The Ultimate Webflow SEO Checklist for Beginners

If you're new to Webflow and want to ensure that your website is optimized for search engines, then you've come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the essential steps to implement technical SEO on your Webflow pages. By following this SEO checklist, you'll be able to lay a strong foundation for your website's search engine optimization. Let's jump straight into it!

Single H1 Tag Implementation

One of the fundamental aspects of on-page SEO is ensuring that each page has only one H1 tag. In Webflow, you can achieve this by creating a single H1 heading for the entire page. While designers may be inclined to use the H1 style multiple times, it's important to stick to a single H1 tag for SEO compliance. If you need to use the heading one size across the page, you can create a Heading 1 class. This helps in maintaining the integrity of the page's heading structure, which is crucial for SEO.

Heading Structure

Following the heading structure is vital for search engine optimization. In Webflow, you can easily manage the heading structure by utilizing the appropriate heading tags such as H1, H2, H3, etc. While designing your website in Webflow, ensure that you follow a logical heading structure. For example, organize your content so that each new section starts with an H2 tag, followed by nested content within H3 or other appropriate heading tags.

Migration Considerations

When migrating a website to Webflow, it is imperative to maintain consistency in SEO elements such as SEO titles, descriptions, and slugs. Ensure that the SEO title and description on the new Webflow website match the ones from the previous website. This is especially applicable for CMS pages where consistency in SEO elements is crucial. However, in the case of building a completely new website, it's advisable to create fresh SEO titles and descriptions based on the content present on the page.

Image Optimization

Optimizing images for SEO is often overlooked but plays a significant role in enhancing the website's visibility. In Webflow, make sure to add alt text to every image. The alt text should describe the image for accessibility purposes while also incorporating relevant keywords to add SEO value.

Page Structure and Schema Markup

Maintaining a proper page structure, such as having the navigation outside of the wrapper and utilizing semantic HTML tags, is essential for SEO. Additionally, consider implementing schema markup, especially for the homepage. Schema markup provides search engines with detailed information about your website, such as corporation name, URL, logos, and more. Webflow allows you to add schema markup with ease, ensuring that your website's content is accurately interpreted by search engines.

Webflow Project Settings

Within the Webflow project settings, there are several SEO-specific configurations that can impact your website's search engine visibility. For instance, ensure that the Webflow sub-domain indexing is turned off to prevent search engines from indexing the sub-domain. Additionally, enable the auto-generation of a sitemap for the website, and specify the default domain, whether it's the www version or the root domain. These settings help in managing how search engines crawl and index your website.

Implementing Redirects and Performance Testing

When adding redirects to your website, pay careful attention to ensure that proper redirects are in place to avoid unnecessary 404 errors. Furthermore, testing your website's performance is crucial. Use tools like GTmetrix to evaluate your website's speed and performance. Aim for a high score, such as 90 or above, to ensure that your website loads quickly and provides a seamless user experience.

Final Touches and Branding

As you near completion, consider including a reference to your agency or brand within the website. This could be a simple attribution like "Built with love by [Your Agency]" to showcase your involvement in creating the website. Additionally, this also serves as a reminder to ensure that all the checklist items, including SEO implementation, are followed.

Conclusion

By employing the tips and techniques outlined in this Webflow SEO checklist, you can lay a robust foundation for your website's search engine optimization. Remember, search engine optimization is an ongoing process, and staying updated with the latest SEO best practices is essential. With Webflow's intuitive interface and powerful features, you can effectively implement these SEO strategies without the need for complex coding. Stay tuned for the next part, where we'll delve into optimizing forms and finalizing the website before going live. See you in the next video!