Elementor Pro shortcodes are a powerful feature that allows users to integrate Elementor-designed sections, templates, and widgets within various parts of a WordPress website outside the Elementor editor.
With these shortcodes, users can place complex, custom-designed Elementor elements on posts, pages, or even other Elementor templates, extending the flexibility of Elementor’s visual builder beyond the usual drag-and-drop interface.
Shortcodes are essentially snippets of code enclosed in square brackets.
Example: [elementor_shortcode]
Shortcodes act as placeholders for larger content or complex functions. By embedding these codes anywhere on a site, users can recreate intricate designs and functions without the need for advanced coding.
Elementor Pro makes shortcodes easy to use and particularly valuable for users seeking to display dynamic content in non-Elementor areas, such as sidebars, headers, footers, and even within other plugins.
In this article, we’ll explore how Elementor Pro shortcodes work, provide examples of how they can be used to enhance a site’s functionality, and offer some practical use cases that illustrate the versatility of this feature.
Examples of How WordPress Shortcodes Can Be Used
Elementor Pro shortcodes are generated automatically when you save a section, widget, or template, allowing you to use that shortcode to display the design in multiple locations across your website. To create a shortcode in Elementor Pro, users typically follow these steps:
- Design a Section or Template: Use Elementor’s editor to create the content you want to save as a reusable shortcode, such as a form, call-to-action section, or promotional banner.
- Save the Design as a Template: After designing the section, save it as a template within Elementor’s Template Library.
- Access the Shortcode: In Elementor’s Template Library, each saved template has a unique shortcode associated with it, which can be copied and pasted into other parts of the website.
With the shortcode in hand, you can now place that custom-designed section anywhere, even outside of Elementor’s native editing areas, providing you with maximum flexibility.
Benefits of Using Elementor Pro Shortcodes
Elementor Pro shortcodes bring several advantages to the table:
- Reusability: Elementor Pro shortcodes enable users to reuse the same design or functionality across multiple locations. For example, if you have a contact form or promotional banner that needs to appear on several pages, a single shortcode can handle it, making site updates more efficient.
- Flexibility: Shortcodes make it easy to place Elementor-designed content in non-Elementor areas, such as theme headers, footers, sidebars, or even in plugin areas.
- Time Efficiency: Updating the design within Elementor automatically updates it everywhere the shortcode is used, saving time and maintaining consistency.
- Brand Cohesion: With shortcodes, you can create a consistent visual experience by placing branded elements throughout the website.
Examples of How Elementor Pro Shortcodes Can Be Used
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Embedding a Contact Form on Multiple Pages If you have created a custom contact form in Elementor, you can use a shortcode to display it on multiple pages or posts without needing to recreate the form each time. This is especially useful for businesses with multiple service or product pages, where contact options are essential.
After designing the form in Elementor and saving it as a template, you simply copy the generated shortcode and paste it wherever you need the form to appear.
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Adding a Call-to-Action (CTA) Button to Blog Posts A strong call-to-action button is crucial for conversions, especially in blog posts where you might be encouraging readers to sign up for a newsletter or view a product. Instead of manually adding and styling buttons in each post, you can create a CTA button in Elementor, save it as a template, and use the shortcode within your blog posts. If you ever need to update the CTA’s design or text, you only need to make the changes once in Elementor.
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Embedding a Sales Banner Across Key Pages For seasonal promotions, Elementor Pro shortcodes are an ideal way to display promotional banners on multiple pages. Design a banner in Elementor, save it as a template, and use the shortcode on high-traffic pages like your homepage, shop page, and blog. This approach is perfect for time-sensitive offers because you can add or remove the banner quickly by modifying one template.
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Displaying Product Highlights in Sidebars With Elementor Pro shortcodes, you can display specific sections, like product highlights or testimonials, within sidebars or widget areas. This tactic is effective for e-commerce sites that want to showcase best-sellers, customer reviews, or featured products on every page without overwhelming the main content. Shortcodes let you insert these highlights in widget areas, keeping the design consistent while promoting products.
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Embedding Testimonials in Non-Elementor Sections Displaying testimonials in various areas across your website can build trust with potential clients or customers. If you’ve designed a testimonials section in Elementor, you can reuse it via a shortcode in any area that supports shortcodes, such as the sidebar or footer. By managing testimonials as a single Elementor template, you ensure consistency while saving time on updates.
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Creating Consistent Page Headers and Footers Across Site Pages If your theme supports shortcodes in headers and footers, Elementor Pro shortcodes allow you to create custom-designed headers and footers and place them across your entire site. This is particularly useful if you want a unique header style that isn’t available through your theme’s native options.
By creating a global header or footer template in Elementor, you can apply a professional and consistent look throughout, ensuring brand cohesion without depending on theme-specific header and footer designs.
Practical Tips for Using Elementor Pro Shortcodes Effectively
Organise Your Templates in Elementor’s Library: As you create multiple templates for different elements, naming and organising them in Elementor’s Template Library can save you time when locating shortcodes later.
Test Across Devices: If you’re using shortcodes to display Elementor designs in various places, check how each shortcode-based element looks on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices to ensure consistency.
Combine Shortcodes with Theme-Specific Options: While Elementor Pro shortcodes are flexible, combining them with theme options (like widget areas) helps to maintain a seamless look without overcomplicating the layout.
Keep the Design Consistent: Use similar fonts, colors, and styles in all Elementor templates used with shortcodes. This ensures that each shortcode-based element feels like a natural part of your website.
Consider Load Time and Performance: Shortcodes do add an extra layer of complexity, so it’s essential to monitor the site’s performance, especially if you’re using several Elementor templates via shortcodes on a single page.
How to Create Custom Elementor Shortcodes
Creating custom Elementor shortcodes can take your site’s customisation to the next level. If you’re comfortable with coding, you can create custom functions in your theme’s functions.php file to create unique shortcodes that leverage Elementor templates.
For example:
function custom_elementor_template($atts) {
$template_id = $atts['id'];
return Elementor\Plugin::instance()->frontend->get_builder_content_for_display($template_id);
}
add_shortcode('elementor_template', 'custom_elementor_template');
This custom code snippet allows you to use [elementor_template id="your_template_id"] to display any Elementor template with a specific ID. Be sure to replace "your_template_id" with the actual ID of the template you wish to display.
Limitations and Considerations with Elementor Pro Shortcodes
While Elementor Pro shortcodes offer incredible flexibility, there are some limitations to keep in mind:
- Performance Impact: Embedding too many shortcodes on a single page can slow down load times. Keep an eye on your site’s performance, and only use shortcodes where they provide significant value.
- Compatibility with All Themes: Some themes may not fully support shortcodes in specific areas like headers or footers, so test your theme compatibility to avoid layout issues.
- Dependent on Elementor Pro License: Since this feature is part of Elementor Pro, it requires an active license to maintain. If the Pro version is deactivated, shortcode elements will not display as intended.
Conclusion
Elementor Pro shortcodes are a versatile and powerful tool for users looking to extend their Elementor designs beyond the standard page editor.
By allowing the placement of Elementor-created content in virtually any part of a WordPress site, shortcodes empower users to deliver a consistent and professional experience across all areas of their website.
Whether you’re embedding contact forms, CTA buttons, promotional banners, or testimonials, Elementor Pro shortcodes simplify the process and provide remarkable flexibility.
These shortcodes help maintain visual consistency, simplify updates, and save time, key factors for building and managing a cohesive, engaging, and user-friendly website.
With proper planning and strategic use, Elementor Pro shortcodes can elevate your website design and functionality, creating a seamless experience for your visitors and showcasing your brand at its best.
