Get started by building your first piece of content in Candu!
Before You Start
⚠️ Check Your Workspace
Make sure you're working in the correct workspace. Content built in one workspace won't appear when viewing another. You can switch workspaces using the dropdown in the top navigation on the left.
💡Choose Your Starting Point
You have two options for creating content:
Start with a template (recommended for first-timers): Templates give you a head start with pre-built layouts you can customize. This is the fastest way to get started.
Or start from scratch: A blank canvas lets you build exactly what you want from the ground up.
For your first piece, we recommend starting with a template. You'll learn faster by editing something that already works, then you can experiment with a blank canvas later.
Let's dive in!
Create Your Content
To get started, navigate to Content on the left sidebar. You'll see options across the top: Blank Canvas, Banner, Carousel, Checklist, Empty State, Form, and more:
Click Banner (💡 Tip: You can switch to a different template after selecting Banner if you want to explore other options!)
Name your banner (Example: "Homepage Welcome Banner - Test")
Add it to a content section / category to keep things organized
Select an audience segment (or you can skip and refine targeting later)
Candu auto-captures a snapshot for you:
For your first content, we recommend:
If Candu auto-captured a good page: Use it! Click "Continue"
If you want a specific page: Click "Take new snapshot", enter the URL, and capture it
If you're just exploring: Choose "Start without a page," you can add placement when you're ready to publish
What's a Snapshot? It's a visual reference of your product page that helps you place content exactly where you want it. Learn more in Place, Preview & Publish Content.
6. Click Continue to move to the next step
If you chose "Start without snapshot," the editor will open immediately and you can add placement later when you're ready to publish.
Choose Where Your Content Will Appear (If Using Snapshot)
If you selected a snapshot, Candu will now ask you where on the page you want your banner to appear. Here's what to do:
Move your mouse around the snapshot, you'll see different areas highlight as you hover
Click to select a placement on the page
Choose a position:
Above: Your banner appears above the selected element
Below: Your banner appears below the selected element
Replace: Your banner replaces the selected element (be careful with this!)
Click Start Editing Content
📌 Note: When you select a placement, you're choosing an HTML element (selector) that Candu will use as an anchor point. For advanced selector options, see Define a Selector Manually.
Get Familiar with the Candu Editor
As you work with Candu, you'll develop intuition for when and how to use each feature. Bookmark this guide and return to it whenever you encounter unfamiliar terms.
Let’s dig in!
Left Side: Palette
The Palette includes:
Components: Building blocks you can drag onto your canvas (text, buttons, images, layouts, cards, forms, etc.)
Layers: Hierarchical view showing how components are nested.
Templates: More pre-built content you can customize.
History: Timeline of your changes that you can restore if needed.
Shortcuts: Quick reference for keyboard commands.
💡 Tip: Copy/paste components instead of dragging new ones each time. Just click a component and use Cmd+C / Cmd+V (Mac) or Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V (Windows)!
Center: Canvas
This is where you build. Click any component to select and edit it. Selected components show a purple outline with their names.
💡 Tip: You can rename components for clarity and use keyboard arrow keys to navigate through layers.
Right Side: Toolbox
Style the selected component's properties. The toolbox shows different options depending on what you've selected:
Edit: Style your component (colors, spacing, size, borders, etc.)
Interactions: Define what happens when users click or interact with buttons or cards.
Placements: Choose where your content appears.
Candu AI: Get AI assistance drafting or refining content.
Viewport toggles (desktop/tablet/mobile): Test how your content looks on different devices.
Top Bar
At the top of the editor, you’ll find a menu bar with key tools: segments, analytics, settings, and resources (packed with customer examples and walkthroughs).
Customize Your Banner
Now let's make this template your own by editing the basics. If you've set up your styleguide, your banner will automatically use those styles (fonts, colors, buttons), keeping everything on-brand.
Want to see it instead? Watch a walkthrough.
Style Components
Select your component to style it
A quick-access menu that appears when you click on a component. It offers different options depending on the selected component. For example, if you highlight text, you can add a link or input a variable.
Options change based on what component you’ve selected.
Add an Interactions
Interactions define what happens when users click, tap, or hover over components like buttons, images, or cards.
Let's make your button link to somewhere useful:
With your button or card selected, find Interactions in the right toolbox (look for the lightning bolt ⚡ icon)
Under Action on click/tap, click to add an action
Select "Open URL"
In the URL field, paste the URL
Choose whether to open in a new tab
💡 Tip: Rename your interaction using the Interaction Label field (e.g., "Learn More - Clicked"). This is crucial for tracking which buttons users click in your analytics. Clear labels = clear insights!
Other interaction options you can explore later:
Dismiss Overlay: Close the current modal or overlay
Go to Flow Step: Navigate within multi-step sequences
Change Content: Swap to different Candu content (great for dynamic experiences)
Trigger Tour/Hotspot/Overlay: Launch other Candu experiences
Callback: Trigger custom JavaScript functions
Track Event: Send analytics events
Send Email: Trigger email notifications
Check Mobile View (Optional but Recommended)
Many users will see your content on mobile devices, so it's important to check how it looks on smaller screens.
In the Toolbox, click the tablet or mobile viewport toggle at the top
If something doesn't display well, you can:
Adjust content for mobile or tablet specifically
Hide certain layouts or components by clicking on the eye icon under Layout
Show/hide content per device type and create a separate device version of your content (Recommended)
The banner template you started with should already be mobile-friendly, but it's good practice to always check.
Congratulations! 🎉
You've just created your first piece of Candu content! Want to learn more editor terminology? Check out the Candu Editor Glossary for detailed explanations of layouts, styling, content types, and advanced features.
Next Steps
Now that you understand the basics, explore what else you can build:
Inline Content: Content that embeds seamlessly into your product UI (announcements, feature releases, promotions, help content)
Overlays: Modals and pop-ups that appear on top of your page with a backdrop (feature showcases, upgrade prompts, important communications)
Hotspots: Pulsing beacons with tooltips that point to specific elements (perfect for highlighting new features and providing contextual tips)
Product Tours: Guided multi-step walkthroughs that take users through your interface sequentially (onboarding flows, feature introductions)
Stuck on something? Reach out to the Support team via chat or at [email protected].