permanently set to the top section of the homepage.
The theme supports both simple and extensive text with reveal animation on scroll, giving you more flexibility for your homepage introduction.
Hero section
#### Default option
By default, the theme shows the Site title and description from General settings in the hero.
###### Step-by-Step to change default option
1. Log in to your Ghost Admin dashboard.
2. Go to **Settings** → **General settings** → **Title & description** → Edit
3. Edit Site title and Site description to change the content.
4. Save and refresh the homepage
#### Extensive option
For more extensive hero text with formatting options and animation.
###### Step-by-Step to use Extensive option
1. Log in to your Ghost Admin dashboard.
2. Click on **Pages** in the left sidebar.
3. Click **New page** to create a new page.
4. Add your hero text content in the editor. You can:
- Format text with **bold**, *italic*, or other styles
- Add multiple paragraphs, headings, images, etc.
- Include links or other content elements
5. Add the tag `#home-intro` to the page (important!)
- Click the settings icon (⚙️) in the top right
- Go to the "Tags" section
- Type and select `#home-intro`
6. To add reveal animation, add the second additional tag `#animate` to the Tags section
7. Publish the page when you're done.
#### Hero Actions
Choosing to show social links, subscription box or just nothing.
###### Step-by-Step to set hero action
1. Log in to your Ghost Admin dashboard.
2. Go to **Settings** → **Site** → **Design & branding** → **Customize**
3. Go to **Theme** tab and find the **Homepage** section.
4. Locate the **Hero actions** dropdown, select the option you want
1. **Social links:** show the author's Social Links
2. **Subscription form:** show the subscription box
3. None: No action shown
5. Save and refresh the homepage
###### Edit Author Social Links
1. In the Ghost Admin Settings, go to Staff and select the primary author whose social links you want to display. (Note: The primary author is the first author added in the Authors field of the `#section-hero` page we created above)
2. Add your social profiles (such as Website, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Threads, Mastodon, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram) in the corresponding fields.
3. Save your changes.
### Blog Feed Section
The blog section will contain the latest posts that you published and a shortcut link to go to the /blog page.
By default, the blog section is shown right under the hero section. You can change the section name in the Settings (**Settings** → **Site** → **Design & branding** → **Theme** → **Feed title**).
But if you want to easily change the order of the blog section to any position, follow these steps:
###### Step-by-Step to Add the Blog Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new page.
2. Give it a title, any name. This title will be the title shown on the homepage and the blog page.
3. From the **Page settings**, ensure that the **Page URL** setting is `blog`. This is the most important step.
4. Publish and open the homepage to check.
#### Different Post Styles
Naoto supports different post styles and different featured image aspect ratios.
You can set your favorite style at **Ghost admin > Settings > Design & branding > Homepage > Feed layout** and **Feed image orientation** for the post image ratio (Landscape, Square, Portrait).
The post style will be applied across the site, including the homepage, blog, and related posts under the post detail page.
##### Post styles
#### Exclude Posts from Blog Feed on Homepage
Control which posts appear on your homepage feed by excluding specific tags.
###### Step-by-Step to Exclude Posts
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme**
2. Find **Excluded tags**
3. Enter tag slugs separated by commas (e.g., `internal,draft,private`)
4. Click **Save**
Posts with these tags won't appear in the homepage feed but remain accessible via direct links or tag pages.
### Custom Posts Row Sections
This section allows you to display a row of specific posts filtered by a tag on your homepage.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Posts Row Sections on Homepage
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be shown on the homepage.
3. In Page settings, add `#section-custom-posts` to the Tags input.
4. In Template dropdown, choose **Page Collection** (This will create a new page showing those posts)
5. Click on **X Card** and add the tag slug of the posts you want to show in this row on the Homepage. i.e. putting `newsletter` if you want to show posts that are tagged as `Newsletter`
6. Publish and preview it on your homepage.
### Logos Section
Sometimes you want to show some kind of social proof, and a logo board can help achieve that.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Logo Board
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the homepage.
3. Upload all logos you want to show on the homepage. Note: Don't add any line breaks above, between, or after the Images. It will create some odd alignment.
4. In the Page Setting sidebar, add a tag named: `#section-logos`.
5. Publish and check your homepage.
☝️ If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag.
### Showcase Section
Highlight showcase items, such as portfolio pieces, case studies, or featured projects.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Showcase Section on Homepage
1. In Ghost admin, create a new page.
2. Give it a title, any name. This title will be the title shown on the homepage and the blog page.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-showcase` to Tags input.
1. To show **posts** instead of pages, add `#source-posts` tag as well.
4. \[⭐️ Important\] Click on **X Card → X description** field, add the tag slug of the **pages/posts** you want to show as the content. This will 'filter' specific pages/posts for this section. i.e. putting `works` if you want to show pages that are tagged as `Works`
5. If you want to create separate page showing Showcase content, select **Page Collection** in Template — the View all link will lead to this page.
6. View all link options
1. By default, **View all** will link to that separate page
2. If you want it to lead to a different page, add the new **URL in Meta data → Canonical URL**
3. If you want to hide it, add `#no-title` to the Tags
7. Publish.
Now the showcase section is visible on the homepage. Next, to add content for that section.
#### Add Showcase Items
###### Step-by-Step to Add Showcase Items
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** (or **Posts** if you added `#source-posts`) > click on **New page**.
2. Enter information for this project. Page title as the title, Excerpt as the project description, X description as eyebrow sub-header (above the title), and featured image.
3. Tag the page with the tag you used in the **X description** field in the showcase section page above (e.g. Works)
4. (Optional) If you want to lead visitors to an external site, add the URL at **Metadata > Canonical URL**. By default, the link will lead to the Page detail.
5. (Optional) If you want to use the video as the thumbnail, paste the video URL to **Facebook card → Facebook description**
6. Publish.
7. Repeat the same steps to create different content blocks for the showcase section.
#### Change Showcase Layout
For the showcase card, the theme provides some showcase item layout options.
1. Go to **Ghost admin > Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Showcase card style**
2. Select your choice.
3. Save.
### Blocks Sections
Display a grid of blocks, such as products, features, or services.
###### Setup Blocks Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be shown on the homepage and the blog page.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-blocks` to Tags input.
1. To show **posts** instead of pages, add `#source-posts` tag as well.
4. \[⭐️ Important\] Click on **X Card → X description** field, add the tag slug of the page you want to show as the content. This will 'filter' specific pages for this section. You can filter multiple tags. i.e. putting `goods,health,food` if you want to show pages that are tagged as `Goods, Health, Food`
5. If you want to create separate page showing Showcase content, select **Page Collection** in Template — the View all link will lead to this page. 6\. View all link options
1. By default, **View all** will link to that separate page
2. If you want it to lead to a different page, add the new **URL in Meta data → Canonical URL**
3. If you want to hide it, add `#no-title` to the Tags
6. Publish.
☝️ To find the exact tag slug, go to Tags in the Ghost admin home, click on the tag name, then copy the text in the Slug field.
Repeat these two steps to create different blocks sections on the homepage. You can have as many resource sections as you want.
###### Add Blocks Content
Refer to [Step-by-Step to Add Showcase Items](#step-by-step-to-add-showcase-items) steps. They work the same way.
### Blocks Vertical Section
Show blocks in a vertical (column) layout, ideal for books or vertical image lists.
###### Setup Blocks Vertical Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be shown on the homepage and the blog page.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-blocks-vertical` to Tags input.
1. To show **posts** instead of pages, add `#source-posts` tag as well.
4. \[⭐️ Important\] Click on **X Card → X description** field, add the tag slug of the page you want to show as the content. This will 'filter' specific pages for this section. You can filter multiple tags. i.e. putting `book,health,food` if you want to show pages that are tagged as `Book, Health, Food`
5. If you want to create separate page showing Showcase content, select **Page Collection** in Template — the View all link will lead to this page. 6\. View all link options
1. By default, **View all** will link to that separate page
2. If you want it to lead to a different page, add the new **URL in Meta data → Canonical URL**
3. If you want to hide it, add `#no-title` to the Tags
6. Publish.
###### Add Blocks Vertical Content
Refer to [Step-by-Step to Add Showcase Items](#step-by-step-to-add-showcase-items) steps. They work the same way.
### Addons Section
Showcase a grid of add-ons, plugins, or resources you want to highlight. Great for listing tools, downloads, or partner products.
###### Setup Addons Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be shown on the homepage and the blog page.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-addons` to Tags input.
1. To show **posts** instead of pages, add `#source-posts` tag as well.
4. \[⭐️ Important\] Click on **X Card → X description** field, add the tag slug of the page you want to show as the content. This will 'filter' specific pages for this section. You can filter multiple tags. i.e. putting `book,health,food` if you want to show pages that are tagged as `Book, Health, Food`
5. If you want to create separate page showing Showcase content, select **Page Collection** in Template — the View all link will lead to this page. 6\. View all link options
1. By default, **View all** will link to that separate page
2. If you want it to lead to a different page, add the new **URL in Meta data → Canonical URL**
3. If you want to hide it, add `#no-title` to the Tags
6. Publish.
###### Add Addons Content
Refer to [Step-by-Step to Add Showcase Items](#step-by-step-to-add-showcase-items) steps. They work the same way.
### Testimonials Section
Display testimonials from your users, clients, or partners.
To add a testimonials section, create a new page, give it a title, then add an internal tag `#section-testimonials` in the page settings.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Testimonial Section
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the Homepage.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-testimonials` to the Tags field.
4. In the page content, add a new Product card. You can find this card by clicking on the + icon on the left side of the editor or by typing `/product` in the editor, then select the **Product** option.
5. On the product card, fill in the details:
- Title is the testimonial main text.
- Description shows a person's name and job title.
- Image as a profile picture.
- Stars as a rating.
6. Add more Product cards to add more testimonials.
7. Publish.
### Static Text Section
The static text section is useful for adding custom text on the homepage, such as your services, working principles, or values.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Static Text Section
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the Homepage.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-static-text` to the Tags field.
4. In the page content, add a new Product card. You can find this card by clicking on the + icon on the left side of the editor or by typing `/product` in the editor, then select the **Product** option.
5. On the product card, fill in the title, description, image, and link (optional).
6. Add more Product cards to add more static text cards.
7. Publish.
☝️ If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag.
If you want to create multiple sections using Static text, create a new page and repeat the same steps above.
### Static Banner Section
If you prefer to show static images instead of text, you can use the static banner section.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Banner Text Section
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the Homepage.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-static-banner` to the Tags field.
4. In the page content, add a new Product card. You can find this card by clicking on the + icon on the left side of the editor or by typing `/product` in the editor, then select the **Product** option.
5. On the product card, fill in the title, description, image, and link (optional).
6. Add more Product cards to add more static text cards.
7. Publish.
☝️ If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag.
### Experiences Section
List your work experiences, milestones, or career highlights.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Experiences Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the Homepage.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-experiences` to the Tags input.
4. In the page content, add a new Product card. You can find this card by clicking on the + icon on the left side of the editor or by typing `/product` in the editor, then select the **Product** option.
5. On the product card, fill in the title, description, image, and link (optional).
6. Add more Product cards to add more static text cards.
7. Publish.
### Now Section
Display the latest post tagged as "Now" or any custom tag — perfect for sharing what you're currently focused on.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Now Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be shown on the homepage.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-now` to the Tags input.
4. \[⭐️ Important\] Click on **X Card → X description** field, add the tag slug of the post you want to show as the content. This will 'filter' specific pages for this section. i.e. putting `now` if you want to show pages that are tagged as `Now`
5. If you want to create separate page showing Showcase content, select **Page Now** in Template — the View all link will lead to this page. 6\. View all link options
1. By default, **View all** will link to that separate page
2. If you want it to lead to a different page, add the new **URL in Meta data → Canonical URL**
3. If you want to hide it, add `#no-title` to the Tags
Publish.
Now you need to add Now content:
###### Step-by-Step to Add Now Content
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Posts** \> click on **New posts**.
2. Give it any title and add your content (Now section won't display Post title)
3. Tag the posts with the tag you used in the **X description** field in the Now section page above (e.g. Now)
4. Publish.
5. Repeat the same steps to create different content blocks for the showcase section.
The latest post tagged with "Now" will be displayed in this section.
### Custom Content Section
This section allows you to display any custom content of a specific page on the homepage.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Custom Content Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
1. Give it a title; this title won't be shown on the homepage.
2. Add `#section-custom-content` to the Tags input.
3. Publish.
### Event Calendar Section
This section shows a list of upcoming events with dates.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Event Calendar Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new page.
2. Give it a title, any name. This title will be the title shown on the homepage and the blog page.
3. \[⭐️ Important\] Add `#section-events` to Tags input.
4. \[⭐️ Important\] Click on **X Card → X description** field, add the tag slug of the page you want to show as the content. This will 'filter' specific Pages for this section. i.e. putting `event` if you want to show pages that are tagged as `Event`
5. If you want to create separate page showings Showcase content, select **Page Collection** in Template — the View all link will lead to this page.
6. View all link options
1. By default, **View all** will link to that separate page
2. If you want it to lead to a different page, add the new **URL in Meta data → Canonical URL**
3. If you want to hide it, add `#no-title` to the Tags
7. Publish.
Now you need to add Event content:
###### Step-by-Step to Add Event Content
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter information for this project. Page title as the title, Excerpt as the project description, X description as eyebrow sub-header (above the title).
3. Choose event dates by using the Publish date. Since Ghost doesn't support future dates, use this data to display event dates. We only show the date and month, so to show a "future date", use the date from the past year. Example: today is Jul 29, 2025\. You have an event in Aug 2, 2025\. To show that date, select Aug 2, 2024 as the Publish date.
- If you upload a feature image, it will replace the date as the thumbnail.
4. Tag the page with the tag you used in the **X description** field in the Event page above (e.g. Event).
5. (Optional) If you want to lead visitors to an external site, add the URL at **Metadata > Canonical URL**. By default, the link will lead to the Page detail.
6. Publish.
7. Repeat the same steps to create different content blocks for the showcase section.
### Other Customizations
#### Hide Section Title
If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` to the Tags input.
#### Hide Section Link
If you want to hide the link section, add `#no-link` to the Tags input.
---
## Other Pages
### Blog Page
A blog page displays all your posts in Ghost.
☝️ **Important:** Ensure you upload the `routes.yaml` file.
If you've already created a blog section on the homepage, you can skip this step to create a blog page.
###### Step-by-Step to Create the Blog Page:
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Add a title (e.g., 'Blog').
3. Add a description or feature image for this page (optional).
4. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**.
5. Ensure the **Page URL** is `blog`.
6. Click **Publish**.
Now you have a blog page with the URL `yourblog.com/blog`.
#### Blog Category Navigation
By default, the blog category navigation shows the top 5 tags sorted by the number of posts for each tag. You can also define which tags you want to display in the header.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Custom Items on the Category Header
1. From Ghost admin, go to **Settings** \> **Design & Branding** \> **Theme**.
2. In **Blog category navigation**, enter the slugs for each tag, separated by commas without any whitespace (e.g., `design,code,mindset`).
3. Click **Save**.
#### Blog featured post type
You have the option to show Featured posts carousel or just hide it.
###### Step-by-Step to update Featured Post row:
1. From Ghost admin, go to **Settings** \> **Design & Branding** \> **Theme**.
2. In **Blog featured post type**, select an option to show/hide it
3. Click **Save**.
### Collection Template
This template lets you create a custom page that shows your own content at the top, followed by a section that automatically displays all pages tagged with one or more tags you specify.
This is perfect for building a focused collection, such as a resource list, a collection of case studies, or a single-topic showcase.
###### Step-by-Step to Create a Collection Page:
1. **Create a new page** in Ghost admin (Pages > New page).
2. **Add your main content** in the editor. This will appear at the top of your landing page.
3. In the **Page settings** (top right corner):
- **Tags:** Use one of those tags to set the style for the content item: `#section-addons`, `#section-blocks`, `#section-blocks-vertical`
- **Template:** Select `Page Collection` from the Template dropdown.
- **X Card → X description:** Enter one or more tags (comma-separated) you want to show for the section below your main content. For example, entering `resources,downloads` will show all pages tagged with either `resources` or `downloads`. If you want to filter posts instead of pages, add `#source-posts` to the tag as well.
4. (Optional): You can set the Page access to public or Member only to define who can see the collection.
5. **Publish** your page.
You can create as many collections as you want with the same steps.
Filter posts as content
By default, collection template filter pages are tagged with the tag you added in the X description field. If you want to filter posts instead, add `#source-posts` to the Tag field.
### Landing Page Template
This template lets you create a custom page that shows different sections like we show on the home page.
This is perfect for building focused landing pages, such as a resource list, a collection of case studies, or a multi-topic showcase.
#### List of applicable sections and its slug for Landing Page Template
| Section Name | Tag to Use | Description |
| --------------- | ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| Addons | #section-addons | Display a grid of add-ons or resources. |
| Blocks | #section-blocks | Show a grid of blocks (e.g., products, features). |
| Blocks Vertical | #section-blocks-vertical | Show blocks in a vertical layout. |
| Showcases | #section-showcases | Highlight showcase items or projects. |
| Testimonials | #section-testimonials | Display testimonials from users or clients. |
| Experiences | #section-experiences | List work experiences or milestones. |
| Static Banner | #section-static-banner | Show a static banner section. |
| Static Text | #section-static-text | Display a static text section. |
| Custom Posts | #section-custom-posts | Show a row of specific posts by tag. |
| Now | #section-now | Display the latest 'Now' post (see Now page instructions). |
| Custom Content | #section-custom-content | Add custom content or HTML. |
| Events | #section-events | List events or event cards. |
| Logos | #section-logos | Display a logo wall or list of logos. |
###### Step-by-Step to Create a Landing Page
1. **Create a new page** in Ghost admin (Pages > New page).
2. **Add your main content** in the editor. This will appear at the top of your landing page.
3. In the **Page settings** (top right corner):
- **Template:** Select `Page Landing Page` from the Template dropdown.
- **Twitter Description:** Enter one or more tags (comma-separated) of sections you want to show. For example, entering `hash-section-addons,hash-section-blocks` will show two sections that the pages tagged with either `hash-section-addons` or `hash-section-blocks`.
4. (Optional): You can set the Page access to public or Member only to define who can see the collection.
5. **Publish** your page.
You can create as many collections as you want with the same steps.
### Linktree Template
Create a Linktree-style page that acts as a personal or brand profile with quick links, social icons, and your latest post. This is perfect for sharing on social media profiles or as a simple landing page.
###### Step-by-Step to Create a Linktree page
1. **Create a new page** in Ghost admin (Pages > New page).
2. **Add a title** (e.g., "Links" or your name).
3. **Add a custom excerpt** for a short description or tagline (optional).
4. **Add your main content** in the editor. This can include links, buttons, or any text you want to show.
5. **Set a feature image** if you want a background image for the page (optional).
6. In **Page settings**, set the **Template** to `Page Linktree`.
7. **Publish** your page.
### Series Template
Showcase a series or collection of posts grouped by a tag. This template displays a table of contents and expands each post in full, making it ideal for tutorials, mini-courses, or serialized content.
###### Step-by-Step to Create a Series Page
1. **Create a new page** in Ghost admin (Pages > New page).
2. **Add a title** (e.g., "My Series" or the name of your collection).
3. **Add an introduction** or overview in the content editor (optional).
4. In **Page settings**:
- Set the **Template** to `Page Series`.
- In **X Description**, enter the tag slug that all posts in your series will use (e.g., `my-series`).
5. **Publish** your page.
6. Tag each post you want to include in the series with the same tag you entered in X Description.
Following these steps, the page will display all the posts tagged as `my-series` and sort them by publish time, oldest first.
### Timeline Template
Similar to Series Template, but this template shows the newest posts first, without a Table of Content. It's ideal for showing your milestones by time for timelines.
###### Step-by-Step to Create a Timeline Page
1. **Create a new page** in Ghost admin (Pages > New page).
2. **Add a title** (e.g., "My Timeline" or the name of your collection).
3. **Add an introduction** or overview in the content editor (optional).
4. In **Page settings**:
- Set the **Template** to `Page Timeline`.
- In **X Description**, enter the tag slug that all posts in your series will use (e.g., `timeline`).
5. **Publish** your page.
6. Tag each post you want to include in the timeline with the same tag you entered in X Description.
Following these steps, the page will display all the posts tagged as `timeline` and sort them by publish time, newest first.
### Now Template
Now is a nice place for you to show what this person is focused on at this point in their life.
It's inspired by [nownownow.com](https://nownownow.com/?ref=themex.studio) projects. But we treat it differently by showing the whole history of the page, not just the latest update.
###### Step-by-Step to use Now template
1. **Create a new page** in Ghost admin (Pages > New page).
2. **Add a title** (e.g., "Now" or the name of your collection).
3. In **Page settings**:
- Set the **Template** to `Page Now`.
- In **X Description**, enter the tag slug that all posts in your series will use (e.g., `now`).
4. **Publish** your page.
5. Tag each post you want to include in the Now page with the same tag you entered in X Description. The Now Template doesn't show individual post titles
Following these steps, the page will display all the posts tagged as `now` and sort them by publish time, newest first.
### Tags/Categories page
You can use this template to show the selected topics of your writing.
❗
****Important**
Make sure to Upload the routes.yaml file.
###### Step-to-Step to create the Tags page:
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Add a title (e.g., 'Tags').
3. Add a **description** and **featured image** for this page (if you want to).
4. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**.
5. **Ensure** that the **Page URL** is `tags`.
6. Click **Publish**.
7. Now you have a work page with the URL `yourblog.com/tags`.
By default, the page will show the top popular tags of your blog, sorted by the number of posts of the tags. And you can define which tags you want to show there.
###### Step-to-Step to add selected Tags:
1. In the Ghost admin, go to **Design & branding > Customize > Homepage**.
2. Scroll to **Selected tags on tags page**.
3. Enter the slugs for each tag. Tag slugs must be separated by commas without any whitespace. For example - `design,code,ai`.
4. Click **Save**.
### Archive page
Naoto provides a neat Archive page to list all the posts.
You can add a custom Archive page to show an archive from your publication. The Archive page is not required, but you can add it.
☝️
****Important:** Ensure you upload the `routes.yaml` file.
###### Step-to-Step to create the Archive page:
1. Go to **Pages** from the admin menu
2. Click the New page button in the top right corner
3. Add a title (e.g. 'Archive').
4. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**
5. Add a **description** in the Excerpt text input for this page (optional)
6. **Ensure** that the **Page URL** is `archive`
7. Click **Publish**
8. Now you have an archive page with the URL `yourblog.com/archive`
### Post Templates
The theme provides different post templates:
1. Default
2. Wide featured image
3. Full featured image
4. No featured image
5. Split Narrow
6. Split Wide
To choose which template to use when you publish a post:
1. In the post editor page, click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Post settings**.
2. Find the **Template** selector and choose the style you want for your post.
#### Post Page Options
The theme supports other customizations:
1. Hide/Show author
2. Hide/Show social sharing buttons
###### Step-by-Step to Customize Post Options
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme > Post**
2. Toggle on/off each option to show/hide them from the Post page
3. Click **Save**
### Contact Page
To provide a way for your readers to contact you, create a contact page using [Formspree](https://formspree.io/?ref=themex.studio).
###### Step-by-Step:
1. Create a new page and give it a title (e.g., 'Contact').
2. Add a feature photo (optional) and choose a layout from the **Template** option.
3. Choose any template; a special template named "Page" is available under the template option. You can choose any other template as well.
4. Add your content and the contact form code using Formspree. See the code example below.
5. Click **Publish**.
6. To add the page to the navigation, refer to the Navigation section.
```html
```
### Dark Page
Besides supporting a light/dark theme for the entire website, this theme allows setting specific pages to dark mode.
For instance, if your default theme is light, but you want certain pages (e.g., Gallery page) to be dark, you can achieve this.
###### Step-by-Step:
1. In the Ghost admin, go to any page or post you want to set to dark mode.
2. Open the **Page/Post settings** panel.
3. In the Tags input, add the tag `#dark`.
4. Click **Update**.
---
## Custom Settings
### Table of Content
You can add a table of contents (TOC) to any post. Add this HTML code to your post.
```html
```
###### Step-by-Step
1. Create a new post and write your post
2. Right under the title, add an HTML card
3. Insert the code above. You might want to change the TOC's header text. Maybe you call it `Table of Contents.`
4. Publish and review it
Note: If you don't want a title (e.g., On this page), remove it from the HTML code you see above.
### Posts Per Page
By default, the homepage, author's, and tag's page display a maximum of 20 posts per page, but you can change this number.
###### Step-by-Step
1. You'll need to open the theme's `package.json` file in your code editor and find the following:
```json
"config": {
...
"posts_per_page": 20
...
}
```
1. Change the value of the `20` to the expected value.
2. Save your `package.json` file in root folder.
### Google Analytics
To integrate Google Analytics, I recommend using the [Google Analytics](https://ghost.org/integrations/google/?ref=themex.studio) integration by Ghost.
### Syntax Highlighting
You can add a fenced code block by placing triple backticks ```` ``` ```` before and after the code block. For example:
```
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
This will produce the following gray look:
To highlight a code block, add a language alias like `css` or `js` to the code block. For example, the CSS code in the previous example will wrap between ```` ```css ```` and ```` ``` ```` as follows:
```css
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
This will produce the following colored look:
To add **inline code**, wrap the text between two backticks "\`".
#### Prism
The theme ships with [Prism.js](https://prismjs.com/?ref=themex.studio), a lightweight, robust, and elegant syntax highlighter.
The initial Prism package includes some languages, like *Markup*, *CSS*, *C-like*, and *JavaScript*.
You can add support for more languages by adding the Prism `autoloader` script, which will automatically load the languages you need. Add the following script to the website admin **Code Injection (Site Footer)** to do this.
```html
```
Click **Save**.
### Responsive Tables
The responsive table will display a horizontal scroll bar if the screen is too small to display the full content. The following description applies to the table added using the markdown card.
> By default, the table adapts to the window width. If you have a table that is too wide, it will display a horizontal scroll bar when needed.
###### Step-by-Step
1. To add a responsive table, use the **Markdown card**.
2. Add the markdown to create a table. To generate a table, you can use the tool [Markdown Tables Generator](https://www.tablesgenerator.com/markdown%5Ftables?ref=themex.studio). Below is an example
```
| # | Heading | Heading | Heading | Heading | Heading |
|:--|:--------|:--------|:--------|:--------|:--------|
| 1 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
| 2 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
| 3 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
```
### Subscription Form
Subscription is placed at the bottom of the post page and on the homepage next to the Latest post area.
You can change the subscription box's title from the Ghost Admin.
###### Step-by-Step
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Theme** in Ghost Admin
2. Change the copy in **Email signup text** input.
3. Finally, click **Save**.
☝️
If you want to hide the Subscription box, you can go to ****Settings / Membership / Access / Who should be able to subscribe to your site?** and select ****Nobody**
Hide Subscription box from Ghost Admin
### Comments / Member Discussion
The theme comes with [Ghost Native Comments](https://ghost.org/changelog/native-comments/?ref=themex.studio) integration. You can turn the comments on from your Ghost admin **Settings > Membership > Access > Edit > Commenting**.
### Languages
The theme is fully translatable by enabling a publication language in the settings of the Ghost Admin. Before that, you must prepare your language file.
###### Step-by-Step
1. Inside the `../locales/` folder, add target language files for each translatable language used on your site. For example, `fr.json` is for French, and `pl.json` is for Polish. [A valid language](https://www.w3schools.com/tags/ref%5Flanguage%5Fcodes.asp?ref=themex.studio) code must be used.
2. Translate the sentences used in the theme inside your new language files, for example, in `en.json`:
```json
{
"Subscribe": "Subscribe",
"Sign in ": "Sign in",
"Account": "Account",
...
}
```
1. And edited to translate into French for `fr.json`:
```json
{
"Subscribe": "S'abonner",
"Sign in ": "Se connecter",
"Account": "Compte",
...
}
```
1. Upload a theme with a new language file.
2. Go to the **General** settings in the Ghost Admin.
3. At the top of the page, you'll see the **Publication info** section
4. Enter the correct language code into your **Publication language** settings menu.
5. Finally, click **Save** to activate.
> **Note:** Reactivate the translation file. If you edited the active language, you must restart Ghost to make the changes effective. Alternatively, enter another language code and click **Save** to activate, then switch back to your code.
