Features Pricing No credit card required

Embedding a forum into your Format website

Format is a portfolio website builder designed for photographers, filmmakers, artists, and other creatives. It offers professionally designed templates, a drag-and-drop design editor, client galleries, and an online store, all without requiring any code. But like most website builders, Format doesn't include a built-in community forum or discussion feature.

That's where Website Toolbox comes in. You can embed a fully featured discussion forum directly into your Format site, or simply link to your forum from your site's menu. Either way, you get user accounts, moderation tools, and real-time conversations.

This works really well for:

  • Photography communities and clubs
  • Artist and creator communities
  • Client feedback and proofing discussions
  • Workshop and course discussions
  • Portfolio reviews and critiques
  • Customer support forums
  • Private member groups

This step-by-step guide walks you through the process:

Step-by-Step: Add Your Forum

Option A: Embed the Forum

  1. Visit format.com and log in to your account. If you don't have one, click Get Started to create an account.
  2. Create a page for your forum: From the left sidebar, go to Portfolio and click Pages. Click Create, then select Custom Page. Give your new page a name, such as Forum.
  3. Get your Website Toolbox embed code:
    1. Log in to your Website Toolbox account or create a new forum if you don't already have one.
    2. Go to Integrate Embed → Embed your forum and copy the embed code.
  4. Add the forum to your page: On your new page, click Add Section, then click Media. Scroll down to HTML Block or Custom Embed and click to add it. Paste your Website Toolbox embed code and click Save Changes. HTML embeds are available on Format's Pro and Pro Plus plans.
  5. Click Save Changes in the top right-hand corner to make your changes live.
  6. Copy the URL of your published Forum page. You can find it in your site menu or by visiting your published site and opening the page.
  7. Go back to Website Toolbox, open Integrate → Embed → Embed Your Forum, and paste your Format Forum page URL into the Where is the forum embedded? field.

Option B: Link to the Forum

  1. Visit format.com and log in to your account. If you don't have one, click Get Started to create an account.
  2. Create a link to your forum: From the left sidebar, go to Portfolio and click Pages. Click Create, then select External Link.
  3. Get your Website Toolbox forum URL:
    1. Log in to your Website Toolbox account or create a new forum if you don't already have one.
    2. Copy your forum URL.
  4. Add a Title, such as Forum, and paste your Website Toolbox forum URL into the URL field. Set the Behaviour checkbox to On so the forum opens in a new browser tab, then click Done.
  5. Click Save Changes in the top right-hand corner to make the link live in your site menu.

Single Sign On

Website Toolbox offers a custom SSO integration service starting at $199.

How to purchase custom SSO integration:

  1. Log in to your Website Toolbox account.
  2. Go to Integrate → Single Sign On.
  3. Under Your Website Builder, select Other from the dropdown.
  4. Follow the prompts to complete your purchase.

What Your Members Can Do

Once your forum is connected, your members get a full-featured community experience. Website Toolbox includes many more features beyond what's listed here. Visit the Features Tour to see everything that's available.

💬 For Members

  • Create and reply to discussion threads
  • Like posts
  • Upload images and files
  • Receive email notifications
  • Customize their profile

🛡️ For Admins

  • Moderate posts and comments
  • Ban users
  • Create categories and pin topics
  • Customize the forum's appearance
  • Manage member permissions

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Format have a built-in forum feature?

No, Format does not include a native forum feature. It focuses on portfolio websites, client galleries, and selling your work. However, you can easily add a forum to your site using Website Toolbox, either by embedding it directly into a page or by linking to it from your site menu.

Should I embed the forum or link to it?

Both work well. Embedding keeps users on your Format site and integrates the forum seamlessly into your page layout. Linking is simpler to set up and opens the forum in its own page, which can be a better experience on mobile devices. Choose whichever fits your workflow.

Can I customize the look of my embedded forum?

Yes. Website Toolbox provides a theme editor with a variety of themes you can choose from to match your Format site's design. You can customize colors, fonts, layout settings, and more to create a seamless look.

Can I make the forum private or members-only?

Absolutely. You can restrict forum access to logged-in users, create invite-only communities, or charge for access with subscription plans. Your Format pages and client galleries can also be password-protected, and with the SSO integration your members can use one set of credentials across both your Format site and your forum.

Do I need to know how to code?

No. Format is a drag-and-drop website builder. You simply add an HTML Block to your Custom Page, paste the embed code from Website Toolbox, and save. No coding knowledge is required. HTML embeds are available on Format's Pro and Pro Plus plans.

Will the forum work on mobile devices?

Yes. Website Toolbox forums are fully responsive and work great on phones, tablets, and desktops. If you embed the forum, the iframe adapts to the container size automatically. Website Toolbox also offers a mobile app so your members can participate from their phones.



or learn more


Contact Help Privacy Terms