Webflow Tutorial: How To Launch Your First Webflow Website 2024

Webflow is well-known as one of the most versatile website builders in the market. However, to unleash the platform’s full potential, you need to know how to use it properly. But don’t worry! In this Webflow tutorial, LitExtension will guide you through a detailed guide to using Webflow so you can kick-start your first Webflow website ASAP.

Here is a sneak peek of the 7 main steps to launch your first Webflow site:

• Step 1: Pick a template to get started
• Step 2: Get familiar with Webflow’s designer interface
• Step 3: Customize your template
• Step 4: Design responsively
• Step 5: Add interactions and animations
• Step 6: Set up your CMS (optional)
• Step 7: Test and launch your website

Let’s dive right in!

Webflow 101: An Overview Of Webflow

What Is Webflow?

Webflow is a cloud-based platform that best fits any businesses, professionals, or individuals who want to build websites that spark.

At its core, Webflow website builder is similar to Wix, Squarespace, or Weebly. However, what sets Webflow apart from the crowd is its design flexibility.

The platform’s incredible suite of design tools will enable you to build a visually appealing website with incredible animation effects.

🔎 Relevant reading: Webflow Review | Webflow Pricing Explained

How Does Webflow Work?

From what we know, Webflow consists of four main components:

1. Webflow Designer: This is a visual drag-and-drop editor that allows users to design websites in a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) environment. You can see the changes in real-time as you design, without needing to code.
2. Webflow CMS: The built-in content management system lets you create and manage dynamic content, such as blogs, portfolios, and product listings. You can design templates for different content types and populate them with data from the CMS.
3. Webflow eCommerce: This feature allows you to create online stores, manage products, and process payments directly within the platform.
4. Webflow hosting: Webflow provides fast, secure, and scalable hosting. Once your design is complete, you can host your website on Webflow's servers and launch your website in clicks.

Webflow Tutorial On How To Design Your Website

Though Webflow offers a wide range of features, in the scope of this Webflow tutorial, we will show you how to build your website with Webflow Designer.

This is because the Designer allows you to visually create and customize your site, providing the foundation for everything else Webflow has to offer.

Step 1: Pick a template to get started

You can build your Webflow website from scratch by creating a blank project. However, picking a template and customizing it will be much more convenient and quicker than starting from nothing, especially if you don’t have any technical background.

Therefore, let’s first pick a Webflow template to get started. Here are five key steps to help you pick the most suitable one:

1. Determine the primary purpose of your website, such as a blog, portfolio, eCommerce site, or business landing page, to narrow down your template options
2. Look for templates that align with your brand’s aesthetic and voice
3. Ensure the template includes the essential features you need, such as galleries, forms, eCommerce capabilities, or blog functionality
4. Make sure the template is fully responsive and looks great on all devices
5. Explore live demos of the templates to see them in action and get a better sense of their look and feel for your content

Step 2: Get familiar with Webflow’s designer interface

The Designer is the core tool you'll use to build and customize your website, so understanding its layout and functionality is crucial. Therefore, in this step of our Webflow tutorial, we will focus on getting you acquainted with the Webflow Designer interface.

When you first open the Webflow Designer, you'll be greeted with a comprehensive interface that might seem overwhelming at first. Here's a breakdown of the main components:

1. Canvas: The large central area where you’ll build and edit your site. This is where you’ll drag and drop elements, style them, and see real-time changes.

2. The left toolbar and panels: Located on the left side, this panel lets you add various elements like text, images, buttons, and div blocks to your canvas.

3. Top toolbar: Includes options for undoing/redoing actions, previewing your site, publishing, and switching between different device views (desktop, tablet, mobile).

4. Navigation breadcrumb bar: This bar is located at the bottom left corner of your screen. When you click on an element, it will display the hierarchy of the selected element.

5. The right panels: The three panels on the right side of the Webflow Designer allow you to fully adjust the styles, settings, and interactions of each element.

Step 3: Customize your template

Now that you get the hang of the essential components that lay the foundation of Webflow, it’s practice time. Let’s customize your chosen template.

#1. Set typeface and font size

The typeface and font size are fundamental to your website’s overall aesthetic and readability.

If you start from a template, it’s likely that the developer has already picked a typeface that best harmonizes with the theme’s overall aesthetics.

However, Webflow offers a wide range of Google Fonts and custom font options for you to choose from. So, if you want to experiment with other typefaces, navigate to the “Typography” settings in the Designer panel.

Here, you can set the base font for your headings, paragraphs, and other text elements. Apply your chosen typeface and size consistently across all similar elements. For optimal readability, we highly recommend setting your body text between 16px and 18px.

#2. Edit content

Next, populate your template with your own content. Click on each text block within your template and replace the placeholder text with your copy. To edit text, simply double-click the text element you want to change and type in your new content.

Make sure to use the text editor toolbar to format your text. This includes options for bold, italics, and creating lists. You can also link text to other pages or external URLs by using the link button in the toolbar.

