Unlock the Power of Dynamic Content in Elementor with WP Astra

Preface

Are you ready to take your Elementor website to the next level? Adding dynamic content can transform your static pages into engaging, personalized experiences for your visitors. By integrating dynamic content, you can display information that automatically updates based on user actions, custom fields, or other data sources. In this guide, we’ll explore how to seamlessly add dynamic content to your Elementor site using WP Astra, one of the most popular and versatile WordPress themes available.

This comprehensive tutorial is designed for both beginners and seasoned WordPress users. Whether you’re looking to enhance your website’s functionality or streamline your content management process, you’ll find valuable insights and step-by-step instructions to get you started.

Why Use Dynamic Content?

Dynamic content is a game-changer for website personalization and efficiency. Here’s why you should consider using it:

• Personalization: Display content tailored to individual users, enhancing their experience and increasing engagement.
• Efficiency: Automate content updates to reflect real-time information, saving you time and effort.
• Relevance: Keep your website fresh and relevant by automatically updating content based on predefined criteria.
• SEO Benefits: Dynamic content can improve your website’s SEO by providing fresh, relevant content that search engines love; checkout these SEO tips: How to Optimize Your Website for SEO: A Quickstart Guide for WordPress.

Prerequisites

Before we dive in, make sure you have the following:

• WordPress Installation: A self-hosted WordPress website.
• Elementor: The Elementor page builder plugin installed and activated. You can get it here.
• WP Astra Theme: The WP Astra theme installed and activated. Check it out here.
• Astra Pro Addon (Optional): For advanced dynamic content features, consider using the Astra Pro addon. This addon extends the functionality of the Astra theme and integrates seamlessly with Elementor.
• Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) Plugin: While not strictly required for all dynamic content implementations, the Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin is highly recommended for managing custom data. You can find it in the WordPress plugin repository.

Info: Make sure that you use the most recent version of elementor for your projects. We also have a great series of elements articles that help you to start with Elementor. Please check out this one: Getting Started with Elementor: The Complete Guide

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Dynamic Content

Step 1: Install and Activate Required Plugins

First, let’s ensure that all necessary plugins are installed and activated.

1. Install Elementor: If you haven’t already, install and activate the Elementor plugin from the WordPress plugin repository. Go to Plugins > Add New, search for “Elementor,” and click Install Now, then Activate.
2. Install WP Astra: Similarly, install and activate the WP Astra theme. Go to Appearance > Themes > Add New, search for “Astra,” and click Install, then Activate.
3. Install Astra Pro (Optional): If you have Astra Pro, upload and activate the plugin. Go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin, select the Astra Pro zip file, and click Install Now, then Activate.
4. Install Advanced Custom Fields (ACF): Go to Plugins > Add New, search for “Advanced Custom Fields,” and click Install Now, then Activate.

Hint: You can also use Astra Starter Templates to get a leg up. Please check out this tutorial: How to install Astra Starter Templates

Step 2: Create Custom Fields with ACF

ACF allows you to add custom fields to your WordPress posts and pages. These fields can then be dynamically displayed using Elementor and Astra.

1. Navigate to ACF: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Custom Fields > Add New.
2. Create a Field Group: Give your field group a descriptive name (e.g., “Product Details”).
3. Add Fields: Click Add Field to create your first custom field. Configure the field settings:
   • Field Label: Enter a human-readable label (e.g., “Price”).
   • Field Name: This is the unique identifier for the field (e.g., “price”). ACF will automatically generate this based on the Field Label.
   • Field Type: Choose the appropriate field type (e.g., “Number” for price, “Text” for description).
4. Configure Location: Under the Location section, specify where these custom fields should appear (e.g., on all posts or a specific page template).
5. Publish the Field Group: Click Publish to save your field group.

// Example: Adding a custom field to display author information
if( function_exists('acf_add_local_field_group') ):

acf_add_local_field_group(array(
    'key' => 'group_60a7b3f96c392',
    'title' => 'Author Information',
    'fields' => array(
        array(
            'key' => 'field_60a7b40c8e56a',
            'label' => 'Author Name',
            'name' => 'author_name',
            'type' => 'text',
            'instructions' => 'Enter the name of the author.',
        ),
        array(
            'key' => 'field_60a7b4268e56b',
            'label' => 'Author Bio',
            'name' => 'author_bio',
            'type' => 'textarea',
            'instructions' => 'Enter a brief biography of the author.',
        ),
    ),
    'location' => array(
        array(
            array(
                'param' => 'post_type',
                'operator' => '==',
                'value' => 'post',
            ),
        ),
    ),
    'menu_order' => 0,
    'position' => 'normal',
    'style' => 'default',
    'label_placement' => 'top',
    'instruction_placement' => 'label',
    'hide_on_screen' => '',
    'active' => true,
    'description' => '',
));

endif;

Step 3: Populate Custom Fields

Now that you’ve created your custom fields, it’s time to populate them with data.

