Webflow Tutorials for Beginners: How to Create a Website from Scratch

Do you want to create a website from scratch, but don’t know where to start? Look no further! In this blog post, we will teach you how to use Webflow, one of the most popular website builders on the market.

Webflow allows you to create custom websites without having to learn coding or design. In this Webflow tutorial, we will show you how to create a website from scratch.

We will walk you through each step so that you can create a website that looks great and impresses your web visitors. Let’s get started!

Key Takeaways

• Learn how to create a Webflow account and navigate its powerful dashboard with ease.
• Discover different Webflow pricing plans to choose the best option for your project and budget.
• Master Webflow’s step-by-step website creation process from template selection to publishing.
• Understand how to use Webflow’s visual block builder for responsive website design.
• Learn when to hire a developer versus building your Webflow website yourself.
• Get inspired by recommended Webflow templates designed for food, books, agencies, SaaS, retail, IT, and gaming websites.

What is Webflow?

Webflow is a cloud-based platform that enables users to design, build, and launch responsive websites without having to write code.

Webflow provides a visual drag-and-drop interface for creating web pages. It also offers a wide range of built-in templates and components. These can be customized to meet the specific needs of any project.

According to BuiltWith, over 430,000 live websites are currently using Webflow, demonstrating its growing popularity among designers and businesses. In addition, Webflow’s revenue reached over $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) by 2023, highlighting its strong position as a no-code website builder.

Webflow also offers powerful integrations with third-party services such as e-commerce platforms, content management systems, and email marketing tools.

As a result, the Webflow tutorial guide is an ideal solution for individuals and businesses who want to create professional websites without the need for coding expertise.

Creating a Webflow account

You can get started with Webflow by heading over to their website and selecting the ‘Pricing’ option from the ‘Resources’ drop-down menu at the top of the page.

Once you’re on the pricing page, scroll down to the ‘Site plans’ section to see the different membership options available. Webflow has something for everyone, whether you’re an individual looking to create a personal website or a team looking to collaborate on a large project.

Different Pricing Plans of Webflow

• Starter Plan: Free
• Basic plan: $14 per month
• CMS: $23 per month
• Business: $39 per month
• Enterprise: Tailored to your requirements

Now return to the top of the page and select ‘Get started — it’s free.’ Simply click it. Create your account here. Now we’ll jump right into getting started with Webflow.

Before You Start: What You’ll Need

Before diving into this Webflow tutorial for beginners, ensure you have:

• A clear idea of your website’s purpose and target audience.
• A reliable internet connection.
• A modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge).
• Basic computer navigation skills.
• Your website content (text, images, logo) ready.

Customizing your Webflow website

In this section, you’ll learn how to use the Webflow Dashboard to customize your website’s design and structure. Discover how to adjust layouts, edit templates, and add new elements to make your Webflow website match your vision perfectly.

Webflow Dashboard

The Webflow dashboard is your gateway to the Webflow platform. From here, you can access all of the Webflow features and options. 

If you’re new to Webflow, we recommend starting with a premade template. All these templates are designed by professional web designers, so you can be confident that your site will look great.

To get started, simply scroll down to the “Free Templates” section and choose the template that best suits your needs.

To see all the available templates, simply click on the “View all” button. You can preview each template to get a feel for what it has to offer, and then hit “Select” to start creating your new website project. 

To do this, click on the “Create project” button. Once Webflow has loaded, you will be able to start designing pages from the template structure. 

Choose a Template

There are over 100 templates, ranging from simple ones for personal websites to more complex ones for businesses. The best thing about Webflow is that you can preview the templates before you select one, so you can be sure that you’re choosing the right one for your needs.

Once you’ve selected a template, you cannot swap it out for another template. So it’s important to choose carefully. However, Webflow makes it easy to change the look of your website by allowing you to customize the colors, fonts, and layout.

Visual Block Builder

Webflow is a visual site builder that allows users to create responsive websites without having to write any code. Webflow is made up of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, but the code is automatically generated by the Webflow interface. This makes understanding Webflow basics an ideal foundation for those who want to learn how to build a page in Webflow without having to learn how to code.

Now, in this Webflow beginner tutorial, we’ll break down the components of Webflow pages.

Webflow pages are made up of sections, which are containers for columns and elements. Webflow uses a “box model” to arrange these items on the page. In this model, each element is represented by a box. 

