WordPress website-building platform Elementor has launched a virtual network where web creators and site owners can discover and connect with designers, WordPress experts, marketers and developers – many of whom are hurting for business in the COVID-19 era.

Elementor Experts, still in beta mode, originally was to go live in June. The Israel-based company accelerated the launch because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Our community of ‘Elementors’ is facing unprecedented challenges and uncertainty and we feel an obligation to stand beside them at this time,” said CEO Yoni Luksenberg.

“The tech and marketing sector is potentially looking at massive layoffs with warnings of a 20% unemployment rate ahead. With freelancers and small business owners particularly vulnerable, our platform can help our community adjust to the new reality and not just survive but actually thrive.”

Elementor Experts is available to all pro plan holders free of charge for the duration of the crisis, Luksenberg said.

“With the current upheaval and uncertainty, we see Elementor Experts as a crucial tool to redirect our subscribers to areas that are seeing unparalleled demand for web creators including e-commerce, education, conferencing and virtual communities. Experts unleashes the power of the Elementor community to help skilled web professionals pivot to markets where there is a real and urgent need.”

Since launching in 2016, Elementor’s open-source, drag-and-drop platform has been used to build more than 4.5 million websites in 152 markets across the globe.