Kyiv provides extensive customization options to create a conversion-focused site that showcases your offer effectively. This guide covers all configurable aspects of the theme, from homepage sections to advanced customization.
Getting Started
Navigate to your theme customization panel:
- Log in to your Ghost Admin at
yoursite.com/ghost/ - Go to Settings → Design (
yoursite.com/ghost/#/settings/design/) - Click Customize to access design settings
- Select Theme in the top right corner for Kyiv-specific options
Theme Settings
Visual Styling
Control the color scheme of your homepage accent sections to match your brand identity.
Background Color
Default: #fffbeb (warm cream)
Sets the background color for accent sections throughout your homepage, including:
- About section
- Newsletter section
- Bottom CTA section
The theme automatically applies a subtle brightness filter to these sections for visual depth.
Text Color
Default: #333333 (dark gray)
Defines the text color for content within accent sections. Ensure sufficient contrast with your background color for optimal readability and accessibility.
Accessibility Tip: Use a color contrast checker to ensure your color combination meets WCAG AA standards (minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for body text).
Hero Section
The hero section is the first thing visitors see - make it count. This full-width section combines compelling copy with a visual element to communicate your value proposition instantly.
Hero Title
Default: "Nobody else is gonna tell your story."
Your main headline. This should be your strongest statement - the primary value proposition or benefit you offer. Keep it punchy, memorable, and benefit-focused.
Best Practices:
- 6-12 words is ideal
- Focus on the transformation or outcome
- Make it about your visitor, not you
Hero Subtitle
Default: "Learn how to repurpose the content you already have, to accelerate the growth of your small business."
Supporting copy that expands on your headline. Use this to provide context, address a pain point, or elaborate on the benefit.
Best Practices:
- 15-25 words works well
- Add specificity that your headline lacks
- Answer "how" or "what" if your headline is aspirational
Hero Image
Type: Image upload
A visual representation of your offer, service, or brand. This appears as a square image beside your hero text on desktop, and below it on mobile.
Best Practices:
- Use high-quality images (minimum 1200x1200px)
- Consider using a professional headshot if you're service-based
- Product images work well for physical offers
- Avoid generic stock photos - authenticity converts better
Hero Image Alt Text
Default: "Put a descriptive alt text here for accessibility"
Descriptive text for screen readers and SEO. Be specific about what the image shows.
Example: Instead of "headshot," use "Jane Smith, content strategist, smiling in home office"
Primary CTA Button Text
Default: "Learn more"
The text that appears on your main call-to-action button in the hero section.
Best Practices:
- Use action verbs ("Get," "Start," "Download," "Book")
- Be specific about what happens next
- Create curiosity without being vague
Examples:
- "Book Your Free Call"
- "Get the Free Guide"
- "Start Your Trial"
- "See Pricing"
Primary CTA URL
Default: /about
Where the hero CTA button links. This can be:
- Internal pages (e.g.,
/contact,/services,/pricing) - Anchor links (e.g.,
#newsletter) - External URLs (e.g.,
https://calendly.com/yourname)
Features Section
Showcase your methodology, approach, or key benefits through a three-column layout. This section is powered by Ghost pages tagged with #features.
Features Title
Default: "My Unique Approach to Content Repurposing"
The main heading for your features section. Frame this around your unique process, methodology, or the key benefits you provide.
Examples:
- "How I Help You [Achieve Outcome]"
- "My Three-Step Process"
- "Why [Your Service] Works"
Features Subtitle
Default: "Harness the power of content you've already created. Through my meticulous three-step process, I'll guide you in transforming existing materials into strategic assets, breathing new life into what you've already accomplished."
Supporting description that provides context for your features. This appears above the feature cards.
Best Practices:
- Explain the "why" behind your approach
- Set up what the features will describe
- 30-50 words is ideal
Learn more about Features cards here:
Jannis Fedoruk-Betschki
About Section
Build trust and connection with a personal introduction. This section automatically pulls content from your Ghost page with the slug about.
About Page Setup
The about section displays automatically if you have a page with the slug about:
- Create a page in Ghost admin
- Set the slug to exactly
about - Add a Title (becomes the about section headline)
- Add a Feature Image (displays as a square profile image)
- Write a Custom Excerpt (displays as the about preview text)
Important: The section won't appear if no page with slug about exists.
About Link Text
Default: "Read My Full Story"
The text for the link that directs visitors to your full about page.
Examples:
- "Learn More About Me"
- "Read My Story"
- "Meet [Your Name]"
About Image Alt Text
Default: "About me"
Descriptive alt text for your about section feature image.
