Simbla is a cloud-based website builder that offers two powerful modes: Easy Mode for drag-and-drop simplicity and Pro Mode for full control over your site's design and code. But like most website builders, it 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 Simbla site, or simply link to your forum from your site's navigation. Either way, you get user accounts, moderation tools, and real-time conversations.
This works really well for:
- Business community hubs
- Customer support forums
- Product feedback and discussion boards
- Online course communities
- Membership and networking sites
- Niche interest groups
- Internal team collaboration
This step-by-step guide walks you through the process:
Step-by-Step: Add Your Forum
Option A: Embed the Forum
- Visit simbla.com and log in to your account. If you don't have one, click Start for Free to create an account.
- From the dashboard, open the site where you want to add the forum, or create a new site using a template or the site wizard.
- Switch to Pro Mode by clicking the Pro toggle in the lower left corner of the editor. This unlocks the advanced editing tools, including the ability to embed custom HTML.
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Get your Website Toolbox embed code:
- Log in to your Website Toolbox account or create a new forum if you don't already have one.
- Go to Integrate Embed → Embed your forum , and copy the embed code.
- In the Pro Mode editor, click the Other tab in the lower left toolbar. Drag the HTML widget onto your page where you want the forum to appear.
- In the HTML editor window that opens, paste your Website Toolbox embed code and click Apply.
- Click Publish in the top toolbar to publish your site with the embedded forum.
- Copy the URL of the page where you embedded the forum.
- Go back to the Website Toolbox Integrate → Embed → Embed Your Forum section and paste your Simbla page URL into the Where is the forum embedded? field.
Option B: Link to the Forum
- Visit simbla.com and log in to your account.
- From the dashboard, open the site where you want to add the forum link.
- Log in to your Website Toolbox account or create a new forum and copy your forum URL.
- In the Simbla editor, go to the Menu settings. Add a new menu item and set the link to your Website Toolbox forum URL. Choose to open it in a new tab.
- Click Publish to save and publish your changes. Your visitors can now access the forum by clicking the menu link.
Single Sign On
Website Toolbox offers a custom SSO integration service starting at $199.
How to purchase custom SSO integration:
- Log in to your Website Toolbox account.
- Go to Integrate → Single Sign On.
- Under Your Website Builder, select Other from the dropdown.
- 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 Simbla have a built-in forum feature?
No, Simbla does not currently have a native forum feature. However, you can easily add a forum to your site using Website Toolbox, either by embedding it directly into a page using the HTML widget or by linking to it from your site's navigation.
Should I embed the forum or link to it?
Both work well. Embedding keeps users on your Simbla 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 Simbla 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. Combined with the SSO integration, you can seamlessly connect your Simbla site's user system with the forum.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. Simbla's Easy Mode uses a drag-and-drop interface that requires no coding. Even in Pro Mode, adding the forum only requires pasting the embed code into the HTML widget. Website Toolbox generates all the code for you.
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.