Webflow SEO Best Practices: A Complete Guide to Technical Optimization and Site Performance

Optimize Site Structure

A well-organized site structure improves user experience and helps search engines crawl and index your content efficiently.

• Use a clear page hierarchy with categories and subcategories.
• Implement internal linking to connect relevant pages and improve discoverability.
• Create a user-friendly navigation menu.
• Each page should have only one H1 and generally one H2, both positioned at the very top of the page. All other headings should be H3 or lower, ensuring a logical hierarchy.
• Ensure all H2 and H3 headings provide valuable information to search engines. If a heading does not offer context, it should not be marked as H2, H3, or any other heading level.

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Set Up Custom Meta Titles and Descriptions

Each page should have a unique and compelling meta title and description, as these elements are crucial for search engines and directly influence click-through rates.

• Meta titles and descriptions provide search engines with context about your content and serve as the first impression for users in search results.
• Incorporate primary keywords naturally.
• Keep titles under 60 characters and descriptions under 160 characters.
• Conduct keyword research and strategically include relevant keywords in your meta titles and descriptions to improve your page’s visibility and search rankings.
• Use this article if you need more information

Optimize Page Speed

Site speed is a critical ranking factor that impacts both user experience and search performance.

• Use Webflow’s native image compression tool to optimize images before publishing.
• Enable lazy loading for all images and videos, except for those in the hero section or any images visible upon initial page load. These should be set to “Eager: loads with page.”
• Minimize custom code and reduce reliance on external scripts.
• Whenever possible, ensure external scripts use the attributes "async" or "defer" to prevent them from blocking the loading process.
• Add descriptive alt text to images for improved accessibility and SEO.

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Implement Schema Markup

Structured data helps search engines understand your content better and can enhance search result visibility through rich results.

• Common schema types to consider include FAQs, Breadcrumbs, Articles, Products, and Reviews.
• Utilize Webflow’s custom code integration to embed schema markup.
• Use Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper or Schema.org as references when creating your schema markup.
• Validate your schema implementation using Google’s Rich Results Test.

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Create an XML Sitemap

Webflow automatically generates a sitemap.

• Ensure it is enabled and submitted to Google Search Console to assist with proper indexing.

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Enable SSL Certificate

Webflow provides free SSL certificates to secure your site and improve SEO.

• Ensure your site URL begins with “https://” to signal a secure connection to search engines and users.

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Leverage Webflow’s 301 Redirects

Redirecting old URLs to new ones is essential when restructuring your site to prevent broken links and retain SEO equity.

• Navigate to Webflow Settings → Hosting → 301 Redirects.
• Set up redirects for any changed or removed URLs to ensure users and search engines are directed to the correct pages.

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Additional Points to Check

• Set a global URL for the site’s canonical tag to inform search engines of the preferred URL and prevent duplicate content issues. This can be configured in the project settings under the “SEO” tab.
• Choose a location and language code. Navigate to project settings, and under the “General” tab, input this information to ensure your site is geo-targeted correctly.
• Ensure your website has a favicon and webclip for branding consistency.
• If using custom fonts, download and upload them to your project under the “Custom Fonts” section within the “Fonts” tab. Avoid using the “Google Fonts” feature, as it can slow down your site.
• Test your site using Google PageSpeed Insights to evaluate performance and identify areas for improvement.

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Usefull Tools

• PageSpeed Insights
• Schema Validator
• Google Lighthouse --> Inspect page, go to "Lighthouse" and analyze your site
• Google Keyword Planner - To find keywords to include on your site

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Implementing these technical SEO practices will enhance your Webflow site’s performance, making it easier for search engines to index and rank your content. Consistent optimization will lead to improved search visibility and sustainable organic traffic growth.

Ready to take your website to the next level? Check our full range of services, and contact our agency today to let us handle all aspects of technical SEO, ensuring your site achieves optimal performance and search visibility.