Been using Divi for 3 years before discovering the Library's real power. Thought I knew everything - turns out I'd been wasting massive time doing things the hard way!!
Last month learned selective sync properly. Cut design time from 6 hours to 40 minutes for a 15-page site. Same result, 88% less work!!
Here's what nobody tells you about Divi Library and how to use it like a pro:
Global Modules vs Regular Library Items (The Difference That Matters)
MOST PEOPLE THINK:
Save module to Library = reuse it later
All Library items work the same
Global = regular but green
THE REALITY:
Regular Library item: Copy of original (edit one, others unchanged)
Global Library item: Live synced across entire site (edit once, changes everywhere!)
COMPLETELY different tools for completely different jobs!!
When To Use Regular Library Items
Scenario: You build beautiful hero section for client. Want to reuse design on next client.
Solution: Save as regular Library item (not global!)
What happens: You get reusable template. Load it on new site, change content, done. Original unchanged on first client's site.
Use regular when: Saving design templates for future projects, keeping personal "greatest hits" collection, building starter kit for different industries.
When To Use Global Modules
Scenario: CTA button on 47 pages across site. Client decides to change button color.
Old way: Edit 47 pages individually (nightmare!!)
Global way: Edit button once in Library, 47 pages update instantly!!
Use global when: Same content/design appears on multiple pages (headers, footers, CTAs, testimonials, pricing tables), want instant updates across entire site, managing recurring elements.
Selective Sync: The Secret Weapon
Here's where it gets powerful - you can choose WHICH settings sync globally and which stay unique!!
How Selective Sync Works
Every module has 3 setting tabs:
- Content (text, images, links)
- Design (colors, fonts, spacing)
- Advanced (animations, CSS, custom code)
With selective sync you pick which tabs sync. Others stay page-specific!!
Real Example: Site-Wide Headers
The Problem:
Every page needs header module with same design but different titles. Edit design on one page = manually copy to all pages. Brutal waste of time!!
The Selective Sync Solution:
- Create header module with perfect design
- Save as Global with ONLY Design tab synced
- Content tab NOT synced (stays unique per page!)
Result: Same beautiful design across all headers, but each page has custom title. Change design once = all headers update. Change title = only that page affected. Best of both worlds!!
Example: Custom Styled Buttons
Built perfect button with unique hover animation, custom shadow, brand colors.
Regular approach: Recreate those 12 design settings on every button manually (30 minutes per page × 20 pages = 10 hours!!)
Selective sync approach:
- Create button with all design perfection
- Save Global syncing ONLY Advanced + Design tabs
- Content tab NOT synced
Result: Load button on any page, design is perfect automatically. Just change button text and URL (30 seconds per page!). Saved 9.5 hours!!
Categories: Organization That Actually Works
Divi Library gets messy fast. 50+ items = chaos trying to find anything!!
The Category System:
When saving to Library, you can assign categories. Most people skip this - huge mistake!!
My Category System
By Project Type:
- Hero Sections
- Testimonials
- Pricing Tables
- CTAs
- Headers
- Footers
- Contact Forms
By Industry:
- Restaurant Modules
- SaaS Modules
- E-commerce Modules
- Agency Modules
By Status:
- Client-Ready (polished and proven)
- Experimental (testing new ideas)
- Archive (old designs)
Result: Finding modules takes 5 seconds instead of 2 minutes. Over 100 uses per month = 3 hours saved monthly just from organization!!
Export/Import: Your Secret Agency Weapon
MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW: You can export entire Library to JSON file and import to other sites!!
Why This Matters For Agencies
Built perfect restaurant website with 15 custom modules. Next client also needs restaurant site.
Without export/import: Rebuild all modules from scratch (6-8 hours)
With export/import: Export Library from first site, import to second (2 minutes!!)
How To Do It
Export:
- Go to Divi → Divi Library
- Click "Import & Export" button
- Switch to Export tab
- Check items you want
- Click "Download Export File"
Import:
- On new site: Divi → Divi Library
- Click "Import & Export"
- Switch to Import tab
- Choose your JSON file
- Click "Import"
Boom - entire Library transferred!!
My Agency Workflow
Industry Starter Kits:
Created JSON exports for:
- Restaurant complete Library (18 modules)
- SaaS complete Library (22 modules)
- E-commerce complete Library (31 modules)
- Local business Library (14 modules)
Result: New restaurant client? Import restaurant kit, customize content, done. Start with professional foundation instead of blank canvas!!
The Global Footer Trick
Problem: Footer appears on every page. Client changes phone number.
