This article outlines the steps needed to create, design, and publish Page Builder Templates with Yext.

Note: Steps 1 and 2 can be done in any order. Many times, your IT team will help you configure the subdomain for your page. You do not need to wait for this to be completed before you start creating Pages within the Yext platform. 

Step 1: Create a Domain

Step 2: Create a Site

Step 3: Create a Page Builder Template

Step 4: Customize your page

Step 5: Preview your pages

Step 6: Activate your page

Step 7: Publish your pages!

Step 8: Review website configuration

 

Step 1: Create a Domain

These pages are intended to link out from your existing website and should live under the same domain as the rest of the site to ensure a seamless experience for your customers. In order to do this, you will need to choose your desired subdomain, and register it with your website’s DNS provider. Your IT team will usually help you register your subdomain and create a CNAME record (steps b and c).

1. Choose a name for your subdomain.
   • We recommend using short locally-relevant subdomains (e.g., stores.mydomain.com, locations.mydomain.com, agents.mydomain.com, orbranches.mydomain.com).
2. Add your domain to Yext.
   • For full instructions, see Add a Domain.
3. Register your subdomain.
   • If you are creating a new subdomain, you will need to register it with your DNS provider. Otherwise, skip this step if you already have a registered subdomain that you want to use for your pages.
4. Create a CNAME record.
   • A CNAME record for your subdomain should be configured so that it points to the Bridge Domain with the following format: mysubdomain.mydomain.com.pagescdn.com.
     • Note: Be sure to include the actual subdomain you’ve chosen and your domain in place of the example above, followed by the .pagescdn.com. (including the period after .com.).
     • To access this Bridge Domain record within the Yext platform, click Pages in the navigation bar and click Domains. Click Options next to the desired Domain and select Copy Bridge Domain in the drop-down menu. For full instructions, see Add a Domain.

 

Step 2: Create a Site

A Site is a collection of Templates that generates webpages. Sites can include features like Page Builder Templates, Finders, and Search experiences. Sites are associated with domains where the content is hosted. For example, you could have a Site called “Locations,” which contains a Template for each location page, and a Locator page to list all of your locations. For steps to create a Site, see Add a Site.

 

Step 3: Create a Page Builder Template

You can start creating Templates as soon as you have entities added into the Yext platform.

• Create a Page Builder Template
  • Page Templates allow you to publish individual webpages for each of your Locations, Events, Healthcare Professionals, etc.
  • For steps on creating a page, see Create a Page Builder Template.
• Create a Finder Page
  • Finder Pages allow you to publish a single webpage with a list of all your locations or people (e.g., Restaurants, Healthcare Professionals, etc.). Users can then search for a specific location or person and click to view the individual webpages.
  • For steps to create a finder page, see Create a Location Finder Page.
• Create an Event Calendar
  • Event Calendar Pages allow you to publish a single webpage with a list of all of your upcoming events and can link out to the individual event pages.
  • For steps to create an event calendar, see Create an Event Calendar Page.
• FAQ Pages
  • FAQ Pages allow you to publish a website with a list of your FAQs, or create a page for each individual FAQ.
  • For steps to create FAQ pages, see Create an FAQ Locator Page, or Create an Individual FAQ Page.

 

Step 4: Customize your page

You have the ability to customize any of the pages you create to change both the content and design, to ensure it matches the look and feel of your website. For steps on customizing your page, see Customize your Page Builder Templates.

 

Step 5: Preview your pages

Once your pages are customized, we recommend previewing them to make sure everything is set up correctly before you publish them. To preview your page, click on the Preview URL link at the top of the page. For full instructions on how to preview your page, see View Page Preview Links.

 

Step 6: Activate your page

This is the last step before publishing your page. To do this, click Activate in the top right corner.

 

Step 7: Publish your pages!

Once your pages are customized and your subdomain is set up, it’s time to publish these pages so consumers can discover them online. For steps to publish your page, see Publish Pages.

 

Step 8: Review website configuration

After all of your pages have been created and published, you will want to review your website to make sure that everything is properly configured.  This may be something that you can do on your own, or it may be something that your IT team can help you with.

• Make sure the navigation bar on your website links to your newly created pages.
  • For example, if the navigation bar on your website has a tab for ‘Locations’ or ‘Restaurants’ you should link this to your Finder Page.
• If you have previously existing pages, you should unpublish them and make sure they are removed from your website. Additionally, you should ensure that links to those pages are replaced with links to the new pages you have created.