Designing a website doesn’t have to be complicated, especially when you’re using WordPress and a powerful page builder like Elementor. Whether you’re a small business owner, blogger, or just starting your digital journey, Elementor makes it super easy to create stunning, professional-looking pages—without writing a single line of code.
In this beginner’s guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about using the Elementor Editor for WordPress, from installation to publishing your first page. Ready to make website building fun and effortless? Let’s dive in!
Also Read: How To Apply E-E-A-T To Your Site & Boost On-Page SEO
What is Elementor?
Elementor is a drag-and-drop page builder plugin for WordPress that lets you create custom layouts and designs visually. Unlike the traditional WordPress editor, which can feel limiting, Elementor allows you to see exactly how your page will look as you build it—this is called a “live editor.”
It comes with a free version and a Pro version that unlocks advanced features like custom headers/footers, motion effects, and more widgets.
Why Choose Elementor for WordPress?
Here are a few solid reasons why beginners love Elementor:
Drag-and-drop interface – No coding needed.
Real-time preview – See changes instantly.
Pre-built templates – Start fast with beautiful designs.
Responsive editing – Optimize for mobile, tablet, and desktop.
Integrations – Compatible with most WordPress themes and plugins.
Whether you’re building a landing page, blog, eCommerce store, or portfolio site, Elementor gives you full design freedom.
How to Install Elementor
Before you can start using Elementor, you need to install it on your WordPress website.
Steps to Install Elementor:
Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
Go to Plugins > Add New.
In the search bar, type Elementor Page Builder.
Click Install Now, then click Activate.
That’s it! Elementor is now ready to use.
Understanding the Elementor Interface
Once installed, you can launch the Elementor editor by creating or editing a page and clicking the “Edit with Elementor” button.
Here’s a breakdown of the interface:
Widgets Panel (Left) – Where all the elements like text, images, buttons, etc., are located.
Preview Canvas (Right) – Where you drag and drop widgets to build your page.
Navigator – A tree-view of your layout to help organize complex pages.
Responsive Mode – Allows editing for mobile, tablet, and desktop views.
Settings Gear Icon – Page settings like title, status, and layout.
Working with Elementor Widgets
Widgets are the building blocks of Elementor. Even in the free version, you get access to many powerful widgets like:
Heading
Image
Text Editor
Video
Button
Spacer/Divider
Google Maps
Icon Box
Image Carousel
To use a widget, just drag it from the left panel into the preview area and customize its content, style, and advanced settings.
Using Templates in Elementor
Don’t want to start from scratch? Elementor offers pre-designed templates and blocks you can use to build your site faster.
How to Use Templates:
Click the Folder icon in the editor.
Browse through Pages or Blocks.
Click Insert to add one to your page.
Customize the content to fit your needs.
This is especially useful for beginners who want a beautiful design with minimal effort.
Styling Your Page: Customizing Fonts, Colors, and Spacing
Elementor gives you full control over the look and feel of your page.
Customize in 3 Tabs:
Content – Edit the actual text, images, links, etc.
Style – Adjust fonts, colors, background, and borders.
Advanced – Add padding, margin, motion effects, and custom CSS.
You can maintain consistency by setting global styles for fonts and colors from Elementor’s Site Settings.
Creating Responsive Designs
A huge part of building a good website is making sure it looks great on all devices.
Elementor’s Responsive Mode helps you do just that. You can switch between desktop, tablet, and mobile views and tweak the design specifically for each device.
For example:
Adjust text size for mobile.
Rearrange column stacking.
Hide or show elements on specific devices.
Publishing Your Page
Once you’re happy with your design, it’s time to go live!
Click the green “Publish” button at the bottom.
Want to make changes later? Just open the page and click “Edit with Elementor.”
You can also save your design as a template to reuse on other pages.
Elementor Free vs Pro – What’s the Difference?
The free version is great for basic pages, but if you want more advanced functionality, Elementor Pro is worth considering.
Elementor Pro Features Include:
Theme Builder – Customize header, footer, archive pages.
WooCommerce Builder – Build custom product pages.
Popup Builder – Design custom popups for lead generation.
Motion Effects – Add animations and scrolling effects.
More Widgets – Forms, sliders, posts, testimonials, etc.
Tips for Using Elementor Effectively
Use Sections and Columns wisely to structure your content.
Optimize images before uploading to keep pages fast.
Avoid too many animations to keep UX clean and fast.
Use global settings to maintain consistency.
Preview your site on all devices before publishing.
Common Issues and How to Fix Them
Sometimes Elementor might not load, or elements may not display properly. Here are quick fixes:
Clear cache from your browser or caching plugin.
Switch to a compatible theme like Hello Elementor.
Update WordPress, Elementor, and plugins regularly.
Disable conflicting plugins to troubleshoot issues.
Conclusion
Elementor makes website building fun, flexible, and fast—even if you’ve never coded a day in your life. With its intuitive interface and powerful features, you can build everything from simple blogs to complex business websites.
Whether you stick with the free version or upgrade to Pro, Elementor gives you the tools to bring your web vision to life.
FAQs About Elementor Editor
1. Is Elementor free to use?
Yes, Elementor offers a free version with all the basic features needed for building great pages.
2. Can I use Elementor with any WordPress theme?
Elementor works with most WordPress themes, but it’s best with lightweight themes like “Hello Elementor.”
3. Does Elementor slow down websites?
Not if you optimize images, avoid unnecessary widgets, and use caching plugins.
4. Is Elementor good for eCommerce?
Yes, especially with Elementor Pro, which includes WooCommerce widgets and templates.
5. Do I need coding skills to use Elementor?
Not at all! Elementor is completely drag-and-drop, making it ideal for beginners.