If you’ve ever tried to put together a flat-pack wardrobe without clear instructions, you’ll know the feeling: the photo on the box looks great, but somehow your version is wobbly, the doors won’t shut properly, and there’s a screw left over that doesn’t seem to go anywhere. Building a website with Divi can feel just like that.
If you’re wondering how to start using Divi, and why it doesn’t feel as easy as advertised, you’re not alone. Divi promises an easy drag-and-drop builder. And in lots of ways, it does what it says. But if you’re brand new to it, or to websites in general, it can still feel really confusing. That’s not your fault. Divi, like many tools made for professionals, expects you to know a few things already.
In this post, we’ll talk about why Divi can feel so tricky to use at first, and what to do to make it easier on yourself.
The promise vs. the reality
You might have picked Divi because it seemed simpler than coding or less expensive than hiring someone. It’s marketed as beginner-friendly, and it is – to a point. But it’s not always clear. Here are some of the things that catch people out:
- There’s a lot going on. Divi gives you loads of control, but that also means there are loads of settings to figure out.
- The structure can feel strange. It works in layers: sections, rows, and modules. Until you understand what those do, it can feel like your edits go missing or end up in the wrong place.
- Tutorials can be unhelpful. Many guides assume you’ve already used WordPress or know some web basics.
So if you’ve opened your website, clicked around, and felt totally lost, you’re not alone. There’s nothing wrong with you. When you’re figuring out how to start using Divi, it’s just not the clearest tool out there.
Why it feels so confusing
Here’s what’s really happening:
- Divi is really flexible, which is great long-term, but can be overwhelming at the start
- It needs a bit of setup before things work smoothly
- Once you understand how it’s built, it all starts to make sense
A lot of the stress comes from trying to design a page and learn a whole new system at the same time. That’s a lot for your brain, especially when you’ve got a business to run too.
How to start using Divi (without the stress)
This blog series is here to help with that messy first bit – the part where most people either give up or decide they’re just “bad at websites.” You don’t need to master everything in one go. Honestly, trying to do that just leads to overwhelm.
Here’s how I suggest you start:
- Keep it simple. Try building just one section of a page to start with.
- Stick with the defaults at first. Divi’s presets are decent, and they keep things consistent.
- Know how to undo. The history feature and layout saves are life-savers.
- Focus on getting your content in. Make it look pretty later.
You’re not behind
If you’re still getting your head around Divi, it doesn’t mean you’re failing. You’re learning something new while juggling everything else that comes with running a business. That’s not nothing. And I’ll be here each week with helpful, clear steps to show you how to start using Divi and make it all a bit easier.
Until then, take a breath. You’re doing fine.
