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Build path · Beginner

Elementor Beginner

Build and launch a small-business website with WordPress and Elementor Free, step by step.

Build a real small-business website you can look after yourself, with WordPress and the free version of Elementor. You learn on a free practice site first, then build and launch a five-page site on your own domain, step by step.

What is included

  • 14 modules and about 20 hours of video, including every project build
  • Seven projects, from a coming-soon page to a starter WooCommerce shop
  • A five-question check at the end of every module and a worksheet for each one
  • 2 hours of one-to-one tutoring (2 x 1 hour or 4 x 30 minutes)
  • A final exam (40 questions, pass mark 75%) and a practical assessment of your live site
  • 12 months' access, including updates

Curriculum

  1. Module 1: Start here: your first page today · 9 lessons
    • 1.0 Course trailer and welcome
    • 1.1 What you will build: the finished Oakfield site and the seven projects
    • 1.2 How this course works: lessons, tasks, projects, checkpoints, tutoring and assessment
    • 1.3 Set up your free practice site with Local
    • 1.4 Your first Elementor page: heading, text, button, publish
    • 1.5 WordPress dashboard tour: pages, posts, media, appearance, plugins and settings
    • 1.6 Getting unstuck: undo, revisions, checkpoint files and asking a good question
    • 1.7 Module 1 recap and your study plan
    • Module 1 worksheet
    • Module 1 check (quiz)
  2. Module 2: How websites work · 8 lessons
    • 2.0 Module intro and version check
    • 2.1 Domains, DNS, hosting and SSL in plain English
    • 2.2 WordPress.org vs WordPress.com vs site builders
    • 2.3 Themes, plugins and page builders: where Elementor fits
    • 2.4 Elementor Free vs Pro: what this course uses and why
    • 2.5 Choosing a UK host: the checklist (PHP 8, SSL, staging, backups, support hours)
    • 2.6 Module 2 recap
    • Module 2 worksheet
    • Module 2 check (quiz)
  3. Module 3: Set up your live WordPress site · 11 lessons
    • 3.0 Module intro and version check
    • 3.1 Register a domain and connect hosting
    • 3.2 Install WordPress and log in safely
    • 3.3 Essential settings: title, tagline, permalinks, time zone, comments
    • 3.4 Users, roles, strong passwords and two-factor
    • 3.5 Install Hello Biz, Hello Plus and Elementor, and the onboarding wizard
    • 3.6 Coming-soon mode while you build
    • 3.7 Plugins: choosing safely, and the short list this course uses
    • 3.8 Email on your own domain: your options explained
    • 3.9 Module 3 recap
    • Module 3 worksheet
    • Module 3 check (quiz)
  4. Module 4: Meet the Elementor editor · 16 lessons
    • 4.0 Module intro and version check
    • 4.1 Editor tour: canvas, elements panel, structure panel, style tab, top bar
    • 4.2 Div Block, Flexbox and Grid: the three layout boxes
    • 4.3 Heading, Paragraph, Button, Image and SVG
    • 4.4 Style tab part 1: spacing and size
    • 4.5 Style tab part 2: typography, borders and shadows
    • 4.6 Backgrounds: colours, images, overlays and gradients
    • 4.7 Links that go somewhere: pages, sections, phone and email
    • 4.8 Responsive modes and breakpoints
    • 4.9 Working faster: structure panel, copy and paste styles, history and shortcuts
    • 4.10 If your screen looks different: classic widgets, sections and containers
    • 4.11 Project 1 brief: a coming-soon page for a local business
    • 4.12 Project 1 solution part 1: layout and content
    • 4.13 Project 1 solution part 2: styling, mobile and publishing
    • 4.14 Module 4 recap
    • Module 4 worksheet
    • Module 4 check (quiz)
  5. Module 5: Plan the site · 13 lessons
    • 5.0 Module intro and version check
    • 5.1 The five-page small-business site map
    • 5.2 What your customers search for: a quick look at competitors and keywords
    • 5.3 Design basics: hierarchy, alignment, spacing and contrast
    • 5.4 Writing the content first: headline, offer, proof, call to action
    • 5.5 Drafting with AI tools, and checking every word
    • 5.6 Images and icons you are allowed to use
    • 5.7 Preparing images: crop, resize, compress and name
    • 5.8 Brand basics: two fonts, five colours, one spacing scale
    • 5.9 A simple text logo and favicon with free tools
    • 5.10 Sketching the homepage on paper
    • 5.11 Module 5 recap
    • Module 5 worksheet
    • Module 5 check (quiz)
  6. Module 6: A tiny design system · 13 lessons
    • 6.0 Module intro and version check
    • 6.1 Variables part 1: colours
    • 6.2 Variables part 2: fonts and sizes
    • 6.3 Default styles for headings, text, links and buttons
    • 6.4 Classes: style once, reuse everywhere
    • 6.5 Hover and focus states
    • 6.6 Site settings: layout width, background, favicon and site identity
    • 6.7 Saving and reusing templates
    • 6.8 Project 2 brief: a cafe style kit
    • 6.9 Project 2 solution part 1: variables and default styles
    • 6.10 Project 2 solution part 2: classes and a style-guide page
    • 6.11 Module 6 recap
    • Module 6 worksheet
    • Module 6 check (quiz)
  7. Module 7: Build the homepage (Project 3) · 13 lessons
