You have probably heard of Webflow, the "no-code" website builder, over the past few years. Influenced by the no-code movement (and its massively engaged community), Webflow is by far the fastest-growing website creation software!
What are the reasons for this success? An appealing promise, an affordable CMS that allows you to create fully customizable and SEO-optimized websites.
Webflow News Recap for 2021
- Over 480,000 websites developed on Webflow!
- From 40 to 500 experts in just one year
- A funding round of $140 million in January 2021
- 2 days of No-code conference
1. Why 2022 Will Be the Year of Webflow?
1.1 New Features
The no-code conference was an opportunity to highlight major announcements for Webflow! And 2022 will be rich in new features for Webflow developers.
- Launch of the native Webflow membership space
- Native "Logic" automation in Webflow (the end of the need for Zapier x Webflow?)
(1) We were waiting for it, and here it is! Until now, you could use Memberstack to create member spaces on your websites using Node.JS. Starting in 2022, Webflow CMS will offer this feature natively.
(2) During the no-code conference, Webflow revealed a new feature that will enable businesses to automate workflows directly from their CMS, without the need for additional automation tools.
1.2 Growing Demand for No-Code Websites
In 2022, your business does not exist if it is not visible online. In 2022, no one wants to wait a year to be seen on the internet (development, coding, etc.). Fortunately, in 2022, no-code solutions and CMS platforms like Webflow allow you to launch your website or landing page in just a few days (or even hours!).
The demand is therefore strong, as many companies are moving away from their traditional agencies, which lock them into complex solutions, to gain agility with a "no-code" website. And that’s MORE THAN sufficient!
Most of a business's website needs are:
- Change a photo
- Edit text
- Add a blog post
- Create a dynamic page
And a content management interface like the Webflow Content Editor is all you need to become independent!
1.3 UI Focus
Having a website is great, but having a site with a design and an interface that helps you sell your product is even better! The Webflow designer mode opens up all the possibilities for designing your site.
There are no limits when it comes to designing your website using this no-code tool. Gone are the designs that look like any other template. In our opinion, the CMS has made the right choice by making web design more accessible with its powerful features.
Read our free comparison between different CMS (Customization, price, customer service, usability, etc.)
2. Our Expectations for the Webflow Tool in 2022
1. Collaborative Designing on the Same Interface
This is one of the biggest limitations of Webflow currently; if you are a group of web designers within an agency or company, you cannot work on the designer simultaneously. Webflow allows multiple users to work on a project with the "editor" mode, but not in developer mode. Fortunately, they have received good feedback regarding this need in the CMS and have promised rapid advancements... maybe in 2022?
2. Improved Editor Mode: Webflow Without Hassles
In the editor mode, we expect several features to enhance daily use of the tool.
- The first applies to both designer and editor modes; it’s an auto-save feature for newly created items in the CMS.
- The ability to open another page of your website while being logged into the editor. Currently, if you want to view certain elements of your live site while making changes in the editor, you have to open it in a private browsing window. Otherwise, you will get logged out and lose, for instance, the new item you were working on. Yes, we speak from experience...
- Grant access to more features of the designer mode in the site management area. For example, the ability to add a new editor or modify the contact email address.
- Have access to more features of the designer mode in the site design area. This could include the ability to update all elements of a page, like modifying "link blocks" rather than just buttons.
- Quick access to the formats for image, logo, and illustration placements.
3. And What About WordPress?
WordPress is a wonderful tool for content creation. It is easy to set up and use, but it can sometimes be quite frustrating in terms of performance. The cascading effects of too many plugins can lead to slowdowns, crashes, and security vulnerabilities that could completely shut down your site. Why? It’s one of the limitations of open-source. Anyone can modify a plugin. If a plugin has its own programming system that differs from others, they don't work well together.
Webflow realizes this! Webflow is the best CMS for design and security! They are ready to take the next step with ease of use. After all, WordPress is easier to use... yes... unless you’re using the editor mode of Webflow.
Reminder of the simplified editing module features to eliminate risks: modify only what is essential for your business! Images, texts, and dynamic content! No risk of breaking anything, as you won't touch the HTML and CSS structure of your website.
4. E-commerce: Is Shopify Still the Leader?
Shopify is still... and rightly so! Shopify is a fantastic solution for your e-commerce needs. The platform easily outperforms all comparable solutions, such as PrestaShop or Magento.
Webflow E-commerce vs Shopify, what are the advantages and disadvantages?
Fortunately, during the Q3 update, Vlad, CEO & co-founder of Webflow, hinted that Webflow would seriously tackle catching up. We are looking forward to updates on this topic and to seeing more online stores developed on Webflow!
