Elementor for WordPress Website Builder
A Comprehensive Educational Guide
📚 Introduction
Elementor is a powerful drag-and-drop page builder plugin for WordPress that enables users to create professional websites without coding knowledge. It offers a visual, front-end editing interface that makes web design accessible to everyone.
Educational Purpose: This resource is designed for educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Always refer to official Elementor documentation for the most current information.
🎯 What is Elementor?
Definition
- Elementor is a freemium WordPress plugin that provides a visual page builder interface
- Launched in 2016, it has become one of the most popular page builders with over 5 million active installations
- Available in two versions: Free and Pro (premium)
- Allows real-time, what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) editing
Core Components
- Widget Library: Pre-built elements like buttons, images, text blocks, forms, and galleries
- Theme Builder: Create custom headers, footers, single post templates, and archive pages
- Popup Builder: Design custom popups for marketing and engagement
- WooCommerce Builder: Customize product pages and shop layouts
- Global Widgets: Reusable elements that update across all pages simultaneously
Technical Architecture
- Built with React.js for the interface
- Uses Backbone.js for data management
- CSS3 and HTML5 compliant output
- Optimized for performance with lazy loading and minification
⭐ Key Features of Elementor
1. Visual Drag-and-Drop Editor
- Real-time editing: See changes instantly as you build
- Intuitive interface: Drag widgets from the left panel to the canvas
- Responsive editing: Design for desktop, tablet, and mobile simultaneously
- Inline text editing: Edit text directly on the page
2. 100+ Widgets and Elements
- Basic Widgets: Heading, Text Editor, Image, Video, Button, Divider, Spacer
- Pro Widgets: Forms, Pricing Tables, Testimonials, Portfolio, Posts Grid, Animated Headlines
- Marketing Widgets: Call-to-Action, Countdown Timer, Facebook Comments, Custom Code
- WooCommerce Widgets: Product Grid, Cart, Checkout, My Account
3. Template Library
- 300+ professionally designed templates
- Pre-built page layouts for various industries
- Block templates for specific sections (hero, footer, testimonials)
- One-click import functionality
- Save and reuse your own custom templates
4. Theme Builder (Pro Feature)
- Custom Headers: Design unique navigation menus and top sections
- Custom Footers: Create branded footer layouts with widgets
- Single Post Templates: Style blog posts, custom post types
- Archive Pages: Design category, tag, and author archives
- Display Conditions: Apply templates to specific pages or post types
5. Responsive Design Controls
- Device-specific styling: Different layouts for desktop, tablet, mobile
- Hide/Show elements per device
- Adjust spacing, font sizes, and dimensions for each breakpoint
- Custom breakpoint values
6. Advanced Styling Options
- Typography Controls: Font family, size, weight, line height, letter spacing
- Color Schemes: Global color palette, gradients, opacity
- Box Model: Margin, padding, border, border radius
- Background Options: Color, image, gradient, video, slideshow
- Animations: Entrance effects, hover effects, motion effects
7. Form Builder (Pro Feature)
- Drag-and-drop form creation
- Multiple field types: Text, email, textarea, checkbox, radio, file upload
- Integration with email marketing: MailChimp, ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign
- CRM integration: HubSpot, Salesforce
- Custom actions after submission
8. Popup Builder (Pro Feature)
- Design custom popups with full Elementor capabilities
- Display triggers: On page load, on exit intent, on scroll, on click
- Advanced targeting: Show to specific users, devices, or after certain actions
- A/B testing support
9. WooCommerce Integration
- Custom product page layouts
- Shop page builder
- Cart and checkout customization
- Product widgets for displaying items anywhere
10. Performance Optimization
- Lazy loading for images and videos
- CSS and JavaScript minification
- Optimized DOM output
- Built-in caching mechanisms
💼 Use Cases and Examples
Use Case 1: Business Website
Scenario
A small consulting firm needs a professional website with services pages, team profiles, and contact forms.
