Introduction
Changing button text, updating CTAs, or fixing typos across dozens of Elementor pages manually is tedious. There’s a better way.
This guide shows you how to bulk edit text and buttons across your entire Elementor site in minutes—from button labels to heading text to entire paragraphs.
What you’ll learn:
- Bulk edit button text and links
- Update heading text site-wide
- Change CTA button colors
- Mass update pricing text
- Automate repetitive edits
When You Need Bulk Editing
Common scenarios:
Business Updates
- Change phone numbers across all contact buttons
- Update company name after rebranding
- Fix email addresses in CTAs
- Update business hours text
Marketing Campaigns
- Change all “Buy Now” to “Get 50% Off”
- Update seasonal CTAs (Summer Sale → Fall Sale)
- Swap product names across pages
- Update pricing across site
Design Changes
- Change button colors site-wide
- Update font sizes in headings
- Modify button styles (outline → solid)
- Update icon colors
Error Corrections
- Fix misspelled words everywhere
- Correct product names
- Update outdated legal text
- Fix broken terminology
Method 1: Better Search Replace (Recommended)
Best for text content, button labels, and simple replacements.
Setup
Step 1: Backup First
1. Install UpdraftPlus
2. Create full backup
3. Download to computer
Step 2: Install Better Search Replace
Plugins → Add New
Search: "Better Search Replace"
Install → Activate
Bulk Edit Button Text
Scenario: Change all “Learn More” buttons to “Get Started”
Process:
Tools → Better Search Replace
Search for: Learn More
Replace with: Get Started
Select tables:
☑ wp_posts
☑ wp_postmeta ← Essential for Elementor
☑ Run as dry run? ← Always test first!
Click "Run Search/Replace"
Review results:
Table: wp_postmeta
Rows affected: 34
Changes: 34 instances updated
Execute real replacement:
Uncheck "Run as dry run"
Click "Run Search/Replace"
Clear Elementor cache
Test pages
Bulk Edit Button URLs
Scenario: Update all product links after URL change
Process:
Search for: /old-product-page
Replace with: /new-product-page
Tables: wp_posts, wp_postmeta
Dry run: Yes → Review → Execute
Bulk Edit Text in Headings
Scenario: Change “2023” to “2024” in all headings
Process:
Search for: 2023
Replace with: 2024
Tables: wp_posts, wp_postmeta
Case sensitive: Checked (to avoid date formatting issues)
Dry run: Yes → Execute
Real-World Example
Before:
Button text across 47 pages:
- "Contact Us Today"
- Old phone: (555) 123-4567
- Old email: info@oldcompany.com
Bulk Edit Process:
Replacement 1:
Search: Contact Us Today
Replace: Get Your Free Quote
Result: 23 buttons updated
Replacement 2:
Search: (555) 123-4567
Replace: (555) 987-6543
Result: 34 instances updated
Replacement 3:
Search: info@oldcompany.com
Replace: hello@newcompany.com
Result: 18 instances updated
Total time: 5 minutes
Manual edit time saved: 2+ hours
Method 2: Find and Replace Custom Code
For developers comfortable with custom scripts.
