Having a bespoke and beautiful website is more important than ever. But finding the right solution can be a daunting task! There are tons of options out there, from Webflow to WordPress, and Wix to SquareSpace. All offering a range of benefits, so it can be difficult to choose. My personal favourite is Webflow. In this article, we'll discuss why Webflow is the perfect solution for small businesses.
What is Webflow?
Webflow is a no-code web design and development platform. Users have full design freedom with Webflow. From creating a bespoke home page to unique loading interactions. It lets users build a fully dynamic and responsive website with an easy-to-use interface.
The possible projects with Webflow are endless. Basic business websites, portfolios, and E-commerce stores are just a few examples. With their CMS (content management system), it’s easy to keep websites up to date with new blogs or projects.
Webflow has everything built in. Unlike other platforms, there is no need for third-party plugins or providers. Hosting can be done directly from your project settings and connecting it to a domain can take as little as 1 minute.
Why is Webflow a great solution for small businesses?
Webflow has its perks for projects of all sizes. For SMEs with a team that may not have a developer in-house, it is a great solution. Their easy-to-use interface and powerful CMS means non-technical employees can maintain the website. All without having to learn how to develop or design. Once the website is complete, updating the content is as simple as filling out a few boxes.
Easy to use, and no coding required
Webflow’s drag and drop builder allows users to turn mockups into functional websites without a developer. However, Webflow does allow custom code, which can take websites to the next level of functionality. There is usually the barrier of design limitations with no-code website builders. With Webflow this is not the case. When content is created, the code is written alongside it. Which can be exported by itself. For non-technical users, it is a way to develop clean code without the need to learn HTML, CSS or JavaScript.
Affordable pricing plans
Users of Webflow benefit from a range of site plans. If the website is static and doesn’t need blogs or products, they can opt for the basic plan. For companies that wish to upload blogs and projects, they have the CMS plan. With online stores, there is an e-commerce plan. By having a range of options, users won’t have to pay for what they aren’t using. Webflow is a little more expensive than alternative platforms. But for a business with no technical knowledge, the extra costs outweigh the decreased labour needed to maintain and update its website.
Design flexibility
CSS classes
Reusable CSS classes let users set styling for a specific type of content across the whole website. By creating a style guide within the website, you can adjust an H1 style once and have it display consistently in every place the class is set. This works for images, container sizes, div blocks etc. Every element has a class, meaning everything can be adjusted in this way.
Conditional visibility
Conditional visibility lets users apply logic to elements. For example, a blog post may have a container with a specific call to action. By using conditional visibility, that container will only be displayed on blog posts that are in a certain category. This setting allows for powerful content that requires no extra work. There is no need to add the call to action container to each blog, it is all displayed automatically.
Interactions and animations
Webflow interactions and animations are one of my favourite parts about using the platform. Your design can be taken to the next level by creating interactive content. Loading animations can produce an engaging experience from the second a visitor clicks on the website. We can adjust content based on scroll position, letting content move around or enter the page when it appears. The options are endless. If used effectively, a website's experience can be taken to the next level.
Templates
For a business that might not want to build something from scratch, Webflow offers a range of free templates. These can be used as a starting point for a website. A step further in their library of templates is ‘Made in Webflow’. A library of cloneable projects that designers have submitted for other users to make use of. They can help teach how a website has been made, and get an in-depth look into the structure used.
Webflow University
Webflow university is a treat, to say the least. It is the most engaging and entertaining online learning platform I have ever used. They have easy-to-follow and in-depth courses covering all areas of Webflow. It makes the learning process simple. With their added humour, they never get boring! Webflow university is free and will help in building all kinds of projects. If you are interested in learning Webflow yourself, I would highly recommend starting with the Webflow 101 Crash Course.
All-in-one platform
A major problem with builders like WordPress is the need for third-party companies. Relying on a different plugin for SEO, forms, page building, email, security etc. can become a bit much. If one of these plugins has a faulty update, it can crash the site. This presents another problem, and more time is needed to diagnose and fix it. The great thing about Webflow is that all of these functions are built in. There is no need for a plugin, meaning no need to worry about a faulty update.
Built-in hosting
Hosting can be a technical aspect of launching a new website. Learning to navigate the specific host’s platform and figuring out how to upload your website files can be daunting. It means either hiring somebody to do it or spending time doing it yourself. Built-in hosting removes this burden. It’s as simple as choosing your website plan and entering your details.
A benefit of having the hosting native to Webflow is that there is no need to rely on a separate platform to keep the website live. As long as Webflow is up and running, your site won’t run into any hosting problems.
The hosting comes with a free SSL certificate which encrypts all data transmitted between the website and the visitor.
Built-in CMS & E-Commerce
Webflow’s CMS is a powerful yet easy-to-use feature. Setting up CMS collections is as easy as clicking a few buttons. Each collection is then connected to a template page. Dynamic content is created, and each element is linked to its relevant content. When you add a new item to your collection, a page is automatically created, and all of the content is added for you.
The E-Commerce function has the same process behind it. The set-up pages are the same, and so is creating the product page. Dynamic content makes the process simple yet powerful.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Webflow is a no-code design and development platform that offers full flexibility in design, an easy-to-use interface and a powerful content management system. It is a great solution for small businesses with its range of pricing plans and no need for a knowledge of coding. It is an all-in-one platform, meaning no need for third-party plugins or a hosting provider.To make it even better, Webflow has an engaging education platform called Webflow University, letting users gain in-depth knowledge of all areas of the platform and web design fundamentals. With Webflow, small businesses are able to make fully dynamic and responsive sites with a simple interface, making it a perfect solution for those with little technical knowledge.
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