Elementor Solution
- Homepage: Use a pre-built business template with hero section, services grid, testimonials
- Services Pages: Create custom layouts using icon boxes, pricing tables, and call-to-action widgets
- Team Page: Use team member widgets with photos, bios, and social links
- Contact: Build a custom form with the Form Builder widget integrated with email notifications
- Custom Header: Design a sticky navigation menu with company logo using Theme Builder
Benefits
- Built in 1-2 days instead of weeks
- No developer costs
- Easy to update content
- Professional appearance
Use Case 2: E-Commerce Store
Scenario
An online clothing retailer wants to create an attractive product showcase with custom layouts and promotional popups.
Elementor Solution
- Custom Product Pages: Design unique layouts showing product images, descriptions, size charts, and reviews
- Shop Page: Create grid or list views with filters and sorting options
- Promotional Popups: Design exit-intent popups offering discounts to prevent cart abandonment
- Landing Pages: Build campaign-specific pages for seasonal sales or new collections
- Cart Page: Customize checkout process with upsell widgets
Benefits
- Increased conversion rates with optimized layouts
- Better user experience
- Quick campaign deployment
- A/B testing capabilities for optimization
Use Case 3: Blog or Magazine
Scenario
A food blogger wants to create an engaging blog with recipe cards, photo galleries, and social sharing features.
Elementor Solution
- Custom Post Templates: Design recipe layouts with ingredient lists, step-by-step instructions, and print options
- Archive Pages: Create category pages with featured images and excerpt previews
- Photo Galleries: Use gallery widgets with lightbox effects
- Social Integration: Add social sharing buttons and Instagram feed widgets
- Newsletter Signup: Create inline and popup forms for email collection
Benefits
- Unique visual identity
- Enhanced reader engagement
- Mobile-optimized reading experience
- Easy content management
Use Case 4: Landing Page for Marketing Campaign
Scenario
A SaaS company needs a high-converting landing page for a new product launch with countdown timer and lead capture.
Elementor Solution
- Hero Section: Create compelling headline with animated elements and CTA button
- Features Section: Use icon boxes and tabs to showcase product benefits
- Social Proof: Add testimonial sliders and client logo showcases
- Countdown Timer: Create urgency with a countdown widget for launch date
- Lead Form: Design multi-step form integrated with CRM
- Exit Popup: Capture leaving visitors with a special offer
Benefits
- Quick deployment (same day possible)
- Optimized for conversions
- Easy A/B testing
- Detailed tracking and analytics integration
Use Case 5: Portfolio Website
Scenario
A freelance photographer needs a stunning portfolio to showcase work with full-screen galleries and client testimonials.
Elementor Solution
- Portfolio Grid: Use portfolio widgets with filtering by category
- Lightbox Galleries: Full-screen image viewing with navigation
- Project Pages: Custom templates for each project with image sliders, descriptions, and details
- About Page: Personal story with timeline widget and skill bars
- Testimonials: Rotating testimonials with star ratings
- Contact Form: Custom inquiry form with file upload for project briefs
Benefits
- Professional presentation of work
- Easy portfolio updates
- Mobile-friendly galleries
- Client-friendly experience
Use Case 6: Educational Platform
Scenario
An online course creator needs to build course landing pages, lesson layouts, and student dashboards.
