Have you ever poured your heart and soul into creating a stunning Webflow website, only to see it buried on page five of Google? It can happen even to the most talented designers who overlook SEO.
The good news is that Webflow actually makes SEO easier than other content management platforms. As long as you learn the ropes of Webflow SEO, you should be able to make your website perform better in search results.
This guide will walk you through all things Webflow and SEO. We’re sharing the valuable knowledge we’ve acquired as a Webflow development agency, having delivered over 200 SaaS web designs that stand out and convert.
So, get ready to:
- Read an SEO-focused Webflow review and discover its built-in tools
- Learn how to avoid common optimization pitfalls
Is Webflow Good for SEO? Is Webflow SEO Friendly?
Yes, Webflow is great for SEO because it has many built-in features that simplify optimizing your site.
For instance, you can edit all your meta titles, descriptions, and alt text for images with relevant keywords. This way, you help search engines index your site better and provide more relevant search results to users.
You can also use custom URLs, create 301 redirects, and generate sitemaps. All these improve user experience and make it easy for search engines to index and rank your site correctly.
Webflow supports clean code and fast loading speeds, which are important for SEO. Plus, it can easily create mobile-friendly designs that Google loves.
Overall, this platform provides all the tools you need to improve your site's SEO without needing to be a tech expert.
How is Webflow Different From Other CMSs?
Webflow’s CMS allows you to create, manage, and update your content flexibly and easily. Unlike other CMS platforms where you’re stuck with predefined content types, Webflow lets you generate custom content structures.
Want a portfolio with unique fields? Or a blog with custom categories? You got it. You define the fields, and Webflow adapts to your needs. Whether you’re running a small blog, a large e-commerce site, or developing a complex project like Med Tech web design, this platform is designed to grow with you. Here’s what else makes it stand out:
- Visual Content Management: You can edit content directly on the live site using an intuitive interface.
- Dynamic Content: Adding product listings, event calendars, or member directories is as easy as filling out a form.
- Design Freedom: You can style your content’s layout and appearance without being forced to use preset templates.
- Collections: Webflow uses fully customizable “Collections.” These are like databases for storing your content types (blog posts, projects, products, etc.).
- Integrations: The CMS integrates smoothly with marketing tools, CRMs, and analytics platforms so that you can manage everything in one place.
- SEO-Friendly: Built with SEO in mind, the Webflow CMS gives you full control over SEO settings (meta titles, descriptions, and slugs for each page and post) without needing extra plugins.
- Collaboration: Multiple editors can work on the same project in the Editor mode. Since this is separate from the Designer mode, there’s no risk of messing up the design.
Technical SEO Considerations for Webflow Users
When it comes to SEO, Webflow automatically handles some factors, including generating clean, semantic code, providing SSL certificates for secure connections, and offering built-in fast hosting for improved site speed.
While these provide a solid foundation for SEO, there are some other elements you can control to optimize your website further:
- Site Structure: Organize your site with a logical hierarchy, making it easy for search engines to crawl and understand your content.
- Site Speed: Fast-loading sites rank better. Optimize your images and take advantage of Webflow’s built-in fast hosting.
- Mobile-Friendliness: Keep your design fully responsive using Flexbox and Grid layouts and responsive breakpoints for desktop, tablet, and mobile landscape & portrait.
- Structured Data: Use schema markup to help search engines understand your content better and push it higher in search results.
- Canonical Tags: Use canonical tags to prevent duplicate content issues and improve your site's authority.
Design Tip: Use Webflow’s powerful design tools to create a visually appealing, easy-to-navigate site. Good design improves user experience, which can significantly impact your SEO.
Not sure how to tweak your website design to make it SEO-friendly and high-converting?
At Arch Web Design, we’ve helped 200+ SaaS companies build lightning-fast Webflow websites. Take the first step toward transforming your site into a conversion powerhouse by partnering with us as your Weblow SEO agency.
Webflow SEO Checklist: How to Optimize Webflow for SEO
A beautifully designed website is no use if it’s buried within the search results. To make it rank higher and drive more traffic, follow this checklist that covers all the essentials for Webflow optimization:
- Meta Tags: Add unique meta titles and descriptions with relevant keywords for each page.
