Mastering Elementor: Create Custom Headers & Footers with Built-in Features

Preface

Are you ready to take your website’s design to the next level? One of the most effective ways to create a unique and professional look for your site is by customizing your headers and footers. With Elementor, you don’t need to be a coding expert to achieve this. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to use Elementor’s built-in features to create stunning, custom headers and footers that will make your website stand out.

Hint: Before you begin, ensure you have Elementor installed and activated on your WordPress website. If you haven’t already, check out our guide on how to install WordPress plugins to get started.

Why Customize Headers and Footers?

Customizing your website’s header and footer offers several benefits:

• Branding: Create a consistent and recognizable brand identity throughout your website.
• User Experience: Improve navigation and provide essential information to your visitors.
• SEO: Optimize your header and footer with relevant keywords and links to boost your search engine rankings. This is a basic SEO measure but important when starting out. Don’t forget to follow the advice in our guide on how to optimize your website for SEO when you are done.
• Professionalism: Showcase a polished and professional design that impresses your audience.

Getting Started with Elementor Header and Footer Builder

Elementor’s Theme Builder allows you to create custom headers and footers with ease. Here’s how to get started:

1. Access the Theme Builder:

   • In your WordPress dashboard, go to ‘Templates’ > ‘Theme Builder’.

2. Create a New Header or Footer:

   • Click on the ‘Header’ or ‘Footer’ tab.
   • Click the ‘+’ button to add a new header or footer.
   • Choose a pre-designed template from the Elementor library or start from scratch. If you want to start right away you may consider to use Astra Pro which has a lot of Header and Footer templates ready for you

Hint: Starting with a template can save you time and provide a solid foundation for your design. Feel free to explore the available options and customize them to fit your needs.

Designing Your Custom Header

A well-designed header is crucial for navigation and branding. Here’s how to create one using Elementor:

1. Adding Your Logo

• Drag and drop the ‘Image’ widget into your header section.
• Upload your logo image. Make sure it is big enough. Usually the logo takes up a considerable amount of space so you should make sure it has a good resolution.
• Adjust the size and alignment as needed.

2. Creating a Navigation Menu

• Use the ‘Nav Menu’ widget to add your website’s menu.
• Select the menu you want to display from the dropdown.
• Customize the menu style, including colors, fonts, and hover effects. You may want to consider one of the top 10 Google Fonts. It is never a bad idea to match the website fonts.

/* Example CSS for menu hover effect */
.elementor-nav-menu .elementor-item:hover {
    color: #007bff; /* Change to your preferred hover color */
}

3. Adding a Call-to-Action (CTA) Button

• Drag and drop the ‘Button’ widget into your header.
• Customize the button text, link, and style.
• Choose a contrasting color to make it stand out.

4. Incorporating Search Functionality

• Use the ‘Search Form’ widget to add a search bar to your header.
• Customize the appearance to match your design.

5. Making Your Header Sticky

• Go to the section settings and navigate to the ‘Advanced’ tab.
• Under ‘Motion Effects,’ set ‘Sticky’ to ‘Top.’
• Adjust the settings as needed to ensure your header stays visible as users scroll. If you are using Astra Pro as a theme, there’s a setting in the Theme Customizer that let’s you create a sticky header for the entire site or on specific pages.

Info: A sticky header remains fixed at the top of the screen as users scroll down the page, providing constant access to navigation and important elements, enhancing user experience and brand visibility.

Designing Your Custom Footer

The footer is an essential part of your website, providing users with additional information and navigation options. Here’s how to create a custom footer using Elementor:

1. Adding Copyright Information

• Use the ‘Text Editor’ widget to add your copyright notice.
• Customize the text and style it according to your brand.

<p>© <?php echo date("Y"); ?> Your Website Name. All rights reserved.</p>

2. Adding a Sitemap

• Use the ‘Nav Menu’ widget to create a sitemap menu.
• Select the menu you want to use as your sitemap.
• Style the menu to fit your footer design.

3. Incorporating Social Media Links

• Drag and drop the ‘Social Icons’ widget into your footer.
• Add links to your social media profiles.
• Customize the icons and colors to match your branding.

4. Adding Contact Information

• Use the ‘Text Editor’ or ‘Icon Box’ widget to add your contact details.
• Include your email address, phone number, and physical address.

5. Adding a Newsletter Signup Form

• Use the ‘Form’ widget to create a newsletter signup form.
• Integrate it with your email marketing service, such as Mailchimp or Constant Contact. There are of course also a lot of very helpful AI plugins available. Feel free to browse through our article about AI Plugins for wordpress

Info: Be sure to comply with GDPR if you are based in Europe. GDPR is a legal framework that sets guidelines for the collection and processing of personal information from individuals within the European Union (EU).

Advanced Customization Tips

To further enhance your custom headers and footers, consider these advanced tips:

• Conditional Display: Use Elementor’s display conditions to show different headers or footers on specific pages or to specific user roles.
• Dynamic Content: Incorporate dynamic content, such as post titles or author names, into your headers and footers.
• Custom CSS: Add custom CSS to fine-tune the appearance of your headers and footers. Access the stylesheet and learn where to find what you are looking for from one of our posts about wordpress style.css and also consider taking a look at the wordpress functions.php file.

/* Example Custom CSS */
.custom-header {
    background-color: #f8f8f8;
    padding: 20px;
}

• Animations: Add subtle animations to your headers and footers to make them more engaging. Be careful though to not over do it! Keep it subtle!

Conclusion

Creating custom headers and footers with Elementor’s built-in features is a straightforward way to elevate your website’s design and user experience. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create unique and professional headers and footers that align with your brand and improve your website’s overall effectiveness. So, start experimenting and see how Elementor can transform your website today!