Elementor Solution
- Course Landing Pages: Design sales pages with video, curriculum, instructor bio, and pricing
- Lesson Layouts: Create templates with video players, downloadable resources, and navigation
- Progress Tracking: Build custom dashboards showing course completion
- Quiz Integration: Design quiz layouts with form widgets
- Community Features: Add discussion boards and comment sections
Benefits
- Engaging learning experience
- Consistent branding across all lessons
- Easy content updates
- Integration with LMS plugins
⚙️ How Elementor Works
Installation Process
- Step 1: Log into your WordPress dashboard
- Step 2: Navigate to Plugins → Add New
- Step 3: Search for "Elementor"
- Step 4: Click "Install Now" and then "Activate"
- Step 5: Elementor will guide you through initial setup
Creating Your First Page
- Step 1: Create a new page (Pages → Add New)
- Step 2: Click "Edit with Elementor" button
- Step 3: Choose to start from scratch or use a template
- Step 4: Drag widgets from the left panel to the canvas
- Step 5: Customize each widget using the left sidebar settings
- Step 6: Click "Update" to save changes
Understanding the Interface
- Left Panel: Contains widgets, templates, and settings
- Canvas (Center): Your page preview with live editing
- Top Bar: Device preview modes, revision history, settings, publish button
- Navigator: Tree view of page structure (bottom left icon)
- Responsive Mode: Toggle between desktop, tablet, mobile views
Widget Customization Process
- Content Tab: Add and edit widget-specific content (text, images, links)
- Style Tab: Customize colors, typography, spacing, borders
- Advanced Tab: Set margins, padding, animations, custom CSS
- Responsive Options: Device-specific adjustments for each setting
Layout Structure
- Sections: Top-level containers (full-width or boxed)
- Columns: Subdivisions within sections (up to 10 columns)
- Widgets: Individual elements placed inside columns
- Inner Sections: Nested sections for complex layouts
Template System Workflow
- Using Templates: Click folder icon → Browse template library → Insert
- Saving Templates: Select section → Right-click → Save as Template
- Exporting Templates: Template Library → Saved Templates → Export
- Importing Templates: Template Library → Import Templates → Upload JSON file
Publishing Workflow
- Preview: Click eye icon to see page without editing interface
- Publish: Click green "Publish" button to make live
- Update: Save changes to existing published page
- Save Draft: Save without publishing (for unpublished pages)
- Revisions: Access revision history to restore previous versions
📊 Comparison Table
Elementor Free vs Pro
| Feature | Elementor Free | Elementor Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Widgets | 40+ widgets | 90+ widgets |
| Templates | Limited templates | 300+ templates |
| Theme Builder | ❌ Not Available | ✅ Full Access |
| Popup Builder | ❌ Not Available | ✅ Full Access |
| Form Builder | ❌ Not Available | ✅ With Integrations |
| WooCommerce Builder | ❌ Not Available | ✅ Full Access |
| Custom CSS | ❌ Not Available | ✅ Available |
| Global Widgets | ❌ Not Available | ✅ Available |
| Marketing Integrations | ❌ Not Available | ✅ 20+ Integrations |
| Support | Community Forum | Premium Support |
| Price | Free | Starting at $59/year |
Elementor vs Other Page Builders
| Feature | Elementor | Gutenberg | Divi Builder | Beaver Builder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Version | ✅ Yes | ✅ Built-in WP | ❌ No | ✅ Limited |
| Visual Editing | ✅ Front-end | ✅ Block Editor | ✅ Front/Back-end | ✅ Front-end |
| Widgets/Modules | 90+ | 100+ (with plugins) | 46+ | 30+ |
| Theme Builder | ✅ Yes (Pro) | ✅ Full Site Editing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (Pro) |
| Learning Curve | Easy to Medium | Easy | Medium | Easy to Medium |
| Performance | Good (optimized) | Excellent | Moderate | Good |
| Template Library | 300+ | Limited | 800+ layouts | Limited |
| WooCommerce | ✅ Full Builder (Pro) | ✅ Basic blocks | ✅ Full Builder | ✅ Basic (Pro) |
| Pricing | $59-$399/year | Free | $89-$277/year | $99-$399/year |
| Market Share | Very High | Growing | High | Medium |
Elementor Pro Pricing Plans (2024)
| Plan | Price | Websites | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $59/year | 1 Website | Single website owners |
| Advanced | $99/year | 3 Websites | Freelancers |
| Expert | $199/year | 25 Websites | Web design agencies |
| Agency | $399/year | 1000 Websites | Large agencies |
🔄 Workflow Flowchart
🧠 Elementor Mind Map
💡 Practical Examples
Example 1: Creating a Simple Landing Page
Objective:
Build a product launch landing page with hero section, features, testimonials, and contact form.
