Mega menus are a great way to enhance user experience, providing an organized, visually appealing way to navigate through complex websites. In this blog post, I'll guide you through the step-by-step process of creating a mega menu in WordPress using the Elementor page builder and ElementsKit Lite plugin. Let’s dive in!
Why Use a Mega Menu?
A mega menu is more than just a dropdown. It allows you to display multiple categories, images, and even widgets all in one expanded panel. This is ideal for eCommerce websites and other large sites that need to showcase a variety of products or services at a glance.
Step 1: Install Required Plugins
First, ensure that you have Elementor installed. You’ll also need to install ElementsKit Lite, which is essential for enabling the mega menu functionality.
- Go to your WordPress Dashboard.
- Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
- Search for ElementsKit Lite, then click Install and Activate.
Make sure Elementor is already active on your site, as it will be used in tandem with ElementsKit.
Step 2: Configure ElementsKit
After activating ElementsKit Lite:
- Navigate to ElementsKit in your dashboard.
- Click on Next through the setup steps until you reach the Finish Setup button.
- ElementsKit is now configured and ready for use!
Step 3: Create Your Menu
Next, let's create the menu that will hold your mega menu items.
- Go to Appearance > Menus.
- Either select an existing menu or create a new one. Add your primary menu items.
- For the mega menu, you’ll need to add sub-menu items. For example, add pages under a main menu item like “Services.”
- Once your sub-menu items are ready, save your menu.
Step 4: Create a Custom Header
The mega menu requires a custom header to work properly. Here's how to set one up:
- Go to ElementsKit > Header & Footer.
- Click on Add New and name your header (e.g., “Header Template”).
- Choose Entire Site as the display condition to ensure your header is visible site-wide.
- Click Activate and Save.
Step 5: Design Your Header Using Elementor
Now we’ll design your header using Elementor.
- Click Edit next to your header and launch the Elementor editor.
- From the Elementor interface, either design a custom header from scratch or choose a pre-built template from ElementsKit.
- Add your site logo and select the Nav Menu widget to display your menu. Make sure you select the correct menu (Primary) from the dropdown.
- Delete any unnecessary elements and customize the layout to your liking.
- Once you’re happy with the design, hit Publish.
Step 6: Enable Mega Menu
To activate the mega menu:
- Go back to Appearance > Menus.
- Click on the checkbox next to Enable Mega Menu for the parent item where you want the mega menu to appear (e.g., “Services”).
- You’ll now see an option to configure the Mega Menu settings.
Step 7: Design the Mega Menu
Now, let's customize the mega menu.
- Click on the Mega Menu button for your selected menu item.
- Choose whether you want to use a pre-designed template or create a custom design from scratch.
- Use Elementor to add widgets, columns, images, or text within the mega menu. The Nav Menu Item widget is particularly useful for creating links.
- Customize the colors, fonts, and layout to match your site's branding.
Step 8: Add Menu Items and Widgets
To enhance your mega menu, you can add additional elements:
- Click the + button to add a new column or section.
- Use Elementor's drag-and-drop widgets to add images, buttons, icons, or even videos within the mega menu.
This flexibility allows you to create highly functional and visually appealing menus that go beyond basic text links.
Step 9: Publish the Mega Menu
Once you’re satisfied with the design:
- Click Publish to save your mega menu.
- Go back to your website and refresh the page to see your new mega menu in action. Hover over the main menu item (e.g., “Services”), and your newly designed mega menu will appear.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You've successfully created a fully customized mega menu using Elementor and ElementsKit Lite. Mega menus are an excellent way to enhance your site’s navigation and improve user experience, especially for sites with lots of content.
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