You can learn more about the About section here:
Jannis Fedoruk-Betschki
Testimonials Section
Social proof is conversion gold. Display customer testimonials in a two-column grid to build credibility and trust.
Testimonials Title
Default: "What People Are Saying"
The heading for your testimonials section.
Examples:
- "Client Success Stories"
- "What My Clients Say"
- "Don't Take My Word For It"
Creating Testimonial Cards
Testimonials are created through Ghost's page system using a special tag:
- Go to Pages in your Ghost admin
- Create a new page
- Set the page Title to the person's name and optional title (e.g., "Sarah Johnson, Marketing Director")
- Add the testimonial quote in the Content field
- Tag the page with
#testimonials - The Slug field determines display order (alphabetically)
Pro Tip: Use slugs like testimonial-01, testimonial-02 to control display order. Feature your strongest testimonials first.
Layout: Testimonials display in a two-column grid on desktop, stacking vertically on mobile. Each includes quotation mark styling automatically.
More details about the testimonials section can be found here:
Jannis Fedoruk-Betschki
Newsletter Section
Capture leads with a prominent newsletter signup form. This section only appears when Ghost memberships are enabled in Settings → Membership.
Newsletter Title
Default: "Dive Deeper into Content Transformation"
The main heading for your newsletter signup section.
Best Practices:
- Focus on the benefit of subscribing
- Create curiosity about what they'll receive
- Keep it under 8 words
Examples:
- "Get Weekly [Topic] Tips"
- "Join [Number] Smart [Industry] Professionals"
- "Never Miss a [Type of Content]"
Newsletter Subtitle
Default: "Sign up for my newsletter to get exclusive insights on content revitalization and strategies to amplify your brand. Plus, receive a free guide on '5 Ways to Repurpose Old Content'."
Supporting copy that describes what subscribers will receive. This is your chance to overcome objections and provide value.
Best Practices:
- Mention frequency (weekly, monthly)
- List specific benefits
- Include a lead magnet if you have one
- Address privacy concerns if relevant
Enabling Newsletter Signup
The newsletter section automatically appears when:
- Ghost memberships are enabled (Settings → Membership → Enable memberships)
- At least one newsletter is configured
If memberships are disabled, the entire newsletter section is hidden.
Blog Preview Section
Showcase your latest content to demonstrate expertise and encourage exploration.
Blog Title
Default: "Latest From The Blog"
The heading for your blog preview section, which displays your 3 most recent posts.
Examples:
- "Recent Articles"
- "What I've Been Writing About"
- "Latest Insights"
Layout: The section displays your 3 most recent posts in a three-column grid on desktop. Each card includes the featured image, title, excerpt, and a "Read more" link.
More information on the blog section can be found here:
Jannis Fedoruk-Betschki
Bottom CTA Section
Your final conversion opportunity. This full-width CTA section appears at the bottom of your homepage, just before the footer.
CTA Title
Default: "Ready to Take The Next Step?"
Your closing headline. This should create urgency or restate your core value proposition.
Best Practices:
- Ask a question that implies readiness
- Create a sense of next steps
- Reinforce the transformation
Examples:
- "Ready to [Achieve Outcome]?"
- "Let's Work Together"
- "Start Your Transformation Today"
CTA Subtitle
Default: "Discover the power of revitalized content and make your brand stand out. Let's turn your old content into new opportunities."
Supporting copy that gives one final push. Address objections, restate benefits, or create urgency.
CTA Button Text
Default: "Learn more"
The text on your bottom CTA button.
Best Practices:
- Make it specific and action-oriented
- Match the intent of your subtitle
- Create clear expectations
CTA URL
Default: /about
Where your bottom CTA button links. Common options:
/contact- Contact form/services- Service details/pricing- Pricing page- External booking link (Calendly, etc.)
#newsletter- Scroll to newsletter signup
Custom Post & Page Templates
Kyiv includes custom post & page templates accessible when creating/editing pages:
Header Accent Color Template
Available for both pages and posts. Creates a full-width colored header using your Ghost accent color or post-specific accent color override.
Use Cases:
- Landing pages that need extra visual impact
- Feature announcements
- Special offers or promotions
To Use:
- Create or edit a page/post
- Open the Settings panel (gear icon)
- Select "Header Accent Color" from the Template dropdown
Theme Updates
Since Kyiv is a Magic Pages exclusive theme, you can update it directly in the theme gallery.
When updating Kyiv, your customizations are preserved through Ghost's settings system. Custom code in code injection areas remains intact during theme updates.