---
## Advanced Settings
### Editing a Theme's Code
You will encounter information about editing theme files in many places in this documentation.
To edit files, you will need to unzip the theme archive – at this point, you will have access to the necessary files indicated in the theme documentation.
#### Edit HTML
###### Step-by-Step
1. To edit your theme files, download a copy of the theme. For this purpose, go to the **Design** settings in the Ghost Admin and click **Change theme** in the bottom left corner.
2. Use the **Advanced** dropdown menu in the upper right corner to download your theme, then unzip the theme locally.
3. Once the theme is unzipped, the files can be edited using a code editor – make the changes indicated in the theme documentation.
> You can edit files using applications (code editor) such as [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/?ref=themex.studio), [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/?ref=themex.studio) or [Brackets](https://brackets.io/?ref=themex.studio). Using native text editors like TextEdit on macOS may add formatting that may cause the theme to work incorrectly.
1. After changing the theme code, re-zip the theme directory to upload it back to Ghost.
> To create a zip archive on a macOS, **right-click** on the theme folder to view the context menu. Then, click the **Compress** option. On Windows, **right-click** on the theme folder, select **Send to**, and then select **Compressed (zipped) folder**.
1. To upload a theme, go to the **Design** settings in the Ghost Admin and click **Change theme** in the bottom left corner.
2. Click the **Upload theme** button in the upper right corner.
3. Once uploaded, click **Activate** to activate the theme on your site.
#### Edit CSS
The best way to change the CSS is to use Ghost's built-in Code injection, the change will be applied right after you save the change.
If you need a more powerful way to change the CSS, you can edit it in the theme file. But it would need more technical setup. Follow this guide on [How to apply CSS changes in your Ghost theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-apply-css-changes-in-your-ghost-theme/)
> If you're only looking to make minor updates to a theme, code injection may be enough.
### Code Injection
Another choice for customization is to use the Ghost **Code Injection** settings in Ghost admin.
For a CSS example, you can use the code in the *Site Header* section to change the title color and font size.
```html
```
Check out [How to use Code Injection](https://ghost.org/tutorials/use-code-injection-in-ghost/?ref=themex.studio) Ghost guide for more information.
### Theme Deploy with GitHub Actions
Naoto comes integrated with the [Deploy Ghost Theme](https://github.com/marketplace/actions/deploy-ghost-theme?ref=themex.studio) Github action. The purpose of the GitHub action is to take the theme from the GitHub repo and send it to your website.
Follow this guide to add GitHub actions [Streamline the deployment of your Ghost theme using GitHub Action](https://themex.studio/guides/streamline-the-deployment-of-your-ghost-theme-using-github-action/).
---
Congratulations on setting up your Naoto theme! We hope this documentation has been helpful in getting you started with creating a beautiful and functional website.
Naoto is designed to be flexible and easy to customize, offering a wide range of options to make your site unique. With its modular homepage sections, diverse page templates, and extensive customization options, you have everything you need to create a professional online presence.
### ✨ Sidebar Overlay & Advanced Books Template
URL: https://themex.studio/sidebar-overlay-advanced-books-template/
Last updated: 2025-06-17T07:42:10.000Z
- [**Hide Sidebar Menu**](https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/#sidebar-navigation-overlay): Control sidebar visibility on homepage and specific pages for cleaner layouts.
- [**Versatile Books Pages**](https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/#books-page): Book pages can now be repurposed for courses, resources, or any content collection.
- [**Series**](https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/#course-page)**,** [**Timeline**](https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/#timeline-page)**, and** [**Now**](https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/#now-page) **templates** are now available in Ghost admin when createing a page. No more updating routes.yaml page and can be used to create multiple course, series easily.
### New Hero Designs & Header Submenu Options
URL: https://themex.studio/new-hero-designs-header-submenu-options/
Last updated: 2025-05-30T03:03:10.000Z
- Added more hero layout options
- Added [header submenu dropdown](https://themex.studio/docs/singapore-docs/#navigation-dropdown-menus)
- Added support for[ social links](https://themex.studio/docs/singapore-docs/#enable-social-links-in-the-hero-section) on the hero section
- Added custom CTA for hero section
- Added light/dark mode support
- Removed contact page from routes.yaml
- Improved minor visual styles and copy
### Header Submenu Dropdowns
URL: https://themex.studio/submenu-dropdowns/
Last updated: 2025-05-30T02:38:20.000Z
Create dropdown submenus in your Ghost navigation using dash (-) prefixes before submenu items in Settings → Navigation. [Check the detailed guide.](https://themex.studio/docs/zurich-doc/#navigation-dropdown-menus)
### Showcase specific posts on your homepage
URL: https://themex.studio/showcase-specific-posts-on-your-homepage/
Last updated: 2025-05-13T15:17:48.000Z
Now you can create dedicated sections that display posts filtered by any tag you choose on the homepage and a dedicated page showing those posts.
Set it up by [following this guide](https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/#posts-row-sections).
### Extensive Hero Text
URL: https://themex.studio/extensive-hero-text/
Last updated: 2025-04-11T08:08:37.000Z
The Kyoto theme now supports longer hero text and revealing animation on scroll, giving you more flexibility for your homepage introduction.
- Add tag `#home-intro` to a page to use it as custom hero text
- Add tag `#intro-animate` for reveal animation effect
- [View detailed guide](https://themex.studio/guides/adding-longer-hero-text-to/)
This update also includes new default minimal font: Switzer.
### Adding extensive hero text to Kyoto homepage
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/adding-longer-hero-text-to/
Last updated: 2025-04-11T07:45:20.000Z
The Kyoto theme now supports longer hero text and revealing animation on scroll, giving you more flexibility for your homepage introduction.
Default
Extensive hero text
0:00
/0:06
1×
extensive hero text with reveal animation on scroll
There are two ways to add extended hero text:
## Method 1: Using the Theme Settings (Default/ simple)
This is the default option of Kyoto theme, recommended for short and simple intro text.
1. Log in to your Ghost Admin dashboard.
2. Go to **Settings** → **Site** → **Design & branding** → **Cuztomize**
3. Go to **Theme** tab and find the **Homepage** section.
4. Locate the **Hero text** field. It is used as the heading
5. Enter your desired text (this works best for shorter messages).
6. Click **Save** to apply the changes.
7. To edit text content, go to **Settings** → **General settings** → **Title & description** → **Site description**
8. Save and refresh the homepage
## Method 2: Using a Custom Page (Recommended for Longer Text)
For more extensive hero text with formatting options and animation.
1. Log in to your Ghost Admin dashboard.
2. Click on **Pages** in the left sidebar.
3. Click **New page** to create a new page.
4. Add your hero text content in the editor. You can:
- Format text with **bold**, *italic*, or other styles
- Add multiple paragraphs
- Include links or other content elements
5. Add the tag `#home-intro` to the page (important!)
- Click the settings icon (⚙️) in the top right
- Go to the "Tags" section
- Type and select `#home-intro`
6. To add reveal animation, add an additional tag `#intro-animate`to the Tags section
7. Publish the page when you're done.
Example from the Ghost admin setting
The theme will automatically display this content in the hero section instead of the simple hero text from Theme Settings.
## Pro Tips:
- Use **bold text** to highlight important words (appears with yellow background)
- Keep your hero text concise and impactful
- If using Method 2, you can update your hero any time by editing the page
That's it! Your Ghost website now features a more flexible and extensive hero text section.
### Submenu Dropdowns & Navigation Enhancements
URL: https://themex.studio/navigation-enhancements/
Last updated: 2025-04-11T03:03:02.000Z
**Submenu Dropdowns**
Create dropdown submenus in your Ghost navigation using dash (-) prefixes before submenu items in Settings → Navigation. [Check the detailed guide.](https://themex.studio/docs/vancouver-docs/#navigation-dropdown-menus)
**Footer Groups**
Organize footer links into distinct groups by adding a hash (#) prefix before group names in Settings → Navigation → Secondary.
### gokselozardali.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/gokselozardali-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T13:45:40.000Z
_No content available._
### brycebladon.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/brycebladon-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T13:44:38.000Z
_No content available._
### nicolediekerfinley.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/nicolediekerfinley-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T13:43:48.000Z
_No content available._
### sannasays.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/sannasays-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T13:42:53.000Z
_No content available._
### the.codegardener.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/the-codegardener-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T13:41:05.000Z
_No content available._
### danhannigan.me
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/danhannigan-me/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T13:39:48.000Z
_No content available._
### mariluukkainen.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/mariluukkainen-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T13:38:51.000Z
_No content available._
### joinlemonsqueezy.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/joinlemonsqueezy-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T09:28:00.000Z
_No content available._
### raf.eco
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/raf-eco/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T09:26:59.000Z
_No content available._
### bankonnews.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/bankonnews-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T09:26:04.000Z
_No content available._
### nirajs.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/nirajs-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T09:17:34.000Z
_No content available._
### joyinliving.nl
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/joyinliving-nl/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T09:16:04.000Z
_No content available._
### at-media-group.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/at-media-group-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T09:13:19.000Z
_No content available._
### virtualgarden.greenspell.org
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/virtualgarden-greenspell-org/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T09:11:16.000Z
_No content available._
### tanastack.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/tanastack-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T09:10:28.000Z
_No content available._
### koreanwins.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/koreanwins-com/
Last updated: 2025-08-05T04:00:14.000Z
_No content available._
### ziplaw.uk
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/ziplaw-uk-2/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T09:08:33.000Z
_No content available._
### shanedutka
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/shanedutka/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T09:06:21.000Z
_No content available._
### arslan.io
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/arslan-io/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T09:04:50.000Z
_No content available._
### parvsondhi.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/parvsondhi-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T09:03:51.000Z
_No content available._
### trong.me
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/trong-me/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T09:05:09.000Z
_No content available._
### tamerlan.dev
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/tamerlan-dev/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T09:02:34.000Z
_No content available._
### sabatino.dev
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/sabatino-dev/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T09:01:56.000Z
_No content available._
### samsager.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/samsager-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T08:58:58.000Z
_No content available._
### ruibo-liu.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/ruibo-liu-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T08:57:53.000Z
_No content available._
### keithhayden.net
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/keithhayden-net/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T08:56:30.000Z
_No content available._
### arvid.tech
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/arvid-tech/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T08:54:52.000Z
_No content available._
### randymginsburg.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/randymginsburg-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T08:53:56.000Z
_No content available._
### dazugelernt.de
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/dazugelernt-de/
Last updated: 2025-03-20T09:21:54.000Z
_No content available._
### wutong.org
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/wutong-org/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T16:44:49.000Z
_No content available._
### aubrieintheopen.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/aubrieintheopen-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T16:43:46.000Z
_No content available._
### chamline.net
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/chamline-net/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T16:41:45.000Z
_No content available._
### littlemight.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/littlemight-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T16:24:37.000Z
_No content available._
### coryames.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/coryames-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T16:23:58.000Z
_No content available._
### craighewitt.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/craighewitt-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T16:22:55.000Z
_No content available._
### galwaynow.ie
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/galwaynow-ie/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T16:20:37.000Z
_No content available._
### eliteselects.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/eliteselects-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T16:19:44.000Z
_No content available._
### nomore.org
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/nomore-org/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T16:18:56.000Z
_No content available._
### a.wholelottanothing.org
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/a-wholelottanothing-org/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T16:18:11.000Z
_No content available._
### hledanigralu.cz
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/hledanigralu-cz/
Last updated: 2025-03-27T09:12:11.000Z
_No content available._
### michaelsaltzman.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/michaelsaltzman-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T16:40:15.000Z
_No content available._
### jark.me
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/jark-me/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T16:13:35.000Z
_No content available._
### sanzuwu.group
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/sanzuwu-group/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T16:12:46.000Z
_No content available._
### jefffinley.org
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/jefffinley-org/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T16:10:46.000Z
_No content available._
### iamteedoh.io
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/iamteedoh-io/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T16:10:01.000Z
_No content available._
### mikewang.love
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/mikewang-love/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T16:09:18.000Z
_No content available._
### ziplaw.uk
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/ziplaw-uk/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T16:08:33.000Z
_No content available._
### kirillv.com
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/kirillv-com/
Last updated: 2025-03-19T16:07:41.000Z
_No content available._
### Categories / Tags Browsing Grid
URL: https://themex.studio/categories-tags-browsing-grid/
Last updated: 2025-03-17T05:25:38.000Z
- Added categories / tags grid to archive, tags, and tag pages, helping visitors to explore writers’ popular topics more easily. [View demo →](https://kyoto.themex.studio/archive/?ref=themex.studio)
- Some minor typography fixes
### How to Create Multiple Course Pages in Ghost Using routes.yaml
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-create-multiple-course-pages-in-ghost-using-routes-yaml/
Last updated: 2025-02-19T14:33:35.000Z
If you're using the Braun theme (or other modern Ghost themes like Kyoto), you've got some powerful tools at your disposal. One of the most useful - but often overlooked - is the routes.yaml file.
Today, I'll show you how to use it to create different pages using the same template. Apply to Braun, Kyoto and all Ghost themes.
## The Challenge This Solves
By default, Braun theme only lets you create one course page with the standard routes setup. But what if you want to offer multiple courses, each with its own dedicated page and content structure? That's where customizing your routes.yaml file comes in.
## Understanding How routes.yaml Works with Your Theme
Here's the basic structure of a routes.yaml file
```yaml
routes:
/your-url/:
template: template-name
controller: channel
data: page.your-page-slug
filter: tag:your-tag
```
Each route needs:
- **URL path**: Where visitors find your page
- **Template**: The layout style to use
- **Controller**: Leave it as it as it. It has to be there. Don’t change :)
- **Data**: Which Ghost page to reference
- **Filter**: This tells Ghost which posts to show on this page
When you open routes.yaml of Braun theme, you'll see something like this:
```yaml
routes:
/course/:
template: serie
controller: channel
data: page.course
filter: tag:hash-course
```
Let's break this down into everyday language:
- `/course/`: This is just the URL where people will find your page (like yourwebsite.com/gallery)
- `template: serie`: we’re using the `serie` template
- `data: page.course`: This connects to the page you create in Ghost so it can that page’s title, excerpt, etc,.. (in this example, we created a page with the URL is `course`)
- `filter: tag:hash-course`: we’re filtering all posts that are tagged with `#course`
route.yaml file anatomy
## Step-by-Step Guide
### 1\. Access Your routes.yaml File
When you unzip the theme file, there’s should be a routes.yaml file. But if you don’t see it, you can follow these steps to download the latest routes.yaml you’re using in your theme:
1. Go to Ghost Admin → Settings → Labs
2. Look for the Routes section
3. Download your current routes.yaml file (save it as a backup)
4. Open the file in any text editor
### 2\. Add New Course Routes
Add these lines to your routes.yaml file (keeping existing routes intact):
```yaml
routes:
/courses/coding/:
template: series
controller: channel
data: page.coding-course
filter: tag:course-coding
/courses/design/:
template: series
controller: channel
data: page.design-course
filter: tag:course-design
/courses/marketing/:
template: series
controller: channel
data: page.marketing-course
filter: tag:course-marketing
```
### 3\. Upload Modified routes.yaml
1. Return to Ghost Admin → Settings → Labs
2. Click "Upload routes YAML"
3. Select your modified file
### 4\. Create Supporting Pages
1. Go to Pages in Ghost Admin
2. Create a new page for each course
3. Set page URLs to match your routes.yaml `data` values
- coding-course
- design-course
- marketing-course
4. Add course descriptions and featured images
5. Publish each page
### 5\. Organize Course Content
1. Create posts for your course lessons
2. Tag them with the corresponding course tag:
- `course-coding`
- `course-design`
- `course-marketing`
3. Publish lessons in your desired order
## Common Questions and Solutions
#### "My new page is empty!"
- Check if your page URL matches the data value exactly
- Verify your posts have the correct tags
- Check routes.yaml indentation
#### “404 errors page appears”
- Verify URL paths in routes.yaml
- Ensure supporting pages published
- Clear Ghost cache after updates
---
While this guide uses Braun theme examples, the principles work with other themes like Kyoto and other Ghost themes. Just check your theme's documentation for available templates and adjust accordingly.
### Infinite loading, custom 404 page
URL: https://themex.studio/infinite-loading-custom-404-page/
Last updated: 2025-02-16T17:16:39.000Z
- Added pagination to [Gallery pages](https://braun.themex.studio/gallery/?ref=themex.studio) so you can now browse through large collections of images more easily
- Improved page loading: Instead of clicking a "Load More" button, new content now loads automatically as you scroll down the page
- Added a custom "[Page Not Found](https://braun.themex.studio/404/?ref=themex.studio)" template to help guide visitors when they land on a missing page
- Added support for Chinese language, making the theme fully accessible to Chinese-speaking users
### benny-bowden
URL: https://themex.studio/showcases/benny-bowden/
Last updated: 2025-10-22T15:44:10.000Z
_No content available._
### Footnotes, Localizations, and Dark Mode Improvements
URL: https://themex.studio/footnotes-localizations-and-dark-mode-improvements/
Last updated: 2025-01-12T15:44:10.000Z
- Added support for [footnotes](https://themex.studio/docs/zurich-doc/#footnotes) in posts and pages
- Fixed dark mode color issues with Ghost cards
- Improved subscription box styling with fade-in gradient mask
- Added support for additional language translations, including French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Chinese, and Dutch
- Made minor improvements to typography, colors, and translations
### Improve header alignment with announcement bar
URL: https://themex.studio/improve-header-alignment-with-announcement-bar/
Last updated: 2025-01-09T08:37:10.000Z
- Fix header navigation alignment issue when annoucemence bar visible
- Improve header navigation text line height
### Support footnotes on Posts/Pages
URL: https://themex.studio/support-footnotes-on-posts-pages/
Last updated: 2025-01-07T04:51:15.000Z
- Supported footnotes in all posts and pages. Allowing writers to provide valuable supplementary information without disrupting the main text. [Learn how to add footnotes](https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/#footnotes)
- Removed Pinterest sharing and replaced with LinkedIn.
### Added footnotes and custom fonts
URL: https://themex.studio/added-footnotes-and-custom-fonts/
Last updated: 2025-01-06T16:41:26.000Z
- Supported footnotes in all posts and pages. Allowing writers to provide valuable supplementary information without disrupting the main text. [Learn how to add footnotes](https://themex.studio/docs/singapore-docs/#footnotes)
- Added support for Ghost's native Custom Fonts. You now can select custom font from Ghost admin direclty.
- Added the ability to hide/show authors and social sharing on posts.
- Removed Pinterest sharing and replaced with LinkedIn.
### Update feed title hover state color
URL: https://themex.studio/update-feed-title-hover-state-to-ensure/
Last updated: 2024-12-29T06:28:29.000Z
Using more neutral hover state with underline instead of brand color to make the site works with all brand color (even black/white) for both light/dark mode.
### Quick-edit your Ghost site right from the frontend
URL: https://themex.studio/quick-edit-your-ghost-site-right-from-the-frontend/
Last updated: 2024-12-26T13:59:32.000Z
0:00
/0:15
1×
New Edit Shortcut button lets you jump straight to the admin editor with one click. Enable it in **Settings > Design & branding > Theme**.
[More about Edit Shortcut](https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/#edit-shortcut-button)
### Expanded header icon matching
URL: https://themex.studio/expanded-nav-icon-matching/
Last updated: 2024-12-27T07:56:42.000Z
Your menu items now automatically match icons with more common variations:
- "My Library" = Books icon
- "Latest Posts" = Blog icon
- "What's New" = Now icon
[Check docs for all smart matches](https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/#header-item-icons)
### Support reorder homepage sections within Code Injection
URL: https://themex.studio/new-split-layout-template-for-posts-copy/
Last updated: 2024-12-29T07:38:55.000Z
You can easily rearrange your homepage sections using Ghost's built-in Code Injection without touching theme's code. [View step-by-step guide.](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-reorder-homepage-sections-in-ghosts-kyoto-theme/)
### How to Reorder Homepage Sections in Ghost's Kyoto Theme
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-reorder-homepage-sections-in-ghosts-kyoto-theme/
Last updated: 2024-12-23T04:04:17.000Z
Want to give your Ghost website a fresh look without diving into theme files?
You can easily rearrange your homepage sections using Ghost's built-in Code Injection feature. Here's your step-by-step guide to customizing your site's layout in minutes.
☝️
This method only apply or Kyoto version 1.5.1 and above. Download the latest version from your Lemon Squeezy Orders.
## Why Rearrange Your Homepage?
Different sections grab different readers. Maybe you want your blog posts front and center, or perhaps your work experience should lead the way. Whatever your strategy, the right section order can help guide visitors exactly where you want them to go.
## Step-by-Step Guides
### 1\. Access Your Ghost Admin Panel
1. Log into your Ghost admin dashboard
2. Navigate to **Settings** \> [**Code injection**](https://themex.studio/docs/kyoto-docs/#code-injection)
3. Look for the "Site Header" section - this is where we'll add our custom CSS
### 2\. Understand Your Section Options
Your Kyoto theme includes these sections (in default order):
1. Hero section (`.section-hero`)
2. Logo board/Featured on (`.section-logo-board`)
3. Personal projects/Creating (`.section-personal-project`)
4. Blog posts/Thoughts (`.section-blog`)
5. Case studies (`.section-case-study`)
6. Testimonials (`.section-testimonials`)
7. Work experiences (`.section-experiences`)
### 3\. Add Your Custom Ordering Code
Copy this basic template into the Site Header section:
```html
```
Just change the numbers to reorder your sections - lower numbers appear first!
## Pro Tips
**1/ Mobile-First Thinking**
Create different orders for mobile users with media queries:
```css
@media (max-width: 767px) {
.section-blog { order: 1; }
.section-hero { order: 2; }
/* other sections... */
}
```
**2/ Work Page Customization**
Want a different order on your Work page? Add `.page-works` before the section classes:
```css
.page-works .section-case-study { order: 1; }
.page-works .section-experiences { order: 2; }
```
## Example: Complete Reorder Configuration
Here's a full example that you can copy and modify:
```html
```
Remember to click "Save" after making your changes in the Code Injection area. Your sections should immediately reflect the new order after the page reloads.
You don't need to include all sections - only add the ones you want to reorder. Any sections not specified will maintain their default positioning.
### New split layout template for posts
URL: https://themex.studio/new-split-layout-template-for-posts/
Last updated: 2024-12-26T03:45:34.000Z
- Added new split layout template for posts. [Take a look](https://kyoto.themex.studio/why-your-personal-website-should-be-minimal/?ref=themex.studio)
- Updated blog feed items to respect Feed layout setting from admin
- Refined table styles to be more modern and clean
- Added ability to hide post feed on homepage when Feed title field is empty
### How to Add Your Own Custom Fonts to Ghost Theme
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-add-your-own-custom-fonts-to-ghost-theme/
Last updated: 2024-12-23T02:26:36.000Z
You're in the right place! Whether you're using Google Fonts or have your own font files, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
## Quick Overview
- Time needed: 10-15 minutes
- Technical level: Beginner-friendly
- Tools needed: Access to your Ghost admin panel
## Method 1: Using Google Fonts (Recommended for Beginners)
This is the easiest way to add custom fonts to your site. Google Fonts are free, load quickly, and work on all devices.
1. Visit [Google Fonts](https://fonts.google.com/?ref=themex.studio)
2. Browse and select your fonts
- Click the "+ Select" button for each font you want
- You can choose multiple styles (like regular and bold)
- Click on **Get embed code** and copy the embed code
3. Open your Ghost admin panel
4. Go to Settings > Code Injection
5. In the "Site Header" section, paste this code:
```html
```
Just replace 'Inter' with your chosen font name. That's it!
## Method 2: Using Your Own Font Files
Have your own fonts? Here's how to use them. First, you'll need to convert them to web-friendly formats.
### Step 1: Convert Your Fonts
We need to convert normal font to webfont to be able to use it on web.
1. Go to [Transfonter](https://transfonter.org/?ref=themex.studio) (it's free!)
2. Upload your font files (.ttf or .otf)
3. Select these settings:
- Check "WOFF2" and "WOFF" (these are modern web formats)
- Turn OFF "Base64 encode"
4. Click "Convert" and download the files
### Step 2: Add Fonts to Your Theme
1. Unzip your theme folder
2. Create a new folder called "fonts" inside the "assets" folder
3. Put your converted font files there
4. **Zip** the theme folder back up
5. Upload the theme to Ghost
💡
To create a zip file on a macOS, ****right-click** on the theme folder to view the context menu. Then, click the ****Compress** option. On Windows, ****right-click** on the theme folder, select ****Send to**, and then select ****Compressed (zipped) folder**.
Example of file structure
### Step 3: Add the Code
In this example, we’re using Switzer font with different styles.
Go to Ghost admin > Settings > Code Injection and add this code to the "Site Header":
```html
```
Here's what each part does:
- font-family — This is the name you're giving your font
- src — This tells the website where to find your font file. Just replace it with the name of the font files you downloaded.
- font-weight — This is how thick the letters are (400 is normal, 700 is bold)
- font-style — This tells if the text is straight up (normal) or slanted (italic)
When you have multiple versions of the same font (like bold or italic), you need a separate name tag for each one. But you can use the same `font-family` name.
In the example above, we only use one font for title and body. But you can include different fonts for title and body. You just need to change the name font --font-base and --font-serif.
```css
:root {
--font-base: 'Font Name Default', sans-serif;
--font-serif: 'Font Name Serif', sans-serif;
}
```
Replace 'Font Name Default' and 'Font Name Serif' and the file paths with your actual font names and files.
Now, save it and and enjoy your sit with your own fonts.
## Pro Tips
- Keep your font files small (under 300KB total) for better site speed
- Use .woff2 files first - they're smaller and load faster
- Only include the font weights you actually need
- Test your site on different devices after adding fonts
- If fonts don't show up, try clearing your browser cache
## Troubleshooting
- Fonts not showing? Make sure your file paths are correct
- Site loading slowly? Your font files might be too large
- Text looking weird? Double-check your font-weight values
Happy customizing! 🎨
### Hide Navigation Icons &Homepage Improvements
URL: https://themex.studio/hide-navigation-icons/
Last updated: 2024-12-23T14:46:53.000Z
- Added option to [hide/show icons from navigation](https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/#hideshow-navigation-icons)
- Added [gallery template](https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/#gallery-page) to showcase photos/artworks on a masonry grid
- [Excluding specific posts](https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/#exclude-posts-from-blog-feed-on-homepage) from showing on homepage feed
### Custom Fonts
URL: https://themex.studio/custom-fonts/
Last updated: 2024-12-23T14:09:26.000Z
- Added support for [Ghost's native Custom Fonts](https://themex.studio/docs/kyoto-docs/#custom-fonts). Now you can select custom font from Ghost admin direclty
- Added [user-defined](https://themex.studio/docs/kyoto-docs/#lightdark-mode-for-version-v130-and-above) dark mode settings in Ghost admin.
### Add Gallery Template
URL: https://themex.studio/add-gallery-template/
Last updated: 2024-12-23T13:35:12.000Z
We've added a masonry grid layout perfect for showcasing visual content. Ideal for portfolios, photography, or artwork collections. See our documentation for setup details.
### Braun Theme v1.2.4 - Enhanced Dark Mode & Custom Fonts
URL: https://themex.studio/braun-theme-v1-2-4-enhanced-dark-mode-custom-fonts/
Last updated: 2024-12-06T12:05:34.000Z
We're excited to share the latest update to Braun, bringing several highly-requested features to enhance your site customization.
What's New:
### ✨ Enhanced Dark Mode
We've revamped the theme appearance settings, giving you more control over how your site looks. Switch between Light, Dark, System-based, or User-defined modes through Settings > Design & branding > Site wide > Appearance.
### 🎨 Native Custom Fonts Support (Beta)
Ghost has launched their custom fonts library, and we've integrated it with Braun. Access a curated selection of professional fonts by:
- Enabling Custom Fonts Beta in Labs
- Selecting your fonts in Settings > Design & branding > Site Wide > Typography
Note: This replaces the previous font style options for a more streamlined experience.
### 🔍 Navigation & Homepage Improvements
You don’t want icons? No problem, just hide it.
- Toggle navigation icons visibility in Site wide settings
- Exclude specific posts from your homepage feed using tags
- Enhanced mobile navigation experience
### 📸 Gallery Template
We've added a masonry grid layout perfect for showcasing visual content. Ideal for portfolios, photography, or artwork collections. See our documentation for setup details.