#3. Adjust layout

Adjusting the layout to suit your content is crucial. In the Designer panel, you can drag and drop elements to create the desired layout. To resize sections, click on the section you want to adjust, and then use the handles to change its size.

You can add or remove columns by using the column element. Adjust margins and padding in the Style panel to ensure your content is displayed neatly and accessible. Use Webflow’s grid system to maintain a structured and balanced design by adding grid elements and defining the number of rows and columns.

#4. Add a navigation bar

A navigation bar is essential for guiding visitors through your website. In Webflow, you can add a navigation bar by dragging the “Navbar” element from the elements panel onto your canvas.

Then, feel free to customize the links to reflect your site’s structure – typically, these would include links to your homepage, about page, services, blog, and contact page.

Ensure your navigation bar is easy to find and use by positioning it at the top of your site. Consider implementing a sticky navigation bar by setting its position to “Fixed” in the Style panel so that it remains visible as users scroll down the page.

#5. Add a logo

Your logo is a key part of your brand identity. To add your logo, drag an “Image” element to the desired location within your navigation bar or header. Click on the image element to upload your logo file and adjust its size using the Style panel.

Ensure the logo is clear and prominent. If your logo includes text, make sure it remains legible at smaller sizes by adjusting the dimensions accordingly. You can also link your logo to your homepage by selecting the image and adding a link in the settings panel.

Step 4: Design responsively

Most Webflow templates are responsive by default. However, adding content and changing layouts might impact your site’s responsiveness.

Therefore, after you’ve done the basic design, it’s important to make sure that your Webflow website is still responsive.

First, use Webflow’s device preview options. Click on the device icons at the top of the Designer to switch between desktop, tablet, and mobile views. This helps you spot and fix any issues that might arise on different screens.

Next, adjust your layouts for smaller screens. You can also learn to use Flexbox and Grid settings to create adaptable layouts. Rearrange elements, adjust column structures, and modify spacing to ensure everything fits well on tablet and mobile screens.

Step 5: Add interactions and animations

Moving to the next step of our Webflow tutorial, let's add interactions and animations to your Webflow site to make it more engaging. Simply select the element you want to animate and navigate to the “Interactions” panel.

Here, you can create triggers like clicks, hovers, and scrolls to initiate your animations.

For instance, for the testimonial slider of this theme, we choose to add the Slider Change effect that triggers when someone views the slider.

To make your animations smooth and engaging, customize the timing, easing, and delay. Also, consider the user journey when adding animations since adding too many unnecessary animations might be counterproductive.

Step 6 (optional): Set up your CMS

Now that your interactions and animations are set, let's explore setting up your CMS to manage dynamic content easily. Begin by creating collections for content types like blog posts, products, or team members.

Click “CMS” > “Create new collection,” and you will be brought to the “Collections” panel to get started.

Define fields for each collection, specifying the type of content each field will hold, such as text, images, or links. For example, a blog post collection might include fields for the title, author, date, and content. This setup will help you manage your content efficiently.

Bind these collections to your site’s design elements, allowing you to update content without altering the layout. For instance, you can bind a collection to a blog post template, so that each new post automatically uses the same design.

Step 7: Test and publish your website

With your site ready, it's time to test and publish it. Thoroughly check all links, forms, and interactions on different devices and browsers. Use Webflow’s responsive design tools to ensure everything looks good across screen sizes.

Once satisfied, click the “Publish” button at the top right corner of the designer, and then select your domain and publish your site.

Recommended Resources For More Webflow Tutorials

Besides our Webflow tutorial 2024, you can also find a wide range of Webflow training resources to help you ‘conquer' Webflow's learning curve. Here are some top sources:

• Webflow University: Offers comprehensive video tutorials and courses on various aspects of Webflow, from Webflow eCommerce tutorial to Webflow portfolio tutorials.
• Webflow Forum: This is a community-driven platform where you can ask questions, share knowledge, and find solutions to common Webflow challenges.
• Webflow Community: Connect with other Webflow users, join discussions, and participate in events to enhance your learning experience on the Webflow editor tutorial.
• Webflow Blog Tutorial: Provides articles, tips, and updates on Webflow features, best practices, and web design trends.
• Template Marketplace: Explore a variety of professionally designed templates that you can use and customize for your projects.
• Webflow Showcase: Browse through a collection of inspiring Webflow projects created by users around the world, which can serve as both motivation and learning tools.
• Webflow Experts: Hire professional Webflow designers and developers for personalized help and advanced project needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

With an incredible suite of design tools, Webflow enables you to have granular control over how your website looks and works. Nevertheless, if you want to build outstanding Webflow projects, you need to learn how to use Webflow properly.

For that, we hope our comprehensive Webflow tutorial can help you better grasp Webflow’s foundation and the steps needed to build a complete Webflow project.

Remember to check out LitExtension’s blog site and join our active Facebook Community to learn all things eCommerce.