Using WP-CLI
Bulk replace button text:
# Test first (dry run)
wp search-replace 'Old Button Text' 'New Button Text' wp_postmeta --dry-run
# Execute
wp search-replace 'Old Button Text' 'New Button Text' wp_postmeta
# Specific post type only (Elementor templates)
wp search-replace 'old text' 'new text' wp_postmeta --include-post-types=elementor_library
Update only specific widget type:
# Find posts using specific widget
wp db query "SELECT * FROM wp_postmeta WHERE meta_value LIKE '%button%' AND meta_value LIKE '%Old Text%'"
# Replace in those posts
wp search-replace 'Old Text' 'New Text' wp_postmeta
Custom PHP Script
bulk-edit-buttons.php:
<?php
// Load WordPress
require_once('wp-load.php');
// Configuration
$search = 'Old Button Text';
$replace = 'New Button Text';
// Get all Elementor posts
$posts = get_posts(array(
'post_type' => array('page', 'post', 'elementor_library'),
'posts_per_page' => -1,
'meta_key' => '_elementor_data'
));
$count = 0;
foreach ($posts as $post) {
$elementor_data = get_post_meta($post->ID, '_elementor_data', true);
if (strpos($elementor_data, $search) !== false) {
$updated_data = str_replace($search, $replace, $elementor_data);
update_post_meta($post->ID, '_elementor_data', $updated_data);
$count++;
echo "Updated: {$post->post_title}\n";
}
}
echo "\nTotal updates: $count";
?>
Run script:
php bulk-edit-buttons.php
Method 3: Elementor Template System
Create template widgets and update once to change everywhere.
Using Global Widgets (Elementor Pro)
Step 1: Convert Button to Global
1. Edit page with Elementor
2. Right-click button widget
3. Select "Save as Global"
4. Name: "Primary CTA Button"
5. Save
Step 2: Use Global Widget Everywhere
1. Add widget to other pages
2. Search "Primary CTA Button" in widget panel
3. Drag global widget to page
4. All instances linked
Step 3: Update Once, Changes Everywhere
1. Edit any page with global widget
2. Click global widget
3. Edit text/style/link
4. Click "Save"
5. Changes apply to all pages automatically
Using Theme Builder Templates
For repeating sections:
1. Elementor → Theme Builder → Header/Footer
2. Create header template with buttons
3. Assign to entire site
4. Edit once → changes everywhere
Method 4: Search Regex for Pattern Matching
Advanced pattern-based replacements.
Installation
Plugins → Add New → "Search Regex"
Install and activate
Tools → Search Regex
Find All Phone Numbers
Scenario: Update all phone numbers in any format
Pattern:
Search: \(?\d{3}\)?[-.\s]?\d{3}[-.\s]?\d{4}
Replace: (555) NEW-NUMBR
Source: Post content + Post meta
Matches:
✓ (555) 123-4567
✓ 555-123-4567
✓ 555.123.4567
✓ 5551234567
Find All Email Addresses
Pattern:
Search: [a-zA-Z0-9._%+-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9.-]+\.[a-zA-Z]{2,}
Replace: newemail@company.com
Source: Post meta (Elementor data)
Find Buttons with Specific Text Pattern
Pattern:
Search: (Download|Get|Grab) Your (Free|Complimentary) (.+?)
Replace: Download Your Free $3
Example matches:
"Download Your Free Guide" → Keeps "Guide"
"Get Your Complimentary eBook" → "Download Your Free eBook"
"Grab Your Free Checklist" → "Download Your Free Checklist"
Bulk Editing Specific Widget Types
Button Widgets
Common bulk edits:
1. Button Text
Search: Click Here
Replace: Learn More
2. Button URLs
Search: /old-landing-page
Replace: /new-landing-page
3. Button Classes (for styling)
Search: old-button-class
Replace: new-button-class
Heading Widgets
Bulk update headings:
Search: Old Heading Text
Replace: New Heading Text
Or with HTML:
Search: <h2>Old Text</h2>
Replace: <h2>New Text</h2>
Text Editor Widgets
Update paragraphs:
Search: Old paragraph text here with specific wording.
Replace: New updated paragraph with current information.
