Webflow: What Makes It the Standout Website Builder?

Serious about building a website? There are many programs out there, but only a few of them excel. As a proud Fort Lauderdale SEO company, it probably won’t come as a surprise that we here at Digital Resource have strong opinions.  

Today, we’ll share with you a next-generation tool for creating a complex online experience that enables users to design, construct, and launch websites graphically.

What Is Webflow?

Webflow is a one-of-a-kind tool that allows users to visually design, build, and publish responsive websites.

One central aspect that makes Webflow unique is that it is created using a code-first approach. This means that the online software was created to allow designers, developers, and laypeople to construct completely responsive websites. 

Webflow aims to bridge the gap between the typical DIY software like Wix and Squarespace, standard content management systems (CMS) like WordPress, and front-end web development. It was also created to outperform them all in terms of usability, versatility, and performance.

Webflow's Four Key Features

1. Designer

Webflow Designer is a Photoshop-style tool that enables users to produce semantic markup automatically by dragging and dropping HTML components into a canvas and modifying CSS values.

When you use Webflow's Designer, you get access to the full power of CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. However, instead of writing code line by line, you create it using the Visual Designer.

You rearrange pre-built blocks, add features, and customize them. Meanwhile, the Designer works behind the scenes to develop clear semantic code for an efficient website.

If you want to play around with the code, you'll receive all the capabilities contained in CSS3 and HTML5, including support for the box model, 3D CSS transformations, custom transitions, floats, and flexboxes, as well as the most contemporary typography, gradients, and DOM organization.

You'll also get trigger-based interactions, such as animations that happen when the user scrolls, clicks, hovers, or loads pages –- all without knowing JavaScript.

There is a learning curve with a lot of functionality. But, if you're acquainted with the Adobe product interface, you'll feel right at home. Webflow simplifies design by providing a library of pre-built, customizable components.

Everything you create in the Designer is responsive and compatible with all major browsers by default.

2. Webflow CMS

Setting up a blog on Webflow requires more effort than using a native blogging platform like WordPress, but the end result is well worth the effort.

Despite its positive features, WordPress has never provided a user-friendly way to modify websites.

Users are often constrained by their theme's default layouts and aesthetics. As a result, modifying specific features like post fields requires either third-party plugins or the grueling rewriting of the underlying template files.

Webflow CMS, on the other hand, is focused on flexibility and capability, much like its Designer. You can create the content you want without being constrained by templates, blog-centric content formats, or complex scripting languages. Webflow also provides schemas, which you may create and connect to the design of your website.

You can use practically everything you can think of when it comes to content, such as colors, photos, text, and numbers. Since you most likely have customer-centric data accessible, you can dynamically update your content to tailor your pages depending on the visitor.

3. Deployment and Hosting

Webflow hosting is supplied by the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing platform, assisted by a worldwide content distribution network (CDN) powered by Fastly and Amazon Cloudfront.

As a result, page loads are lightning quick, and you get the peace of mind that comes with not having to worry about server maintenance or PHP updates.

All plans include free SSL certificates, HTTP/2 compliance, site search, form control, password security, automatically created sitemap, and automatic backups.

What Are Webflow's Available Hosting Options?

Webflow, like other site builders, provides hosting services with its bundles. Instead of a shared hosting plan, Webflow hosts its sites on an "infinitely scalable server fleet."

Webflow's hosting solutions are ready to manage any traffic your site produces the instant it goes online. Webflow's "fleet" consists of over 100 datacenters and servers throughout the globe, with content delivery networks (CDNs) supplied by Fastly and Amazon CloudFront.

Because of its AWS-based core, it can handle intense amounts of website traffic. You'll also receive SSL certificates, HTTP/2-compliant infrastructure, and collaboration tools so that you may collaborate with your team members on your site.

How Much Is Webflow's Hosting Plan?

The "Basic" hosting plan costs $12 per month and contains most of the services provided. However, to utilize Webflow CMS, you must pay an additional $20 per month for the "CMS" hosting plan.

If neither of these options appeals to you (or just don't want to spend the money), you don't need to worry!

You are not tied to a particular platform or style since all websites are written in basic HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Simply download your site's files and deploy them to your preferred hosting provider.

4. Editor

With Webflow, adding content is as simple as filling out a form. When you're ready to publish your changes, you can do so with a single click.

Because Webflow isolates content from the underlying support features, you can simply modify items without worrying about disrupting any component of your site.

You can also work with your colleagues on whatever you produce. A complete version history ensures that you know who modified what and when.

Extra Feature: Ecommerce Capability

Webflow Ecommerce, unlike more limited systems like Shopify and WooCommerce, allows for complete customization of all the aesthetic components of a conventional online shop.

Product pages, gallery and category pages, shopping carts, and checkout pages are all examples of this. You are not confined to any kind of pre-designed Ecommerce structure!

Webflow's Ecommerce platform enables you to:

• Manage your inventory and fulfill requests.
• Enhance your product listings using the CMS.
• Customize your receipts and emails.
• Create blogs and landing pages in the CMS.
• Allow consumers to safely check out on your own domain.

Other proposed future features include support for digital items and subscriptions, customer accounts, and a wide range of product variations.

Should You Be Using Webflow?

The short answer: YES!

Webflow is a full-featured website builder with an abundance of themes that you can personalize. It's a sophisticated tool, which means there is a learning curve when it comes to using its advanced capabilities. 

However, Webflow, with its emphasis on customer experience and satisfaction, has made several resources available to its clients.

In addition to textual documentation, Webflow includes in-depth video lessons.

Want To Use Webflow As Your Site Builder?

As the leading SEO company in Fort Lauderdale, we’re proud to be on top of all the tools needed for a powerful marketing strategy.

Our web design team at Digital Resource is an expert in using various site builders, but our favorite is Webflow.

Contact us today so that we can assist you in developing your Webflow website.