---
### To Update:
1. Download from your Lemon Squeezy Orders page
2. Go to Ghost admin > Settings > Design & branding > Change theme
3. Upload and configure your new settings
For detailed changes and documentation: [View changelog →](https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/#changelog)
If you're enjoying Braun, we'd appreciate your feedback: [Leave a review →](https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/#gallery-page)
Questions? Simply reply to this email.
### Native Custom Fonts Support
URL: https://themex.studio/native-custom-fonts-support/
Last updated: 2024-12-23T10:28:38.000Z
Ghost has launched their custom fonts library, and we've integrated it with Braun.
Access a curated selection of professional fonts by selecting your fonts in [Settings > Design & branding > Site Wide > Typography](https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/#custom-fonts-beta)
Note: This replaces the previous font style options for a more streamlined experience.
### Enhanced Dark Mode Settings
URL: https://themex.studio/dark-mode-settings/
Last updated: 2024-12-23T10:29:13.000Z
We've revamped the [theme appearance settings](https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/#light-dark-mode), giving you more control over how your site looks.
Switch between Light, Dark, System-based, or User-defined modes through **Settings > Design & branding > Site wide > Appearance**
### Braun
URL: https://themex.studio/braun/
Last updated: 2025-10-24T07:18:44.000Z
0:00
/1:13
1×
###### Build your own homepage
## Flexible & Customizable Homepage
###### Enrich your site
## 10+ different page templates
Home
Blog
Work or Case studies
Course or Timeline
Books
Resources
Contact
Timelines
Post with image
Post with medium image
Post with full image
For for book/tiny image
###### Express your brand
## 8 presets color combination
###### Of course
## Responsive Ready
## Support all inbuilt Ghost features
We seamlessly integrate with Ghost's inbuilt features, making it easy for you to focus on your writing.
#### Supported ****inbuilt Ghost features**
- Translation-ready English included
- Search function
- Comments
- Accent color
- Responsive images
- Publication title and description
- Publication logo
- Post, page, tag, and author page
- Author avatar, bio, location, website and social accounts
- Tag cover and description
- Tags in post-cards
- Multiple authors
- Markdown, Bookmark, Button, Callout and Toggle card
- Audio, File, Product, and Header card
- Gallery card
- Image card with normal, wide, and full width
- Video card with normal, wide, and full-width
- Secondary navigation
- Featured posts
- Reading time in post view
- Related posts
- Social accounts
- Membership tiers
- Members and subscription
- Show/Hide title & feature image for page
- Announcement banner
###### Need assist
## Excellent Support
We offer fast and reliable support to assist you with any questions or issues. Reach out to us via our [Contact form](https://themex.studio/contact/), email us at hello@themex.studio, or connect with us on Twitter [@themexstudio](https://twitter.com/home?ref=themex.studio). We will get back to you within 24 hours.
### Dark mode for Kyoto Ghost theme
URL: https://themex.studio/dark-mode-for-kyoto-ghost-theme-2/
Last updated: 2024-12-06T16:07:35.000Z
First and foremost, thank you for choosing and using the Kyoto theme for your Ghost site. Your support and feedback have been invaluable in shaping our theme's evolution.
We're excited to announce some significant updates to Kyoto, driven largely by your requests. Many of you have asked for more flexibility in how your site appears, particularly regarding light and dark modes. We listened, and we've delivered.
Here's what's new:
1. Light/Dark mode settings: You can now easily switch between light, dark, and system modes directly from your Ghost admin panel. This highly requested feature allows your site to adapt to different viewing preferences and conditions.
2. Eight color presets: We've introduced a set of carefully designed color schemes. These presets make it simple to refresh your site's look without needing to manually select colors.
3. Removed the background color picker from the admin panel. Color customization is now handled through the new preset options
Dark mode setting in Ghost Admin
These updates aim to give you more control over your site's visual identity while simplifying the customization process. We hope these changes will enhance both your experience as a site owner and your visitors' experience.
##### To update to this latest version:
1. Download the latest version (v1.3.0) from the Lemon Squeezy Orders page.
2. Upload the theme in Ghost admin (Settings > Design & branding > Change theme).
3. Choose your setting and Done.
##### Notes:
- Please refer to the [updated documentation](https://themex.studio/docs/kyoto-docs/#lightdark-mode-for-version-v130-and-above) for guidance on using the new features.
- If you're updating from a previous version, your custom background color settings may need to be reconfigured using the new preset system.
- Want to set your own color background? [Check the document here.](https://themex.studio/docs/kyoto-docs/#change-the-background-color-for-version-v130-and-above)
As always, we're eager to hear your thoughts and feedback.
For other update of the previous version, check [Kyoto’s changelog](https://themex.studio/docs/kyoto-docs/#changelog)
Best regards,
Trong @Themex Studio
### Add logo board section
URL: https://themex.studio/update-feed-title-hover-state-color-copy/
Last updated: 2024-12-29T07:24:01.000Z
Add logo board section to the homepage to add social proof to showup your presence.
[Step-by-step guide to add logo board.](https://themex.studio/docs/singapore-docs/#logo-board-section)
### Small text for section title
URL: https://themex.studio/add-logo-board-section-copy/
Last updated: 2024-12-29T07:29:33.000Z
Support small text for section titles and fix share component.
### Dark mode and new preset colors
URL: https://themex.studio/dark-mode-and-new-preset-colors/
Last updated: 2024-12-23T14:05:50.000Z
- Added support for [light and dark modes](https://themex.studio/docs/kyoto-docs/#lightdark-mode-for-version-v130-and-above): You can now choose between light, dark, or system-based appearance in the Ghost admin panel
- Introduced [8 new color presets](https://themex.studio/docs/kyoto-docs/#change-the-background-color-for-version-v130-and-above) for easy theme customization
- Removed the background color picker from the admin panel: Color customization is now handled through the new preset options
- Changed how we handle [Work experience section](https://themex.studio/docs/kyoto-docs/#work-experiences-for-version-v130-and-above) works on the homepage
### Exclude specific posts from Blog
URL: https://themex.studio/exclude-specific-posts-from-blog/
Last updated: 2024-12-23T14:03:37.000Z
Remove books, now, timeline posts from the Blog page to keep the Blog clean
### Braun Docs
URL: https://themex.studio/docs/braun-docs/
Last updated: 2025-12-01T07:51:07.000Z
##### On this page
### Changelog
[Braun ChangelogLatest update 🚀Themex StudioTrong Themex](https://themex.studio/braun-changelog/)
---
### Introduction
Since this is a Ghost theme documentation, you are assumed to have a basic knowledge of the Ghost app.
If you're starting with Ghost, it is best to see the guides in the official [Ghost Help Center](https://ghost.org/help/?ref=themex.studio) – check this out, and you'll have all the available information.
---
## Getting Started
### Welcome
Braun theme concept is built for flexibility and easy customization. It leverages existing Ghost features of tags & pages to help you customize your own Ghost site from the Ghost admin interface.
Looks like you're just getting started. Don't worry, we're here to help you build an amazing website.
First, let watch this short video on how to setup and customize the theme:
Building the homepage with Braun
To kick things off, here are some helpful guides:
1. Import [internal tags](#import-internal-tags-optional) or [demo content](#import-demo-content-optional) (internal tags, hero, blog)
2. [Crafting a compelling hero section](#hero-section) \- Make a lasting first impression with a stunning hero section.
3. [Launching your Blog page](#blog-section) \- Share your thoughts, experiences, and expertise with a dedicated blog.
4. [Showcasing your success stories](#case-studies-section) \- Highlight your achievements and inspire others with captivating case studies.
5. [Curating valuable resources](#resources-sections) \- Provide your visitors with a collection of useful resources.
### Install Theme
#### Upload Zip File
To begin, **unzip** the downloaded package by double-clicking it on a Mac or by right-clicking and selecting "Extract All" on Windows.
Inside the new **Braun folder**, you will find the Braun.zip theme file and an online documentation file.
###### Step-by-Step to Upload the Theme to Your Website
1. Log in to your Ghost website admin (example.com/ghost).
2. Click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to **Design & branding > Customize > Change Theme**.
4. Click **Upload theme** and select the Braun.zip theme file.
5. Once uploaded, click **Activate now** to activate the theme.
### Upload Routes.yaml
The `routes.yaml` is required if you want to show the following pages:
1. Works
2. Blog
3. Course
4. Serie or Timeline
5. Books
6. Gallery
If you don’t want any page above, you can skip this step.
###### Step-by-Step to Upload the File:
1. Unzip the Braun.zip theme file.
2. In your Ghost admin, click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to **Labs** and click **Open**.
4. Click the **Upload routes YAML** button.
5. Select and upload the `routes.yaml` file inside the theme folder.
6. Done
### Import internal tags (optional)
This step is to import all the available tags we will use to create content on the homepage.
After importing tags, you can select them from Ghost admin without worrying about typo mistakes that can cause the theme to not work as expected.
1. In your Ghost admin, go to **Settings > Advanced > Import/Export**.
2. Under **Export**, click **Export content.** This ensures you have a full backup of your current data. Once done, proceed to the next step.
3. Under **Import**, click **Universal import**.
4. Select and upload the `internal-tags.json` file from the unzipped theme folder.
5. Now, navigate to the **Tags** page within your admin panel to view all available tags under **Internal tags**.
6. That's all for the theme installation!
### Import demo content (optional)
Using demo content to quickly get started with Braun
Demo content accelerates your theme setup by providing a fully configured example of the theme's capabilities. Instead of building from scratch, you'll have working examples of content structures, internal tags that showcase best practices for your theme's features.
Before importing demo content, export your existing content as a backup.
To import the demo content:
1. Navigate to **Settings > Advanced > Import/Export**
2. Under **Import**, upload the `demo-content.json` file from your theme directory
3. The demo content includes:
- Homepage sections (hero, blog, case studies, resources)
- Internal tags for content organization
- Sample pages and layouts
To manage demo content:
1. Go to **Pages**
2. Filter by the `Demo` tag
3. Edit or replace the content with your own
The demo content provides a foundation to understand the theme's structure and capabilities. You can modify, remove, or expand upon these sections using the theme's built-in components and layouts.
Now let’s move on to creating your homepage.
---
## Build Your Homepage
### Homepage Sections
After uploading the theme and uploading the routes.yaml file, the homepage is still empty.
To get started, let’s add the two essential parts of your website: Hero section and blog section.
Let’s watch this short video to learn how to build your homepage.
Building the homepage with Braun
The homepage is built around tags and pages, so you can update them from the Ghost admin UI with no coding required.
- Homepage content includes different sections, such as hero, blog, static text, testimonials…
- Each section is a page with represented internal tags you can create from Ghost admin. This gives you full flexibility to edit and customize your content.
- The sections' order is displayed in chronological order (oldest first). You can adjust the order by simply changing the "**Publish date**" in the Page settings.
Here are the available sections of the homepage with their represented tags.
1. Hero section `#section-hero`
2. Blog `#section-blog`
3. Posts Row Section `#section-custom-posts`
4. Logos `#section-logos`
5. Side projects `#section-side-projects`
6. Case studies `#section-case-studies`
7. Resource `#section-resource`
8. Testimonials `#section-testimonials`
9. Static text `#section-static-text`
10. Static banner `#section-static-banner`
11. Work experiences `#section-experiences`
12. Books `#section-books`
### 1/ Hero Section
The hero section is permanently set to the top section of the homepage.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Hero Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new page.
2. Add your featured photo, title, and content.
3. Open page settings, add `#section-hero` to Tags input. Make sure it's the first tag in the input.
4. Publish and open the homepage to check.
The final page content should look like the following:
#### Hero Section Styles
Braun supports different styles for hero sections. You can choose your favorite one at **Ghost admin > Settings > Design & branding > Homepage > Hero layout**.
Rectangle image top
Circle image top
Image right
Image left
Wide image top
#### Single column text for Wide image top option
If you prefer text in one column for choosing Wide image top, add this CSS to Code injection:
```html
```
#### Adding Background to Hero Section
Make your hero section stand out more with a background color.
You can add it from Ghost admin. The theme is using the accent color from the tag `#section-hero` for this.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Background Color to Hero Section
1. In Ghost admin, go to Tags.
2. Under Internal tag, click `#section-hero` to go to that tag detail.
3. Select a color from Color input.
4. Save and done.
#### Using Video in Your Hero Section
Add dynamic video backgrounds to your site's hero section with these simple steps.
###### Requirements
- Self-hosted video file (MP4 format recommended)
- Direct URL to your video file
- Note: YouTube/Vimeo links are not supported
###### Step-by-Step
Upload your video file:
- Use your Ghost site's media library, or
- Upload to any file hosting service that provides direct video URLs
Configure the hero video:
- Navigate to the Page that you created as Hero Section
- Go to Page Settings → X Card
- Paste your video URL into the "X Description" field
- Click Update
###### Best Practices
- Keep video file size under 10MB for optimal loading
- Use short loops (15-30 seconds)
###### Troubleshooting
If your video doesn't appear:
- Verify the URL is direct to the video file (.mp4, .webm, etc.)
- Check that the URL is publicly accessible
Clear your browser cache and refresh
### 2/ Blog Section
The blog section will contain the latest posts that you published and a shortcut link to go to the /blog page.
###### Step-by-Step to Add the Blog Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new page.
2. Give it a title, any name. This title will be the title shown on the homepage and the blog page.
3. From the **Page settings**, ensure that the **Page URL** setting is `blog`.
4. Add `#section-blog` to Tags input. Make sure it's the first tag in the input.
5. Publish and open the homepage to check.
The final page content should look like the following:
#### Different Post Styles
Braun supports different post styles and different featured image aspect ratios.
- Card
- Expanded
- Right thumbnail
- Text-only
- Minimal
You can set your favorite style at **Ghost admin > Settings > Design & branding > Homepage > Blog article layout** and **Blog image orientation** for the post image ratio (Landscape, Square, Portrait).
The post style will be applied across the site, including the homepage, blog, and related post under the post detail page.
To create the Blog page, head to [create a blog page](#blog-page).
#### Exclude Posts from Blog Feed on Homepage
Control which posts appear on your homepage feed by excluding specific tags.
###### Step-by-Step to Exclude Posts
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Homepage**
2. Find **Excluded tags**
3. Enter tag slugs separated by commas (e.g., `internal,draft,private`)
4. Click **Save**
Example
Posts with these tags won't appear in the homepage feed but remain accessible via direct links or tag pages.
### 3/ Posts Row Sections
This section allows you to display a row of specific posts filtered by a tag on your homepage. Here's how to set it up:
###### Step-by-Step to Add Posts Row Sections on Homepage
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be shown on the homepage.
3. In Page settings, add `#section-custom-posts` to the Tags input. Make sure it's the first tag in the input.
4. In Template dropdown, choose **Page Custom Posts** (This will create a new page showing those posts)
5. Click on **X Card > X description** input, add the tag slug of the **POSTS (not pages)** you want to show in this row on the Homepage. i.e. putting `newsletter` if you want to show **POSTS** that are tagged as `Newsletter`
6. Publish and preview it on your homepage.
Example of the settings
Notes
When showing this section on the homepage, you might want to exclude them from showing on the Blog section on the homepage and the /blog page.
\- To exclude them from showing Blog section, add tags to exclude from the Setting
\- To exclude on the /blog page, edit the routes.yaml file to add tags to exclude from it.
Preview of the routes.yaml file with default tags to exclude from showing on /blog page
### 4/ Logos Section
Sometimes you want to show some kind of social proof, and a logo board can help achieve that.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Logo Board
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the homepage.
3. Upload all logos you want to show on the homepage. Note: Don’t add any break lines above, between, or after the Images. It will create some odd alignment.
4. In the Page Setting sidebar, add a tag named: `#section-logos`. Make sure it's the first tag in the input.
5. Publish and check your homepage.
The final page content should look like the following:
☝️
If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag.
### Side Projects Section
You can add a side project section (or a section to show any link).
###### Step-by-Step to Add Side Project Section on Homepage
1. In Ghost admin, create a new page.
2. Give it a title, any name. This title will be the title shown on the homepage and the Work page.
3. Add `#section-side-projects` to Tags input.
4. Publish.
The final page content should look like the following:
Now the side project section is visible on the homepage. Next, to add content for that section
###### Step-by-Step to Add Side Project Content
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter information for this project. Page title as the title, Excerpt as the project description, X description as project subtitle. Featured photo is optional.
3. Tag the page as `#content-side-project`. Make sure it's the first tag in the input.
4. (Optional) If you want to lead visitors to an external site, add the URL at **Metadata > Canonical URL**. By default, the link will lead to the Page detail.
5. Publish.
6. Repeat the same steps to create different content blocks for the side projects section.
The final page content should look like the following:
🔗
If you want to hide the link section, add `#no-link` to the Tags input.
### 5/ Case Studies Section
You can add a case study section to showcase your important projects or achievements. The case studies section is the most prominent section of the homepage.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Case Studies Section on Homepage
1. In Ghost admin, create a new page.
2. Give it a title, any name. This title will be the title shown on the homepage and the blog page.
3. On the **Page settings**, ensure that the **Page URL** setting is `works` (This is for the purpose of creating a separate page for works. If you don’t need a separate page, you can use any URL).
4. Add `#section-case-studies` to Tags input. Make sure it's the first tag in the input.
5. Publish.
The final page content should look like the following:
Now the case study section is visible on the homepage. Next, to add content for that section.
#### Add Case Studies
###### Step-by-Step to Add a Case Study
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter information for this project. Page title as the title, Excerpt as the project description, X description as project subtitle, and featured image.
3. Tag the page as `#content-case-study`. Make sure it's the first tag in the input.
4. (Optional) If you want to lead visitors to an external site, add the URL at **Metadata > Canonical URL**. By default, the link will lead to the Page detail.
5. Publish.
6. Repeat the same steps to create different content blocks for the case studies section.
The final page content should look like the following:
🔗
If you want to hide the link section, add `#no-link` to the Tags input.
#### Change Case Study Layout
For the case study card, the theme provides two options:
- Grid: two cards side by side.
- Full row: one card in a row.
1. Go to **Ghost admin > Settings > Design & branding > Homepage > Hero layout**.
2. At Case study card style, select your choice.
3. Save.
### 6/ Resources Sections
When you have some resources you want to show, such as helpful tools, newsletters, or bookmark links, resource sections are ideal for that. You can add as many resource sections as you want. Each section follows the same creation flow.
###### Add resource section on Homepage
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be shown on the homepage and the blog page.
3. In Page settings, add `#section-resource` to the Tags input. Make sure it's the first tag in the input.
4. In Template dropdown, choose **Page Resource**
5. Click on **X Card** and add the tag slug of the **PAGES** you want to show in this row on the Homepage. i.e. putting `tools` if you want to show all **PAGES** that are tagged as `tools`
6. Publish and preview it on your homepage.
The final page content should look like this:
☝️
To find the exact tag slug, go to Tags in the Ghost admin home, click on the tag name, then copy the text in the Slug field.
Repeat these two steps to create different resource sections on the homepage. You can have as many resource sections as you want.
**Some notes:**
- If you want to hide the link section, add `#no-link` to the Tags input.
###### Add resource content
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the information for this resource:
- Page title as the title
- Excerpt as the project description
- X description as the project subtitle
- Featured photo (optional)
1. Tag the page with any name you like, but it’s recommended to use internal tags that start with `#` (e.g., `#podcast`, `#bookmark`). **We will use the tag name later**.
2. (Optional) If you want to direct visitors to an external site, add the URL at **Metadata > Canonical URL**. By default, the link will lead to the Page detail.
3. Publish.
4. Repeat these steps to create different content blocks for the side projects section.
Resource card anatomy
####
### 7/ Testimonials Section
To add a testimonials section, create a new page, give it a title, then add an internal tag `#section-testimonials` in the page settings.
###### Step-by-Step to add testimonial section
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the Homepage.
3. In the page content, add a new Product card. You can find this card by clicking on the + icon on the left side of the editor or by typing `/product` in the editor, then select the **Product** option.
4. On the product card, fill in the details:
- Title is the testimonial main text.
- Description shows a person's name and job title.
- Image as a profile picture.
- Stars as a rating.
5. Add more Product cards to add more testimonials.
6. In the Page Setting sidebar, add a tag named `#section-testimonials`. Make sure it's the first tag in the input.
7. Publish and check your homepage.
The final page content should look like this:
### 8/ Static Text Section
The static text section is useful for adding custom text on the homepage, such as your services, working principles, or values.
To add a static text section, create a new page, give it a title, then add an internal tag `#section-static-text` in the page settings.
###### Step-by-Step to add static text section
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the Homepage.
3. In the page content, add a new Product card. You can find this card by clicking on the + icon on the left side of the editor or by typing `/product` in the editor, then select the **Product** option.
4. On the product card, fill in the title, description, image, and link (optional).
5. Add more Product cards to add more static text cards.
6. In the Page Setting sidebar, add a tag named `#section-static-text`. Make sure it's the first tag in the input.
7. Publish and check your homepage.
☝️
If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag.
The final page content should look like this:
If you want to create separate sections using Static text, create a new page and repeat the same steps above.
### 9/ Static Banner Section
If you prefer to show static images instead of text, you can use the static banner section.
You can repeat the same steps as creating the static text section but use the internal tag `#section-static-banner`.
###### Step-by-Step to add Static banner section
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the Homepage.
3. In the page content, add a new Product card. You can find this card by clicking on the + icon on the left side of the editor or by typing `/product` in the editor, then select the **Product** option.
4. On the product card, upload the image and link (if any). Title and description are optional.
5. Add more Product cards to add more banners.
6. In the Page Setting sidebar, add a tag named `#section-static-banner`. Make sure it's the first tag in the input.
7. Publish and check your homepage.
☝️
If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` tag.
The final page content should look like this:
### 10/ Work Experiences Section
This section is to showcase your work history.
###### Step-by-Step to add work experiences section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be shown on the homepage and the blog page.
3. Add `#section-experiences` to the Tags input.
4. Publish.
The final page content should look like this:
Now the Work experiences section is visible on the homepage. Next, add content for that section.
###### Step-by-Step to add work experience content
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the information for this project. Refer to the screenshot below.
3. Tag the page as `#content-experience`. Make sure it's the first tag in the input.
4. Click **Publish**.
### 11/ Books Sections
When you have some resources you want to show, such as helpful tools, newsletters, or bookmark links, resource sections are ideal for that. You can add as many resource sections as you want. Each section follows the same creation flow.
First, let’s start by adding some resource content to the Ghost CMS.
###### Add resource section on Homepage
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title; this title will be shown on the homepage and the blog page.
3. In Page settings, add `#section-books` to the Tags input.
4. In Template dropdown, choose **Page Resource**
5. Click on **X Card** and add the tag slug of the resource content you created in the previous step in the **X description** input. In this example, we’re using `tools`.
6. Publish and preview it on your homepage.
The final page content should look like this:
### Edit Shortcut Button
The Edit shortcut button provides quick access to edit pages/posts directly from your site's frontend. When enabled, it appears as a buttonn next to the section on the homepage that links to the Ghost admin editor to edit that page.
#### Enable/Disable Edit Mode
The edit shortcut button visibility is controlled by the **Edit mode** setting.
###### Step-by-Step to Enable Edit Mode:
1. Go to Ghost **Admin > Settings > Design & branding > Theme**
2. Find the **Edit mode** toggle switch
3. Switch on to show the edit button, off to hide it
4. Click **Save**
☝️
Important
Always remember to turn off Edit mode after finishing editing. If left on, the Edit button will be visible to anyone viewing your public site (though they can't actually edit without admin access).
### Other Customizations
#### Section Colors
You can add custom background colors for each section on the homepage by adding an Accent color for the respective internal tags.
Example of Side project and Case Study sections with different background colors on the homepage
#### Hide Section Title
If you want to hide the section title, add `#no-title` to the Tags input.
#### Hide Section Link
If you want to hide the link section, add `#no-link` to the Tags input.
## Other pages
### Blog page
A blog page displays all your posts in Ghost.
☝️
****Important:** Ensure you upload the `routes.yaml` file.
If you've already uploaded it, you can skip this step to create a blog page.
###### Step-by-Step to create the blog page:
1. **⭐️ Important**: Upload the routes.yaml file if you haven't done.
2. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
3. Add a title (e.g., 'Blog').
4. Add a description or feature image for this page (optional).
5. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**.
6. Ensure the **Page URL** is `blog`.
7. Click **Publish**.
Now you have a blog page with the URL `yourblog.com/blog`.
#### Blog category header
By default, the blog category header shows the top 5 tags sorted by the number of posts for each tag. You can also define which tags you want to display in the header.
###### Step-by-Step to add custom items on the category header
1. From Ghost admin, go to **Settings** \> **Design & Branding** \> **Homepage**.
2. In **Blog category navigation**, enter the slugs for each tag, separated by commas without any whitespace (e.g., `design,code,mindset`).
3. Click **Save**.
The final page content should look like this:
#### Add featured items to the category header
You can create a separate page to showcase all featured posts and add it to the category header.
☝️
****Important:** Ensure you upload the `routes.yaml` file.
###### Step-by-Step to add a featured page to the category header:
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Add a title (e.g., 'Featured Posts').
3. Add a description or feature image for this page (optional).
4. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**.
5. Ensure the **Page URL** is `featured-posts`.
6. Click **Publish**.
#### Post styles
The theme supports different styles for the post feed. Please check \[TK Different post styles for blog section\].
### Work or Case Study page
This page serves as your portfolio, showcasing your work experiences, side projects, testimonials, and case studies.
☝️
****Important:** Ensure you upload the `routes.yaml` file.
If you've already created a \[case studies section\](TK Link), you can skip this step to create the work page.
###### Step-by-Step to create the work page:
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Add a title (e.g., 'Works').
3. Add a description for this page (optional).
4. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**.
5. Ensure the **Page URL** is `works`.
6. Click **Publish**.
Now you have a work page with the URL `yourblog.com/works`.
All the block content of this page is the same as the options on the homepage. Refer to the homepage customization to adjust content for this page.
### Books page
Books template
#### For Braun v1.7.0 and above
The Books template is now a flexible tool for creating organized collections of any type of content.
While it's still called the "Books" template, it now adapts to showcase books, courses, resources, projects, or any other categorized content you want to organize and display. And you can create as many pages as you like.
###### Step-by-Step to use Books template
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title, excerpt, and feature image.
3. In Template dropdown, choose **Page Books**
4. Click on **X Card** and add the tag slug of the posts you want to show in this page. This is your **tag filter** \- the tag that identifies your collection. i.e. putting `books` if you want to show posts that are tagged as `Books`
5. Additional: Add section titles to the page
- Top section will show featured posts. Showing it by adding section title in **Facebook card** \> **Facebook title**
- Bottom section will show all tagged posts. Adding the text in **Facebook card** \> **Facebook description.**
- *☝️ Note: Since the featured posts are shown on the top section, they would be excluded from the bottom section.*
6. Publish and preview it on your homepage.
You can create multiple timeline pages with different content using this template by repeating the same steps above.
Example of the setting
****For Braun below v1.7.0**
Step-by-Step to create the books page:
1. Important: Ensure you upload the routes.yaml file.
2. In the Ghost admin page, go to ****Pages** \> click on ****New page**.
3. Add a title (e.g., 'Books').
4. Add a description and featured image for this page (optional).
5. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the ****Page settings**.
6. Ensure the ****Page URL** is `books`.
7. Click ****Publish**.
Now you have a books page with the URL `yourblog.com/books`.
###### Add content for the books page:
1. Create a new post and write your content.
2. Tag it as `Books`.
3. Click **Publish**.
Example of a post as a book for the Books page
###### Book card anatomy:
****For Braun below v1.7.0**
Add current reading section:
1. Open the post for the book you're reading.
2. In the post settings, add the tag `#book-reading`.
3. Click ****Update**.
### Now page
Now is a nice place for you to show what this person is focused on at this point in their life.
It’s inspired by [nownownow.com](https://nownownow.com/?ref=themex.studio) projects. But we treat it differently by showing the whole history of the page, not just the latest update.
Now template
#### For version 1.7.0 and above
###### Step-by-Step to use Now template
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title, excerpt, and feature image.
3. In Template dropdown, choose **Page Now**
4. Click on **X Card** and add the tag slug of the posts you want to show on this page. This is your **tag filter** \- the tag that identifies your collection. i.e. putting `now` if you want to show posts that are tagged as `Now`
5. Publish and preview it on your homepage.
Example
****For Braun below v1.7.0**
Step-to-Step to create the Now page:
1. ****Important:** Ensure you upload the `routes.yaml` file.
