In the world of online commerce, having an aesthetic, functional and responsive website is essential to attracting and retaining customers. Webflow is an essential solution for entrepreneurs and designers who want to create a website without diving into complex lines of code.
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We are Gemeos, a Webflow agency specialized in the creation of websites for start-ups. We wrote this article to explain the key steps to create your own online store with Webflow, with an emphasis on ease of use, extensive customization, and the effective integration of marketing and management tools.
We will cover the basics, from selecting a template to configuring your product catalog and setting up secure payment processes. Whether you are an independent creator or you manage an established business that wants to expand its online presence, following these steps will help you create a robust and engaging e-commerce platform. So, let's dive into the Webflow universe to transform your vision into a lucrative online reality!
Webflow's price for e-commerce solutions varies depending on the plan chosen, each offering different levels of functionality adapted to the varied needs of businesses. Here is an overview of Webflow's e-commerce plans.
Great for new businesses or those with a small product selection This plan generally includes all the features needed to start an online store, such as product management, secure transactions, and basic SEO tools.
Designed for growing businesses that need more features, this plan offers increased capabilities such as inventory management and the ability to sell more products. It also often includes advanced marketing and commerce options.
This plan is the most comprehensive. It is suitable for larger businesses or those with very specific needs. It offers high or no limits on the number of products and enhanced features for reporting, support, and customization.
Rates are generally structured on a monthly or annual basis, with savings available for annual payments. You can find the details on The webflow site.
Webflow's e-commerce templates are designed to provide a solid and visually appealing base for any online store, while allowing for extensive customization. Here are more details on the characteristics and the usefulness of Webflow e-commerce templates:
Webflow offers a wide range of e-commerce templates, each with a unique design to adapt to different styles and business sectors, such as fashion, electronics, art, services, and many more. These templates are designed by professional designers and follow the latest web design trends, ensuring that each template not only looks modern and professional, but is also optimized for a quality user experience.
One of the main advantages of Webflow templates is their high degree of customization. Even though a template has a basic structure, you can change almost every aspect of the template to match your brand's visual identity. This includes colors, fonts, layouts, interactions, and animations. Webflow offers precise control over the design without requiring code, allowing you to customize your site as you wish.
By using a Webflow template, you also benefit from access to Webflow customer support as well as to a large community of users and developers. Webflow's comprehensive documentation and forums can be valuable resources for learning how to get the most out of your template and for resolving issues.
Webflow offers a selection of free e-commerce templates. While the number of free e-commerce templates may be limited compared to the paid options, these free templates provide an excellent basis for starting an online store at no initial cost. They are especially useful for small businesses or entrepreneurs who are testing the market or who have a limited budget.
Webflow's free e-commerce templates include essential features like product management, shopping carts, and checkout pages.
To access these templates, you can visit the templates section on the Webflow site and filter by “Free” to see which ones are available at no cost. It is important to note that even if the template is free, using the Webflow platform to host your e-commerce site may require a subscription depending on the extent of the functionalities you want to use.
Webflow E-commerce offers a set of integrated functionalities designed to facilitate the management of an online store while allowing extensive customization. Here are some of the main e-commerce functionalities that Webflow provides:
Webflow makes it easy to create and manage a product catalog. You can add descriptions, images, and product variants (like different sizes or colors). The platform also makes it possible to manage stocks and update available quantities in real time.
Webflow offers an integrated shopping cart system that allows users to view, modify and complete their purchases easily. The checkout process is secure and can be customized to include specific fields, delivery options, and even discount codes.
Webflow supports multiple payment gateways, including Stripe and PayPal, to process transactions securely. This provides customers with flexibility in payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal, and other options depending on the region.
The SEO tools integrated into Webflow make it possible to optimize product pages and other content for search engines. You can set up title tags, meta descriptions, and alt tags for images. We produced an article dedicated to SEO on webflow if you are interested in the subject.
Additionally, Webflow offers options for social networks, such as adding share buttons and customizing images for previews on these platforms.
Webflow integrates with various third-party applications to extend the functionality of your store. This includes email marketing, customer relationship management (CRM), and analytics tools. In addition, Webflow allows the automation of certain tasks thanks to Zapier or direct API integrations.
You can track and manage orders directly from the Webflow dashboard. It is possible to print order forms, manage delivery statuses, and communicate with customers for updates on their purchases.
Strictly speaking, there are no plugins directly integrated into the webflow e-commerce interface. However, there is a list of plugins and external solutions that you can integrate. Examples include Zapier, MemberStack, Airtable, Mailchimp... and many more.
Find here our article dedicated to the subject of e-commerce plugins to use on Webflow.
The choice between Webflow and Shopify for e-commerce depends largely on your specific needs, your budget, your technical skills, and your business goals. If unique design and customization are your top priorities and you need to control every aspect of the site, Webflow might be the best choice. If you are looking for a more turnkey solution, with powerful and ready-to-use e-commerce functionalities to manage a large volume of transactions, Shopify would probably be more suitable.
Webflow is an increasingly popular e-commerce solution, especially for those who value design and personalization. Here are the main pros and cons of using Webflow for e-commerce, which should help you determine if it's right for your needs.
Webflow is extremely flexible when it comes to design, allowing users to create visually appealing websites without writing a line of code. It offers nearly unlimited creative control, which is ideal for brands that want to stand out.
Thanks to its visual editor, Webflow merges design and development, thus reducing the need to use front-end developers to implement complex designs.
Webflow integrates advanced SEO tools that make it easy to optimize your site for search engines, including easy management of title tags, meta descriptions, and alt tags for images.
Webflow offers reliable and efficient hosting, with fast page uploading, which is crucial for user satisfaction and SEO.
Unlike other platforms like WordPress, you don't need to install plugins for basic functionalities, which simplifies site maintenance and security.
Although sufficient for small shops or moderate needs, Webflow's e-commerce functionalities are not as developed or extensible as those of dedicated platforms like Shopify or Magento, especially for large businesses.
Webflow plans can get expensive, especially if you need advanced features or a large volume of traffic. Also, specific e-commerce plans are more expensive than standard website plans.
While the interface is intuitive for designers, those who are not used to thinking in terms of web design might find Webflow a bit complex to master at first.
Webflow does not support as many payment gateways as other platforms, which can be an inconvenience for businesses operating in multiple countries or with specific requirements.
Webflow is a great option for small to medium businesses, freelancers, or businesses that highly value the design and customization of their online store. However, for large-scale e-commerce operations requiring flexibility and extensive customization of sales functionalities, a platform specifically dedicated to e-commerce could be more appropriate.