1. Edit a Post or Page: Open a post or page where you’ve configured the ACF field group to appear.
2. Enter Data: Scroll down to the custom fields section and enter the relevant data for each field.
3. Update: Click Update to save the data.

Info: Did you know that you can add a favicon to your blog? Here are 2 Easy Ways on How to Add a Favicon to Your WordPress Website

Step 4: Add Dynamic Content to Elementor

With your custom fields populated, you can now add dynamic content to your Elementor pages.

1. Open Elementor: Edit the page or post with Elementor.
2. Add a Widget: Drag and drop a suitable widget onto your page (e.g., Text Editor, Heading, Image).
3. Select Dynamic Tag: Click the dynamic tag icon (a stack of cylinders) next to the field you want to populate with dynamic content.
4. Choose ACF Field: Under the ACF section, select the custom field you want to display.
5. Configure Settings: Customize the display settings as needed. For example, you can add a prefix or suffix to the field value.
6. Preview and Publish: Preview your changes and click Publish to make them live.

Product Name: [Product Name]
Price: $[Price]
Description: [Description]

Hint: It is imporant that you chose the right fonts for you website. How to Choose the Right Fonts for Your Website

Step 5: Using Astra Pro for Dynamic Content

Astra Pro enhances dynamic content capabilities with advanced features and integrations.

1. Enable Dynamic Content Modules: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Astra Options and ensure the Custom Layouts module is enabled.
2. Create a Custom Layout: Go to Appearance > Astra > Custom Layouts > Add New.
3. Design with Elementor: Use Elementor to design your custom layout. You can insert dynamic content using the same method as described above.
4. Set Display Rules: Configure the display rules to specify where your custom layout should appear (e.g., before or after specific posts, on specific pages).
5. Publish: Publish your custom layout.

Example: Displaying Author Information Dynamically

Let’s walk through a practical example of displaying author information dynamically using ACF and Elementor.

1. Create ACF Fields: Create a field group named “Author Information” with the following fields:
   • Author Name (Text)
   • Author Bio (Textarea)
   • Author Image (Image)
2. Populate Fields: Edit a post and fill in the author information fields.
3. Design with Elementor:
   • Add an Image widget and use the dynamic tag to select the “Author Image” field.
   • Add a Heading widget and use the dynamic tag to select the “Author Name” field.
   • Add a Text Editor widget and use the dynamic tag to select the “Author Bio” field.
4. Style: Style the widgets to match your website’s design.

    
    
[Author Name]
    
[Author Bio]

Advanced Tips and Tricks

• Conditional Logic: Use ACF’s conditional logic feature to display different content based on specific criteria. For example, you can show a different banner ad based on the user’s location.
• Custom Post Types: Combine ACF with custom post types to create highly customized content structures. This is particularly useful for creating portfolios, product catalogs, and other specialized content.
• Integrate with Other Plugins: Explore integrations with other plugins to further enhance your dynamic content capabilities. For example, you can use ACF with WooCommerce to create dynamic product pages.

Info: WordPress delivers the possibility to enhance it with plugins. Here is a great list of valuable AI plugins: Top 10 Valuable AI Plugins for WordPress to Boost Your Blog

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Dynamic Content Not Displaying: Ensure that the ACF field group is correctly configured and that the custom fields are populated with data.
• Incorrect Field Values: Double-check the field names and settings in ACF and Elementor.
• Compatibility Issues: Make sure that all plugins and themes are up to date and compatible with each other.

Info: What is style.css? Here is the definition: WordPress Style CSS: What It Is and Where to Find It

Conclusion

Adding dynamic content to your Elementor site using WP Astra is a powerful way to create personalized and engaging experiences for your visitors. By leveraging the capabilities of ACF and Astra Pro, you can streamline your content management process and keep your website fresh and relevant. Start experimenting with dynamic content today and unlock the full potential of your WordPress website!

Remember that understanding and utilizing dynamic content effectively not only enhances user experience but also contributes significantly to better SEO and overall website performance. Embrace these techniques to stay ahead in the ever-evolving digital landscape.