One major twist is the hefty price tag and a learning curve that could easily scare beginners. So in this article we’ll explore some of these traps of Webflow and show you how to conquer them like a web design pro.
Let's dive in to learn more about the common Webflow traps and find ways to tackle them with our tips and tricks.
What is Webflow?
Webflow is a cloud-based web publishing system used as a next-generation CMS. It helps maximize reliability and minimize maintenance, making Webflow suitable for most websites. Although there are a few traps of Webflow, it presents a satisfactory consistency in design and enables speedy workflow with the team.
Designers without extensive technical skills can build real sites through content templates leveraging the CMS collections of Webflow. The Webflow sites do not require hosting, and its component library works with JavaScript to design a functioning website.
Webflow accelerates the process of website building and can easily create engagement. It uses HTML and CSS instead of pixels and vectors, which means cleaner design.
Webflow advantages
Webflow has several advantages, such as:
1. Coding is not necessary
Webflow is dynamic and entirely cloud-based, which allows the designing of presentable, reliable, and low-maintenance websites. The developments in Webflow occur through a browser-oriented tool that matches every available feature from the code-based platforms. Hence, it serves as a platform for web development with true no-code facilities.
2. Applicable in most websites
Although the choice between WordPress and Webflow depends on the objective of a website, the latter is suitable for multiple websites. Webflow can help design most sites, except the heavy ecommerce websites and enormous content pages with over 10.000 daily posts.
3. Focused on brands
The no-code feature of Webflow allows simplification while implementing a web design to the front-end, which helps focus on brand highlighting while building websites.
4. Cost efficient
Webflow maintains its server reliability by offering incredible performance using an integrated solution to AWS hosting, making it cost-effective based on server expenses.
5. Effective SEO
Webflow includes an optimized server system with a thoroughly integrated environment. It creates websites with similar SEO optimization ranks as WordPress.
6. Easy editing
Webflow is widely considered to be the easiest CMS or tool in web designing and editing. The editor can view every change in real-time through a complete WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) solution.
Navigate the most common traps of Webflow
Webflow has recently gained popularity thanks to its efficient features and easy accessibility. However, just like any other CMS, it has a few drawbacks, and users need practical Webflow tips to tackle them.
The common Webflow traps include the following:
1. Managing the learning curve of Webflow
Webflow has a steep learning curve and requires extended knowledge of the technical operations used in web designing. Although it presents a user-friendly platform, developers need to stay up-to-date with the latest innovations of Webflow to achieve satisfactory outcomes.
Pro tip: To get familiar with the basics of Webflow, you can participate in relevant educational programs and learn in detail about the concepts before directly using the CMS for commercial benefits.
2. Balancing creativity and user experience
Engagement on a website can be enhanced through compelling content, clear narratives, and several other factors. Webflow includes a limited resource and support system compared to other website designing platforms. Most web development platforms have more connected community forums and help centers, unlike Webflow, which lacks the expected assistance and standards in design support.
Pro tip: Multiple online users prefer to scan a page before reading it. However, websites generated using Webflow might fail to garner the attention of breezy viewers. You can cope with this issue by using detailed codes and defined programs while developing your website to enhance its features.
3. Optimizing speed and loading times
The running speed of a website affects its traffic engagement and directly correlates with user experiences. If the webpage loads slowly or buffers on opening, visitors will likely feel unsatisfied with the experience. A responsive website can generate positive user feedback through fast-loading conditions.
Webflow suffers from an absence of elaborate development structures, which might result in the poor configuration of websites with heavy traffic flow, such as ecommerce pages. Incomplete and faulty web configurations can create web pages that load slowly and take time to grant access.
Pro tip: If you are willing to create an ecommerce website using Webflow, it's better to initiate with the free starter plans. The free trials let you check if Webflow is compatible with your business, so you can make the right decision without losing revenue.
4. Understanding the limitations
Some constraints in Webflow set a limitation on its applicability and effectiveness.
The significant drawbacks of Webflow limitations are:
4.1. Limited design options
Webflow has a limited set of design options compared to the other web designing platforms.
4.2. Limitations in coding
Webflow presents limitations on using custom codes and might require manually processed codes in some of its advanced features.
4.3. CMS limitations
The CMS of Webflow has a restricted item storage quantity limitation, reducing its design prospects. It also lacks practical features like version control, another major drawback of using Webflow.
4.4. Limited ecommerce capabilities
Webflow is unsuitable for ecommerce websites as it lacks standard and relevant capabilities in comparison to other platforms like WooCommerce and Shopify. Using Webflow in ecommerce can be time-consuming and might unnecessarily complicate the design process.
4.5. Expensive
Webflow can be pretty expensive compared to other website design platforms. It offers a wide range of price options but can increase costs for every additional integration and feature.
Pro tip: You can go for the free subscription to reduce your initial expenses in Webflow usage. If the available features and templates in Webflow don't match your demands and standards in creativity, you can always opt for a different website development program like WordPress.
5. Collaboration challenges
Another critical issue designers face while using Webflow is its limited options for third-party collaborations and integrations compared to the other platforms. While it includes some integrations with popular services, Webflow might not be compatible with all the tools the website owner needs.
Pro tip: Webflow does not support any latest devices or browsers and mostly depends on the Google Chrome browser. However, you can collaborate with other members by inviting your team to modify and edit directly on your website.
Finding the right balance for your site
Websites require a balance in design to generate satisfactory outcomes, which can be attained through complete and cohesive models. An unbalanced website layout can overwhelm the users, causing undesirable consumer experiences due to difficulties in navigation or visual displeasure.
Balance in web design can help you achieve symmetry or asymmetry, which varies in applicability depending on the website type and target audience. The Webflow tricks of attaining balance in website design include factors like appropriate composition angles, background and foreground contrast, text and graphic format, uniform visual weight, and so on.
Balancing a design depends on choosing the accurate size, shape, value, color, and position applicable to the website. The five major forms of balance in web designing can be listed as follows:
1. Symmetrical balance
This layout is useful in creating an even distribution of visual mass on a website. It focuses on prioritizing the important sections through a generic and appealing outlook.
2. Asymmetrical balance
Asymmetry in web designing is used to create an intentional imbalance in the composition. It creates a sense of tension and movement using uneven positioning and distribution.
3. Radial balance
It focuses on imbalance based on positioning and maintaining suitable distance and color. Most radial layouts create symmetry along the sides or focus on the center.
4. Horizontal balance
Websites might list the primary content in its top sections, which enhances the initials of a website by creating a row through horizontal balance.
5. Vertical balance
It's similar to the factors of horizontal designs. Vertical balance works by targeting the columned contents, like a left-indented website.
While using Webflow, you can attain the perfectly applicable symmetry for your website by using its no-code design techniques and portraying your vision on the website in real time.
Conclusion
Webflow provides complete freedom in creating and customizing websites, which makes it useful to designers and website owners. Its robust feature makes it a sustainable option in web designing as an easy-to-use, user-friendly system that can create websites with quick responses. If you want to learn more about website designing, you can search for online Webflow tutorial guides.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use plugins in Webflow?
Yes, you can use plugins in Webflow. Unlike WordPress, Webflow does not offer official plugins though, but you can use multiple third-party integrations to enhance the capability of your website.
Does Webflow have analytics?
Yes. The Google Analytics integration can be added to a website to track visitor behavior data. However, the only accepted version of its measurement IDs in Webflow is Google Analytics 4.
Where is Webflow hosted?
Webflow is hosted on the top of AWS or Amazon Web Services with several other redundant appearances.