2. In the Ghost admin page, go to ****Pages** \> click on ****New page**.
3. Add a title (e.g., 'Now').
4. Add a ****description** and ****featured image** for this page (if you want to).
5. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the ****Page settings**.
6. ****Ensure** that the ****Page URL** is `now`.
7. Click ****Publish**.
8. Now you have a work page with the URL `yourblog.com/now`.
Add content for Now page:
1. Create a new Post and write your content.
2. Tag it as `Now`.
3. Click ****Publish**.
**Now will show all the posts tagged as* *`Now`* *and sort it by created time, from latest to oldest. Also those posts are only showing on the Now page, not on the Home or Blog page.*
### Timeline page
This custom page is designed for a linear reading experience, suitable for showcasing milestones or timeline.
#### For version 1.7.0 and above
###### Step-by-Step to use Timline template
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title, excerpt, and feature image.
3. In Template dropdown, choose **Page Timeline**
4. Click on **X Card** and add the tag slug of the posts you want to show on this page. This is your **tag filter** \- the tag that identifies your collection. i.e. putting `timeline` if you want to show posts that are tagged as `Timeline`
5. Publish and preview it on your homepage.
You can create multiple timeline pages with different content using this template by repeating the same steps above.
Setting example
****For Braun below v1.7.0**
You can use this template to [create multiple pages](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-create-multiple-course-pages-in-ghost-using-routes-yaml/). Update the `routes.yaml` file to configure the URL and tag data.
Step-by-Step to create the timeline page:
1. ****Important:** Ensure you upload the `routes.yaml` file.
2. In the Ghost admin page, go to ****Pages** \> click on ****New page**.
3. Add a title (e.g., 'Timeline').
4. Add a description and featured image for this page (optional).
5. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the ****Page settings**.
6. Ensure the ****Page URL** is `timeline`.
7. Click ****Publish**.
Add content for the timeline page:
1. Create a new post and write your content.
2. Tag it as `#timeline`.
3. Click ****Publish**.
This will display all the posts tagged as `#timeline` and sort them by creation time, from latest to oldest.
#### Hide "On this page" or Table of Contents section
If you don't want the Table of Contents on this page, you can hide it by tagging the page as `#u-hide-overview`.
###### Step-by-Step:
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** and find the timeline page you want to hide the Table of Contents on.
2. In the page settings, add the tag `#u-hide-overview`.
3. Click **Update**.
### Serie/Course page
Similar to Timeline page, but here you can create your own series/courses. No more updating routes.yaml page and can be used to create multiple course, series easily. More flexibility in how you organize your content.
#### For version 1.7.0 and above
###### Step-by-Step to use Serie template
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title, excerpt, and feature image.
3. In Template dropdown, choose **Page Serie** or **Page Serie Short**
- **Page Serie**: Showing the full content of each post.
- **Page Serie Short**: Showing the overview of the post (title, excerpt, feature photo).
4. Click on **X Card** and add the tag slug of the posts you want to show on this page. This is your **tag filter** \- the tag that identifies your collection. i.e. putting `course-coding` if you want to show **POSTS** that are tagged as `Course Coding`.
*\- ‼️ Note: *Curently, we don't support PAGES as content.* So if you're creating content as pages instead of posts, nothing will show up.*
5. Publish and preview it on your homepage.
You can create multiple timeline pages with different content using this template by repeating the same steps above.
Setting example
****For Braun below v1.7.0**
Step-by-Step to create the timeline page:
1. ****Important:** Ensure you upload the `routes.yaml` file.
2. In the Ghost admin page, go to ****Pages** \> click on ****New page**.
3. Add a title (e.g., 'Course').
4. Add a description and featured image for this page (optional).
5. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the ****Page settings**.
6. Ensure the ****Page URL** is `course`.
7. Click ****Publish**.
Add content for the Course page:
1. Create a new post and write your content.
2. Tag it as `course`.
3. Click ****Publish**.
**This will display all the posts tagged as* *`course`* *and sort them by creation time, from latest to oldest.*
### Posts
The theme provides different post templates:
1. Default
2. Narrow featured image
3. Full featured image
4. No featured image
To choose which template to use when you publish a post:
1. In the post editor page, click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Post settings**.
2. Find the **Template** selector and choose the style you want for your post.
#### Post page options
The theme supports other customizations:
1. Hide/Show author
2. Hide/Show social sharing buttons
3. Hide/Show subscription box in the post page
### Customize visual for case study page
You might want to create a special visual for some pages, like the hero header of your case study page. You can do this with Kyoto and Ghost.
###### Step-by-Step to create the special header for pages:
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Add your page's content: title, content, excerpt, featured image, etc.
3. At the top of the content area, add a **Header** card by clicking the plus icon or typing `/` and choosing Header from the list.
4. Add a custom title and upload a photo.
5. If you want to show the full photo (without cropping on different screen sizes), hover over the photo area and click the collapse arrow icon. You can also choose a custom background color for this section.
6. In **Page settings**, turn off `Show title and feature image`.
7. Click **Publish**.
### Contact page
To provide a way for your readers to contact you, create a contact page using [Formspree](https://formspree.io/?ref=themex.studio).
###### Step-by-Step:
1. Create a new page and give it a title (e.g., 'Contact').
2. Add a feature photo (optional) and choose a layout from the **Template** option.
3. Choose any template; a special template named "Page" is available under the template option. You can choose any other template as well.
4. Add your content and the contact form code using Formspree. See the code example below.
5. Click **Publish**.
6. To add the page to the navigation, refer to the Navigation section.
```html
```
### Gallery Page
Create a dedicated page to showcase photos or artwork in a masonry grid layout.
☝️
****Important:** Ensure you upload the `routes.yaml` file.
###### Step-by-Step to Create Gallery Page
1. In Ghost admin, go to **Pages** \> **New page**
2. Add title (e.g., 'Gallery')
3. Add content description (optional)
4. In **Page settings**, ensure:
- Page URL is `gallery`
5. Click **Publish**
###### Add Content to Gallery
1. Create a new post
2. Add featured image using the Ghost editor. This image will be displayed in the Gallery page
3. Tag the post as `#gallery`
4. Publish the post
5. Repeat the steps 1—4 to create different items for the gallery
Example of a post tagged with #gallery
The gallery page will display all posts tagged with `#gallery` in a masonry grid layout.
☝️
****Note**
Gallery page will display all the feature image of posts tagged with #gallery. It doesn't show images added in the content of the post.
### Dark page
Besides supporting a light/dark theme for the entire website, this theme allows setting specific pages to dark mode.
For instance, if your default theme is light, but you want certain pages (e.g., Gallery page) to be dark, you can achieve this.
###### Step-by-Step:
1. In the Ghost admin, go to any page or post you want to set to dark mode.
2. Open the **Page/Post settings** panel.
3. In the Tags input, add the tag `#dark`.
4. Click **Update**.
---
## Custom settings
### Colors
The theme supports changing the Accent color and offers 8 different color combinations.
#### Set Accent Color
The Accent color is the primary color used throughout your publication theme in buttons, social sharing hovers, etc. You can change the theme Accent color from the Ghost admin.
Change the Accent color from the admin **Settings > Design & Branding > Customize > Brand > Accent color**.
#### Preset Color Combinations
The theme provides 8 different color combinations. Choose the one that fits your style:
- Default
- Onyx
- Rust
- Fossil
- Mint
- Ember
- Ice
- Maelstrom
###### †Step-by-Step to choose your preferred color combination:
1. Change the Accent color from the admin **Settings > Design & Branding > Customize > Site Wide**.
2. Click on **Color combinations** and select your color combination.
3. Preview and Save.
### Light / Dark Mode
*(For version v1.2.2 and above)*
You can easily switch between light, dark, system, or user-define modes directly from your Ghost admin panel.
The theme supports:
- Light
- Dark
- System-based
- User define
###### Step-by-Step to customize
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Site wide** from the admin menu
2. Choose a preferred mode by clicking on **Appearance**
3. Click **Save**
### Typography
Depending on the selected option, this setting will change the heading and body text fonts.
#### Custom Fonts (Beta)
*(For versions 1.2.2 & above)*
Ghost now provides built-in custom font functionality, allowing users to select heading and body fonts from a curated list directly in the admin interface.
[Ghost will release it soon](https://ghost.org/tutorials/email/ad58caee-4c78-4241-9a24-5dd2bd90753c/?ref=themex.studio). Now, you can enable it in Labs settings to access curated heading and body fonts through the admin interface.
###### Step-by-Step to enable custom font
- Go to **Labs** section in Ghost admin
- Enable the Custom Fonts beta feature
###### Step-by-Step to change fonts:
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize > Site Wide**
2. Under **Typography**, select:
- **Title font** for headings
- **Body font** for main text
3. Click **Save**
#### Default Font-Pairing
*(For versions below 1.2.0)*
Braun has two variants of font-pairing:
1. Modern sans-serif (Default): The theme uses system fonts which adapt based on the OS.
2. Elegant serif: The theme uses `Cardo` as the default font for an elegant style.
###### Step-by-Step to customize:
1. Go to **Settings > Design & Branding > Customize > Site Wide**.
2. Choose a font for titles/headings by clicking on **Title font**.
3. Choose a font for the body by clicking on **Body font**.
4. Click **Save**.
#### Change to Any Fonts
You can change any font from the Ghost admin interface using Code Injection and Google Fonts. For example, if you want to use "Inter" and "EB Garamond" fonts from Google Fonts, your code in Code Injection will be:
```html
```
You can also [use your custom local font](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-add-your-own-custom-fonts-to-ghost-theme/) by including it in your theme with a code editor. This technique is more advanced but allows you to add 'your own' fonts.
### Sidebar Navigation
###### Step-by-Step to add an item to header navigation:
1. Go to **Settings > Navigation > Primary Navigation**.
2. Type the page's name in the label field as you'd like it to appear on your menu.
3. Click on the item's URL. The blog URL will already be auto-populated.
4. When satisfied with your page configurations, click the **Save** button.
#### Group Header
To group header/navigation items into different groups, add `#` before group header names.
#### Header item icons
The theme automatically matches navigation item names with corresponding icons.
For example, if you have a navigation item named "Work", the theme will use the `work` icon.
##### Default icons and their aliases
The theme includes these default icons, along with common name for each:
- `home` \- Use with: Home, Homepage, Main Page, Start, Dashboard
- `blog` \- Use with: Blog, Posts, Articles, Writing, Journal, Latest Posts
- `work` \- Use with: Work, Portfolio, Projects, Case Studies, My Work, experience, My projects, Showcase, Achievements, Career, Work history
- `books` \- Use with: Books, Library, Reading, Bookshelf, Book Notes, Publications, My library, Reading list, Recommended books'
- `tools` \- Use with: Tools, Resources, Utilities, Software, Tool Kit, Gear
- `now` \- Use with: Now, Current, Updates, What's New, Status
- `course` \- Use with: Course, Courses, Learning, Tutorials, Lessons, Education
- `faq` \- Use with: FAQ, Help, Questions, Help Center, Support
- `about` \- Use with: About, About Me, Biography, Info, Introduction
- `contact` \- Use with: Contact, Social, Connect, Get in Touch
- `bookmarks` \- Use with: Bookmarks, Favorites, Saved, Reading List, Collections
- `podcasts` \- Use with: Podcasts, Audio, Episodes, Shows, Broadcasts
- `newsletters` \- Use with: Newsletter, Digest, Updates, Email Updates, Subscription
- `contact` \- Use with: Social, Connect
- `gallery` \- Use with: Gallery, Photos, Images, Portfolio, Albums, Showcase
- Social icons: `instagram`, `twitter`, `linkedin`, `facebook`, `github`, `shop`, `youtube`
You can use any of these name in your navigation labels, and they will automatically use the corresponding icon. For example, "My Library" will use the books icon, "Latest Posts" will use the blog icon.
##### Custom icons
There is a way to add icons to nav items from the Ghost admin. It will require from you to provide a menu slug and SVG icon.
☝️
You can [use this tool URL Slug Generator](https://beautifycode.net/slug-url-generator?ref=themex.studio) to find the right slug for for all text, support all languages.
###### Step-by-Step to add custom icons
1. Go to **Settings > Code Injection**
2. Add the icons to the **Site footer**
Example code with Code injection
This is an example code to add an icon to the page with label `Author`:
```js
```
If you want to add multiple icons, and your navigation text is more than one word (i.e. Reading list), then the keyword should be `reading-list`. You can [use this tool](https://beautifycode.net/slug-url-generator?ref=themex.studio) to find the right slug for for all text, support all languages.
Here is the code:
```js
```
We recommend using popular icon libraries. Here are some tested and recommended options, though you can choose any library you prefer:
- [Lucide](https://lucide.dev/?ref=themex.studio)
- [FontAwesome](https://fontawesome.com/?ref=themex.studio)
- [Untitled](https://www.untitledui.com/free-icons?ref=themex.studio)
- [Bootstrap](https://icons.getbootstrap.com/?ref=themex.studio)
- [Hero Icons](https://heroicons.com/?ref=themex.studio)
#### Hide/Show Navigation Icons
Control the visibility of navigation menu icons from Ghost admin.
###### Step-by-Step to Hide Navigation Icons
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Site wide**
2. Find **Show navigation icons** toggle
3. Switch off to hide icons, on to show them
4. Click **Save**
### Header Call-to-Action Buttons
The theme supports two types of header CTA buttons:
1. Subscription buttons (default option with Subscribe and Signin actions)
2. Custom CTA button with custom text and link
#### Configure Header CTA
###### Step-by-Step to customize the header CTA:
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding >Theme**
2. Scroll to **Navigation buttons** and choose:
- **Subscription**: Shows default Ghost membership buttons (Subscribe/Sign in/Account)
- **Custom**: Allows you to set custom button text and link
- **Off**: Hides the CTA buttons completely
#### Custom CTA Button
When "Custom" is selected, you can configure:
1. **Navigation buttons text**: The text to display on the button (e.g., "Contact Us", "Get Started", etc.)
2. **Navigation buttons link**: The URL where the button should link to (e.g., "/contact", "[https://example.com](https://example.com/?ref=themex.studio)", etc.)
Example configurations:
- Contact button:
- Text: "Contact Us"
- Link: "/contact"
- External link:
- Text: "View Pricing"
- Link: "[https://example.com/pricing](https://example.com/pricing?ref=themex.studio)"
**Note**: When using custom CTA, membership buttons will not be shown even if memberships are enabled on your site.
### Sidebar Navigation Overlay
(For version 1.7.0 and above)
The Sidebar Overlay gives your Ghost blog a clean navigation experience.
Instead of showing the full sidebar navigation menu, it creates a floating navigation bar with a menu button that visitors can click to reveal the complete navigation. It gives more room for your site’s content and minimizes visual clutter.
You can activate the sidebar overlay for your Homepage and any specific pages.
[Example of Sidebar Overlay](https://braun.themex.studio/landing-page-without-sidebar-navigation/?ref=themex.studio)
☝️
**We don’t support the option to replace the Sidebar overlay with the current fixed sidebar because the fixed sidebar is now the core feature of the theme. But if you have a strong opinion about it, drop us an email and share your thoughts, and we can discuss it.*
###### Enable sidebar overlay on Homepage
1. Go to your **Ghost Admin** dashboard.
2. Navigate to **Settings** → **Design & branding** → **Theme**.
3. Look for the **"Hide sidebar on homepage"** option and turn it on.
4. **Save** your changes. This will enable the sidebar overlay on your homepage.
Setting example
###### Enable sidebar overlay on specific page
1. Edit any specific **post** or **page** in Ghost Admin.
2. In the Page/Post settings, add the internal tag: `#hide-sidebar` in the Tags input.
3. **Publish** or **Update** the post/page. This will enable the sidebar overlay for that specific post/page.
Setting example
### White Logo on dark mode
If you use a black logo image and enable dark mode, you would need your logo visible when user enable dark mode.
You can use Code injection and insert this CSS to support different logo color on light/dark mode
```html
```
### Larger Logo
If you want to show a larger logo on the sidebar, you can use this CSS in the Code Injection
```html
```
### Footer
Like the header, you can add the footer navigation links from the Ghost Admin **Settings > Navigation > Secondary**
### Table of content
You can add a table of contents (TOC) to any post. Add this HTML code to your post.
```html
```
###### Step-by-Step
1. Create a new post and write your post
2. Insert the code above. You might want to change the TOC's header text. Maybe you call it `Table of Contents.`
3. Publish and review it
Right under the title, add an HTML card
Note: If you don’t want a title (e.g., On this page), remove it from the HTML code you see above.
### Footnotes
Footnotes serve as essential tools in academic and professional writing, providing valuable supplementary information without disrupting the main text.
In the Ghost admin > Post/Page, you can add footnotes by placing your footnote marker using this format:
```
This is your main text[^ Your footnote content goes here]
```
Add as many footnotes as needed throughout your content. For example:
```
Ghost websites benefit from clear documentation[^ According to usage studies, well-documented websites see 47% higher user engagement]. This is especially true for specialized themes[^ Kyoto and Braun themes consistently rank in the top 10 for user satisfaction].
```
Save and preview your post to verify the footnotes appear correctly.
- The markers should convert to numbered superscript links
- Clicking a link should scroll to the corresponding footnote
- Footnotes should appear in an ordered list at the bottom of your post
### Posts per page
By default, the homepage, author's, and tag's page display a maximum of 20 posts per page, but you can change this number.
###### Step-by-Step
1. You'll need to open the theme's `package.json` file in your code editor and find the following:
```json
"config": {
...
"posts_per_page": 20
...
}
```
1. Change the value of the `20` to the expected value.
2. Save your `package.json` file in root folder.
### Google Analytics
To integrate Google Analytics, I recommend using the [Google Analytics](https://ghost.org/integrations/google/?ref=themex.studio) integration by Ghost.
### Syntax Highlighting
You can add a fenced code block by placing triple backticks ```` ``` ```` before and after the code block. For example:
```
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
This will produce the following gray look:
To highlight a code block, add a language alias like `css` or `js` to the code block. For example, the CSS code in the previous example will wrap between ` "`css ` and ` \`\`\` \` as follows:
```css
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
This will produce the following colored look:
To add **inline code**, wrap the text between two backticks "` `."
#### Prism
The theme ships with \[Prism.js\]\](https://prismjs.com/), a lightweight, robust, and elegant syntax highlighter.
The \[initial Prism package\]\](https://prismjs.com/download.html#themes=prism&languages=markup+css+clike+javascript) includes some languages, like *Markup*, *CSS*, *C-like*, and *JavaScript*.
You can add support for more languages by adding the Prism `autoloader` script, which will automatically load the languages you need. Add the following script to the website admin \*\*Code Injection (Site Footer)\*\*to do this.
```html
```
Click **Save**.
### Responsive tables
The responsive table will display a horizontal scroll bar if the screen is too small to display the full content. The following description applies to the table added using the markdown card.
> By default, the table adapts to the window width. If you have a table that is too wide, it will display a horizontal scroll bar when needed.
###### Step-by-Step
1. To add a responsive table, use the **Markdown card**.
2. Add the markdown to create a table. To generate a table, you can use the tool \[Markdown Tables Generator\]\](https://www.tablesgenerator.com/markdown\_tables). Below is an example
```
| # | Heading | Heading | Heading | Heading | Heading |
|:--|:--------|:--------|:--------|:--------|:--------|
| 1 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
| 2 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
| 3 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
```
### Subscription form
Subscription is placed at the bottom of the post page and on the homepage next to the Latest post area.
#### Change subscription form text
You can change the subscription box's title from the Ghost Admin.
Two subscription boxes use the same copy. When you change the text, it will change in both places.
###### Step-to-Step
1. Go to **Settings > Designs & branding > Homepage** in Ghost Admin
2. Change the copy in **Email signup text** input.
3. Finally, click **Save**.
#### Inline subscription box
You can add an inline subscription box in any place in your post with this code.
###### Step-to-Step
1. Create any post as usual
2. At the line you want to add the form, click + icon or type `/`, and select the HTML option
3. Paste the code below. (Note: the form comes with a spinner animation, so it's a bit complicated.)
4. Preview and publish the post
```html
```
### Comment / Member discussion
The theme comes with [Ghost Native Comments](https://ghost.org/changelog/native-comments/?ref=themex.studio) integration. You can turn the comments on from your Ghost admin **Settings > Membership > Access > Edit > Commenting**.
### Languages
The theme is fully translatable by enabling a publication language in the settings of the Ghost Admin. Before that, you must prepare your language file.
###### Step-by-Step
1. Inside the `../locales/` folder, add target language files for each translatable language used on your site. For example, `fr.json` is for French, and `pl.json` is for Polish. \[A valid language\]\](https://www.w3schools.com/tags/ref\_language\_codes.asp) code must be used.
2. Translate the sentences used in the theme inside your new language files, for example, in `en.json`:
```json
{
"Subscribe": "Subscribe",
"Sign in ": "Sign in",
"Account": "Account",
...
}
```
1. And edited to translate into Spanish for `fr.json`:
```json
{
"Subscribe": "S'abonner",
"Sign in ": "Se connecter",
"Account": "Compte",
...
}
```
1. Upload a theme with a new language file.
2. Go to the **General** settings in the Ghost Admin.
3. At the top of the page, you'll see the **Publication info** section
4. Enter the correct language code into your **Publication language** settings menu.
5. Finally, click **Save** to activate.
> \[!info\] Reactivate the translation file If you edited the active language, you must restart Ghost to make the changes effective. Alternatively, enter another language code and click **Save** to activate, then switch back to your code.
## Advanced setting
### Editing a theme's code
You will encounter information about editing theme files in many places in this documentation.
To edit files, you will need to unzip the theme archive – at this point, you will have access to the necessary files indicated in the theme documentation.
#### Edit HTML
###### Step-by-Step
1. To edit your theme files, download a copy of the theme. For this purpose, go to the **Design** settings in the Ghost Admin and click **Change theme** in the bottom left corner.
2. Use the **Advanced** dropdown menu in the upper right corner to download your theme, then unzip the theme locally.
3. Once the theme is unzipped, the files can be edited using a code editor – make the changes indicated in the theme documentation.
> You can edit files using applications (code editor) such as [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/?ref=themex.studio), [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/?ref=themex.studio) or [Brackets](https://brackets.io/?ref=themex.studio). Using native text editors like TextEdit on macOS may add formatting that may cause the theme to work incorrectly.
1. After changing the theme code, re-zip the theme directory to upload it back to Ghost.
> To create a zip archive on a macOS, **right-click** on the theme folder to view the context menu. Then, click the **Compress** option. On Windows, **right-click** on the theme folder, select **Send to**, and then select **Compressed (zipped) folder**.
1. To upload a theme, go to the **Design** settings in the Ghost Admin and click **Change theme** in the bottom left corner.
2. Click the **Upload theme** button in the upper right corner.
3. Once uploaded, click **Activate** to activate the theme on your site.
#### Edit CSS
If you need to change the CSS right in the theme file, check this guide: [How to apply CSS changes in your Ghost theme](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-apply-css-changes-in-your-ghost-theme/)
> If you're only looking to make minor updates to a theme, code injection may be enough.
### Code Injection
Another choice for customization is to use the Ghost **Code Injection** settings in Ghost admin.
For a CSS example, you can use the code in the *Site Header* section to change the title color and font size.
```html
```
Check out [How to use Code Injection](https://ghost.org/tutorials/use-code-injection-in-ghost/?ref=themex.studio) Ghost guide for more information.
### Theme deploy with GitHub actions
The theme comes integrated with the [Deploy Ghost Theme](https://github.com/marketplace/actions/deploy-ghost-theme?ref=themex.studio) Github action. The purpose of the GitHub action is to take the theme from the GitHub repo and send it to your website.
Follow this guide to add GitHub actions [Streamline the deployment of your Ghost theme using GitHub Action](https://themex.studio/guides/streamline-the-deployment-of-your-ghost-theme-using-github-action/).
### Loading custom font
I assume you have the font files and the initial `@font-face` CSS code for loading the font. Something similar to the following code.
```css
@font-face {
font-family: 'Atyp';
src: local('Atyp Text Regular'), local('Atyp-Text-Regular'),
url('AtypText-Regular.woff2') format('woff2'),
url('AtypText-Regular.woff') format('woff'),
url('AtypText-Regular.ttf') format('truetype');
font-weight: 400;
font-style: normal;
}
```
###### Step-to-Step
1. Create a new folder in the theme under `/assets` and name it `fonts`, for example, then copy your font files there.
2. Once you finish, zip the theme files, and upload the final zip file to your Ghost website.
3. In Ghost admin Code Injection, add your `@font-face` code with the new font files path wrapped in the `
```
This should load the fonts. Then, you can use the font and do your styling for the body.
### Fine-tune brand color
URL: https://themex.studio/finetune-brand-color/
Last updated: 2024-12-23T14:02:49.000Z
- Update the underlined color to match the brand color
- Fixed overflow issue on mobile of timeline template
### How to apply CSS changes in your Ghost theme
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-apply-css-changes-in-your-ghost-theme/
Last updated: 2024-12-23T02:27:01.000Z
Have you ever edited a CSS file in your Ghost theme and then wondered why those changes didn't show up on your site?
With the new version of Ghost, you will need to do an important build step to apply the CSS changes.
All of Ghost theme from Themex Studio (and all official Ghost themes) compiles all CSS into a single minified CSS file. That’s done by a development tool called Gulp.
In this guide, you'll learn how to use the development tool Gulp to compile and apply changes in the CSS, so that you can make stylistic changes to your theme.
💭
If you're only looking to make minor updates to a theme, code injection may be enough.
### What's Gulp?
[Gulp](https://gulpjs.com/?ref=themex.studio) is a tool for streamlining your CSS, which is what determines your theme's style. It's a developer tool that makes your code more consistent and compatible.
All of the free and official Ghost themes and many premium themes use Gulp to compile CSS files. By learning just two commands, you'll have the knowledge you need to customize any theme that makes use of Gulp.
So if you're working with a Ghost theme and your CSS doesn't seem to reflect the changes you've been making, here's what you can do:
### How to update and apply changes with CSS (and JS)
##### Here are key steps:
- You'll need [Node](https://nodejs.org/?ref=themex.studio), [Yarn](https://yarnpkg.com/?ref=themex.studio) and [Gulp](https://gulpjs.com/?ref=themex.studio) installed globally
- After that, from the theme's root directory, run those command
- `yarn install` to install all needed dependencies
- `yarn dev` to build and watch for CSS changes
- `yarn zip` to compile the CSS and upload to your Ghost site
---
Navigate to the theme's folder in your terminal. If [you're using VS Code](https://ghost.org/tutorials/download-a-code-editor/?ref=themex.studio) as your code editor, then you can use its built-in terminal.
If you haven't installed Node, you'll [need to install it first](https://ghost.org/tutorials/node/?ref=themex.studio).
After that, you need to install Yarn with this command:
```js
sudo npm install -g yarn
```
Then, install Gulp and any other required software for your theme (dependencies), typing the following command in the terminal and hit `enter`.
```js
yarn install
```
Once dependencies are installed, process the CSS to reflect the changes you made by running:
```js
yarn dev
```
After updating the CSS files, run this final command to compile all the changes and use it to update your theme:
```js
yarn zip
```
This command tells Gulp to pull together the changes made in your CSS files, optimize them, and add everything to a zip file located in the theme's `dist` folder.
The video below shows the commands in action:
0:00
/0:17
1×
You only need to run `yarn install` once to download the necessary dependencies in each theme. After that, just run `yarn zip` whenever you're making stylistic changes and want to upload a new version of your theme.
All that’s left to do now is to upload the zip file in Ghost Admin. Refresh your site and voilà – your changes are active!
**Troubleshooting further:** sometimes, you can get an issue where a `yarn install` errors out because `gscan` doesn't support the current version of node. These compatability issues are super frustrating! But you can switch to a lower version with `nvm install 18` and then `nvm run 18` and try again.