- Alt Text: Provide descriptive alt text for all images.
- Custom URLs: Use clean, keyword-rich custom URLs.
- 301 Redirects: Set up 301 redirects for any changed or removed pages.
- Sitemaps: Automatically generate and submit sitemaps to search engines.
- Optimize Images: Compress images to improve site speed.
- Mobile-Friendly Design: Use Webflow’s responsive settings to ensure your site looks great on all devices. Check and adjust layouts for different screen sizes.
- Structured Data: Add extra info to your site's code using schema markup to help search engines understand your content better.
- Internal Linking: Use internal links to help search engines crawl your site.
Common Webflow SEO Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Optimizing your Webflow website for SEO is straightforward. Still, there are some common mistakes you should know of. Some are more technical, whereas others are more related to design and user experience. Below, we’ll point them out, along with some tips to avoid them:
- A lack of unique meta titles and descriptions: Not having meta tags for each page leads to poor search engine visibility and reduced click-through rates. Make sure each page has relevant, keyword-rich meta tags that accurately describe the content.
- Failing to add descriptive alt text to images: Skipping alt text on images affects visually impaired users and all users when, for whatever reason, images fail to load. Always include descriptive, keyword-rich alt text for all images.
- Messy, nondescriptive URLs: A poor URL structure with unnecessary characters or parameters can confuse users and search engines, hurting your rankings. Instead, use clean, keyword-rich custom URLs describing the page content clearly.
- No mobile optimization: With over 60% of website traffic coming from mobiles, a lack of mobile optimization leads to poor user experience, higher bounce rates, and lower rankings. Use Webflow’s responsive design tools and implement strategies to create the best mobile SaaS website.
- Cluttered navigation: Complicated menus make it hard for readers to find information. They cause frustration and bounces, so you should simplify navigation with clear, intuitive menus and logical structure.
- Poor visual design that lacks consistency: Unattractive visual design leads to lower user satisfaction and trust in your site. Use a clean, consistent design with high-quality images and a balanced color scheme.
- Unreadable text: Fonts that are too small, hard to read, or poorly contrasted will create a poor user experience and, again, increase your bounce rate. Choose legible fonts and proper font sizes, and ensure good contrast between text and background.
- No interactive elements: Not incorporating buttons, forms, or animations creates a static, unengaging user experience. Use interactive features sparingly to enhance engagement without slowing down your site.
Despite its major significance, design’s impact on user experience and SEO is often overlooked. At Arch Web Design, we leverage SaaS website best practices to create exceptional designs that perform well in search engines. Our designs boost user experience, keeping visitors engaged and turning them into buyers.
WordPress vs. Webflow SEO
Webflow and WordPress are powerful SEO platforms, but the latter simplifies the process with its all-in-one approach. In short:
- WordPress offers the popular SEO plugin, Yoast, along with other options, which gives users detailed control over SEO settings. However, it requires more technical know-how and regular maintenance.
- Webflow provides built-in SEO tools and a clean, responsive design by default, making optimization easier even for non-technical users.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Considering Webflow for your website will inevitably have you wonder about certain aspects. Here are some FAQs on Webflow SEO that have probably been on your mind:
Does Webflow Have SEO Plugins?
Webflow doesn’t use SEO plugins. Instead, it offers built-in SEO tools like customizable meta tags, alt text, clean URLs, and automatic sitemaps. So, there’s really no need for any Webflow SEO plugin.
Is Webflow SEO Better Than WordPress SEO?
Webflow SEO is simpler with built-in tools and ideal for non-technical users. WordPress offers more advanced SEO control through plugins like Yoast but requires more maintenance and technical knowledge. Both can be effective depending on your needs, and a skilled team should offer you top-notch SEO services on any of these platforms.
Is Wix Better Than Webflow for Creating a Website?
Both Wix and Webflow have a drag-and-drop interface, which is helpful for users at all levels. However, Wix is easier for beginners, while Webflow offers greater design flexibility and control, making it better suited for professional and complex site designs. Webflow also provides more advanced SEO capabilities.
