Introduction to the Guide Builder
The Guide Builder is your visual editor for creating beautiful, mobile-friendly guidebooks. It's designed to be intuitive – no coding required!
Accessing the Guide Builder
- Go to Properties in the left menu
- Find your property and click the green plus icon
- Or click the three dots menu → Create Guide
The Guide Builder will open with a demo template pre-loaded to help you get started quickly.
Guide Builder Layout
The interface is split into two main areas:
Left Panel: Menu Structure
- Shows all your guide sections as a collapsible menu
- Drag and drop items to reorder
- Click the arrow icons to expand/collapse sections
- Hover over items to see edit and delete buttons
Right Panel: Content Editor
- Click any menu item to edit its content
- Full rich-text editor with formatting options
- Insert images, links, and videos
- Add dynamic shortcodes for personalized content
The Demo Template
Every new guide starts with a helpful template containing common sections:
| Section | What to Include |
|---|---|
| Keys / Access | Door codes, lockbox locations, key pickup instructions |
| Contact Info | Your phone number and preferred contact method |
| Emergency | Local emergency numbers, hospital, police |
| WiFi | Network name and password |
| Check-in/out | Times, procedures, parking info |
| House Rules | Quiet hours, pet policy, smoking rules |
| Rubbish | Bin locations, collection days, recycling |
Editing Content
Basic Text Formatting
The editor toolbar includes:
- Bold, Italic, Underline
- Headings (H1, H2, H3)
- Bullet and numbered lists
- Text alignment
- Links and buttons
Adding Images
- Click the Image icon in the toolbar
- Choose from your media library or upload new
- Resize and position as needed
Using Shortcodes
Insert dynamic content that updates automatically:
{guest_name}– Guest's name from reservation{check_in_date}– Check-in date{check_out_date}– Check-out date{wifi_name}– WiFi network name{wifi_password}– WiFi password
Saving Your Work
Your changes are saved automatically as you work. You'll see a brief "Saving..." indicator when changes are being saved.
To preview your guide:
- Click the Preview button in the top right
- Or visit your guide URL directly
Guide Templates
BetterSTR offers two layout templates:
Template 1: Accordion Style (Default)
- Sections expand/collapse when clicked
- Great for guides with lots of content
- Clean, organized appearance
Template 2: Card Style
- Sections displayed as clickable cards
- More visual, button-like interface
- Good for simpler guides
Tips for Great Guides
- Be concise – Guests want quick answers, not essays
- Use images – A photo of the lockbox location is worth 1000 words
- Think mobile – Most guests view on phones
- Update regularly – Keep WiFi passwords and info current
- Test it yourself – Open your guide on your phone before sharing