Icon Box Widgets
Update icon box titles:
Search: Old Service Name
Replace: New Service Name
Call to Action Widgets
Update CTA text and buttons:
Replacement 1 - Heading:
Search: Special Offer Ends Soon
Replace: Limited Time: 50% Off
Replacement 2 - Button:
Search: Claim Offer
Replace: Get Started Today
Bulk Style Changes (CSS Classes)
Adding Custom Classes
Method 1: Search Replace
Cannot add classes via search/replace
Must edit individually or use Method 2
Method 2: Custom Script
// Add class to all buttons with specific text
$posts = get_posts(array('post_type' => 'page', 'posts_per_page' => -1));
foreach ($posts as $post) {
$data = get_post_meta($post->ID, '_elementor_data', true);
// Parse JSON, find buttons, add class
$decoded = json_decode($data, true);
// Modify and save
// (Complex - requires JSON parsing logic)
}
Bulk Color Changes
Using Custom CSS (global effect):
/* Add to Elementor → Custom CSS */
/* Change all primary buttons */
.elementor-button-primary {
background-color: #new-color !important;
}
/* Change specific button class */
.my-custom-button {
background-color: #new-color !important;
color: #text-color !important;
}
Safety Best Practices
Before Bulk Editing
1. Complete Backup
☐ Database backup
☐ Files backup
☐ Download backup to computer
☐ Test backup restore on staging
2. Test on Staging First
☐ Copy site to staging
☐ Run bulk edit on staging
☐ Test all pages
☐ Verify Elementor editor works
☐ Check frontend display
3. Document Changes
Create spreadsheet:
| Search Term | Replace Term | Tables | Date | Result |
|-------------|--------------|---------|------|--------|
| Old Text | New Text | postmeta| 1/15 | 23 changes |
During Bulk Editing
4. Use Dry Run Mode
☑ ALWAYS enable dry run first
☑ Review exactly what will change
☑ Check row count is reasonable
☑ Verify tables selected correctly
5. Edit in Batches
Instead of 10 replacements at once:
1. Run replacement #1
2. Clear cache and test
3. If successful, run replacement #2
4. Repeat for each change
6. Monitor for Issues
☐ Check console for JavaScript errors
☐ Verify no serialization errors
☐ Confirm Elementor editor loads
☐ Test page saving
After Bulk Editing
7. Clear All Caches
☐ Elementor → Tools → Regenerate CSS & Data
☐ Plugin cache (WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, etc.)
☐ Server cache (if applicable)
☐ CDN cache (Cloudflare, etc.)
☐ Browser cache (Ctrl+Shift+R)
8. Test Thoroughly
☐ Edit 3-5 pages in Elementor (check editor works)
☐ View edited pages on frontend
☐ Click all affected buttons
☐ Check mobile responsive view
☐ Test form submissions
☐ Verify analytics tracking
9. Keep Backup for 30 Days
Store backup safely for one month
Allows rollback if issues discovered later
Troubleshooting
Changes Don’t Appear After Replacement
Problem: Ran bulk edit but pages still show old text
Solutions:
1. Clear Elementor CSS:
Elementor → Tools → Regenerate CSS & Data
Wait for completion message
2. Hard refresh browser:
Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows)
Cmd+Shift+R (Mac)
3. Check correct table was selected:
wp_postmeta MUST be included for Elementor
4. Verify search term was exact:
Copy text directly from Elementor editor
Watch for extra spaces or special characters
5. Re-save pages in Elementor:
Edit → Update (forces cache rebuild)
Elementor Editor Won’t Load
Problem: After bulk edit, Elementor shows loading screen forever
Cause: Corrupted serialized data
Fix:
1. Restore from backup immediately
2. If no backup:
- Access phpMyAdmin
- Find post with issue
- Check wp_postmeta for post
- Look for _elementor_data key
- Validate JSON syntax
3. Alternative: Restore individual post from Revision:
Edit post → Revisions → Restore pre-edit version
Some Instances Missed
Problem: Most changed but some still show old text
Reasons:
1. Different encoding:
- "Smart quotes" vs regular quotes
- Em dash (—) vs hyphen (-)
- Non-breaking spaces
2. Different case:
- "Learn More" vs "Learn more" vs "LEARN MORE"
3. Different widget types:
- Text in image caption
- Text in custom HTML
- Text in shortcode
Solutions:
Run additional searches:
- Uncheck "case sensitive"
- Copy text directly from page
- Search for partial matches
- Use regex pattern matching
Bulk Editing Checklist
Pre-Edit Checklist
☐ Full site backup created
☐ Backup downloaded to computer
☐ Tested on staging site (if available)
☐ Documented what will change
☐ Better Search Replace installed
☐ Clear list of search/replace pairs
Execution Checklist
☐ Search term verified (copied from site)
☐ Replace term verified
☐ Correct tables selected (wp_postmeta!)