##### Sources:
- [Compiling Ghost Themes (If Your CSS Isn't Updating)](https://sharedphysics.com/compiling-ghost-themes/?ref=themex.studio)
- [How to update CSS in a Ghost theme](https://ghost.org/tutorials/build-css-files/?ref=themex.studio)
### Improve post-full component for Timeline pages
URL: https://themex.studio/improve-post-full-component-for-timeline-pages/
Last updated: 2024-12-23T14:01:46.000Z
- Using the right tier name for post full and post page
- Update loop component to support more styles
- fine-tune post-full with a link for arrow and title
### Improve the paid post subscription box
URL: https://themex.studio/improve-the-paid-post-subscription-box/
Last updated: 2024-12-23T14:00:34.000Z
To have a button to open the membership plan instead of showing email input
### Add Logo Board
URL: https://themex.studio/add-logo-board/
Last updated: 2024-12-23T13:55:50.000Z
- Add logo-wall — social proof to show up yourself
- Update the footer to support multiple columns on mobile
### Responsive subscription form on mobile
URL: https://themex.studio/responsive-subscription-form-on-mobile/
Last updated: 2024-12-23T13:54:27.000Z
- Adjust the subscription form on mobile to make it more responsive
- Fix the overflow issue that causes unwanted space when swiping horizontally for Safari mobile
### Adaptive background color for mobile navigation
URL: https://themex.studio/adaptive-background-color-for-mobile-navigation/
Last updated: 2024-12-23T13:53:15.000Z
- Remove random separator when open navigation on mobile
- Support adaptive background color for mobile navigation
### Remove the unintended purchase banner
URL: https://themex.studio/kyoto-2/
Last updated: 2024-12-23T13:51:14.000Z
Remove the unintended purchase banner on the final zip file.
### Static Cover Image and more on Vancouver v1.1.0
URL: https://themex.studio/static-cover-image-and-more-on-vancouver-v1-1-0/
Last updated: 2024-12-06T06:01:12.000Z
We trust this email finds you well.
As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing your experience with our Ghost Vancouver theme, we are delighted to unveil some exciting updates that we have diligently worked on behind the scenes.
Here's a sneak peek at what's new in Vancouver v1.1.0:
### 1\. Static cover image for hero section
You now have the option to toggle between displaying the latest post or a static cover image for the top hero section of the homepage.
When opting for a static cover image, you can choose from three different layouts:
1. Vertical
2. Vertical overlay
3. Horizontal
Vertical
Vertical overlay
Horizontal
To activate this feature, navigate to **Settings > Design & Branding > Customize > Homepage > Hero section option** in your Ghost admin panel and select "Cover."
For a more detailed guide, please consult the [Vancouver documentation](https://themex.studio/docs/vancouver-docs/#homepage).
### 2\. Support for different layouts for the header
Our latest update introduces support for two header layout options:
1. Logo on the left
2. Logo in the middle
Additionally, you now have the flexibility to show or hide the header background color.
Furthermore, social icons (such as Facebook, Twitter, etc.) will automatically appear on the header if you add them in the **Social Accounts** settings within Ghost.
You can customize your preferred layout under **Settings > Design & Branding > Customize > Site Wide > Navigation Layout**.
For a more comprehensive guide, please refer to [the documentation](https://themex.studio/docs/vancouver-docs/#navigation).
You can download the new version from your Lemon Squeezy Orders.
Thank you for selecting the Vancouver theme. We remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering outstanding themes and support throughout your journey.
Warm regards,
Trong @Themex Studio
### Support for different layouts for the header
URL: https://themex.studio/support-for-different-layouts-for-the-header/
Last updated: 2024-12-24T03:32:02.000Z
Our latest update introduces support for two header layout options:
1. Logo on the left
2. Logo in the middle
Additionally, you now have the flexibility to show or hide the header background color.
### Static cover image for hero section
URL: https://themex.studio/static-cover-image-for-hero-section/
Last updated: 2024-12-24T03:28:10.000Z
You now have the option to toggle between displaying the latest post or a static cover image for the top hero section of the homepage.
When opting for a static cover image, you can choose from three different layouts:
1. Vertical
2. Vertical overlay
3. Horizontal
### Kyoto
URL: https://themex.studio/kyoto/
Last updated: 2026-05-15T02:36:06.000Z
0:00
/1:50
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## 10+ Custom Page Templates
This theme is crafted specifically for designers, developers, makers, and solopreneurs, encompassing all the essentials you might need:
Homepage
Works / Showcase template
Showcase Your Case Studies
(Left to right) Featured posts, latest post on top, and selected topics
Books, Now & Timeline page template
Built for Speed and Responsiveness
## Dark Mode
With 8 beautiful color presets.
Default
Pure
Onyx
Rust
Fossil
Mint
Ice
Ember
## Support all inbuilt Ghost features
We seamlessly integrate with Ghost's inbuilt features, making it easy for you to focus on your writing.
#### Supported ****inbuilt Ghost features**
- Translation-ready English included
- Search function
- Comments
- Accent color
- Responsive images
- Publication title and description
- Publication logo
- Post, page, tag, and author page
- Author avatar, bio, location, website and social accounts
- Tag cover and description
- Tags in post-cards
- Multiple authors
- Markdown, Bookmark, Button, Callout and Toggle card
- Audio, File, Product, and Header card
- Gallery card
- Image card with normal, wide, and full width
- Video card with normal, wide, and full-width
- Secondary navigation
- Featured posts
- Reading time in post view
- Related posts
- Social accounts
- Membership tiers
- Members and subscription
- Show/Hide title & feature image for page
- Announcement banner
## Exceptional Support
We have fast and reliable support to assist you with any questions or issues.
Write a message with our [Contact form](https://themex.studio/contact/), email hello@themex.studio, or more from us on Twitter [@themexstudio](https://twitter.com/home?ref=themex.studio). We will get back in 24 hours.
### Kyoto Docs
URL: https://themex.studio/docs/kyoto-docs/
Last updated: 2025-11-10T13:30:46.000Z
##### On this page
### Changelog
[Kyoto ChangelogLast update on Dec 23, 2024Themex StudioTrong Themex](https://themex.studio/kyoto-changelog/)
---
### Introduction
Since this is a Ghost theme documentation, you are assumed to have a basic knowledge of the Ghost app.
If you're starting with Ghost, it is best to see the guides in the official [Ghost Help Center](https://ghost.org/help/?ref=themex.studio) – check this out, and you'll have all the available information.
---
## Getting started
### Install theme
#### Upload zip file
To begin, **unzip** the downloaded package by double-clicking it on a Mac or by right-clicking and selecting "Extract All" on Windows.
Inside the new **Kyoto folder**, you will find the Kyoto.zip theme file and an online documentation file.
###### Step-by-Step to upload the theme to your website
1. Log in to your Ghost website admin (example.com/ghost).
2. Click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to **Design & branding > Customize > Change Theme**.
4. Click **Upload theme** and select the Kyoto.zip theme file.
5. Once uploaded, click **Activate now** to activate the theme.
### Upload routes.yaml
The `routes.yaml` is required if you want to show the following pages:
1. Works
2. Blog or Writing
3. Now
4. Series / Timeline
5. Books or Reading
6. Tags
If you don’t want any page above, you can skip this step.
###### Step-by-Step to upload the file:
1. Unzip the Kyoto.zip theme file.
2. In your Ghost admin, click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to the **Labs** and click **Open**.
4. Click the **Upload routes YAML** button.
5. Select and upload the `routes.yaml` file inside the theme folder.
6. Done
---
## Homepage
### Homepage anatomy
Here is the anatomy of the Homepage
1. Hero section
2. Personal projects
3. Blog posts or writing
4. Case study or works
5. Testimonials
6. Work experiences
7. Logo board (***New***)
Except the hero section, which you just need to add the text and it will be visible on the home page. The title is the Hero text. And the description is the site description (In General settings).
All other sections, you will need to add the title and create pages and tag them with specific name to create content.
Here are the names of the tags that we will:
- `#content-case-study` for case study or works
- `#content-testimonial` for testimonials
- `#content-experience` for work experiences
- `#content-personal-project` for personal projects
- `#section-logos` for static logo board
Here is the visual anatomy of the home page. You can access it at **Settings > Design & branding > clicking on Customize > Homepage tab**
### Hero Intro Section
The Kyoto theme supports both simple and extensive text with reveal animation on scroll, giving you more flexibility for your homepage introduction.
#### Default option
This is the default option of Kyoto theme, recommended for short and simple intro text.
Default hero style
1. Log in to your Ghost Admin dashboard.
2. Go to **Settings** → **Site** → **Design & branding** → **Cuztomize**
3. Go to **Theme** tab and find the **Homepage** section.
4. Locate the **Hero text** field. It is used as the heading
5. Enter your desired text (this works best for shorter messages).
6. Click **Save** to apply the changes.
7. To edit text content, go to **Settings** → **General settings** → **Title & description** → **Site description**
8. Save and refresh the homepage
#### Extensive option
For more extensive hero text with formatting options and animation.
Extensive hero style
1. Log in to your Ghost Admin dashboard.
2. Click on **Pages** in the left sidebar.
3. Click **New page** to create a new page.
4. Add your hero text content in the editor. You can:
- Format text with **bold**, *italic*, or other styles
- Add multiple paragraphs
- Include links or other content elements
5. Add the tag `#home-intro` to the page (important!)
- Click the settings icon (⚙️) in the top right
- Go to the "Tags" section
- Type and select `#home-intro`
6. To add reveal animation, add an additional tag `#animate`to the Tags section
7. Publish the page when you're done.
Example from the Ghost admin setting
### Side Projects
You can enable the side project section by adding a title to the `Personal project title` text input. If you want to show it, leave it empty.
###### Step-by-Step to add side project content
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter information for this project. Page title as the title, Excerpt as the project description, X description as project subtitle.
3. Tag the page as `#content-personal-project`.
4. (Optional) If you want to lead visitors to an external site, add the URL at **Metadata > Canonical URL**. As default, the link will lead to the Page detail.
5. Publish.
Example of side project input.
Note: The order of the projects is based on time creation. The latest page is the first one.
### Blog posts or writing
This section will show the last 7 recent posts and the button to go to the page that shows all the posts.
You can change the title of this section in `Feed title` text box. If you want to show, just leave it empty.
### Case studies
You can enable the Case studies section by adding a title to the `Case study title` text input. If you want to show it, leave it empty.
###### Step-by-Step to add case study content
1. In Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter information for this project. Page title as the title, X description as project subtitle.
3. Tag the page as `#content-case-study`.
1. Note: If you want the text white, add `#u-on-dark`
4. Click **Publish**.
Case Study Card anatomy
Example of a Case Study Content settings with `#content-case-study` and `#u-on-dark`
Note: The order of the projects is based on time creation. The latest page is the first one.
### Testimonials
You can enable the Testimonials section by adding a title to the `Testimonial title` text input. If you want to show it, leave it empty.
###### Step-by-Step to add testimonial content
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter information for this project.
1. Page title as the name of the reviewer.
2. Excerpt as the additional info of the reviewer.
3. Page content as the content of the testimonial.
4. Featured image as the reviewer’s avatar.
3. Tag the page as `#content-testimonial`.
4. Click **Publish**.
Example of a testimonial input.
Note: The order of the projects is based on time creation. The latest page is the first one.
### Work experiences
This section is to show your work history.
#### For version v1.3.0 and above
###### Step-by-Step to Add Work Experiences Section
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page
2. Give it a title; this title will be shown on the homepage and the blog page
3. Add `#section-experiences` to the Tags input
4. Publish
The final page content should look like this:
Now the Work experiences section is visible on the homepage. Next, add content for that section.
###### Step-by-Step to add work experience content
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**
2. Enter information for this project. Refer to the screenshot above
3. Tag the page as `#content-experience`
4. Click **Publish**
#### For version below v1.3.0
You can enable Work experiences section by adding a title to the `Experience title` text input. If you want to show it, leave it empty.
###### Step-by-Step to add work experience content
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter information for this project. Refer to the screenshot below.
3. Tag the page as `#content-experience`.
4. Click **Publish**.
Example of a work experience input.
Note: The order of the projects is based on time creation. The latest page is the first one.
### Logo Board
Sometimes you want to show some kind of social proof, and a logo board can help achieve that.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Logo Board
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the Homepage.
3. Upload all logos you want to show on the homepage. Note: Don’t add any break lines above, between, or after the images. It will create some odd alignment.
4. In the Page Setting sidebar, add a tag named: `#section-logos`.
5. Publish and check your homepage.
Example:
### Sections order
(For Kyoto v1.5.1 & above)
You can reorder homepage sections using Ghost's Code Injection feature.
Go to Settings / Code injection / Site header then copy/paste and adjust the number in the `order` property to change the order.
```html
```
[Read the competed guide here →](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-reorder-homepage-sections-in-ghosts-kyoto-theme/)
---
## Other pages
### Works or Case Studies page
This page is your portfolios which show your work experiences, side projects, and case studies.
❗
****Important**
Make sure to Upload the routes.yaml file.
###### Step-to-Step to create the Works page:
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Add a title (e.g., 'Works').
3. Add a **description** for this page (if you want to).
4. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**.
5. **Ensure** that the **Page URL** is `works`.
6. Click **Publish**.
7. Now you have a work page with the URL `yourblog.com/works`.
All the block content of this page is the same as the options on the homepage. Refer to the homepage customization to adjust content for this page.
#### Case-study card anatomy
#### Change Case study card layout
The theme provides options to switch the case study section between grid and full row layout.
###### Step-to-Step:
1. In the Ghost admin, go to **Design & branding > Customize > Homepage**.
2. Scroll to **Card style** selection option and choose between two styles: Grid or Full row.
3. Click **Save**.
#### Change Case study card text color
The default text color is dark grey. But you can set the text to white too.
###### Step-to-Step:
1. In the Ghost admin, go to the specific case study page you want to use light text.
2. Open **Page settings**.
3. In the Tags input, add the tag `#u-on-dark`.
4. Click **Update**.
### Blog page
A page to show all the posts you write on Ghost.
❗
****Important**
Make sure to Upload the routes.yaml file.
###### Step-to-Step to create the blog page:
1. Go to **Pages** from the admin menu.
2. Click the New page button in the top right corner.
3. Add a title (e.g., 'Blog').
4. Add a **description**, or feature image for this page (if you want to).
5. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**.
6. **Ensure** that the **Page URL** is `blog`.
7. Click **Publish**.
8. Now you have an authors page with the URL `yourblog.com/blog`.
#### Page options
The theme provides different options for you to choose from.
##### 1/ Featured post type
You can switch between showing featured posts or showing the latest post on the top of the page or simply just hide it.
###### Step-to-Step:
1. In the Ghost admin, go to **Design & branding > Customize > Homepage**.
2. Scroll to **Blog featured post type** selection option and choose between: Show latest post, Show featured posts, Hide.
3. Click **Save**.
##### 2/ Post feed styles
The theme supports different styles for the post feed.
###### Step-to-Step:
1. In the Ghost admin, go to **Design & branding > Customize > Homepage**.
2. Scroll to **Feed layout** selection option and choose between: Minimal, Expanded, Right thumbnail, Text-only. The default is Minimal.
3. Click **Save**.
The post feed style will be applied across the site including homepage, blog, and related post under the post detail page.
### Now page
Now is a nice place for you to show what this person is focused on at this point in their life.
It’s inspired by [nownownow.com](https://nownownow.com/?ref=themex.studio) projects. But we treat it differently by showing the whole history of the page, not just the latest update.
#### For version 1.7.0 and above
###### Step-by-Step to use Now template
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title, excerpt, and feature image.
3. In Template dropdown, choose Page Now
4. Click on X Card and add the tag slug of the posts you want to show on this page. This is your tag filter - the tag that identifies your collection. i.e. putting now if you want to show posts that are tagged as Now
5. Publish and preview it on your homepage.
Example
****For Kyoto below v1.9.0**
Step-to-Step to create the Now page:
1. ****Important:** Ensure you upload the `routes.yaml` file.
2. In the Ghost admin page, go to ****Pages** \> click on ****New page**.
3. Add a title (e.g., 'Now').
4. Add a ****description** and ****featured image** for this page (if you want to).
5. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the ****Page settings**.
6. ****Ensure** that the ****Page URL** is `now`.
7. Click ****Publish**.
8. Now you have a work page with the URL `yourblog.com/now`.
Add content for Now page:
1. Create a new Post and write your content.
2. Tag it as `Now`.
3. Click ****Publish**.
**Now will show all the posts tagged as* *`Now`* *and sort it by created time, from latest to oldest. Also those posts are only showing on the Now page, not on the Home or Blog page.*
### Timeline page
This custom page is designed for linear reading experience. It’s a good template to show your milestones by time of a long series you are writing.
Example of a page using Timeline template
You can use this template to create as many pages as possible. You just need to update the `route.yaml` file to config the URL and tag as data.
#### For version 1.9.0 and above
###### Step-by-Step to use Timline template
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title, excerpt, and feature image.
3. In Template dropdown, choose **Page Timeline**
4. Click on **X Card** and add the tag slug of the posts you want to show on this page. This is your **tag filter** \- the tag that identifies your collection. i.e. putting `timeline` if you want to show posts that are tagged as `Timeline`
5. Publish and preview it on your homepage.
You can create multiple timeline pages with different content using this template by repeating the same steps above.
Setting example
****For Kyoto below v1.9.0**
You can use this template to [create multiple pages](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-create-multiple-course-pages-in-ghost-using-routes-yaml/). Update the `routes.yaml` file to configure the URL and tag data.
Step-by-Step to create the timeline page:
1. ****Important:** Ensure you upload the `routes.yaml` file.
2. In the Ghost admin page, go to ****Pages** \> click on ****New page**.
3. Add a title (e.g., 'Timeline').
4. Add a description and featured image for this page (optional).
5. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the ****Page settings**.
6. Ensure the ****Page URL** is `timeline`.
7. Click ****Publish**.
Add content for the timeline page:
1. Create a new post and write your content.
2. Tag it as `#timeline`.
3. Click ****Publish**.
This will display all the posts tagged as `#timeline` and sort them by creation time, from latest to oldest.
Setting example for Kyoto below 1.9.0
#### Hide On this page or Table of Content section
If you don’t want the Table of Content on this page, you can hide it by tagging the page as `#u-hide-overview`.
###### Step-to-Step:
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** then find the Timeline page that you want to hide the table of content.
2. On Page settings, in the Tags input, add `#u-hide-overview` as a tag.
3. Click **Update**.
### Course page
Similar to Timeline page, but here you can create your own courses. No more updating routes.yaml page and can be used to create multiple course, series easily. More flexibility in how you organize your content.
Course page
#### For version 1.9.0 and above
###### Step-by-Step to use Serie template
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title, excerpt, and feature image.
3. In Template dropdown, choose **Page Course**
4. Click on **X Card** and add the tag slug of the posts you want to show on this page. This is your **tag filter** \- the tag that identifies your collection. i.e. putting `course-coding` if you want to show posts that are tagged as `Course Coding`.
5. Publish and preview it on your homepage.
You can create multiple timeline pages with different content using this template by repeating the same steps above.
Setting example
### Books / Reading page
A page for you to show books that you’re currently reading and your library.
#### For Kyoto v1.9.0 and above
The Books template is now a flexible tool for creating organized collections of any type of content.
While it's still called the "Books" template, it now adapts to showcase books, courses, resources, projects, or any other categorized content you want to organize and display. And you can create as many pages as you like.
###### Step-by-Step to use Books template
1. In Ghost admin, create a new Page.
2. Give it a title, excerpt, and feature image.
3. In Template dropdown, choose **Page Books**
4. Click on **X Card** and add the tag slug of the posts you want to show in this page. This is your **tag filter** \- the tag that identifies your collection. i.e. putting `books` if you want to show posts that are tagged as `Books`
5. Additional: Add section titles to the page
- Top section will show featured posts. Showing it by adding section title in **Facebook card** \> **Facebook title**
- Bottom section will show all tagged posts. Adding the text in **Facebook card** \> **Facebook description.**
- *☝️ Note: Since the featured posts are shown on the top section, they would be excluded from the bottom section.*
6. Publish and preview it on your homepage.
You can create multiple timeline pages with different content using this template by repeating the same steps above.
****For Kyoto below v1.9.0**
Step-by-Step to create the books page:
1. Important: Ensure you upload the routes.yaml file.
2. In the Ghost admin page, go to ****Pages** \> click on ****New page**.
3. Add a title (e.g., 'Books').
4. Add a description and featured image for this page (optional).
5. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the ****Page settings**.
6. Ensure the ****Page URL** is `books`.
7. Click ****Publish**.
Now you have a books page with the URL `yourblog.com/books`.
#### Add content for the Books page:
1. Create a new Post and write your content.
2. Tag it as `books`.
3. Click **Publish**.
#### Book card anatomy
#### Add current reading section:
1. Open the post as the book you’re reading.
2. On Post settings, in the Tags input, add `#book-reading` as a tag.
3. Click **Update**.
Example of the Reading page.
### Tags page
You can use this template to show the selected topics of your writing.
❗
****Important**
Make sure to Upload the routes.yaml file.
###### Step-to-Step to create the Tags page:
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Add a title (e.g., 'Tags').
3. Add a **description** and **featured image** for this page (if you want to).
4. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**.
5. **Ensure** that the **Page URL** is `tags`.
6. Click **Publish**.
7. Now you have a work page with the URL `yourblog.com/tags`.
By default, the page will show the top popular tags of your blog, sorted by the number of posts of the tags. And you can define which tags you want to show there.
###### Step-to-Step to add selected Tags:
1. In the Ghost admin, go to **Design & branding > Customize > Homepage**.
2. Scroll to **Selected tags on tags page**.
3. Enter the slugs for each tag. Tag slugs must be separated by commas without any whitespace. For example - `design,code,ai`.
4. Click **Save**.
### Post page
The theme provides different post templates:
1. Default
2. Narrow featured image
3. Full featured image
4. No featured image
To choose which template to use when you publish a post:
- On the post editor page, click the icon in the top right corner to open the Post settings.
- Then, find the **Template** selector and choose the style you want for your post.
#### Post page options
The theme supports other customizations:
1. Hide/Show author
2. Hide/Show social sharing buttons
3. Hide/Show subscription box in Post page
###### Step-to-Step
1. In the Ghost admin, go to **Setting > Design & branding > Posts**.
2. Turn on/off each option to show/hide theme from the Post page.
3. Click **Save**.
### Customize visual for case study page
For some pages, you might want to have a special visual to make the page more appealing. Like the hero header of your Case Study page. You can do it with Kyoto and Ghost.
Example of an appealing hero section.
###### Step-to-Step to create the special header for pages
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Add your page’s content like Page title, content, excerpt, featured image,…
3. On the top of the content area, add a **Header** card by pressing the Plus icon or type `/` and choose Header card from the list.
4. Add a custom title and upload a photo.
5. If you want to show the full photo (without cropping on different screen sizes), hover over the photo area, and click on the Collapsed arrow icon. You can also choose the custom background color for this section.
6. Open Page settings from the right top corner, turn off `Show title and feature image` option.
7. Publish.
Here’s a quick guide
0:00
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### Archive page
Kyoto provides a neat Archive page to list all the posts.
You can add a custom Archive page to show an archive from your publication. The Archive page is not required, but you can add it.
☝️
****Important:** Ensure you upload the `routes.yaml` file.
###### Step-to-Step to create the Archive page:
1. Go to **Pages** from the admin menu
2. Click the New page button in the top right corner
3. Add a title (e.g. 'Archive').
4. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**
5. Add a **description** in the Excerpt text input for this page (optional)
6. **Ensure** that the **Page URL** is `archive`
7. Click **Publish**
8. Now you have an archive page with the URL `yourblog.com/archive`
### Contact page
If you wish to have a direct way in which your readers can contact you, you can add a contact page based on Formspree.
###### Step-by-Step
1. Create a new Page and give it a title, like "**Contact**".
2. Give it a feature photo if you want to, and choose the page layout from **Template** option.
3. Choose any template. For a page, we create a special template named “Page” under Template option. You can choose any other template also. It’s your choice.
4. Add your content and the contact form code using Formspree as a service. Please check the code example below.
5. Click **Publish** to publish the page.
6. To add the page to the navigation, please check the Navigation section.
```html
```
### Dark page
Besides supporting a light/dark theme for the entire website, this theme supports setting some specific pages to dark.
Let’s say your default theme is light, but you want special pages (e.g., Gallery page) to be dark to make the visual more appealing. You can do that in this theme.
You can do it for all pages and posts.
###### Step-by-Step
1. In the Ghost admin, to go any page or post that you want to set the dark theme.
2. Open **Page/Post settings** panel.
3. In the Tags input, add the tag `#dark`.
4. Click Updates.
---
## Custom settings
### Colors
The theme supports changing the Accent color and background color for your website.
#### Set Accent color
Accent color is the primary one used in your publication theme. Vancouver uses the Accent color throughout the theme in buttons, social sharing hover,…
You can change the theme Accent color from the Ghost admin.
Change the Accent color from the admin **Settings > Design & Branding > Customize > Brand > Accent color**.
#### Change the background color (For version v1.3.0 and above)
For versions v1.3.0 and above, Kyoto provides 8 sets of carefully designed color schemes. These presets make it simple to refresh your site's look without needing to manually select colors. They include:
1. Default
2. Onyx
3. Rust
4. Fossil
5. Mint
6. Ember
7. Ice
8. Pure
###### Step-by-Step to customize
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Site wide** from the admin menu
2. Choose a color preset by clicking on **Color combinations**
3. Click **Save**
##### Customize your own background color
If you want to choose your own background color, you will need to use [Code Injection](https://themex.studio/docs/kyoto-docs/#code-injection) and change a simple CSS. Set the **Color combinations** as Default and follow these steps:
1. From Settings, go to Code Injection
2. Insert the code below into the Site header, remember to change the color code to your preferred value
3. Save
```CSS
```
#### Change the background color (For versions below v1.3.0)
If you don't like the default pure white background, you can change to a different background colors.
You can choose any background color you want. Kyoto will auto-calculate the color contrast and set the text color to keep it readable.
When you use the Hero section with the default, image right, and image top styles, there will be an additional option to choose the background for the hero section. You might also want to change the hero section background to make it look better when you change the page background.
You can change the Background color and Hero background color from the admin **Settings > Design & Branding > Customize > Site wide > Background color**.
#### Light/Dark mode (For version v1.3.0 and above)
You can easily switch between light, dark, and system modes directly from your Ghost admin panel.
The theme supports:
- Light
- Dark
- System-based
- User: Show a toggle on the site to allow visitors to choose their preferred mode
###### Step-by-Step to customize
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Site wide** from the admin menu
2. Choose a preferred mode by clicking on **Appearance**
3. Click **Save**
### Typography
Depending on the selected ones, this setting will change the heading and body text fonts.
#### Custom Fonts
*(For versions 1.4.0 & above)*
Ghost now provides built-in custom font functionality, allowing users to select heading and body fonts from a curated list directly in the admin interface.
Now, you can enable it in Labs settings to access curated heading and body fonts through the admin interface.
###### Step-by-Step to change fonts:
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Customize > Site Wide**
2. Under **Typography**, select:
- **Title font** for headings
- **Body font** for main text
3. Click **Save**
#### Default font-pairing
Vancouver has two variants of font-pairing
1. Modern sans-serif (Default): The theme uses system fonts which will adapt based on the OS
2. Elegant serif: The theme uses `Libre Baskerville` as the default font for elegant style.
###### Step-to-Step to customize
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding > Site wide** from the admin menu
2. Choose font for title/heading by clicking on **Title font**
3. Choose a font for the body by clicking on **Body font**
4. Click **Save**
#### Change to any fonts
You can change any font from the Ghost admin interface with Code Injection and Google Fonts.
For example, if you want to use "Inter" and "EB Garamond" fonts from Google Fonts, your code in Code Injection will be like this:
```html
```
You can also [use your custom local font](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-use-custom-local-fonts-in-ghost/) by including it on your theme with a code editor. This technique is more advanced, but you can add 'your own' fonts :D
### Header
The navigation items will be auto-adjusted based on the width of the browser and the length of items, so you can add as many items as you want.
If the navigation items reach the max width, they will be put inside a popover that appears when clicking on the ( … ) icon.
###### Step-to-Step to add a static page or a link to header navigation:
1. Go to **Settings > Navigation > Primary Navigation**
2. Type the page's name in the label field as you'd like it to appear on your menu.
3. Click on the item's URL. The blog URL will already be auto-populated. Add the page slug after the final /. When satisfied with your page configurations, click the Save button.
### Footer
Like the header, you can add the footer navigation links from the Ghost Admin **Settings > Navigation > Secondary**
To group footer items into different groups, adding `#` before the name.