At its core, Webflow is based on a simple principle: all websites are made up of elements. By understanding and manipulating these elements, you can create any kind of website you can imagine.

Text elements, title elements, button elements, videos, forms, and images can all be used to build a beautiful and functional website. Understanding how to use Webflow becomes easier if you grasp Webflow’s box design.

With Webflow, you can edit each of these elements by double-clicking, highlighting, and typing anything to replace the default text. Of course, you can also just click out of the element to stop editing it.

However, if you wish to change the content in the button element, double-click it, erase the existing content, and then enter the new text.

Different Style Options

On the right-hand side of the screen, you’ll find all of the available options for each element. You can change the color, font, size, and more.   

Webflow gives you the ability to change the spacing, margin, or padding on elements on your web page. You can select a button and change the margin or padding if you want. The margin is the space around the button, and the padding is the space within the button.  

To change the margin below an element, simply select the “20” option from the margin drop-down menu.

To change the margin above an element, first, click on the element to select it, then click on the “20” option from the margin drop-down menu. You can also change the size of an element by navigating to the “Sizing” tab in the Webflow interface. 

Under the “Typography” section, you can change the font, weight, size, color, alignment, style, and more for any button, text element, or title element. This way, you can make sure that your website looks exactly the way you want it to.

In addition to typography, Webflow also offers a “Position” setting. This lets you control where elements are located on the page, making it easy to create a custom layout. 

Adding the Element to Your Webflow Website

With Webflow, you can add additional elements to your website page by simply clicking ‘Add’ and then selecting the element you want to add from the drop-down menu.  

You may want to add a paragraph of text below a button on your home page. To do this, simply select the ‘Paragraph’ element from the Webflow library, and then drag and drop it into place. You can then use the Webflow editor to customize the font color, size, and other attributes of your paragraph.  

To add columns, click on the ‘Add’ button and then select ‘Columns’. Drag the column element below the paragraph as a comparison and then if you navigate back over to ‘Add’, drag and drop a paragraph element again within the container. Webflow will automatically generate the code for you.

You can also add additional styling to your columns by selecting the ‘Style’ tab.  

However, deleting an element in Webflow is straightforward and simple. All you need to do is select the element that you want to delete, right-click on it, come down to the ‘Delete’ option, and hit it. 

You can change the background color of a container by navigating to the ‘Background’ section on the right side of the screen and clicking on the color you want. This allows you to quickly and easily experiment with different colors and create a unique look for your website.  

Webflow makes it easy to add a gradient or image to your website’s background. To do so, simply exit out of the existing background image and click on the ‘+’ sign.

Then, navigate over to ‘Choose image’ and select an image from the left-hand side or upload your own background image. Finally, add an overlay to give your website a unique look. 

Setting Up Your Pages and Publishing your Webflow website 

One of the great things about Webflow is that it makes it easy to preview and customize how your website will look across different devices. Simply click on the “Pages” tab and you can select which pages you want to customize.

For example, if you click on the “Contact” page, you’ll be taken to the Contact Us page where you can add new content or make changes to the existing content. Webflow also makes it easy to add new pages – simply click “Create New Page” and you’ll be able to add a new page to your website.  

Once you’re happy with your design, hit ‘Publish’ on the top-right to make your site live. You can then choose whether to use the free branded domain that Webflow provides, or you can select a custom domain. Once you’ve made your selection, your website will be live for the world to see!

The Hosting Network of Webflow

Webflow is a great platform for web hosting. It is cheap and reliable, and it comes with the hosting built-in. There are many hosting services out there that offer the same features as this one. But you may want to export your code and store it all in a different place. Webflow is also easy to use, and it has a wide range of features.

There’s no need to set up WordPress on a server or use FTP to access files. Webflow takes care of all of that for you. All you need to worry about is domain registrars, and even that can be done from within the app.

Webflow is powered by Amazon Web Services and Fastly, which provides users with maximum speed and reliability. Moreover, Webflow has an SSL certificate, free CDN, and backups. Although there is a monthly visitor limit, Webflow servers scale efficiently under pressure and can accommodate big crowds.

From simple static websites to complex e-commerce solutions, Webflow has the tools and features you need to build a beautiful and successful website. And with Webflow’s managed hosting, you can rest assured that your website will always be up and running. No matter how big or small your business gets, , Webflow’s hosting scales with you. 

