How to Use Starter Templates in WordPress to Build What You Need

Starter templates are pre-designed layouts that help you quickly create a professional-looking WordPress website without needing advanced design or coding skills. These templates can be customized to suit your needs and are a great starting point for building websites like blogs, portfolios, online stores, or business websites.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use starter templates in WordPress to build your website.

Step 1: Choose a Theme with Starter Templates

To use starter templates, you first need a theme that supports them. Several WordPress themes come with built-in starter templates, such as:

• Astra
• Neve
• OceanWP
• Kadence

You can choose one of these themes, or check if your current theme offers starter templates.

Steps:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Appearance > Themes.
3. Click Add New and search for a theme like Astra or Neve.
4. Click Install and then Activate once the installation is complete.

Step 2: Install the Starter Templates Plugin

Most themes that support starter templates will require you to install a plugin to access them. For example, if you’re using the Astra theme, you can install the Starter Templates plugin.

Steps:

1. Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
2. In the search bar, type Starter Templates.
3. Look for the Starter Templates – Elementor, Gutenberg & Beaver Builder Templates plugin and click Install Now.
4. After installation, click Activate.

Step 3: Choose and Import a Starter Template

Once the plugin is activated, you can browse through various starter templates and import them into your website.

Steps:

1. After activating the Starter Templates plugin, go to Appearance > Starter Templates (or Starter Sites, depending on the theme).
2. Select the page builder you prefer to use. Many templates are compatible with popular page builders like Elementor, Gutenberg, Beaver Builder, or Brizy.
3. Browse through the available templates. You can filter by industry (e.g., business, portfolio, eCommerce, etc.) or purpose (e.g., blogs, restaurants, or online stores).
4. Preview a template by clicking on it to see how it looks and functions.
5. Once you find a template you like, click Import Complete Site (to import all pages) or Import Home Template (to import only a specific page).

Step 4: Customize the Starter Template

After importing the template, you can customize it to fit your branding, content, and style. The customization process will depend on the page builder and theme you’re using.

Using Elementor:

1. Edit with Elementor: To customize any page, go to Pages in your WordPress dashboard and click Edit with Elementor under the page you want to modify.
2. Drag and drop widgets: Use the drag-and-drop interface to change text, images, videos, or other content elements.
3. Adjust design settings: Modify fonts, colors, spacing, and other design aspects through the Elementor settings to match your brand identity.
4. Save Changes: After customizing, click Update to save your changes.

Using Gutenberg (WordPress Block Editor):

1. Navigate to Pages and click Edit for the page you want to customize.
2. Use the block editor to modify each section. You can add, remove, or move blocks as needed.
3. Customize block settings, such as changing colors, fonts, or background images.
4. Preview and Publish your changes.

Step 5: Adjust Global Settings

Many themes, like Astra, Neve, and Kadence, allow you to adjust global settings for typography, colors, and layout through the Customizer. This ensures that your entire website maintains a cohesive look and feel.

Steps:

1. Go to Appearance > Customize.
2. Here, you can adjust settings for:
   • Typography: Set global fonts for headings and body text.
   • Colors: Define a color scheme for your website.
   • Layout: Adjust the layout of your pages, such as header and footer settings, sidebar width, and container width.

Step 6: Add Your Content

Once the design is in place, it’s time to replace the placeholder content in the template with your own text, images, and media. Make sure to review each page to ensure all content is updated.

1. Go to Pages or Posts in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Click Edit on the page or post you want to update.
3. Replace placeholder text, images, and links with your content.
4. Save or Publish your changes.

Step 7: Preview and Launch Your Site

After customizing the design and adding your content, it’s important to preview your entire website to ensure everything looks and works as expected.

Steps:

1. Preview: Use the Preview button in WordPress to see how your site looks on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
2. Test functionality: Check buttons, forms, and navigation to ensure they work properly.
3. Once you’re satisfied, click Publish to make your site live.

Optional: Enhance Your Site with Plugins

If your starter template lacks certain features or functionality, you can extend it by installing additional plugins. For example:

• Yoast SEO or Rank Math for search engine optimization.
• WooCommerce to add eCommerce functionality.
• Contact Form 7 to add custom forms.

Conclusion

Using starter templates in WordPress is an excellent way to build a website quickly and efficiently without having to start from scratch. Whether you’re creating a blog, business site, or online store, starter templates provide a solid foundation that you can easily customize to match your specific needs. By following the steps above, you’ll have a fully functional and professional website in no time.