diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..56673a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# elementor-custom-element
+Basic boilerplate plugin showing how you can add a custom widget to Elementor.
+
+Updated code from the tutorial at [David Taylor's Blog](https://dtbaker.net/blog/web-development/2016/10/creating-your-own-custom-elementor-widgets/).
+
+### Installation & Usage
+
+1. Ensure [Elementor](https://elementor.com) is installed on your WordPress installation.
+2. Upload the files to your wp-content/plugins folder and activate it in your WordPress Plugins area.
+3. Edit a page using the Elementor Page Builder and see your custom plugin.
+4. Modify the plugin to your needs.
+
+#### Extra information
+
+You can find information for the Elementor API here: [Elementor Developer API Github Docs](https://github.com/pojome/elementor/tree/master/docs)
+
diff --git a/elementor-custom-element.php b/elementor-custom-element.php
index a4591fe..bec6381 100644
--- a/elementor-custom-element.php
+++ b/elementor-custom-element.php
@@ -43,7 +43,9 @@ public function widgets_registered() {
 				$template_file = plugin_dir_path(__FILE__).'my-widget.php';
 			}
 			if ( $template_file && is_readable( $template_file ) ) {
+				// allow the widget to be located in the plugin folder
 				require_once $template_file;
+            	Elementor\Plugin::instance()->widgets_manager->register_widget_type( new Elementor\Widget_My_Custom_Elementor_Thing() );
 			}
 		}
 		if ( defined( 'ELEMENTOR_PATH' ) && class_exists( 'Elementor\Widget_Base' ) ) {
diff --git a/my-widget.php b/my-widget.php
index 1d2740b..3a38306 100644
--- a/my-widget.php
+++ b/my-widget.php
@@ -14,8 +14,9 @@ public function get_title() {
 	}
 
 	public function get_icon() {
-		// Icon name from the Elementor font file, as per http://dtbaker.net/web-development/creating-your-own-custom-elementor-widgets/
-		return 'post-list';
+		// Icon name from Font Awesome 4.7.0
+		// http://fontawesome.io/cheatsheet/
+		return 'fa fa-star';
 	}
 
 	protected function _register_controls() {
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ protected function _register_controls() {
 				'label' => esc_html__( 'Blog Posts', 'elementor' ),
 			]
 		);
-		
+
 
 		$this->add_control(
 			'some_text',
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ protected function _register_controls() {
 				]
 			]
 		);
-		
+
 		$this->end_controls_section();
 
 	}
@@ -60,9 +61,10 @@ protected function _register_controls() {
 	protected function render( $instance = [] ) {
 
 		// get our input from the widget settings.
+		$settings = $this->get_settings();
 
-		$custom_text = ! empty( $instance['some_text'] ) ? $instance['some_text'] : ' (no text was entered ) ';
-		$post_count = ! empty( $instance['posts_per_page'] ) ? (int)$instance['posts_per_page'] : 5;
+		$custom_text = ! empty( $settings['some_text'] ) ? $settings['some_text'] : ' (no text was entered ) ';
+		$post_count = ! empty( $settings['posts_per_page'] ) ? (int)$settings['posts_per_page'] : 5;
 
 		?>
 
@@ -89,5 +91,3 @@ protected function content_template() {}
 	public function render_plain_content( $instance = [] ) {}
 
 }
-
-