Additional Learning Resources

Webflow has a lot to offer in terms of resources. Webflow University is a great place to start, as it offers both video and text tutorials that cover all aspects of the platform.

If you’re just starting, the beginner’s crash course is a great way to get started with Webflow. For those who are already familiar with Webflow basics, the tutorials on how to use specific panels in the editor are extremely helpful.

In addition, there is a wealth of content to explore in terms of inspiration. The Webflow community is very active and always has something new to offer in terms of design trends and tips. 

Moreover, extensive tutorial videos are available on the Webflow website. So you can also access these videos from within the Designer. To do this, simply go to the bottom left corner and find the Video Tutorials section.

The Webflow Showcase is another great resource for inspiration and examples of what is possible with this platform. Some of the projects featured in the Showcase are cloneable, meaning you can copy them and use them as templates for your website.

Alternatively, you can borrow individual elements from these examples to use in your Webflow projects. 

By subscribing, you can enter groups, attend online and offline events, or connect with others through social media. You can also use the Webflow forums to obtain help and assist others. Webflow’s blog is a great resource for extra reading material.

If you need help getting started, Webflow’s ebooks are a great way to learn more about web design. With so many resources available, there’s no excuse not to join the Webflow community!

When to Hire a Webflow Developer

Webflow takes a completely different approach by giving users the power to design and customize their websites without a single line of code. The platform is easy to use and perfect for small businesses or startups that want to create a unique online presence.

With Webflow, you can design and customize your site without hiring a developer, and the end result will be a professional-looking website that reflects your brand.

However, there are some circumstances where it might be better to hire a Webflow developer to create your site for you. If you need a complex website with custom functionality, or if you need someone to help you troubleshoot an issue, a Webflow developer can be a lifesaver.

Another time when it may require a developer is if you need someone to manage your Webflow account for you. If you’re not comfortable working with Webflow’s interface, or if you don’t have the time to keep up with updates, a developer can take care of those tasks for you.

Ultimately, whether or not to hire a Webflow developer is up to you. But if you need help with your website, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional.

Recommended Webflow Templates

Discover the best Webflow tutorials to kickstart your website design with ease. We will help you choose a template that matches your project goals and speeds up your site launch

Purely- Food Website Template

Purely is a dynamic food website template that sets the bar high for eCommerce stores. With its cutting-edge design and top-notch features, Purely blends style and practicality to take your online food store to the next level. The responsive design ensures that every visitor has an equally brilliant shopping experience, whether they’re on a desktop computer or a mobile device. 

The website’s speed optimization makes browsing and buying quick and easy, while its SEO-friendliness ensures that you’ll get the visibility you need to succeed.

Whether you’re selling fresh fruits or organic goods, Purely is a great choice for food sellers. This Webflow eCommerce template offers the ultimate online shopping platform for businesses that want to stand out.

Highlighted Features:  

• 27 Pages
• Responsive Design
• Speed Optimized
• SEO-friendly
• Fully Customizable pages
• Interactions & Animations

Price: $79

Bokify – Book Website Template

Bokify is a solution for a stylish and functional book website. Designed to be aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly, this eCommerce template is easy to navigate. It offers a seamless experience for your customers on any device.

With speed optimization and cross-browser compatibility, you can ensure that your customers will have a swift browsing experience. 

Bokify book website template’s comprehensive package includes 29 pages, providing a range of options for your bookstore or library to showcase your selection online. This template offers an intuitive navigation system that makes browsing effortless for visitors.

Highlighted Features:  

• 29 Pages
• Responsive Design
• Speed Optimized
• Cross-Browser Compatible
• eCommerce Functionality

Price: $79

Cozilex – Agency Website Template

When it comes to creating a professional and eye-catching website for your agency, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Fortunately, Cozilex Agency Website Template is here to make the process easier than ever before.

What sets Cozilex apart is its seamless integration with Webflow CMS, providing a content management system specifically tailored to your agency’s individual needs. 

Best of all, you won’t need extensive coding knowledge to take advantage of this feature. Cozilex is also optimized for speed, ensuring your website loads quickly and keeping visitors engaged.

With extensive customization options, you can make Cozilex your own and showcase your agency’s unique brand identity.

