Effortless One-Page Website: WP Astra & Elementor Smooth Scrolling Guide

Preface

Creating a stunning and functional one-page website doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With the power of WordPress, combined with WP Astra and Elementor, you can build a sleek, user-friendly site with smooth scrolling in no time. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced web designer, this guide will walk you through each step, offering practical tips and insights to make the process seamless.

This tutorial not only simplifies the technical aspects but also enhances your understanding of how to leverage these tools for optimal results. Let’s dive in and transform your vision into a reality!

Why Choose WP Astra and Elementor?

Before we get started, let’s understand why WP Astra and Elementor are a great combination for building one-page websites:

• WP Astra: A lightweight, fast, and highly customizable WordPress theme. It offers numerous features and options to create a visually appealing website without sacrificing performance.
• Elementor: A powerful drag-and-drop page builder plugin that allows you to design any layout you can imagine, without writing a single line of code. Its intuitive interface and vast library of widgets make web design accessible to everyone.

Together, WP Astra and Elementor provide the flexibility and control you need to create a professional one-page website that stands out.

Info: Remember that this tutorial assumes you have a basic understanding of WordPress. If you’re new to WordPress, consider checking out our comprehensive guide on how to make a free website with WordPress!

Step 1: Installation and Setup

First, you need to install and set up both WP Astra and Elementor.

1. Install WP Astra:

   • Go to your WordPress dashboard.
   • Navigate to Appearance > Themes > Add New.
   • Search for “Astra”.
   • Click Install and then Activate.

<p>Astra Theme installed!</p>

2. Install Elementor:

   • Go to Plugins > Add New.
   • Search for “Elementor”.
   • Click Install Now and then Activate.

<p>Elementor Page Builder installed!</p>

Hint: For a more detailed guide, check out our article on how to install WordPress plugins.

Step 2: Creating Your One-Page Layout

With WP Astra and Elementor installed, let’s create your one-page layout.

1. Create a New Page:

   • Go to Pages > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
   • Give your page a title (e.g., “Home” or “Landing Page”).

2. Edit with Elementor:

   • Click the Edit with Elementor button.

<button class='elementor-button'>Edit with Elementor</button>

Step 3: Adding Sections

Your one-page website will consist of multiple sections, such as a header, about us, services, contact, and footer. Let’s add these sections using Elementor.

1. Add a New Section:

   • Click the + icon to add a new section.
   • Choose a structure for your section (e.g., a single column).

<div class='elementor-section'>
 <div class='elementor-container'>
 <div class='elementor-column'>
 </div>
 </div>
</div>

2. Add Content to the Section:

   • Drag and drop widgets from the Elementor panel into your section. For example, you can add:

     • Heading: For section titles.
     • Text Editor: For adding paragraphs of text.
     • Image: For adding images.
     • Button: For call-to-action buttons.

<h2 class='elementor-heading'>About Us</h2>
<p class='elementor-text-editor'>Learn more about our company...</p>
<img src='image.jpg' class='elementor-image'>
<a href='#' class='elementor-button'>Contact Us</a>

3. Repeat for Other Sections:

   • Repeat steps 1 and 2 to add all the necessary sections to your one-page website. Consider sections like:

     • Header: With your logo and navigation.
     • About Us: A brief introduction to your company or yourself.
     • Services: Highlighting the services you offer.
     • Contact: A contact form or contact information.
     • Footer: Copyright information and links.

Step 4: Implementing Smooth Scrolling

Now comes the crucial part: implementing smooth scrolling. This will allow users to navigate effortlessly between sections by clicking on navigation links.

1. Add Section IDs:

   • For each section, you need to add a unique ID. This ID will be used as the target for your navigation links.
   • Click on the section you want to add an ID to.
   • Go to the Advanced tab in the Elementor panel.
   • Enter a unique ID in the CSS ID field (e.g., about, services, contact).

<div class='elementor-section' id='about'>
 <!-- Content of the 'About' section -->
</div>

2. Create Navigation Links:

   • Add a Menu Anchor widget or use a standard Button or Text widget and link it to the corresponding section ID.
   • For menu items, you’ll typically add these in the header section of your page.
   • Use the following format for the link: #section-id (e.g., #about, #services, #contact).

<a href='#about'>About Us</a>

3. Enable Smooth Scrolling with CSS (Optional):

   • Astra usually provides Smooth Scrolling right out of the theme. However you can optionally add this CSS to your theme, or to the Elementor Custom CSS Section
   • You can add CSS to your theme using the Customize option in WordPress, or add custom CSS directly to your Elementor page
   • To add to Elementor navigate to advanced settings under the main section and click custom css
   • You can optionally add this feature yourself with CSS via a smooth scroll behavior property to HTML element.

 html {
 scroll-behavior: smooth;
}

Info: Make sure all CSS IDs are unique on the page for the Smooth Scrolling to work correctly.

Step 5: Fine-Tuning and Customization

With the basic structure and smooth scrolling in place, it’s time to fine-tune your one-page website.

1. Customize the Design:

   • Use Elementor’s styling options to customize the appearance of your sections and widgets.
   • Adjust colors, fonts, spacing, and other design elements to match your brand.
   • Check out different color combinations: Color Hunt

.elementor-heading {
 color: #333;
 font-size: 32px;
 font-weight: bold;
}

2. Optimize for Mobile:

   • Ensure your one-page website looks great on all devices by using Elementor’s responsive editing mode.
   • Adjust the layout, font sizes, and spacing for mobile devices to provide a seamless user experience. To make your page even greater on all devices, use relative sizes in percentages and EM instead of fixed pixel sizes.

3. Add Animations and Effects:

   • Enhance the user experience by adding subtle animations and effects to your sections and widgets.
   • Use Elementor’s motion effects, entrance animations, and parallax scrolling to create a visually engaging website.

Step 6: SEO Optimization

To ensure that your one-page website ranks well in search engine results, follow these SEO best practices.

1. Optimize Content:

   • Use relevant keywords in your headings, text, and image alt tags.
   • Write compelling and informative content that provides value to your visitors.
   • Keep your content concise and easy to read.

2. Optimize Meta Descriptions and Titles:

   • Use a plugin like Yoast SEO to optimize your meta descriptions and titles for each page.
   • Write unique and compelling meta descriptions that encourage users to click on your website in search results.

Hint: Remember to check out our quickstart guide on how to optimize your website for SEO.

Step 7: Test and Launch

Before launching your one-page website, thoroughly test it to ensure everything works as expected.

1. Test Smooth Scrolling:

   • Click on all navigation links to ensure they smoothly scroll to the correct sections.

2. Test Responsiveness:

   • View your website on different devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) to ensure it looks and functions correctly.

3. Check for Broken Links:

   • Use a link checker tool to identify and fix any broken links on your website.

Info: After testing, you can launch your website by making it live on your domain. If you are still looking for a good hosting provider, consider checking out Bluehost, Dreamhost or Hostgator.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully built a one-page website with smooth scrolling using WP Astra and Elementor. By following these steps, you’ve not only created a visually appealing website but also enhanced the user experience with seamless navigation. Feel free to explore more advanced features and customization options to make your website truly unique. Now you can showcase your business or portfolio in an engaging and user-friendly way.

Remember to regularly update your content and design to keep your website fresh and relevant. With WP Astra and Elementor, the possibilities are endless!