### Logos & Profile image
In this theme, you can change your logo and profile avatar on the header.
- **Publication logo** as the website logo on the left
- **Profile image** as the right profile photo
You can find Publiccation logo under Brand, and Profile image under **Site wide**.
###### Step-to-Step To upload publication logo:
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding** from the admin menu
2. Under **Brand**, click **Upload logo** button in the **Publication logo** menu item
3. Save
If you want to change the logo size, use the code in Code Injection.
```html
```
The default value is `40px`, so you can increase this value to match your preference.
###### Step-to-add To upload Profile image:
1. Go to **Settings > Design & branding** from the admin menu
2. Under **Site wide**, click **Upload image** button in the **Profile photo** menu item
3. **Save**
### Table of content
You can add a table of contents (TOC) to any post. Add this HTML code to your post.
```html
```
###### Step-by-Step
1. Create a new post and write your post
2. Right under the title, add an HTML card
3. Insert the code above. You might want to change the TOC's header text. Maybe you call it `Table of Contents.`
4. Publish and review it
Note: If you don’t want a title (e.g., On this page), remove it from the HTML code you see above.
### Footnotes
Footnotes serve as essential tools in academic and professional writing, providing valuable supplementary information without disrupting the main text.
[View the demo page](https://kyoto.themex.studio/proper-footnote-formatting-and-usage/?ref=themex.studio)
In the Ghost admin > Post/Page, you can add footnotes by placing your footnote marker using this format:
```
This is your main text[^ Your footnote content goes here]
```
Add as many footnotes as needed throughout your content. For example:
```
Ghost websites benefit from clear documentation[^ According to usage studies, well-documented websites see 47% higher user engagement]. This is especially true for specialized themes[^ Kyoto and Braun themes consistently rank in the top 10 for user satisfaction].
```
Save and preview your post to verify the footnotes appear correctly.
- The markers should convert to numbered superscript links
- Clicking a link should scroll to the corresponding footnote
- Footnotes should appear in an ordered list at the bottom of your post
### Posts per page
By default, the homepage, author's, and tag's page display a maximum of 20 posts per page, but you can change this number.
###### Step-by-Step
1. You'll need to open the theme's `package.json` file in your code editor and find the following:
```json
"config": {
...
"posts_per_page": 20
...
}
```
1. Change the value of the `20` to the expected value.
2. Save your `package.json` file in root folder.
### Google Analytics
To integrate Google Analytics, I recommend using the [Google Analytics](https://ghost.org/integrations/google/?ref=themex.studio) integration by Ghost.
### Syntax Highlighting
You can add a fenced code block by placing triple backticks ```` ``` ```` before and after the code block. For example:
```
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
This will produce the following gray look:
To highlight a code block, add a language alias like `css` or `js` to the code block. For example, the CSS code in the previous example will wrap between ` "`css ` and ` \`\`\` \` as follows:
```css
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
This will produce the following colored look:
To add **inline code**, wrap the text between two backticks "` `."
#### Prism
The theme ships with [Prism.js](https://prismjs.com/?ref=themex.studio), a lightweight, robust, and elegant syntax highlighter.
The [initial Prism package](https://prismjs.com/download.html?ref=themex.studio#themes=prism&languages=markup+css+clike+javascript) includes some languages, like *Markup*, *CSS*, *C-like*, and *JavaScript*.
You can add support for more languages by adding the Prism `autoloader` script, which will automatically load the languages you need. Add the following script to the website admin \*\*Code Injection (Site Footer)\*\*to do this.
```html
```
Click **Save**.
### Responsive tables
The responsive table will display a horizontal scroll bar if the screen is too small to display the full content. The following description applies to the table added using the markdown card.
> By default, the table adapts to the window width. If you have a table that is too wide, it will display a horizontal scroll bar when needed.
###### Step-by-Step
1. To add a responsive table, use the **Markdown card**.
2. Add the markdown to create a table. To generate a table, you can use the tool [Markdown Tables Generator](https://www.tablesgenerator.com/markdown%5Ftables?ref=themex.studio). Below is an example
```
| # | Heading | Heading | Heading | Heading | Heading |
|:--|:--------|:--------|:--------|:--------|:--------|
| 1 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
| 2 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
| 3 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
```
### Subscription form
Subscription is placed at the bottom of the post page and on the homepage next to the Latest post area.
#### Change subscription form text
You can change the subscription box's title from the Ghost Admin.
Two subscription boxes use the same copy. When you change the text, it will change in both places.
###### Step-to-Step
1. Go to **Settings > Designs & branding > Homepage** in Ghost Admin
2. Change the copy in **Email signup text** input.
3. Finally, click **Save**.
#### Inline subscription box
You can add an inline subscription box in any place in your post with this code.
###### Step-to-Step
1. Create any post as usual
2. At the line you want to add the form, click + icon or type `/`, and select the HTML option
3. Paste the code below. (Note: the form comes with a spinner animation, so it's a bit complicated.)
4. Preview and publish the post
```html
```
### Comment / Member discussion
Vancouver comes with [Ghost Native Comments](https://ghost.org/changelog/native-comments/?ref=themex.studio) integration. You can turn the comments on from your Ghost admin **Settings > Membership > Access > Edit > Commenting**.
### Languages
The theme is fully translatable by enabling a publication language in the settings of the Ghost Admin. Before that, you must prepare your language file.
###### Step-by-Step
1. Inside the `../locales/` folder, add target language files for each translatable language used on your site. For example, `fr.json` is for French, and `pl.json` is for Polish. [A valid language code](https://www.w3schools.com/tags/ref%5Flanguage%5Fcodes.asp?ref=themex.studio) must be used.
2. Translate the sentences used in the theme inside your new language files, for example, in `en.json`:
```json
{
"Subscribe": "Subscribe",
"Sign in ": "Sign in",
"Account": "Account",
...
}
```
1. And edited to translate into Spanish for `fr.json`:
```json
{
"Subscribe": "S'abonner",
"Sign in ": "Se connecter",
"Account": "Compte",
...
}
```
1. Upload a theme with a new language file.
2. Go to the **General** settings in the Ghost Admin.
3. At the top of the page, you'll see the **Publication info** section
4. Enter the correct language code into your **Publication language** settings menu.
5. Finally, click **Save** to activate.
💡
Reactivate the translation file
If you edited the active language, you must restart Ghost to make the changes effective. Alternatively, enter another language code and click ****Save** to activate, then switch back to your code.
---
## Advanced setting
### Editing a theme's code
You will encounter information about editing theme files in many places in this documentation.
To edit files, you will need to unzip the theme archive – at this point, you will have access to the necessary files indicated in the theme documentation.
###### Step-by-Step
1. To edit your theme files, download a copy of the theme. For this purpose, go to the **Design** settings in the Ghost Admin and click **Change theme** in the bottom left corner.
2. Use the **Advanced** dropdown menu in the upper right corner to download your theme, then unzip the theme locally.
3. Once the theme is unzipped, the files can be edited using a code editor – make the changes indicated in the theme documentation.
> You can edit files using applications (code editor) such as [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/?ref=themex.studio), [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/?ref=themex.studio) or [Brackets](https://brackets.io/?ref=themex.studio). Using native text editors like TextEdit on macOS may add formatting that may cause the theme to work incorrectly.
1. After changing the theme code, re-zip the theme directory to upload it back to Ghost.
> To create a zip archive on a macOS, **right-click** on the theme folder to view the context menu. Then, click the **Compress** option. On Windows, **right-click** on the theme folder, select **Send to**, and then select **Compressed (zipped) folder**.
1. To upload a theme, go to the **Design** settings in the Ghost Admin and click **Change theme** in the bottom left corner.
2. Click the **Upload theme** button in the upper right corner.
3. Once uploaded, click **Activate** to activate the theme on your site.
### Code Injection
Another choice for customization is to use the Ghost **Code Injection** settings at **Ghost admin > Settings > Code injection > Site header**
For a CSS example, you can use the code in the *Site Header* section to change the logo color and font size.
```html
```
Example of Code Injection
Check out [How to use Code Injection](https://ghost.org/tutorials/use-code-injection-in-ghost/?ref=themex.studio) Ghost guide for more information.
### Theme deploy with GitHub actions
Vancouver comes integrated with the [Deploy Ghost Theme](https://github.com/marketplace/actions/deploy-ghost-theme?ref=themex.studio) Github action. The purpose of the GitHub action is to take the theme from the GitHub repo and send it to your website.
!\[\[Pasted image 20230914232142.png\]\]
Follow this guide to add GitHub actions [Streamline the deployment of your Ghost theme using GitHub Action](https://themex.studio/guides/streamline-the-deployment-of-your-ghost-theme-using-github-action/).
### Loading custom font
I assume you have the font files and the initial `@font-face` CSS code for loading the font. Something similar to the following code.
```css
@font-face {
font-family: 'Atyp';
src: local('Atyp Text Regular'), local('Atyp-Text-Regular'),
url('AtypText-Regular.woff2') format('woff2'),
url('AtypText-Regular.woff') format('woff'),
url('AtypText-Regular.ttf') format('truetype');
font-weight: 400;
font-style: normal;
}
```
###### Step-to-Step
1. Create a new folder in the theme under `/assets` and name it `fonts`, for example, then copy your font files there.
2. Once you finish, zip the theme files, and upload the final zip file to your Ghost website.
3. In Ghost admin Code Injection, add your `@font-face` code with the new font files path wrapped in the `
```
This should load the fonts. Then, you can use the font and do your styling for the body.
### Singapore
URL: https://themex.studio/singapore/
Last updated: 2025-10-23T05:26:06.000Z
0:00
/1:37
1×
8 different hero layouts
Various post layouts
Various post cards
Full responsive
0:00
/1:37
1×
Customization with Singapore theme is effortless
## Supports All Ghost Features
We seamlessly integrate with Ghost's inbuilt features, making it easy for you to focus on your writing.
#### Supported ****inbuilt Ghost features**
- Translation-ready English included
- Search function
- Comments
- Accent color
- Responsive images
- Publication title and description
- Publication logo
- Post, page, tag, and author page
- Author avatar, bio, location, website and social accounts
- Tag cover and description
- Tags in post-cards
- Multiple authors
- Markdown, Bookmark, Button, Callout and Toggle card
- Audio, File, Product, and Header card
- Gallery card
- Image card with normal, wide, and full width
- Video card with normal, wide, and full-width
- Secondary navigation
- Featured posts
- Reading time in post view
- Related posts
- Social accounts
- Membership tiers
- Members and subscription
- Show/Hide title & feature image for page
- Announcement banner
### Vancouver Docs
URL: https://themex.studio/docs/vancouver-docs/
Last updated: 2025-11-10T13:31:00.000Z
##### On this page
### Introduction
Since this is a Ghost theme documentation, you are assumed to have a basic knowledge of the Ghost app.
If you're starting with Ghost, it is best to see the guides in the official [Ghost Help Center](https://ghost.org/help/?ref=themex.studio) – check this out, and you'll have all the available information.
## Getting started
### Install theme
#### Upload zip file
To begin, **unzip** the downloaded package by double-clicking it on a Mac or by right-clicking and selecting "Extract All" on Windows.
Inside the new **Vancouver folder**, you will find the Vancouver.zip theme file and an online documentation file.
###### Step-to-Step to upload the theme to your website
1. Log in to your Ghost website admin (example.com/ghost).
2. Click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to **Design > Change theme**.
4. Click **Upload theme** and select the Vancouver.zip theme file.
5. Once uploaded, click **Activate now** to activate Vancouver.
### Upload routes.yaml
The `routes.yaml` is required for the following reasons:
- Authors page
- Tags page
- Archive page
If you don’t want any page above, you can skip this step.
###### Step-to-Step to upload the file:
1. Unzip the Vancouver.zip theme file.
2. In your Ghost admin, click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to the **Labs**.
4. Scroll down to the **Routes** section and click the **Upload routes YAML** button.
5. Select and upload the `routes.yaml` file inside the theme folder.
## Pages
### Homepage
#### Homepage Options
Vancouver supports those customization options:
- **Hero section options:** Toggle between showing latest post or a static cover as the hero section.
- **Cover horizontal**: For Post as hero section To switch between vertical and horizontal featured image for the cover and the big post cards on homepage.
- **Cover style:** For static cover as hero section. It has different styles for the cover.
- **Cover photo, Cover title, Cover description:** To add your own cover photo, title and description for your static cover.
- **Enter tag slugs for homepage section**: List of tags you want to show on the homepage.
- **Latest post title** and **Feateaured title**: Options to customize the text of the latest and feature post section.
- **Enter tag slug for newsletter section**: Enter a tag slug you want to show in the subscription box.
- **Email signup text** and **Email signup desc**: Options to customize copy of the subscription box.
#### Hero section options
You can select between Post or Cover as the hero cover.
With Post option, it will show the latest post as the cover.
with Cover option, you can upload your own cover photo and text.
#### Latest post as hero cover
Vancouver supports two options for latest post as hero cover: vertical (default) and horizontal, depend on your art direction.
Be default, the theme displays the cover and featured post card.
If you prefer the horizontal (or landscape) photo, switch to `Cover horizontal`. The option will apply the change to the cover and featured post card layout as shown below:
The background color displayed on the cover and the featured post card is gotten from the tag color. If you don’t input any color for the tag, the default background color is light grey.
###### Step-by-Step
1. In the Ghost admin, go to **Setting > Design & branding > Customize > Homepage**
2. Under **Hero section option** dropdown, select Post
3. Toggle the **Cover horizontal** option on/off to swith between vertical and horizontal layout.
4. Click **Save**
The background color displayed on the cover and the featured post card is gotten from the tag color. If you don’t input any color for the tag, the default background color is light grey.
#### Static cover as hero cover
If you don’t want to show your latest post as the cover hero, you can use a static photo and text.
The theme supports three layouts for static cover
1. Vertical
2. Vertical overlay
3. Horizontal
Vertical
Vertical overlay
Horizontal
###### Step-by-Step
1. In the Ghost admin, go to **Setting > Design & branding > Customize > Homepage**
2. Under **Hero section option** dropdown, select Cover
3. Select the layout under **Cover style** dropdown
4. Upload **Cover photo**, add **Cover title**, and **Cover title**
5. Click **Save**
#### Rich Content for Static Cover option
Instead of showing the basic title and description, you can display richer content from a dedicated page, giving you the ability to add more detailed and richer text formatting and images.
You can have longer text, formatting them into different lines, bold text, links,... with this option.
1. In the Design & Brand Settings, ensure the **Hero section option** dropdown set to Cover
2. In Ghost admin, create a new page.
3. Give it a title, a feature image and any text you want to show in the content of the page.
4. From the **Page settings**, add `#cover` to Tags input.
5. Publish and open the homepage to check.
The final page setting should look like the following:
Example setting
#### Tag post section
By default, the theme will show you the three most written tags under the Latest post section, like the one below.
The theme allows you to customize which tag you want to show on the homepage by adding the slugs for each tag (last portion of the URL) on the `Enter tag slugs for homepage section` input.
###### Step-by-Step
1. In Ghost admin, go to **Settings > Design > Site design > Homepage**.
2. Enter the slugs for each tag. Tag slugs must be separated by commas without any whitespace. For example - `politics, sports,real-estate`
3. Click **Save**
#### Latest feed & Featured section title
The theme supports customizing the latest post section text title.
To change the text, go to your Ghost admin **Settings > Design > Site design > Homepage**. Then, change the input **Latest post title** / **Featured title** to any text you want.
#### Subscription box
You can change the text of the subscription box and the featured post shown in it.
To change the text, go to your Ghost admin **Settings > Design > Site design > Homepage**. Then, change the input **Email signup text** / **Email signup desc** to any text you want.
To show a post inside the subscription box, add a tag slug in the **Enter tag slug for newsletter section** input. The theme will display the latest post of that tag in the subscription box.
### Post page
Vancouver theme has three post page templates to choose from:
1. Default
2. Full Featured Image
3. No Featured Image
To choose which template to use when you publish a post:
- On the post editor page, click the icon in the top right corner to open the Post settings
- Then, find the **Template** selector and choose the style you want for your post.
#### Additional styles for post
By default, the Default post template uses a medium font size. Vancouver supports additional styles to customize the font size for specific posts, as shown below:
From left to right: Default, Big, and Small title style for post
- To make the title bigger, add an internal tag `#title-large` into the Tags input. This font is great for short titles, and you want to emphasize it.
- To make the title smaller, add an internal tag `#title-small` into the Tags input. Ideal for a long title.
### Authors page
You can add a custom authors page to show all authors from your publication.
**Vancouver** has a template for the **Authors page**, which shows all authors of your publication. The authors' page is not required, but you can add it.
❗
****Important**
Make sure to Upload the routes.yaml file.
###### Step-to-Step to create the Authors page:
1. Go to **Pages** from the admin menu
2. Click the New page button in the top right corner
3. Add a title (e.g. 'Authors').
4. Add a **description** for this page (if you want to)
5. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**
6. **Ensure** that the **Page URL** is `authors`
7. Click **Publish**
8. Now you have an authors page with the URL `yourblog.com/authors`
### Tags page
Or you can call it a category page that shows your top written tags.
The page shows the top 8 tags, sorted by the number of posts.
❗
****Important**
Make sure to Upload the routes.yaml file.
###### Step-to-Step:
1. Go to **Pages** from the admin menu
2. Click the New page button in the top right corner
3. Add a title (e.g. 'Tags').
4. Add a **description** and **featured image** for this page (if you want to)
5. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**
6. **Ensure** that the **Page URL** is `tags`
7. Click **Publish**
8. Now you have an tags page with the URL `yourblog.com/tags`
### Tag page
**Vancouver** has a page for the tag page showing all posts belonging to that tag of your publication.
The page works well with or without a featured image.
### Archive page
Vancouver provides a neat Archive page to list all the posts.
You can add a custom Archive page to show an archive from your publication. The Archive page is not required, but you can add it.
❗
****Important**
Make sure to Upload the routes.yaml file.
###### Step-to-Step to create the Archive page:
1. Go to **Pages** from the admin menu
2. Click the New page button in the top right corner
3. Add a title (e.g. 'Archive').
4. Add a **description** for this page (if you want to)
5. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**
6. **Ensure** that the **Page URL** is `archive`
7. Click **Publish**
8. Now you have an archive page with the URL `yourblog.com/archive`
### Contact page
If you wish to have a direct way in which your readers can contact you, you can add a contact page based on Formspree
###### Step-by-Step
1. Create a new Page and give it a title, like "**Contact**"
2. Give it a feature photo if you want to, and choose the page layout from **Template** option.
3. Choose any template. For page, we create a special template names “Page” under Template option. You can choose any other template also. It’s your choice.
4. Add your content and the contact form code using \[Formspree\] as a service. Please check the code example below.
5. Click **Publish** to publish the page.
6. To add the page to the navigation, please check the Navigation section.
```html
```
Check out How to Add a Contact Form to Your Ghost Blog for more information.
## Custom settings
### Colors
Vancouver supports changing the Accent color and background color for your website.
#### Set Accent color
Accent color is the primary one used in your publication theme. Vancouver uses the Accent color throughout the theme in buttons, social sharing hover,…
You can change the theme Accent color from the Ghost admin.
Change the Accent color from the admin **Settings > Design > Brand > Accent color**.
#### Change the background color
If you don't like the default pure white background, you can change to a different background color.
You can choose any background color you want. Vancouver will auto-calculate the color contrast and set the text color to keep it readable.
When you use the Hero section with the default, image right, and image top styles, there will be an additional option to choose the background for the hero section. You might also want to change the hero section background to make it look better when you change the page background.
You can change the Background color and Hero background color from the admin **Settings > Design > Side-wide > Background color**.
#### Light and Dark mode
Vancouver will change the color palette based on the background color; you can choose your theme, light or dark.
Vancouver doesn't support light/dark theme switching to keep the theme simple and usable.
### Typography
Depending on the selected ones, this setting will change the heading and body text fonts.
#### Default font-pairing
Vancouver has two variants of font-pairing
1. Modern sans-serif (Default): Vancouver uses system fonts which will adapt based on the OS
2. Elegant serif: Vancouver uses `Libre Baskerville` as the default font for elegant style.
###### Step-to-Step to customize
1. Go to **Settings > Design** from the admin menu
2. Click **Site-wide** in the **Site design** settings sidebar on the left
3. Choose font for title/heading by clicking on **Title font**
4. Choose a font for the body by clicking on **Body font**
#### Change to any fonts
You can change any font from the Ghost admin interface with Code Injection and Google Fonts.
For example, if you want to use "Inter" and "EB Garamond" fonts from Google Fonts, your code in Code Injection will be like this:
```html
```
You can also [use your custom local font](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-use-custom-local-fonts-in-ghost/) by including it on your theme with a code editor. This technique is more advanced, but you can add 'your own' fonts :D
### Navigation
#### Header layout
Singapore supports two types of header layouts.
1. Logo on the left
2. Logo in the middle.
###### Step-to-Step to customize
1. Go to **Settings** \> **Design & branding > Customize > Site wide** from the admin menu
2. Click **Navigation Layout** and select your preferred setting
3. Click **Save**
Additionally, you have an option to hide the background of the menu item to make it cleaner.
###### Step-to-Step to hide menu items background
1. Go to **Settings** \> **Design & branding > Customize > Site wide** from the admin menu
2. Turn **Transparent header** option on
3. Click **Save**
Transparent header On
Transparent header OFF
#### Navigation Dropdown Menus
You can create dropdown submenus in your Ghost navigation to organize your content more effectively and improve site navigation. This feature helps visitors quickly find specific pages under broader categories.
Example of dropdown menu
###### Creating Dropdown Submenus
Follow these steps to set up dropdown navigation menus:
1. In your Ghost Admin panel, go to **Settings → Navigation**
2. Add your main menu items normally
3. To create submenu items, add them with a dash (-) prefix before the child item
4. Arrange items in the order you want them to appear
Example navigation structure in Ghost admin for the result above
#### Header nav items
The navigation items will be auto-adjusted based on the width of the browser and the length of items, so you can add as many items as you want.
If the navigation items reach the max width, they will be put inside a popover that appears when clicking on the ( … ) icon.
###### Step-to-Step to add a static page or a link to header navigation:
1. Go to **Settings > Navigation > Primary Navigation**
2. Type the page's name in the label field as you'd like it to appear on your menu.
3. Click on the item's URL. The blog URL will already be auto-populated. Add the page slug after the final /. When satisfied with your page configurations, click the Save button.
#### Footer
Like the header, you can add the footer navigation links from the Ghost Admin **Settings > Navigation > Secondary Navigation**
##### Footer group
To group footer items into different groups, adding `#` before the menu item name as the group label.
Result on the site
Footer setting in Ghost admin
#### Social Media Icons
Ghost supports adding Facebook and Twitter profile URLs from the admin panel. Go to **Settings > General > Social accounts** and add your URLs, and the theme will automatically add them in the footer.
Vancouver has yet to support adding additional social links.
### Logos
You can use an image as a logo instead of the site name.
###### Step-to-Step To upload publication logo:
1. Go to **Settings > Design** from the admin menu
2. Click **Brand** in the **Site design** settings sidebar on the left
3. Click **Upload logo** button in the **Publication logo** menu item
If you want to change the logo size, use the code in Code Injection.
```html
```
The default value is `40px`, so you can increase this value to match your preference.
### Table of content
You can add a table of contents (TOC) to any post. Add this HTML code to your post.
```html
```
###### Step-by-Step
1. Create a new post and write your post
2. Right under the title, add an HTML card
3. Insert the code above. You might want to change the TOC's header text. Maybe you call it `Table of Contents.`
4. Publish and review it
Note: If you don’t want a title (e.g., On this page), remove it from the HTML code you see above.
### Posts per page
By default, the homepage, author's, and tag's page display a maximum of 20 posts per page, but you can change this number.
###### Step-by-Step
1. You'll need to open the theme's `package.json` file in your code editor and find the following:
```json
"config": {
...
"posts_per_page": 20
...
}
```
1. Change the value of the `20` to the expected value.
2. Save your `package.json` file in root folder.
### Google Analytics
To integrate Google Analytics, I recommend using the [Google Analytics](https://ghost.org/integrations/google/?ref=themex.studio) integration by Ghost.
### Syntax Highlighting
You can add a fenced code block by placing triple backticks ```` ``` ```` before and after the code block. For example:
```
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
This will produce the following gray look:
To highlight a code block, add a language alias like `css` or `js` to the code block. For example, the CSS code in the previous example will wrap between ` "`css ` and ` \`\`\` \` as follows:
```css
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
This will produce the following colored look:
To add **inline code**, wrap the text between two backticks "` `."
#### Prism
The theme ships with [Prism.js](https://prismjs.com/?ref=themex.studio), a lightweight, robust, and elegant syntax highlighter.
The [initial Prism package](https://prismjs.com/download.html?ref=themex.studio#themes=prism&languages=markup+css+clike+javascript) includes some languages, like *Markup*, *CSS*, *C-like*, and *JavaScript*.
You can add support for more languages by adding the Prism `autoloader` script, which will automatically load the languages you need. Add the following script to the website admin \*\*Code Injection (Site Footer)\*\*to do this.
```html
```
Click **Save**.
### Responsive tables
The responsive table will display a horizontal scroll bar if the screen is too small to display the full content. The following description applies to the table added using the markdown card.
By default, the table adapts to the window width. If you have a table that is too wide, it will display a horizontal scroll bar when needed.
###### Step-by-Step
1. To add a responsive table, use the **Markdown card**.
2. Add the markdown to create a table. To generate a table, you can use the tool [Markdown Tables Generator](https://www.tablesgenerator.com/markdown%5Ftables?ref=themex.studio). Below is an example
```
| # | Heading | Heading | Heading | Heading | Heading |
|:--|:--------|:--------|:--------|:--------|:--------|
| 1 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
| 2 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
| 3 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
```
### Subscription form
Subscription is placed at the bottom of the post page and on the homepage next to the Latest post area.
#### Change subscription form text
You can change the subscription box's title and description text from the Ghost Admin.
Two subscription boxes use the same copy. When you change the text, it will change in both places.
###### Step-to-Step
1. Go to **Settings > Designs** in Ghost Admin
2. Expand **Post** section, add your title in **Email signup text** input and description in **Email signup desc**
3. Finally, click **Save**.
#### Inline subscription box
You can add an inline subscription box in any place in your post with this code.
###### Step-to-Step
1. Create any post as usual
2. At the line you want to add the form, click + icon or type `/`, and select the HTML option
3. Paste the code below. (Note: the form comes with a spinner animation, so it's a bit complicated.)
4. Preview and publish the post
```html
```
### Comment / Member discussion
Vancouver comes with [Ghost Native Comments](https://ghost.org/changelog/native-comments/?ref=themex.studio) integration. You can turn the comments on from your Ghost admin **Settings > Membership > Commenting**.
### Languages
Vancouver is fully translatable by enabling a publication language in the settings of the Ghost Admin. Before that, you must prepare your language file.
###### Step-by-Step
1. Inside the `../locales/` folder, add target language files for each translatable language used on your site. For example, `fr.json` is for French, and `pl.json` is for Polish. [A valid language](https://www.w3schools.com/tags/ref%5Flanguage%5Fcodes.asp?ref=themex.studio) code must be used.
2. Translate the sentences used in the theme inside your new language files, for example, in `en.json`:
```json
{
"Subscribe": "Subscribe",
"Sign in ": "Sign in",
"Account": "Account",
...
}
```
1. And edited to translate into Spanish for `fr.json`:
```json
{
"Subscribe": "S'abonner",
"Sign in ": "Se connecter",
"Account": "Compte",
...
}
```
1. Upload a theme with a new language file.
2. Go to the **General** settings in the Ghost Admin.
3. At the top of the page, you'll see the **Publication info** section
4. Enter the correct language code into your **Publication language** settings menu.
5. Finally, click **Save** to activate.
✏️
****Reactivate the translation file**
If you edited the active language, you must restart Ghost to make the changes effective. Alternatively, enter another language code and click ****Save** to activate, then switch back to your code.
## Advanced setting
### Editing a theme's code
You will encounter information about editing theme files in many places in this documentation.
To edit files, you will need to unzip the theme archive – at this point, you will have access to the necessary files indicated in the theme documentation.
###### Step-by-Step
1. To edit your theme files, download a copy of the theme. For this purpose, go to the **Design** settings in the Ghost Admin and click **Change theme** in the bottom left corner.