    • 7.0 Module intro and version check
    • 7.1 Project 3 brief: from paper sketch to build plan
    • 7.2 Hero section
    • 7.3 Services grid
    • 7.4 About strip
    • 7.5 Trust badges and reviews: genuine only
    • 7.6 Recent work: an image grid with before and after photos
    • 7.7 Click-to-call, WhatsApp and map links that work on phones
    • 7.8 FAQ with the accordion
    • 7.9 Call to action and contact block
    • 7.10 Adding video: YouTube and background video
    • 7.11 Project 3 checkpoint: tidy, name and review the homepage
    • Module 7 worksheet
    • Module 7 check (quiz)
  8. Module 8: Inner pages · 14 lessons
    • 8.0 Module intro and version check
    • 8.1 Building pages from your templates: titles, slugs and page layout
    • 8.2 About page
    • 8.3 Services page with repeatable service blocks
    • 8.4 Contact page: form, map and opening hours
    • 8.5 Making form emails arrive: SMTP
    • 8.6 Stopping form spam
    • 8.7 Privacy and cookie pages for UK sites
    • 8.8 Blog basics: posts, categories and featured images
    • 8.9 Project 4 brief: a salon contact page
    • 8.10 Project 4 solution part 1: layout, hours and map
    • 8.11 Project 4 solution part 2: booking enquiry form and email test
    • 8.12 Module 8 recap
    • Module 8 worksheet
    • Module 8 check (quiz)
  9. Module 9: Header, footer and menus without Pro (Project 5) · 9 lessons
    • 9.0 Module intro and version check
    • 9.1 Create the menu in WordPress
    • 9.2 Header: logo, menu and call button
    • 9.3 Sticky header and the header on mobile
    • 9.4 Footer: columns, contact details and legal links
    • 9.5 Alternative route: the classic Hello Elementor theme header and footer
    • 9.6 Testing the mobile menu with touch and keyboard
    • 9.7 Project 5 checkpoint: header, footer and menu review
    • Module 9 worksheet
    • Module 9 check (quiz)
  10. Module 10: Responsive, accessible, fast · 15 lessons
    • 10.0 Module intro and version check
    • 10.1 Tablet pass
    • 10.2 Mobile pass
    • 10.3 Testing on real phones and browsers
    • 10.4 Image sizes, WebP and Image Optimizer
    • 10.5 Fonts: fewer weights, faster pages
    • 10.6 Accessibility part 1: headings, alt text and link text
    • 10.7 Accessibility part 2: contrast, focus and keyboard
    • 10.8 Running Lighthouse and reading the score honestly
    • 10.9 Element caching and other speed settings explained
    • 10.10 Project 6 brief: the mobile fix-up challenge
    • 10.11 Project 6 solution part 1: finding the faults
    • 10.12 Project 6 solution part 2: fixing them
    • 10.13 Module 10 recap
    • Module 10 worksheet
    • Module 10 check (quiz)
  11. Module 11: Go live · 14 lessons
    • 11.0 Module intro and version check
    • 11.1 Pre-launch checklist
    • 11.2 If you built on Local: moving your site to live hosting
    • 11.3 SSL and forcing HTTPS
    • 11.4 Security basics: updates, logins and unused plugins
    • 11.5 SEO plugin setup: titles and descriptions
    • 11.6 Google Search Console
    • 11.7 Google Analytics
    • 11.8 Cookie consent banner
    • 11.9 Backups to cloud storage
    • 11.10 Launch: switch off coming-soon mode and submit your sitemap
    • 11.11 Get found locally: Google Business Profile and announcing your launch
    • 11.12 Module 11 recap
    • Module 11 worksheet
    • Module 11 check (quiz)
  12. Module 12: Maintain and grow · 11 lessons
    • 12.0 Module intro and version check
    • 12.1 Your monthly routine: updates, backups, uptime
    • 12.2 Updating safely: WordPress, theme, Elementor and plugins
    • 12.3 When something breaks: troubleshooting step by step
    • 12.4 Restoring from a backup
    • 12.5 Adding pages and posts without breaking the design
    • 12.6 Reading analytics and making one improvement a month
    • 12.7 Giving someone else access safely
    • 12.8 Your site manual: a one-page guide for whoever updates the site
    • 12.9 Module 12 recap
    • Module 12 worksheet
    • Module 12 check (quiz)
  13. Module 13: Assessment and next steps · 7 lessons
    • 13.0 Module intro
    • 13.1 The final exam: how it works and how to revise
    • 13.2 The practical assessment: the rubric, criterion by criterion
    • 13.3 A reference site marked against the rubric
    • 13.4 Recording and submitting your two-minute walkthrough
    • 13.5 Where next: the Intermediate course and beyond
    • Module 13 worksheet
    • Module 13 check (quiz)
  14. Final exam · 0 lessons
    • Final exam (quiz)
  15. Module 14: Bonus: a starter shop with WooCommerce (Project 7) · 13 lessons
    • 14.0 Module intro and version check
    • 14.1 Do you need a shop? What selling online in the UK involves
    • 14.2 Install WooCommerce and run the setup wizard
    • 14.3 Store settings: currency, tax basics and emails
    • 14.4 Project 7 brief and your first product
    • 14.5 Products two and three, and categories
    • 14.6 Delivery zones and rates for the UK
    • 14.7 Payments in test mode
    • 14.8 Styling the shop pages with Elementor Free
    • 14.9 Shop legal pages: terms, returns and delivery information
    • 14.10 Place a test order and check the emails
    • 14.11 Module 14 recap and course close
    • Module 14 worksheet
    • Module 14 check (quiz)