✅ Section 6: Best Practices in Webflow - FadiZahhar/WebflowTraining GitHub Wiki

🧠 Why Best Practices Matter

Webflow gives you the freedom to build anything — but without structure, that freedom leads to chaos.

Following a system from the beginning will help you:

  • Avoid messy builds

  • Work faster across projects

  • Scale designs efficiently

  • Collaborate seamlessly with others

🗂 6.1 Use a Class Naming Convention

Stick to a consistent, predictable naming system:

  • Client-First: section-hero, container-default, text-heading-xl

  • BEM-style (Block Element Modifier): card, card__title, card--dark

🧼 Benefits:

  • Easy to read and maintain

  • Encourages modular design

  • Speeds up development

📌 Pick one system and apply it religiously throughout the project.

🎨 6.2 Set Up Global Styles Early

Before building any section, define your base styles:

Typography:

  • Heading sizes (H1–H6)

  • Paragraph base

  • Font family

  • Line height and spacing

Color System:

  • Primary, secondary, neutral, accent

  • Use swatches to sync across elements

Spacing System:

  • Margin and padding tokens (mb-16, pt-40)

  • Use consistent spacing for rhythm and structure

🔁 Mirror your Figma styles to maintain brand consistency.

🧩 6.3 Reuse with Symbols and Combo Classes

Symbols (now called “Components” in Webflow) let you reuse elements across pages.

Use for:

  • Navbars

  • Footers

  • CTAs

  • Cards

  • Form blocks

Combo Classes:

Modify base components without duplicating structure. Example: btn → btn is-primary, btn is-dark

🧱 6.4 Build with Structure and Hierarchy

Use semantic HTML5 elements whenever possible:

Purpose Webflow Element
Header content
Main content
Navigation
Footer
Sections
Repeating items

💡 Semantic HTML improves SEO, accessibility, and maintainability.

📱 6.5 Design for Responsiveness

Start at desktop, then adjust down:

  • Use % or auto widths

  • Stack flex items on mobile

  • Adjust padding/margin per breakpoint

  • Preview on all breakpoints during development — not after

📱 Mobile-first thinking is key to a great UX.

⚙️ 6.6 Use CMS Collections Smartly

Plan your dynamic content in advance:

  • Blog, case studies, team members, services, FAQs, etc.

  • Use reference or multi-reference fields to link related data

  • Design 1 CMS template, populate 100 pages

🎥 6.7 Add Meaningful Interactions

Webflow's interactions panel allows for:

  • Scroll-triggered animations

  • Hover/focus states

  • Modals and menu toggles

  • Delayed transitions for storytelling

Use with care:

  • Avoid overuse or distraction

  • Maintain accessibility (keyboard/tab access)

♿ 6.8 Prioritize Accessibility (a11y)

Make your site usable for everyone:

  • Add alt text for all images

  • Use meaningful labels for buttons and forms

  • Ensure color contrast is readable

  • Make interactive elements keyboard-accessible

  • Use aria labels for assistive tech

🌍 Accessible sites are usable sites. And they’re better for SEO.

🔐 6.9 Set SEO Foundations Early

  • Use semantic elements for proper structure

  • Set meta titles and descriptions per page

  • Add alt tags and Open Graph images

  • Submit a sitemap via Webflow settings

  • Use clean, descriptive URLs

📁 6.10 Keep It Organized

  • Name sections clearly: section-home-hero, section-about-team

  • Keep only active pages in the designer view

  • Archive unused styles and assets

🧼 Treat your Webflow project like clean code: future-you (and your team) will thank you.

🧠 Final Thought

“The difference between a freelancer and a design pro is structure.”

With good habits from the start, your Webflow projects will be:

  • Faster to build

  • Easier to maintain

  • Simpler to hand off

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