Nightmare scenario: Manually edit footer on 63 pages!!
Global footer solution:
- Build footer as Global section (entire section not just module!)
- Add to all pages
- Phone number changes? Edit once in Library
- All 63 pages update instantly
Saved: 2 hours of tedious editing!!
Advanced Footer Trick
Want different footer style on blog vs shop pages but still globally controlled?
Solution:
Create two Global footers:
- Global Footer - Main (for regular pages)
- Global Footer - Shop (for shop pages)
Assign each to right pages using Theme Builder conditions. Two global footers = two instant updates instead of 100 manual edits!!
Presets vs Library (Know The Difference)
Divi has TWO systems that confuse people:
Library: Complete modules, sections, layouts
Presets: Just styling (no content)
When Library Better
Saving complete sections with content + design + structure. Templates for future projects. Complex multi-module combinations.
When Presets Better
Just want consistent button styling across site (no content involved). Typography system (heading styles). Color schemes without modules.
Pro tip: Use BOTH! Presets for styling consistency, Library for reusable components. Different tools, different jobs!!
The Clone-Then-Customize Workflow
Here's workflow that cut my build time 60%:
Old Approach
Build each page from scratch. Design every module individually. Hope consistency happens naturally. 6-8 hours per site typical.
New Approach
- Build ONE perfect page (spend time getting it right)
- Save all modules to Library as categories
- Remaining pages: Load from Library, customize content only
- Design work = 10% of project (content editing = 90%)
Result: 2-3 hours per site instead of 6-8!!
Global Sections For Site-Wide Changes
Discovered accidentally, now use constantly:
Client: "Can we add trust badges to all pages?"
Me before Library: "Sure, that'll be 4 hours to edit every page"
Me after Library: "Done in 5 minutes"
How:
- Create section with trust badges
- Save as Global section
- Add to bottom of all pages
- Future changes = edit once, update everywhere
Use for: Trust badges, announcement bars, newsletter signups, social proof, anything appearing site-wide.
The Massive Time Savings Math
Let me show real numbers from my agency:
Before mastering Library:
- Average site build: 24 hours
- Most time spent: Recreating same modules repeatedly
- Client changes: 2-3 hours implementing across pages
After mastering Library:
- Average site build: 9 hours
- Most time spent: Content editing (actual value work!)
- Client changes: 5-10 minutes (global updates!)
Savings per site: 15 hours × $75/hour = $1,125 value
12 sites yearly: 180 hours = $13,500 annual productivity gain!!
And that's conservative - doesn't include revision time saved, stress reduction, or faster client approvals from consistent design.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Mistake 1: Making Everything Global
Saw newbie make entire homepage one giant Global section. Disaster!!
Problem: Couldn't customize anything without affecting all pages. Locked themselves into identical layouts everywhere.
Rule: Only make Global what actually repeats across pages. Headers, footers, recurring CTAs yes. Unique hero sections no!!
Mistake 2: Not Using Categories
Library with 80 uncategorized items = finding anything takes forever.
Solution: Spend 30 minutes categorizing now, save 5 hours over next month.
Mistake 3: Forgetting To Unsync
Made Global header, synced everything including content. Every page showed same title!! Looked broken!!
Always check: What needs to sync (design) vs what needs uniqueness (content).
Mistake 4: Not Exporting Backups
Accidentally deleted Global module used on 30 pages. No backup. Had to rebuild from scratch.
Solution: Export Library monthly as backup JSON. Takes 30 seconds, saves potential disaster.
Advanced Trick: Library + Theme Builder
Power combination nobody talks about:
Use Library items IN Theme Builder templates!!
Example:
- Create perfect blog post header in Library (Global with selective sync!)
- Build Theme Builder template for blog posts
- Add Library header to template
- Every blog post gets perfect header
- Change header design once = all blog posts update
This works for: Product templates, archive pages, search results, 404 pages, author pages.
Result: Entire site template system managed through Library. Design system that actually works!!
The Reality Check
Library isn't magic - it's leverage.
You still need to build quality modules once. Difference: Build once, use 100 times instead of build 100 times.
Time investment: 30 minutes learning Library properly
Return: 10+ hours saved first month, 5+ hours monthly ongoing
Bottom Line
Most people use 10% of Library power. Learn these tricks and you're using 80%+!!
What changes:
Less time building repetitive stuff
More time on actual design and content
Faster project delivery
Easier client changes
Professional consistency automatic
Agency workflow actually scales
Stop rebuilding same modules 47 times!! Get Divi and master the Library - build once, use everywhere, change instantly!! 💪
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