2. Use the **Advanced** dropdown menu in the upper right corner to download your theme, then unzip the theme locally.
3. Once the theme is unzipped, the files can be edited using a code editor – make the changes indicated in the theme documentation.
You can edit files using applications (code editor) such as [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/?ref=themex.studio), [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/?ref=themex.studio) or [Brackets](https://brackets.io/?ref=themex.studio). Using native text editors like TextEdit on macOS may add formatting that may cause the theme to work incorrectly.
1. After changing the theme code, re-zip the theme directory to upload it back to Ghost.
To create a zip archive on a macOS, **right-click** on the theme folder to view the context menu. Then, click the **Compress** option. On Windows, **right-click** on the theme folder, select **Send to**, and then select **Compressed (zipped) folder**.
1. To upload a theme, go to the **Design** settings in the Ghost Admin and click **Change theme** in the bottom left corner.
2. Click the **Upload theme** button in the upper right corner.
3. Once uploaded, click **Activate** to activate the theme on your site.
### Code Injection
Another choice for customization is to use the Ghost **Code Injection** settings in Ghost admin.
For a CSS example, you can use the code in the *Site Header* section to change the logo color and font size.
```html
```
Check out [How to use Code Injection](https://ghost.org/tutorials/use-code-injection-in-ghost/?ref=themex.studio) Ghost guide for more information.
### Theme deploy with GitHub actions
Vancouver comes integrated with the [Deploy Ghost Theme](https://github.com/marketplace/actions/deploy-ghost-theme?ref=themex.studio) Github action. The purpose of the GitHub action is to take the theme from the GitHub repo and send it to your website.
Follow this guide to add GitHub actions [Streamline the deployment of your Ghost theme using GitHub Action](https://themex.studio/guides/streamline-the-deployment-of-your-ghost-theme-using-github-action/).
### Loading custom font
I assume you have the font files and the initial `@font-face` CSS code for loading the font. Something similar to the following code.
```css
@font-face {
font-family: 'Atyp';
src: local('Atyp Text Regular'), local('Atyp-Text-Regular'),
url('AtypText-Regular.woff2') format('woff2'),
url('AtypText-Regular.woff') format('woff'),
url('AtypText-Regular.ttf') format('truetype');
font-weight: 400;
font-style: normal;
}
```
###### Step-to-Step
1. Create a new folder in the theme under `/assets` and name it `fonts`, for example, then copy your font files there.
2. Once you finish, zip the theme files, and upload the final zip file to your Ghost website.
3. In Ghost admin Code Injection, add your `@font-face` code with the new font files path wrapped in the `
```
This should load the fonts. Then, you can use the font and do your styling for the body.
### Vancouver
URL: https://themex.studio/vancouver/
Last updated: 2025-10-13T07:49:49.000Z
0:00
/1:59
1×
If you run an online magazine or content-heavy publication, presenting your excellent writing and visuals in the best light is a top priority.
Let us introduce you to Vancouver – the ideal theme to showcase your hard work.
## Sleek homepage layouts
Vancouver offers two homepage styles to choose from.
The first features a large portrait image, perfect for publications focused on profiling people.
The second homepage highlights an eye-catching landscape photo, ideal for travel, interior design, photography, and visual content sites.
Both homepages provide ample space to promote your newest and best content.
## Adaptable design to match your brand
Make your site uniquely yours with custom colors. Choose any hue you like for the background. The text color will adapt automatically for optimal readability.
Pick from two classic font styles: a clean, modern sans-serif or an elegant serif. Both are optimized for legibility online.
The overall design is purposefully minimalistic to keep the focus on your writing. Every element is carefully crafted to showcase your content in the best possible light.
## Post layouts to engage readers
Keep your audience hooked with four diverse post layout options. Alternate between full-width feature images, large typography, and more.
## Built for speed and responsiveness
Vancouver loads lightning-fast, thanks to the lightweight build.
It’s fully responsive, providing a flawless viewing experience on any device, from smartphones to desktops.
## Simple customization
Use the intuitive Ghost admin panel to tweak styles, enable features, and customize your site without touching code.
The admin makes it easy for non-technical users to put their stamp on the design.
## Support all inbuilt Ghost features
We seamlessly integrate with Ghost's inbuilt features, making it easy for you to focus on your writing.
#### Supported ****inbuilt Ghost features**
- Translation-ready English included
- Search function
- Comments
- Accent color
- Responsive images
- Publication title and description
- Publication logo
- Post, page, tag, and author page
- Author avatar, bio, location, website and social accounts
- Tag cover and description
- Tags in post-cards
- Multiple authors
- Markdown, Bookmark, Button, Callout and Toggle card
- Audio, File, Product, and Header card
- Gallery card
- Image card with normal, wide, and full width
- Video card with normal, wide, and full-width
- Secondary navigation
- Featured posts
- Reading time in post view
- Related posts
- Social accounts
- Membership tiers
- Members and subscription
- Show/Hide title & feature image for page
- Announcement banner
## Exceptional Support
We have fast and reliable support to assist you with any questions or issues.
Write a message with our [Contact form](https://themex.studio/contact/), email hello@themex.studio, or more from us on Twitter [@themexstudio](https://twitter.com/home?ref=themex.studio). We will get back in 24 hours.
---
If you want a publication theme tailored to showcase your hard work in the best possible light, Vancouver checks all the boxes.
Learn more and purchase Vancouver to see your content shine!
### Singapore Docs
URL: https://themex.studio/docs/singapore-docs/
Last updated: 2025-11-10T13:31:13.000Z
##### On this page
### Introduction
Since this is a Ghost theme documentation, you are assumed to have a basic knowledge of the Ghost app.
If you're starting with Ghost, it is best to see the guides in the official [Ghost Help Center](https://ghost.org/help/?ref=themex.studio) – check this out, and you'll have all the available information.
---
### Essential
#### Upload routes.yaml
The `routes.yaml` is required for setting up Homepage Hero section
[See Instruction](#upload-routesyaml-required)
#### Navigation Dropdown Menus
Create dropdown submenus in Ghost Admin
[See Instruction](#social-icons-in-hero-section)
#### Hero Section Social Link
Showing social links in the Hero Section
[See Instruction](#social-icons-in-hero-section)
---
## Getting started
### Install theme
#### Upload zip file
To begin, **unzip** the downloaded package by double-clicking it on a Mac or by right-clicking and selecting "Extract All" on Windows.
Inside the new **Singapore folder**, you will find the Singapore.zip theme file and an online documentation file.
###### Step-to-Step to upload the theme to your website
1. Log in to your Ghost website admin (example.com/ghost).
2. Click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to **Design > Change theme**.
4. Click **Upload theme** and select the Singapore.zip theme file.
5. Once uploaded, click **Activate now** to activate Singapore.
### Upload routes.yaml (Required)
The `routes.yaml` is required for the following reasons:
- Home page
- Authors page
- Archive page
###### Step-to-Step to upload the file:
1. Unzip the Singapore.zip theme file.
2. In your Ghost admin, click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to the **Labs**.
4. Scroll down to the **Routes** section and click the **Upload routes YAML** button.
5. Select and upload the `routes.yaml` file inside the theme folder.
## Pages
### Homepage
The Singapore theme's hero section is a flexible component that can display rich content on your homepage.
### Version 1.7.0 & later
By default, the theme displays: Site title, site description (From Settings > General settings > Title & description) and Publication cover for the hero. For a richer, more customized hero section, follow those steps
###### Step-by-Step to activate the extensive hero section
1. 1Create a new page in Ghost admin
2. Add the tag `#hero` to the page
3. Add your custom content and featured image to this page
4. The hero section will automatically display this page's content instead of the default site information.
Example setting
### Version 1.6.5
☝️
****Important:** Ensure you upload the `routes.yaml` file.
After uploading the `routes.yaml` file, the homepage hero is still unavailable. We need to take one more step: Create a page to add content to the homepage.
###### Step-by-Step
1. In Ghost admin, create a new **Page**.
2. From the **Page settings**, ensure that the **Page URL** setting is `home`.
3. Add your content, add a feature image, and publish the page.
4. Go to the homepage and check your page
*Note: The page title will not be visible on the website; only the content and the image will be. However, you can name it Home or any preferred name to make it visible from the dashboard.*
After publishing the page, the content will be visible on the homepage with the default style.
Now, let’s customize it to make it yours.
### Homepage Hero Styles
The homepage will show a list of content sections.
- Hero layout: to adjust the style of the hero section. The theme comes with four options
- Show/Hide featured posts and Featured title
- Feed title
- Feed layout: to adjust the style of feed (or post card), comes with four options
- Feed thumbnail ratio: to set the thumbnail ratio (square, horizontal, vertical)
#### Homepage Hero — Image Right
###### Step-to-Step
1. Go to your Ghost admin **Settings > Design > Site design > Homepage**
2. Choose **Image right** from the **Hero layout** option
3. Click **Save**
#### Homepage Hero — Image Top
###### Step-to-Step
1. Go to your Ghost admin **Settings > Design > Site design > Homepage**
2. Choose **Image top** from the **Hero layout** option
3. Click **Save**
#### Homepage Hero — Image circle top
###### Step-to-Step
1. Go to your Ghost admin **Settings > Design > Site design > Homepage**
2. Choose **Image circle top** from the **Hero layout** option
3. Click **Save**
### More styles for Homepage Hero
Besides the four styles for the hero section we mentioned in \[Homepage hero section\], the theme supports adding additional styles for it.
We add those internal tags `#frame` or `#shadow` to the home page.
#### Frame border hero
###### Step-by-Step
1. In the Ghost Admin, click on **Pages**, and open the `home` page (the page we created for the hero section) in the editor.
2. Click on the top right icon to open the Page settings sidebar,
3. In the Tags input, add `#frame` (with a #)
4. Click Update and go to the homepage to review it.
#### Shadow hero
###### Step-by-Step
1. In the Ghost Admin, click on **Pages**, and open the `home` page (the page we created for the hero section) in the editor.
2. Click on the top right icon to open the Page settings sidebar,
3. In the Tags input, add `#shadow` (with a #)
4. Click Update and go to the homepage to review it.
#### Show full photo
For the Image Right or Image Left hero section, the cover photo will fill the full height based on the length of the text. That, sometimes, will cut some part of your cover photo.
We have the option to show a full cover photo no matter what the text is by using an internal tag `#full-image`
###### Step-by-Step
1. In the Ghost Admin, click on **Pages**, and open the `home` page (the page we created for the hero section) in the editor.
2. Click on the top right icon to open the Page settings sidebar,
3. In the Tags input, type `#full-imate` (with a #)
4. Click Update and go to the homepage to review it.
### Featured Posts
Singapore supports customizing the title text and the visibility of the Featured post section.
###### Step-by-Step
1. To change the text, go to your Ghost admin **Settings > Design > Site design > Homepage**.
2. Change the text by adding your text in the input **Featured title** to any text.
3. To change the visibility and the layout by selecting options in **Featured posts layout** dropdown.
Different options for featured posts section
🗒️
Note
If you want to ‘style’ the title (e.g., italic, different color), check \[Styled section title\] guide.
### Latest Feed
The theme supports customizing the latest post section title.
To change the text, go to your Ghost admin **Settings > Design > Site design > Homepage**. Then, change the input **Feed title** to any text you want.
🗒️
****Note**
If you want to ‘style’ the title (e.g., italic, different color), check \[Styled section title\] guide.
By default, the theme shows 12 posts per page.
Singapore doesn't support customizing the number of posts per page on the Ghost admin interface.
But if you want to change the number of posts per page, follow \[posts per page guide\] and edit the `package.json` file to change it.
### Social Icons in Hero Section
The social links you added to the author profile can appear in the hero section of your homepage.
###### Enable Social Links in the Hero Section
- Go to your Ghost Admin panel.
- Navigate to Settings → Design → Homepage
- Make sure the option Show author social links is enabled.
Show author social links in Theme Settings
### Edit Author Social Links
###### With default hero section
With the defaul hero, it shows only X and Facebook social links from General settings.
You can update it from **Settings** \> **General settings** \> **Social accounts** and enter X and Facebook URL. If you want to add more social links, you need to [activate the extensive hero section.](#step-by-step-to-activate-the-extensive-hero-section)
###### With extensive hero section
If you [activated the extensive hero section as describe here](#step-by-step-to-activate-the-extensive-hero-section), you can add more social links like Bluesky, Instagram, Linkedin,...
- In the Ghost Admin Settings, go to Staff and select the primary author whose social links you want to display. (Note: The primary author is the first authors added in the Authors field of the `home` page we created above)
- Add your social profiles (such as Website, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Threads, Mastodon, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram) in the corresponding fields.
- Save your changes.
Social link setting in Ghost admin
### Logo Board section
Sometimes you want to show some kind of social proof, and a logo board can help achieve that.
###### Step-by-Step to Add Logo Board
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title will be the section title on the Homepage.
3. Upload all logos you want to show on the homepage. Note: Don’t add any break lines above, between, or after the images. It will create some odd alignment.
4. In the Page Setting sidebar, add a tag named: `#section-logos`.
5. Publish and check your homepage.
Example:
### Testimonials section
To add a testimonials section, create a new page, give it a title, then add an internal tag `#section-testimonials` in the page settings.
Testimonials section on the homepage
###### Step-by-Step to add testimonial section
1. In the Ghost admin page, go to **Pages** \> click on **New page**.
2. Enter the title of the page. This title won't be shown on the Homepage.
3. In the page content, add a new Product card. You can find this card by clicking on the + icon on the left side of the editor or by typing `/product` in the editor, then select the **Product** option.
4. On the product card, fill in the details:
- Title is the testimonial main text.
- Description shows a person's name and job title.
- Image as a profile picture.
- Stars as a rating.
5. Add more Product cards to add more testimonials. Theme can shows up to 3 testimonials.
6. In the Page Setting sidebar, add a tag named `#section-testimonials`. Make sure it's the first tag in the input.
7. Publish and check your homepage.
The final page content should look like this:
### Post page
Singapore theme has four post page templates to choose from:
1. Default
2. Full Featured Image
3. Narrow Featured Image
4. No Featured Image
These templates differ from each other by the size of the featured image.
To choose which template to use when you publish a post:
- On the post editor page, click the icon in the top right corner to open the Post settings
- Then, find the **Template** selector and choose the style you want for your post.
### Authors page
You can add a custom authors page to show all authors from your publication.
**Singapore** has a template for the **Authors page**, which shows all authors of your publication. The authors' page is not required, but you can add it.
❗
****Important**
Make sure to Upload the routes.yaml file.
###### Step-to-Step to create the Authors page:
1. Go to **Pages** from the admin menu
2. Click the New page button in the top right corner
3. Add a title (e.g. 'Authors').
4. Add a **description** for this page (if you want to)
5. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**
6. **Ensure** that the **Page URL** is `authors`
7. Click **Publish**
8. Now you have an authors page with the URL `yourblog.com/authors`
### Tag page
**Singapore** has a page for the tag page showing all posts belonging to that tag and a list of other tags (sorted by the number of posts of each tag, up to 16 tags) of your publication.
If you want to ‘paint’ the tags with colors, add accent color to each tag. Read more on \[Colorful tags\]
### Archive page
Singapore provides a neat Archive page to list all the posts grouped by year and month.
You can add a custom Archive page to show an archive from your publication. The Archive page is not required, but you can add it.
❗
****Important**
Make sure to Upload the routes.yaml file.
###### Step-to-Step to create the Archive page:
1. Go to **Pages** from the admin menu
2. Click the New page button in the top right corner
3. Add a title (e.g. 'Archive').
4. Add a **description** for this page (if you want to)
5. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**
6. **Ensure** that the **Page URL** is `archive`
7. Click **Publish**
8. Now you have an archive page with the URL `yourblog.com/archive`
### Contact page
If you wish to have a direct way in which your readers can contact you, you can add a contact page based on Formspree
###### Step-by-Step
1. Create a new Page and give it a title, like "**Contact**"
2. Give it a feature photo if you want to, and choose the page layout from **Template** option.
3. Add your content and the contact form code using \[Formspree\] as a service. Please check the code example below.
4. Click **Publish** to publish the page.
5. To add the page to the navigation, please check the Navigation section.
```html
```
## Custom settings
### Colors
Singapore supports changing the Accent color and background color for your website.
#### Set Accent color
Accent color is the primary one used in your publication theme. Singapore uses the Accent color throughout the theme in buttons, social sharing hover,…
You can change the theme Accent color from the Ghost admin.
Change the Accent color from the admin **Settings > Design & Branding > Customize > Brand > Accent color**.
#### Preset Color Combinations
The theme provides different color combinations. Choose the one that fits your style:
- Default
- Onyx
- Rust
- Fossil
- Mint
- Ember
- Ice
- Pure
###### Step-by-Step to Choose Your Preferred Color Combination:
1. Change the Accent color from the admin **Settings > Design & Branding > Customize > Theme**.
2. Click on **Color combinations** and select your color combination.
3. Preview and Save.
##### Use your own background color.
If you're not happy with the preset, you can use Code Injection to change to your own background color. You can use this CSS and insert it in Code Injection > Site Header. Remeber to change to your own HEX color.
```html
```
Example of Code injection
🗒️
****Note**
Please make sure the ****Color combinations** is set to ****Default** to make the CSS above work.
#### Light and Dark mode
Singapore will change the color palette based on the background color; you can choose your theme, light or dark.
Singapore doesn't support light/dark theme switching to keep the theme simple and usable.
### Typography
Depending on the selected ones, this setting will change the heading and body text fonts.
#### Default font-pairing
Singapore has two variants of font-pairing
1. Modern sans-serif (Default): Singapore uses system fonts which will adapt based on the OS
2. Elegant serif: Singapore uses `Libre Baskerville` as the default font for elegant style.
###### Step-to-Step to customize
1. Go to **Settings > Design** from the admin menu
2. Click **Site-wide** in the **Site design** settings sidebar on the left
3. Choose font for title/heading by clicking on **Title font**
4. Choose a font for the body by clicking on **Body font**
#### Change to any fonts
You can change any font from the Ghost admin interface with Code Injection and Google Fonts.
For example, if you want to use "Inter" and "EB Garamond" fonts from Google Fonts, your code in Code Injection will be like this:
```html
```
You can also [use your custom local font](https://themex.studio/guides/how-to-use-custom-local-fonts-in-ghost/) by including it on your theme with a code editor. This technique is more advanced, but you can add 'your own' fonts :D
### Navigation
You can add, edit, change the layout, and reorder the navigation in Ghost Admin.
#### Header layout
Singapore supports two types of header layouts.
1. Logo on the left
2. Logo in the middle.
###### Step-to-Step to customize
1. Go to **Settings > Design** from the admin menu
2. Click **Site-wide** in the **Site design** settings sidebar on the left
3. Click **Navigation Layout** and select your preferred setting
#### Header nav items
The navigation items will be auto-adjusted based on the width of the browser and the length of items, so you can add as many items as you want.
If the navigation items reach the max width, they will be put inside a popover that appears when clicking on the ( … ) icon.
###### Step-to-Step to add a static page or a link to header navigation:
1. Go to **Settings > Navigation > Primary Navigation**
2. Type the page's name in the label field as you'd like it to appear on your menu.
3. Click on the item's URL. The blog URL will already be auto-populated. Add the page slug after the final /. When satisfied with your page configurations, click the Save button.
#### Navigation Dropdown Menus
You can create dropdown submenus in your Ghost navigation to organize your content more effectively and improve site navigation. This feature helps visitors quickly find specific pages under broader categories.
Example of dropdown menu
###### Creating Dropdown Submenus
Follow these steps to set up dropdown navigation menus:
1. In your Ghost Admin panel, go to **Settings → Navigation**
2. Add your main menu items normally
3. To create submenu items, add them with a dash (-) prefix before the child item
4. Arrange items in the order you want them to appear
Example navigation structure in Ghost admin for the result above
#### Footer
Like the header, you can add the footer navigation links from the Ghost Admin **Settings > Navigation > Secondary Navigation**
The theme supports up to 5 rows. If there are more than five items, they will be broken, and a new column, each containing five items, will be inputted.
#### Social Media Icons
Ghost supports adding Facebook and Twitter profile URLs from the admin panel. Go to **Settings > General > Social accounts** and add your URLs, and the theme will automatically add them in the footer.
Singapore has yet to support adding additional social links.
### Logos
You can use an image as a logo instead of the site name.
###### Step-to-Step To upload publication logo:
1. Go to **Settings > Design** from the admin menu
2. Click **Brand** in the **Site design** settings sidebar on the left
3. Click **Upload logo** button in the **Publication logo** menu item
If you want to change the logo size, use the code in Code Injection.
```html
```
The default value is `40px`, so you can increase this value to match your preference.
### Feed card style
#### Feed style
Singapore supports customizing postcard style. You have four options to choose from:
- Expanded (Default — Thumbnail right)
- Right thumbnail
- Text-only
- Minimal
###### Step-to-Step to change feed style
1. Go to your Ghost admin **Settings > Design > Site design > Homepage**
2. At the **Hero layout** option, select the style you want
3. Click **Save**
#### Feed thumbnail ratio
Singapore supports three thumbnail ratios
- Square
- Horizontal
- Vertical
###### Step-to-Step to change feed style
1. Go to your Ghost admin **Settings > Design > Site design > Homepage**
2. Select the style you want at the **Feed thumbnail ratio** option.
3. Click **Save**
### Element corner radius
Element corner radius is a global option to adjust the corner radius of all elements on the website. For example, button, hero section, feed card, subscription box,… It helps to set a tone for your publication.
If you want your brand to feel fun or friendly, a rounded corner radius can be an option.
If you want your brands to feel high-fashion luxury, go with a sharp corner radius.
Singapore theme supports two options: **Rounded** and **Sharp**.
###### Step-by-Step to set corner radius style
1. In Ghost admin, go to **Settings > Design > Site design > Site-wide**
2. In the **Element corner radius** option, select the style you want: Rounded or Sharp
3. Click **Save**
### Styled section title
The theme supports adjusting style for Featured posts and the Latest posts section title. For example, use a break-line, italics, or change color for specific text.
###### Tip: How to add your text and style it
1. Go to your Ghost admin **Settings > Design > Site design > Homepage**
2. Add your text in `Featured title` input and `Feed title` and style it.
3. Finally, click **Save** to activate.
If you want your text in a lighter color, use `...`, like this
```html
Featured stories. Our best stories in the world.
```
If you want to start the text on a new line, use the ` `tag like this:
```html
Featured stories. Next text line goes here.
```
If you want your text in an italic, use `...`, like this
```html
Featured stories. Our best stories in the world.
```
### Colorful tags
Do you love colors? You can paint the tag pills with your favorite color palette and photo.
The tags section is visible on the Homepage (Under Subscription Box) and at the bottom of the tag page.
You can add color and photos for any tags from the Ghost Admin. The default color of the tag is light grey.
###### Use a step-by-step approach to add color to the tag.
1. In Ghost Admin, go to **Tags** page
2. Click on the tag you want to add color to go to **Edit tag** page
3. Add the color code inside the **Color** input or add a cover image for the tag
4. Click **Save**
### Table of content
You can add a table of contents (TOC) to any post. Add this HTML code to your post.
```html
```
###### Step-by-Step
1. Create a new post and write your post
2. Right under the title, add an HTML card
3. Insert the code above. You might want to change the TOC's header text. Maybe you call it `Table of Contents.`
4. Publish and review it
🗒️
****Note**
If you don’t want a title (e.g., On this page), remove it from the HTML code you see above.
### Footnotes
Footnotes serve as essential tools in academic and professional writing, providing valuable supplementary information without disrupting the main text.
In the Ghost admin > Post/Page, you can add footnotes by placing your footnote marker using this format:
```
This is your main text[^ Your footnote content goes here]
```
Add as many footnotes as needed throughout your content. For example:
```
Ghost websites benefit from clear documentation[^ According to usage studies, well-documented websites see 47% higher user engagement]. This is especially true for specialized themes[^ Kyoto and Braun themes consistently rank in the top 10 for user satisfaction].
```
Save and preview your post to verify the footnotes appear correctly.
- The markers should convert to numbered superscript links
- Clicking a link should scroll to the corresponding footnote
- Footnotes should appear in an ordered list at the bottom of your post
### Posts per page
By default, the homepage, author's, and tag's page display a maximum of 18 posts per page, but you can change this number.
###### Step-by-Step
1. You'll need to open the theme's `package.json` file in your code editor and find the following:
```json
"config": {
...
"posts_per_page": 12
...
}
```
1. Change the value of the `18` to the expected value.
2. Save your `package.json` file in root folder.
### Google Analytics
To integrate Google Analytics, I recommend using the [Google Analytics](https://ghost.org/integrations/google/?ref=themex.studio) integration by Ghost.
### Syntax Highlighting
You can add a fenced code block by placing triple backticks ```` ``` ```` before and after the code block. For example:
```
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
This will produce the following gray look:
To highlight a code block, add a language alias like `css` or `js` to the code block. For example, the CSS code in the previous example will wrap between ` "`css ` and ` \`\`\` \` as follows:
```css
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
This will produce the following colored look:
To add **inline code**, wrap the text between two backticks `` ` ` ``.
#### Prism
The theme ships with [Prism.js](https://prismjs.com/?ref=themex.studio), a lightweight, robust, and elegant syntax highlighter.
The [initial Prism package](https://prismjs.com/download.html?ref=themex.studio#themes=prism&languages=markup+css+clike+javascript) includes some languages, like *Markup*, *CSS*, *C-like*, and *JavaScript*.
You can add support for more languages by adding the Prism `autoloader` script, which will automatically load the languages you need. Add the following script to the website admin \*\*Code Injection (Site Footer)\*\*to do this.
```html
```
Click **Save**.
### Responsive tables
The responsive table will display a horizontal scroll bar if the screen is too small to display the full content. The following description applies to the table added using the markdown card.
By default, the table adapts to the window width. If you have a table that is too wide, it will display a horizontal scroll bar when needed.
###### Step-by-Step
1. To add a responsive table, use the **Markdown card**.
2. Add the markdown to create a table. To generate a table, you can use the tool [Markdown Tables Generator](https://www.tablesgenerator.com/markdown%5Ftables?ref=themex.studio). Below is an example
```
| # | Heading | Heading | Heading | Heading | Heading |
|:--|:--------|:--------|:--------|:--------|:--------|
| 1 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
| 2 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
| 3 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
```
### Subscription form
Subscription is placed at the bottom of the post page and on the homepage next to the Latest post area.
#### Change subscription form text
You can change the subscription box's title and description text from the Ghost Admin.
Two subscription boxes use the same copy. When you change the text, it will change in both places.
###### Step-to-Step
1. Go to **Settings > Designs** in Ghost Admin
2. Expand **Post** section, add your title in **Email signup text** input and description in **Email signup desc**
3. Finally, click **Save**.
#### Inline subscription box
You can add an inline subscription box in any place in your post with this code.
###### Step-to-Step
1. Create any post as usual
2. At the line you want to add the form, click + icon or type `/`, and select the HTML option
3. Paste the code below. (Note: the form comes with a spinner animation, so it's a bit complicated.)
4. Preview and publish the post
```html
```
### Comment / Member discussion
Singapore comes with [Ghost Native Comments](https://ghost.org/changelog/native-comments/?ref=themex.studio) integration. You can turn the comments on from your Ghost admin **Settings > Membership > Commenting**.
### Languages
Singapore is fully translatable by enabling a publication language in the settings of the Ghost Admin. Before that, you must prepare your language file.
###### Step-by-Step
1. Inside the `../locales/` folder, add target language files for each translatable language used on your site. For example, `fr.json` is for French, and `pl.json` is for Polish. [A valid language](https://www.w3schools.com/tags/ref%5Flanguage%5Fcodes.asp?ref=themex.studio) code must be used.
2. Translate the sentences used in the theme inside your new language files, for example, in `en.json`:
```json
{
"Subscribe": "Subscribe",
"Sign in ": "Sign in",
"Account": "Account",
...
}
```
1. And edited to translate into Spanish for `fr.json`:
```json
{
"Subscribe": "S'abonner",
"Sign in ": "Se connecter",
"Account": "Compte",
...