☐ Dry run enabled
☐ Dry run results reviewed
☐ Dry run results reasonable
☐ Dry run unchecked
☐ Real replacement executed
☐ Results noted
Post-Edit Checklist
☐ Elementor CSS regenerated
☐ All caches cleared
☐ Tested in Elementor editor
☐ Tested on frontend
☐ Buttons clicked and verified
☐ Mobile view checked
☐ No console errors
☐ Backup retained for 30 days
Time-Saving Tips
1. Create Replacement Templates
Save common edits:
Document in spreadsheet:
- Seasonal updates (Summer → Fall)
- Year updates (2023 → 2024)
- Pricing updates ($99 → $149)
- Phone/email updates
2. Use Global Widgets When Possible
Instead of bulk editing:
- Create global widget once
- Use everywhere
- Edit once to update all
3. Batch Similar Edits
Run all button text updates together:
1. "Learn More" → "Get Started"
2. "Contact Us" → "Schedule Call"
3. "Buy Now" → "Order Today"
Then run URL updates:
1. /old-page → /new-page
2. /products → /shop
4. Schedule Regular Updates
Monthly: Check for outdated text
Quarterly: Audit button consistency
Annually: Update copyright years
After rebrand: Mass update brand elements
Advanced Techniques
Conditional Replacements
Replace only in specific post types:
# WP-CLI: Only update pages, not posts
wp search-replace 'old' 'new' --include-post-types=page
# Only Elementor templates
wp search-replace 'old' 'new' --include-post-types=elementor_library
Backup Specific Tables
Before bulk edit:
# Export just postmeta table
wp db export backup-postmeta.sql --tables=wp_postmeta
# If issues, restore just that table
wp db import backup-postmeta.sql
Multi-Site Bulk Edits
For WordPress Multisite:
# Loop through all sites
for SITE_ID in 1 2 3 4 5; do
wp search-replace 'old' 'new' --url=site-${SITE_ID}.example.com
done
Conclusion
Bulk editing text and buttons in Elementor saves massive amounts of time. Better Search Replace handles most cases safely, while advanced users can leverage WP-CLI and regex patterns.
Key Takeaways:
- ✅ Always backup before bulk editing
- ✅ Use dry run mode to test first
- ✅ Select wp_postmeta table (critical for Elementor)
- ✅ Clear all caches after editing
- ✅ Test thoroughly on staging first
- ✅ Keep backup for 30 days
Best Practices:
- Start with small test batch
- Document all changes made
- Use global widgets for repeated content
- Schedule regular audits
- Keep backups accessible
Recommended Tool: Better Search Replace (free) for 95% of bulk editing needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I undo a bulk edit? A: Only by restoring from backup. There’s no built-in undo, which is why backups are critical.
Q: Will bulk editing break Elementor templates? A: No, if you use proper tools (Better Search Replace, WP Migrate DB) that handle serialized data correctly.
Q: How do I bulk edit button colors? A: You can’t change colors via search/replace. Use global widgets or custom CSS instead.
Q: Can I bulk edit only specific pages? A: Not directly in Better Search Replace. Use WP-CLI with --include-post-types or edit individual pages.
Q: What if I need to edit 1000+ pages? A: Better Search Replace and WP-CLI both handle large databases well. Test on staging with full data first.
Saved hours with bulk editing? Share your time-saving tips in the comments!