Step-by-Step Process:
- Install Elementor: WordPress Dashboard → Plugins → Add New → Search "Elementor" → Install & Activate
- Create New Page: Pages → Add New → Title: "Product Launch" → Click "Edit with Elementor"
- Choose Template: Click folder icon → Search "Landing Page" → Select modern template → Insert
- Customize Hero Section:
- Click on headline text → Edit to your product name
- Modify subheading with product description
- Update button text and link to registration page
- Change background image by clicking section → Style → Background → Upload image
- Add Features Section:
- Drag "Icon Box" widget three times for three features
- Customize each with relevant icons, titles, and descriptions
- Style with brand colors
- Insert Testimonials:
- Add "Testimonial Carousel" widget
- Add 3-5 customer testimonials with photos
- Configure autoplay and navigation arrows
- Create Contact Form:
- Drag "Form" widget (Pro) or use Contact Form 7
- Add fields: Name, Email, Phone, Message
- Configure email recipient
- Style button to match brand
- Optimize for Mobile:
- Switch to mobile view (bottom toolbar)
- Adjust font sizes for readability
- Ensure button sizes are touch-friendly
- Test spacing and padding
- Preview & Publish: Click eye icon to preview → Test all links → Click "Publish"
Time Required:
Approximately 2-3 hours for beginners, 30-60 minutes for experienced users.
Example 2: Building a Custom Header
Objective:
Create a custom header with logo, navigation menu, search bar, and social icons.
Step-by-Step Process:
- Access Theme Builder: Elementor → Theme Builder (requires Pro)
- Create New Header: Add New → Choose "Header" → Name it "Main Header"
- Set Layout Structure:
- Add section with one column
- Set section to "Full Width"
- Add inner section with three columns (25% | 50% | 25%)
- Add Logo (Left Column):
- Drag "Image" widget
- Upload logo image
- Link to homepage (Home URL)
- Set max-width to 150px
- Add Navigation Menu (Middle Column):
- Drag "Nav Menu" widget
- Select your WordPress menu
- Choose horizontal layout
- Style text color, hover effects
- Add Utilities (Right Column):
- Add "Search Form" widget
- Add "Social Icons" widget
- Configure links to social profiles
- Align to the right
- Make Header Sticky:
- Select main section
- Advanced → Motion Effects → Sticky: Top
- Configure effects on scroll (background opacity change)
- Configure Mobile Menu:
- Switch to mobile view
- Nav menu automatically shows hamburger icon
- Customize mobile menu styling
- Adjust logo size for mobile
- Set Display Conditions: Settings → Display Conditions → Entire Site
- Save & Publish: Click "Publish" to apply header site-wide
Result:
A professional, responsive header that appears on all pages with consistent branding and smooth sticky scrolling behavior.
Example 3: Creating an E-Commerce Product Page
Objective:
Design a custom WooCommerce product page with enhanced visuals and upsell section.
Requirements:
- WooCommerce plugin installed
- Elementor Pro for WooCommerce Builder
- Product already created in WooCommerce
Step-by-Step Process:
- Access WooCommerce Templates: Elementor → Theme Builder → Add New → Single Product
- Design Product Layout:
- Create two-column section (50% | 50%)
- Left Column: Add "Product Images" widget (with gallery)
- Right Column: Add "Product Title", "Product Rating", "Product Price", "Product Add to Cart" widgets
- Add Product Description:
- New section with tabs widget
- Tabs for: Description, Additional Information, Reviews
- Use "Product Data Tabs" widget (automatic WooCommerce integration)
- Create Upsell Section:
- Add new section with heading "You May Also Like"
- Add "Product Related" or "Product Upsell" widget
- Configure to show 4 products in grid
- Style cards with hover effects
- Add Trust Badges:
- Below Add to Cart button, add image widgets
- Upload trust badge images (secure payment, free shipping, money-back guarantee)
- Arrange in row
- Customize Product Gallery:
- Enable lightbox effect
- Add zoom on hover
- Configure thumbnail navigation
- Style Elements:
- Match brand colors for buttons
- Adjust typography for product title
- Configure spacing and padding
- Add Size Chart (if applicable):
- Create popup with size chart image/table
- Add button near size selector to trigger popup
- Configure Display Conditions: Apply to specific product categories or all products
- Test & Publish: Preview with actual product → Test add to cart functionality → Publish
Benefits:
- Enhanced visual appeal increases conversions
- Better product presentation
- Improved user experience
- Upsell opportunities increase average order value
❓ Questions & Answers
Answer: Yes, Elementor has a free version available with basic features including 40+ widgets, responsive editing, and template library access. However, advanced features like Theme Builder, Popup Builder, Form Builder, and WooCommerce Builder require Elementor Pro, which starts at $59/year for one website.