}
```
1. Upload a theme with a new language file.
2. Go to the **General** settings in the Ghost Admin.
3. At the top of the page, you'll see the **Publication info** section
4. Enter the correct language code into your **Publication language** settings menu.
5. Finally, click **Save** to activate.
\[!info\] Reactivate the translation file
If you edited the active language, you must restart Ghost to make the changes effective. Alternatively, enter another language code and click **Save** to activate, then switch back to your code.
## Advanced setting
### Editing a theme's code
You will encounter information about editing theme files in many places in this documentation.
To edit files, you will need to unzip the theme archive – at this point, you will have access to the necessary files indicated in the theme documentation.
###### Step-by-Step
1. To edit your theme files, download a copy of the theme. For this purpose, go to the **Design** settings in the Ghost Admin and click **Change theme** in the bottom left corner.
2. Use the **Advanced** dropdown menu in the upper right corner to download your theme, then unzip the theme locally.
3. Once the theme is unzipped, the files can be edited using a code editor – make the changes indicated in the theme documentation.
You can edit files using applications (code editor) such as [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/?ref=themex.studio), [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/?ref=themex.studio) or [Brackets](https://brackets.io/?ref=themex.studio). Using native text editors like TextEdit on macOS may add formatting that may cause the theme to work incorrectly.
1. After changing the theme code, re-zip the theme directory to upload it back to Ghost.
To create a zip archive on a macOS, **right-click** on the theme folder to view the context menu. Then, click the **Compress** option. On Windows, **right-click** on the theme folder, select **Send to**, and then select **Compressed (zipped) folder**.
1. To upload a theme, go to the **Design** settings in the Ghost Admin and click **Change theme** in the bottom left corner.
2. Click the **Upload theme** button in the upper right corner.
3. Once uploaded, click **Activate** to activate the theme on your site.
### Code Injection
Another choice for customization is to use the Ghost **Code Injection** settings in Ghost admin.
For a CSS example, you can use the code in the *Site Header* section to change the logo color and font size.
```html
```
Check out [How to use Code Injection](https://ghost.org/tutorials/use-code-injection-in-ghost/?ref=themex.studio) Ghost guide for more information.
### Theme deploy with GitHub actions
Singapore comes integrated with the [Deploy Ghost Theme](https://github.com/marketplace/actions/deploy-ghost-theme?ref=themex.studio) Github action. The purpose of the GitHub action is to take the theme from the GitHub repo and send it to your website.
Follow this guide to add GitHub actions [How to Deploy Your Ghost Theme Using Github Actions](https://themex.studio/guides/streamline-the-deployment-of-your-ghost-theme-using-github-action/). All you need to do is follow the steps **1** and **2**.
### Loading custom font
I assume you have the font files and the initial `@font-face` CSS code for loading the font. Something similar to the following code.
```css
@font-face {
font-family: 'Atyp';
src: local('Atyp Text Regular'), local('Atyp-Text-Regular'),
url('AtypText-Regular.woff2') format('woff2'),
url('AtypText-Regular.woff') format('woff'),
url('AtypText-Regular.ttf') format('truetype');
font-weight: 400;
font-style: normal;
}
```
###### Step-to-Step
1. Create a new folder in the theme under `/assets` and name it `fonts`, for example, then copy your font files there.
2. Once you finish, zip the theme files, and upload the final zip file to your Ghost website.
3. In Ghost admin Code Injection, add your `@font-face` code with the new font files path wrapped in the `
```
This should load the fonts. Then, you can use the font and do your styling for the body.
### Streamline the deployment of your Ghost theme using GitHub Action
URL: https://themex.studio/guides/streamline-the-deployment-of-your-ghost-theme-using-github-action/
Last updated: 2023-09-17T15:02:44.000Z
I recently tried out the Deploy Ghost Theme GitHub action and found it to be an excellent tool that saves time and effort in deploying themes.
With this tool, you can easily deploy your theme every time you make changes to it, without having to upload it to your Ghost blog manually.
Assuming you're already familiar with Git and GitHub and have your theme on GitHub, you can follow these steps to get started:
## ➊ Create a new Custom Integration
Go to **Ghost Admin → Integrations** and give it a name, such as "Deploy Ghost Theme". Once created, you'll have access to two values: `Admin API` Key and `API URL`.
## ➋ Create GitHub repository secrets
Navigate to **Settings > Secrets > Actions** in your GitHub theme repository and create two new secrets:
- `GHOST_ADMIN_API_KEY`, containing the `Admin API Key`, and
- `GHOST_ADMIN_API_URL`, including the `API URL`.
## ➌ Add the Github deployment config file
Inside your local theme repository, create a config file called `.github/workflows/deploy-theme.yml` and copy the following code. Then, commit and push your changes to the remote repository.
```js
name: Theme Deploy
on:
push:
branches:
- master
- main
jobs:
deploy:
runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v3
- uses: TryGhost/action-deploy-theme@v1.6.3
with:
api-url: ${{ secrets.GHOST_ADMIN_API_URL }}
api-key: ${{ secrets.GHOST_ADMIN_API_KEY }}
```
## ❹ Test and deploy your theme.
The theme will be deployed automatically every time you push a new commit to the main repository branch. You can check the theme deployment actions list by navigating to **Settings > Actions** in your GitHub theme repository.
That's it! I hope you find this tutorial helpful in streamlining your Ghost theme deployment process using GitHub Actions.
### Zurich Docs
URL: https://themex.studio/docs/zurich-doc/
Last updated: 2025-11-10T13:31:25.000Z
##### On this page
### Introduction
Since this is a Ghost theme documentation, you are assumed to have a basic knowledge of the Ghost app.
If you're starting out with Ghost, it is best to see the guides in the official [Ghost Help Center](https://ghost.org/help/?ref=themex.studio) – check this out, and you'll have all the available information.
---
## Getting started
### Install theme
#### Upload zip file
To begin, **unzip** the downloaded package by double-clicking it on a Mac or by right-clicking and selecting "Extract All" on Windows.
Inside the new **zurich folder**, you will find the zurich.zip theme file and an online documentation file.
###### Step-to-Step to upload the theme to your website
1. Log in to your Ghost website admin (example.com/ghost).
2. Click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to **Design > Change theme**.
4. Click **Upload theme** and select the zurich.zip theme file.
5. Once uploaded, click **Activate now** to activate Zurich.
### Upload routes.yaml (Required)
The `routes.yaml` is required for the following reasons:
- Authors page
- Archive page
###### Step-to-Step to upload the file:
1. Unzip the zurich.zip theme file.
2. In your Ghost admin, click the **settings icon** ( ⚙️ ) at the bottom of the left-hand side.
3. Go to the **Labs**.
4. Scroll down to the **Routes** section and click the **Upload routes YAML** button.
5. Select and upload the `routes.yaml` file inside the theme folder.
---
## Pages
### Homepage
\[Watch this video for homepage setup\]
The homepage will show a list of content sections.
- Hero section with custom title and description
- Subscription box
- Featured posts, if they exist
- All posts with pagination
#### Hero section
Zurich supports customizing the text visibility of the cover image in your publication hero section. You have three settings to choose from
1. Hero layout: With or without publication cover
2. Primary header: Big main title for your publication
3. Secondary header: Smaller text description under the big title.
###### Step-to-Step to customize the hero section text
1. Go to **Settings > Design** from the admin menu
2. Click **Homepage** in the **Site design** settings sidebar on the left
3. Select layout in **Hero layout**: Publication lofo (default) or no logo.
4. Enter your text in text inputs inside **Primary header** or **Secondary header** menu items
If you want to style your hero text (e.g. bold, italic, break a line,…) check [hero section](#hero-section-1) customize.
#### Featured posts
By default, Zurich shows two featured posts. The theme supports showing/hiding featured posts and customizing the featured post section title.
To customize it, go to your Ghost admin **Settings > Design > Site design > Homepage**
You will find two settings
- Show featured posts: Default value is on — show featured post. If you don't want to show the, turn it off.
- Featured title: Default is Featured. You can change to any text you want.
#### List of posts
Zurich supports customizing the latest post section title.
To change the text, go to your Ghost admin **Settings > Design > Site design > Homepage**. Then, change input **Feed title** to any text you want.
Zurich doesn't support customizing the number of posts per page (default is) on the Ghost admin interface. Because of the constraints on the grid layout — the layout is only good with a fixed number of posts.
But if you really want to change the number of posts per page, follow \[posts per page guide\] and edit the `package.json` file to change it.
#### Postcard style
Zurich supports customizing post card style. You have two options to choose from:
1. No cover image (default): minimal post card style with only text. For text lovers.
2. With cover image: Cover image as background for each post card. This is for people who want a more visual differentiation for each post.
### Post page
Zurich theme has 4 post page templates to choose from:
1. Default
2. Full Featured Image
3. Wide Featured Image
4. No Featured Image
These templates differ from each other by the size of the featured image.
To choose which template to use when you publish a post:
- On the post editor page, click the icon in the top right corner to open the Post settings
- Then, find the **Template** selector and choose the style you want for your post.
You might want to change some other settings for the post page:
- Change-related post card layout
- Change the copy for the subscription box
- Show/Hide comment section for your subscription
### Authors page
You can add a custom authors page to show all authors from your publication.
**Zurich** has a template for the **Authors page**, which shows all authors of your publication. The authors' page is not required, but you can add it.
❗
****Important**
Make sure to Upload the routes.yaml file.
###### Steo-to-Step to create the Authors page:
1. Go to **Pages** from the admin menu
2. Click the New page button in the top right corner
3. Add a title (e.g. 'Authors').
4. Add a **description** for this page (if you want to)
5. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**
6. **Ensure** that the **Page URL** is `authors`
7. Click **Publish**
8. Now you have an authors page with the URL `yourblog.com/authors`
### Tags page
Or you can call it a category page that shows your top written tags.
The page shows the top 8 tags, sorted by the number of posts.
❗
****Important**
Make sure to Upload the routes.yaml file.
###### Step-to-Step:
1. Go to **Pages** from the admin menu
2. Click the New page button in the top right corner
3. Add a title (e.g. 'Tags').
4. Add a **description** and **featured image** for this page (if you want to)
5. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**
6. **Ensure** that the **Page URL** is `tags`
7. Click **Publish**
8. Now you have an tags page with the URL `yourblog.com/tags`
To add background color for each tag, from Ghost admin, go to the tag detail and select Accent color for that tag.
### Tag page
**Zurich** has a page for the tag page showing all posts belonging to that tag and a list of other tags (sorted by the number of posts of each tag) of your publication.
Try to add a featured image for each tag, you will see a nice tag list.
### Archive page
Zurich provides a neat Archive page to list all the posts, grouped by year and month.
You can add a custom Archive page to show an archive from your publication. The Archive page is not required, but you can add it.
✏️
Make sure to Upload the routes.yaml file.
###### Step-to-Step to create the Archive page:
1. Go to **Pages** from the admin menu
2. Click the New page button in the top right corner
3. Add a title (e.g. 'Archive').
4. Add a **description** for this page (if you want to)
5. Click the icon in the top right corner to open the **Page settings**
6. **Ensure** that the **Page URL** is `archive`
7. Click **Publish**
8. Now you have an archive page with the URL `yourblog.com/archive`
### Contact page
If you wish to have a direct way in which your readers can contact you, you can add a contact page based on [Formspree](https://fueko.net/docs/basho/version/2-4-0/?ref=themex.studio#formspree)
###### Step-by-Step
1. Create a new Page and give it a title, like "**Contact**".
2. Add your content and the contact form code using \[Formspree\] as a service. Please check the code example below.
3. Click **Publish** to publish the page.
4. To add the page to the navigation, please check the Navigation section.
```html
```
Check out [How to Add a Contact Form to Your Ghost Blog](https://aspirethemes.com/blog/ghost-contact-form?ref=themex.studio) for more information.
---
## Custom settings
### Colors
Zurich supports changing the Accent color and background color for your website.
#### Set Accent color
Accent color is the primary one used in your publication theme. Zurich uses the Accent color throughout the theme in buttons, social sharing hover,…
You can change the theme Accent color from the Ghost admin.
Change the Accent color from the admin **Settings > Design > Brand > Accent color**.
#### Change the background color
If you don't like the default pure white background, you can change to a different background color.
You can choose any background color you want, Zurich will auto-calculate the color contrast and set the text color to keep it readable.
Here are some examples of background colors for your inspiration.
The following websites and resources will be useful if you need inspiration with color. But make sure you choose an accessible color. This is important for readers.
- [ColorHunt](https://colorhunt.co/?ref=themex.studio)
#### Light and Dark mode
Zurich will change the color palette based on the background color; you can choose your own theme, light or dark.
Zurich doesn't support light/dark theme switching to keep the theme simple and usable.
### Typography
Depending on the selected ones, this setting will change the heading and body text fonts.
#### Default font-pairing
Zurich has 2 variants of font-pairing
1. Modern sans-serif (Default): Zurich uses system fonts which will adapt based on the OS
2. Elegant serif: Zurich uses `Merriweather` as the default font for elegant style.
###### Steo-to-Step to customize
1. Go to **Settings > Design** from the admin menu
2. Click **Site-wide** in the **Site design** settings sidebar on the left
3. Choose font for title/heading by clicking on **Title font**
4. Choose a font for the body by clicking on **Body font**
#### Change to any fonts
You can change any font from the Ghost admin interface with Code Injection and Google Fonts.
For example, if you want to use "Inter" and "EB Garamond" fonts from Google Fonts, your code in Code Injection will be like this:
```html
```
You can also \[use your custom font\] by including it on your theme with a code editor. This technique is more advanced, but you can add 'your own' fonts :D
### Logos
You can use an image as a logo instead of the site name.
###### Steo-to-Step To upload publication logo:
1. Go to **Settings > Design** from the admin menu
2. Click **Brand** in the **Site design** settings sidebar on the left
3. Click **Upload logo** button in the **Publication logo** menu item
If you want to change the logo size, use the following code in [Code Injection](https://aspirethemes.com/docs/ubud?ref=themex.studio#code-injection).
```html
```
The default value is `40px`, so you can increase this value to match your preference.
### Navigation
You can add, edit, change the layout, and reorder the navigation in Ghost Admin.
#### Header layout
Zurich supports 2 types of header layouts.
1. Logo on the left
2. Logo in the middle.
###### Step-to-Step to customize
1. Go to **Settings > Design** from the admin menu
2. Click **Site-wide** in the **Site design** settings sidebar on the left
3. Click **Navigation Layout** and select your preferred setting
#### Header nav items
The navigation items will be auto-adjusted based on the width of the browser and the length of items, so you can add as many items as you want.
If the navigation items reach the max width, they will be put inside a popover that appears when clicking on the ( … ) icon.
###### Step-to-Step to add a static page or a link to header navigation:
1. Go to **Settings > Navigation > Primary Navigation**
2. Type the page's name in the label field as you'd like it to appear on your menu.
3. Click on the item's URL. The blog URL will already be auto-populated. Add the page slug after the final /. When satisfied with your page configurations, click the Save button.
#### Navigation Dropdown Menus
You can create dropdown submenus in your Ghost navigation to organize your content more effectively and improve site navigation. This feature helps visitors quickly find specific pages under broader categories.
Example of dropdown menu
###### Creating Dropdown Submenus
Follow these steps to set up dropdown navigation menus:
1. In your Ghost Admin panel, go to **Settings → Navigation**
2. Add your main menu items normally
3. To create submenu items, add them with a dash (-) prefix before the child item
4. Arrange items in the order you want them to appear
Example navigation structure in Ghost admin for the result above
#### Footer
Like the header, you can add the footer navigation links from the Ghost Admin **Settings > Navigation > Secondary Navigation**
#### Social Media Icons
Ghost supports adding Facebook and Twitter profile URLs from the admin panel. Go to **Settings > General > Social accounts** and add your URLs, and the theme will automatically add them in the footer.
Zurich doesn't support adding additional social links yet.
### Hero section
The hero section includes a title, description, and subscription form at the top of the homepage.
How to add your own hero title?
If you want your text in bold, use the `` ... `` tag, like this:
```
Your own hero text
```
You can also use `` or `` with the same visual result.
If you want to start the text on a new line use the ` ` tag, like this:
```
Your own hero text New text line
```
### Table of content
You can add a table of contents (TOC) to any post. Simply add this HTML code to your post.
```html
```
###### Step-by-Step
1. Create a new post and write your post
2. Right under the title, add an HTML card
3. Insert the code above. You might want to change the TOC's header text (`h4`). Maybe you want to change to `Table of Content`
4. Publish and review it.
### Related post card style
You can easily change the style of the related post cards in your post page.
Zurich supports 4 types of related post cards.
1. Expanded
2. Right thumbnail
3. Text only
4. Minimal
###### Step-by-Step
1. Go to **Settings > Desig**n in the Ghost Admin
2. Go to **Post** option and expand the setting lists. Then go to the Related post
3. Use the dropdown to select the option
4. Click **Save** to activate
### Footnotes
Footnotes serve as essential tools in academic and professional writing, providing valuable supplementary information without disrupting the main text.
In the Ghost admin > Post/Page, you can add footnotes by placing your footnote marker using this format:
```
This is your main text[^ Your footnote content goes here]
```
Add as many footnotes as needed throughout your content. For example:
```
Ghost websites benefit from clear documentation[^ According to usage studies, well-documented websites see 47% higher user engagement]. This is especially true for specialized themes[^ Kyoto and Braun themes consistently rank in the top 10 for user satisfaction].
```
Save and preview your post to verify the footnotes appear correctly.
- The markers should convert to numbered superscript links
- Clicking a link should scroll to the corresponding footnote
- Footnotes should appear in an ordered list at the bottom of your post
### Posts per page
By default, the homepage, author's, and tag's page display a maximum of 18 posts per page, but you can change this number.
###### Step-by-Step
1. You'll need to open the theme's `package.json` file in your code editor and find:
```json
"config": {
...
"posts_per_page": 18
...
}
```
1. Change the value of the `18` to the expected value.
2. Save your `package.json` file in root folder.
### Google Analytics
To integrate Google Analytics, I recommend using the [Google Analytics](https://ghost.org/integrations/google/?ref=themex.studio) integration by Ghost.
### Syntax Highlighting
You can add a fenced code block by placing triple backticks ```` ``` ```` before and after the code block. For example:
```
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
This will produce the following gray look:
To highlight a code block, add a language alias like `css` or `js` to the code block. For example, the CSS code in the previous example will wrap between ` "`css ` and ` \`\`\` \` as follows:
```css
pre {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
max-width: 100%;
overflow: auto;
}
```
This will produce the following colored look:
To add **inline code**, wrap the text between two backticks "` `".
#### Prism
The theme ships with [Prism.js](https://prismjs.com/?ref=themex.studio), a lightweight, robust, and elegant syntax highlighter.
The [initial Prism package](https://prismjs.com/download.html?ref=themex.studio#themes=prism&languages=markup+css+clike+javascript) includes some languages, like *Markup*, *CSS*, *C-like*, and *JavaScript*.
You can add support for more languages by adding the Prism `autoloader` script, which will automatically load the languages you need. To do this, add the following script to the website admin **Code Injection (Site Footer)**.
```html
```
Click **Save**.
### Responsive tables
The responsive table will display a horizontal scroll bar if the screen is too small to display the full content. The following description applies to the table added using the markdown card.
> By default, the table adapts to the window width. If you have a too wide table, it will display a horizontal scroll bar when needed.
###### Step-by-Step
1. To add a responsive table, use the **Markdown card**.
2. Add the markdown to create a table. To generate a table, you can use the tool [Markdown Tables Generator](https://www.tablesgenerator.com/markdown%5Ftables?ref=themex.studio). Below is an example
```
| # | Heading | Heading | Heading | Heading | Heading |
|:--|:--------|:--------|:--------|:--------|:--------|
| 1 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
| 2 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
| 3 | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell |
```
### Subscription form
Subscription is placed at the bottom of the post page.
#### Change subscription form text
You can change the subscription box's title and description text from the Ghost Admin.
###### Step-to-Step
1. Go to **Settings > Designs** in Ghost Admin
2. Expand **Post** section, add your title in **Email signup text** input and description in **Email signup desc**
3. Finally, click **Save**.
#### Ghost inbuilt Signup card
Zurich supports the newest component Signup form from Ghost. For more information, check out [Ghost Signup Card](Signup cards)
Adding Signup form from Ghost editor
Example of Sign up form
#### Inline subscription box
Besides Ghost inbuilt Signup form, you can use the Zurich inline subscription form. It looks like this
You can add an inline subscription box in any place in your post with this code.
###### Step-to-Step
1. Create any post as usual
2. At the line you want to add the form, click + icon or type `/`, and select HTML option
3. Paste the code below. (Note: the form comes with a spinner animation, so it's a bit complicated.)
4. Preview and publish the post
```html
```
### Comment / Member discussion
Zurich comes with [Ghost Native Comments](https://ghost.org/changelog/native-comments/?ref=themex.studio) integration. You can turn the comments on from your Ghost admin **Settings > Membership > Commenting**.
### Languages
Zurich is fully translatable by enabling a publication language in the settings of the Ghost Admin. Before that, you must prepare your language file.
###### Step-by-Step
Theme viewed in VS Code editor
1. Inside the `../locales/` folder, add target language files for each translatable language used on your site. For example, `fr.json` is for French and `pl.json` is for Polish. [A valid language](https://www.w3schools.com/tags/ref%5Flanguage%5Fcodes.asp?ref=themex.studio) code must be used.
2. Translate the sentences used in the theme inside your new language files, for example, in `en.json`:
```json
{
"Subscribe": "Subscribe",
"Sign in ": "Sign in",
"Account": "Account",
...
}
```
1. And edited to translate into Spanish for `fr.json`:
```json
{
"Subscribe": "S'abonner",
"Sign in ": "Se connecter",
"Account": "Compte",
...
}
```
1. Upload a theme with a new language file.
2. Go to the **General** settings in the Ghost Admin.
3. At the top of the page, you'll see the **Publication info** section
4. Enter the correct language code into your **Publication language** settings menu.
5. Finally, click **Save** to activate.
🎈
****Reactivate the translation file.**
If you edited the active language, you have to restart Ghost to make the changes effective. Alternatively, enter another language code and click ****Save** to activate, then switch back to your language code.
## Advanced setting
### Editing a theme's code
You will encounter information about editing theme files in many places in this documentation.
To edit files, you will need to unzip the theme archive – at this point, you will have access to the necessary files indicated in the theme documentation.
###### Step-by-Step
1. To edit your theme files, download a copy of the theme. For this purpose, go to the **Design** settings in the Ghost Admin and click **Change theme** in the bottom left corner.
2. Use the **Advanced** dropdown menu in the upper right corner to download your theme, then unzip the theme locally.
3. Once the theme is unzipped, the files can be edited using a code editor – make the changes indicated in the theme documentation.
> You can edit files using applications (code editor) such as [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/?ref=themex.studio), [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/?ref=themex.studio) or [Brackets](https://brackets.io/?ref=themex.studio). Using native text editors like TextEdit on macOS may add formatting that may cause the theme to work incorrectly.
1. After making changes to the theme code, re-zip the theme directory to upload it back to Ghost.
> To create a zip archive on a macOS, **right-click** on the theme folder to view the context menu. Then, click the **Compress** option. On Windows **right-click** on the theme folder, select **Send to**, and then select **Compressed (zipped) folder**.
1. To upload a theme, go to the **Design** settings in the Ghost Admin and click **Change theme** in the bottom left corner.
2. Click the **Upload theme** button in the upper right corner.
3. Once uploaded, click **Activate** to activate the theme on your site.
### Code Injection
Another choice for customization is to use the Ghost **Code Injection** settings in Ghost admin.
For a CSS example, you can use the code in the *Site Header* section to change the logo color and font size.
```html
```
Check out [How to use Code Injection](https://ghost.org/tutorials/use-code-injection-in-ghost/?ref=themex.studio) Ghost guide for more information.
### Theme deploy with GitHub actions
Zurich comes integrated with the [Deploy Ghost Theme](https://github.com/marketplace/actions/deploy-ghost-theme?ref=themex.studio) Github action. The purpose of the GitHub action is to take the theme from the GitHub repo and send it to your website.
Follow this guide: [Streamline the deployment of your Ghost theme using GitHub Action](https://themex.studio/guides/streamline-the-deployment-of-your-ghost-theme-using-github-action/). All you need to do is follow steps **1** and **2**.
### Loading custom font
I assume you have the font files and the initial `@font-face` CSS code for loading the font. Something similar to the following code.
```css
@font-face {
font-family: 'Atyp';
src: local('Atyp Text Regular'), local('Atyp-Text-Regular'),
url('AtypText-Regular.woff2') format('woff2'),
url('AtypText-Regular.woff') format('woff'),
url('AtypText-Regular.ttf') format('truetype');
font-weight: 400;
font-style: normal;
}
```
###### Step-to-Step
1. Create a new folder in the theme under `/assets` and name it `fonts`, for example, then copy your font files there.
2. Once you finish, [zip](https://aspirethemes.com/docs/ubud?ref=themex.studio#zip-theme-files) the theme files, and [upload](https://aspirethemes.com/docs/ubud?ref=themex.studio#theme-installation) the final zip file to your Ghost website.
3. In Ghost admin [Code Injection](https://aspirethemes.com/docs/ubud?ref=themex.studio#code-injection), add your `@font-face` code with the new font files path wrapped in the `
```
This should load the fonts. Then, you can use the font and do your [styling](https://aspirethemes.com/docs/ubud?ref=themex.studio#changing-theme-typeface) for the body.
### Zurich
URL: https://themex.studio/zurich/
Last updated: 2025-10-13T07:49:26.000Z
0:00
/1:26
1×
Zurich Video Walkthrough
Influenced by Swiss design, Zurich provides a clean, spacious environment where typography takes center stage.
If you're a writer who appreciates the sophistication of language, Zurich is the ideal match for you.
Here are some key features that make Zurich the ultimate choice for your Ghost blog.
## Typography-First
Don't worry if you're not into photography; Zurich shines with its typography-first approach, giving your words the spotlight they deserve.
If you love photos, we make them pretty, too.
## Light & Dark Modes
Zurich offers unlimited background colors, ensuring your content looks great no matter your preference or your audience's.
## Four Post Layouts
You can customize your blog with four different post layouts to suit your unique style and content.
## Beautiful custom pages
- [Authors page](https://zurich.themex.studio/authors/?ref=themex.studio)
- Contact page
- [Archive page](https://zurich.themex.studio/archive/?ref=themex.studio)
- [Tags page](https://zurich.themex.studio/tag/productivity/?ref=themex.studio)
## Lightweight & Lightning-Fast
Zurich is incredibly lightweight and fast, ensuring readers have a seamless and enjoyable browsing experience.
[PageSpeed Insights](https://pagespeed.web.dev/analysis/https-zurich-themex-studio/unayc98wk1?form%5Ffactor=desktop&ref=themex.studio) Test Result
## Fully Responsive
Thanks to Zurich's full responsiveness, your blog will look stunning on all devices, from desktop to mobile.
## Easy Customization
Zurich is easy to customize, allowing you to tailor your blog to your liking without the need for coding expertise.
- [Zurich documentations](https://themex.studio/docs/zurich/)
## Compatibility with all inbuilt Ghost features
Zurich seamlessly integrates with all inbuilt Ghost features so that you can take full advantage of Ghost's capabilities.
#### Supported ****inbuilt Ghost features**
- Translation-ready English included
- Search function
- Comments
- Accent color
- Responsive images
- Publication title and description
- Publication logo
- Post, page, tag, and author page
- Author avatar, bio, location, website and social accounts
- Tag cover and description
- Tags in post-cards
- Multiple authors
- Markdown, Bookmark, Button, Callout and Toggle card
- Audio, File, Product, and Header card
- Gallery card
- Image card with normal, wide, and full width
- Video card with normal, wide, and full-width
- Secondary navigation
- Featured posts
- Reading time in post view
- Related posts
- Social accounts
- Membership tiers
- Members and subscription
- Show/Hide title & feature image for page
- Announcement banner
## Exceptional Support
Zurich has fast and reliable support to assist you with any questions or issues.
Write a message with our [Contact form](https://themex.studio/contact/), email [hello@themex.studio](mailto:hello@themex.studio), or more from us on Twitter [@themexstudio](https://twitter.com/home?ref=themex.studio). We will get back in 24 hours.
---
Elevate your online presence with Zurich, and let your words shine. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting your blogging journey, Zurich provides the perfect canvas for creativity.
Get Zurich today and experience the beauty of Swiss-inspired design and effortless writing. Your readers will thank you for it.