Highlighted Features:  

• 22 Pages
• Retina Ready
• Seamless Animations
• Webflow CMS
• Speed Optimized:

Price: $49

Saisio – SaaS Website Template

Saisio SaaS Website Template is a modern Webflow template that offers a stylish design that seamlessly blends with functionality. It addresses diverse SaaS company needs with its 15+ reusable sections and 5 components. With a total of 25 pages, it offers flexibility in layout creation. 

Plus, the advanced page editor ensures easy customization. This template includes essential SaaS features like pricing tables, feature comparisons, and customer testimonial sections. It’s time to enhance your online platform and get ahead with Saisio.

Feature List:

• 15 reusable sections
• Responsive Design
• Fully Customized
• Speed Optimized
• Retina Ready

Pricing plan: $49 USD

Funder – Agency Website Template

If you’re serious about enhancing your business’s online presence, then investing in a high-quality Webflow template is a must. And when it comes to selecting the right one, there’s no need to look any further than the Funder Agency Website Webflow template.

This agency Webflow template offers a reliable and trustworthy website foundation. It’s well-designed and can be customized to suit the needs of any company.

Whether you’re a startup seeking something simple and straightforward, this template works well. It’s also perfect for agency professionals looking for a stylish platform to showcase their work.

With the Funder Webflow template, you can take the hassle out of designing your website and focus on growing your business.

Highlighted Features:

• Professional portfolio showcase sections
• Responsive design for all devices
• Clean and modern layout
• Easy customization options
• Fast loading performance

Pricing plan: $49

Qlonil – Retail Website Template

Qlonil Retail Webflow Template is an ideal solution for online business owners seeking the right eCommerce template. It includes essential pages such as categories, checkout, and order confirmation, along with features like product and blog pages.

This comprehensive Webflow template offers multiple home page options to choose from. It also includes a dedicated shop page for your products. You’ll get CMS collection pages with author, team member, and blog post templates too.

It prioritizes the pages crucial for retail websites, including specialized categories, checkout, and order confirmation pages. The utility pages even provide a password page and a 404 error message. Explore the sophistication of the Qlonil Retail Webflow Template for all your online business needs.

Feature List:

• Reusable components
• Retina ready
• Google’s Web Font collection
• Custom 404 page
• Media lightbox

Pricing plan: $79

Optitech – IT Company Website Template

In the IT industry, a professional and polished website is crucial for showcasing your services. Optitech, a specialized Webflow template for IT service providers, delivers exactly that. Its stunning and contemporary design captures attention and emphasizes the meticulous craftsmanship behind its creation. 

The template’s responsive design ensures a flawless viewing experience on any device, enabling potential clients to access information effortlessly. With Optitech, you can rely on your website to reflect the professionalism of your IT services. It highlights your expertise and leaves a lasting impression on visitors.

Highlighted Features:

• Professional service showcase pages
• Responsive design for all devices
• Modern tech-focused layout
• SEO-optimized structure
• Easy content management system

Pricing plan: $49

Gamic – Game Website Template

The Gamic – Game Website template is a game-changer designed to captivate gaming and esports aficionados. Featuring an extensive array of 24 pages, encompassing Home, Match, Team, and Game sections, Gamic offers a blend of static and dynamic content possibilities. 

Its sleek and polished design, coupled with fluid scrolling animations, ensures an engaging user experience, effectively showcasing video games, studios, and industry events. Gamic is your all-inclusive solution, making crafting a remarkable gaming website a seamless endeavor that resonates with every visitor.

Feature list:

• Responsive design
• eCommerce capabilities
• Blogging capabilities
• Great Customizability

Price: $49

Common Webflow Mistakes to Avoid

As you learn how to use Webflow, avoid these common beginner mistakes:

• Not planning your site structure before starting.
• Choosing the wrong template for your content needs.
• Forgetting to test your website on mobile devices.
• Overcomplicating your design with too many elements.
• Not optimizing images before uploading.
• Skipping SEO settings for pages and meta descriptions.
• Publishing without testing all links and forms.
• Not setting up proper backup procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Webflow is a powerful tool that can be used to create complex websites. While it does have a learning curve, the ability to create custom code and animations makes it a great choice for those who are looking to create a unique site.

In addition, a wide range of templates and resources are available to make it easy to get started with Webflow, even if you don’t have any experience with web design.

Overall, Webflow is an effective web development tool that is well worth exploring if you’re looking to take your web design skills to the next level.

Ready to build a stunning website? Start exploring Webflow today and bring your ideas to life!