Answer: No, Elementor is specifically designed for users without coding knowledge. The drag-and-drop visual interface allows you to build professional websites entirely through point-and-click actions. However, advanced users can add custom CSS and JavaScript if desired through the Custom Code features in Pro version.
Answer: Elementor has made significant performance improvements and includes built-in optimization features like lazy loading, CSS minification, and optimized DOM output. While any page builder adds some overhead compared to hand-coded sites, Elementor's impact is minimal when properly configured. Following best practices (optimizing images, using caching plugins, choosing good hosting) ensures fast loading times.
Answer: Yes, Elementor works with virtually any WordPress theme. However, for best results, it's recommended to use themes optimized for Elementor (like Hello Elementor theme, which is lightweight and designed specifically for Elementor) or themes that declare Elementor compatibility. With Elementor Pro's Theme Builder, you can even override theme templates completely.
Answer: If you deactivate Elementor, your pages will display with basic styling and layout, but they may not look properly formatted. Elementor stores content in standard WordPress format, so your content isn't lost, but the design and layout created with Elementor won't display correctly. This is common with all page builders. To maintain your design, you should keep Elementor active or migrate to another solution before deactivating.
Answer: Absolutely! Elementor Pro includes a WooCommerce Builder that allows you to design custom product pages, shop pages, cart pages, and checkout pages. You can create unique layouts for different product categories, add custom fields, and enhance the shopping experience with advanced styling options. The WooCommerce Builder includes specific widgets for products, categories, breadcrumbs, and more.
Answer: Elementor and Gutenberg serve different purposes and have different approaches. Gutenberg is WordPress's native block editor, best for content creation and blogging. Elementor is a comprehensive page builder focused on design flexibility and visual customization. Elementor offers more design control, advanced styling options, and a visual front-end editor. Gutenberg is lighter and integrated into WordPress core. Many users use both: Gutenberg for blog posts and Elementor for landing pages and special layouts.
Answer: Yes, Elementor has excellent responsive design capabilities. You can preview and edit your site for desktop, tablet, and mobile views simultaneously. Each widget and setting can have device-specific values, allowing you to adjust fonts, spacing, visibility, and layout per device. You can also hide/show specific elements on different devices and set custom breakpoint values for precise control.
Answer: Elementor Pro integrates with numerous marketing and business tools including:
Email Marketing: MailChimp, ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign, GetResponse, Drip
CRM: HubSpot, Salesforce
Automation: Zapier, Webhooks
E-Commerce: WooCommerce, Stripe
Social: Facebook, Discord, Slack
These integrations work primarily through the Form Builder, allowing automatic data syncing when users submit forms.
Answer: To update Elementor safely, follow these steps:
1. Create a full website backup (using backup plugin or hosting backup)
2. Test update on staging site if available
3. Check Elementor changelog for breaking changes
4. Update any addons/extensions before updating Elementor
5. Go to Dashboard → Updates → Check Elementor → Click Update
6. After update, visit Elementor → Tools → Regenerate CSS & Data
7. Clear all caches (plugin, server, browser)
8. Test critical pages on your site
Regular updates are important for security and new features, but always backup first.
Answer: Yes, you can build and sell websites using Elementor to clients. For the free version, there are no restrictions. For Elementor Pro, you'll need to ensure each client website has its own valid license based on your plan (Essential for 1 site, Advanced for 3 sites, Expert for 25 sites, or Agency for 1000 sites). Many web design agencies use Elementor as their primary design tool. You retain full rights to the websites you create.
Answer: Elementor (plugin) is installed on your own WordPress hosting and gives you full control over your site. Elementor Cloud is a hosted service where Elementor provides the hosting infrastructure along with the website builder, similar to Wix or Squarespace but powered by WordPress and Elementor. Elementor Cloud includes hosting, security, backups, and automatic updates. Choose the plugin if you want control over hosting; choose Cloud for a fully managed solution.