Articles

Executing agency design in webflow

Rob Buchel

⚪️

January 6, 2024

As the relIance on the digital landscape exponentially develops and traditional forms of advertising like print and media disappear, more and more agencies are turning to the web to deliver their marketing message on the digital platform.

Recent webflow research would suggest as many as 81% of agencies are struggling to execute the design on their website.

Enter Webflow which offers lots or promise, a totally free form design and a no code option. Webflow's interface provides a canvas where users can visually design their websites. This means you can drag and drop elements onto the canvas, adjust their properties, and see the changes in real-time.

Webflow enables users to create interactive elements and animations without writing code. This includes things like scroll-triggered animations, hover effects, and more. This helps in making websites more engaging and dynamic. 

Seems simple enough right?

Beginners using Webflow may find it challenging to execute a design for various reasons. One major factor is the tool's powerful nature, offering numerous features and functionalities that might overwhelm newcomers. Another challenge arises because Webflow necessitates a different approach to web design compared to traditional tools, functioning as a visual design tool enabling website creation without coding. Nevertheless, it demands an understanding of web design principles and best practices.

Moreover, novices might face difficulties due to unfamiliarity with Webflow's interface and features, characterised by a steep learning curve. Lack of experience in web design and development also contributes to the struggles, as Webflow demands a certain level of expertise to be used effectively.

To assist new developers, the Webflow team has dedicated hours to create and curate helpful and easy-to-follow videos and tutorials available on Webflow University. However, despite these resources, beginners may still encounter challenges because of their unfamiliarity with the platform's interface and features. 

Additionally, mastering Webflow requires an understanding of web design principles and best practices, and many with less than 10,000 hours on the platform may struggle due to their limited experience in web design and development.

Having proficiency in HTML and CSS can be advantageous when working with Webflow, a website design CMS allowing users to create customised websites without coding. It's not mandatory to know HTML, as Webflow offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface suitable for beginners. If you possess extensive HTML and CSS knowledge, you can leverage it to create more complex designs and interactions in Webflow.  This then has become the trap for agency developers new to the platform and coding in general.

Webflow can be perplexing as it enables users to add custom code to their projects, supporting HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and a no-code environment for quick website building. 

Users love what Webflow can potentially offer and the option to enhance uniqueness by incorporating custom code. Users can easily add custom code by writing the desired code, accessing the "Add panel" option, selecting "Embed Element," pasting the code, and saving the changes.

For those new to coding, Webflow provides a challenge and variety of HTML elements that can be dragged and dropped onto the page without manual coding. If assistance with custom code is needed, it's best to seek out professionals like b2b websites where their developers already have this experience. Webflow documentation or community forums are also an option and indeed a valuable resource.

To further integrate with unique apps not available in the Webflow marketplace, users can use custom code to connect their Webflow site with the desired app. Adding custom code involves navigating to "Project Settings," selecting the "Custom Code" tab, and adding code to the "Head Code" or "Body Code" section before saving changes. 

It's important to note that while Webflow's free form design allows for a visually-driven design process, users can also access the underlying code if they wish to make more granular adjustments or integrate custom code into their projects. This flexibility makes Webflow suitable for a range of users, from beginners to more experienced designers and developers.

Rob Buchel

about the author

Rob is the founder and Client Experience Officer at B2B Websites. Rob built his own 1st website back in 1996, shortly after graduating with his MBA. Today Rob leads a skilled team of designers and developers working across all platforms. Rob is an active BNI member & Ambassador, QRRA referee, husband, and father.‍

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