Contentful to Webflow Migration: A Guide

Contentful to Webflow migration can be a strategic decision for your company. While Contentful is a headless CMS focused on delivering omni-channel content across multiple platforms, Webflow offers an all-in-one platform for web design, content management and hosting. Here’s all the essentials you need to know before making the move.

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What is Contentful?

Contentful is a composable headless content management system (CMS) that enables brands to create and manage content across various channels. It is used primarily by enterprise organizations (like Vodafone, KFC, Amazon Audible and Atlassian) and caters to the needs of cross-functional teams of developers, designers, marketers and content managers. Whether for web applications, mobile apps or omnichannel campaigns, Contentful offers tools that support content creation, connection and scalability across different platforms.

Contentful’s composable infrastructure enables modular, reusable content components. This allows building content once and deploying it across various brands, regions and channels. Being a headless CMS though, it still requires extensive coding on the frontend to be done separately.

Its key concept is content orchestration: you can distribute content to deliver personalized digital experiences to any audience via their preferred channel. It’s especially handy for large organizations operating across multiple sub-brands and regions. 

However, not all companies are happy with their choice of Contentful as their website platform. Let’s see why.

Why Migrate from Contentful to Webflow: Top Use Cases and Benefits 

For many B2B companies, Contentful has been a reliable option for managing content across digital channels. But as businesses prioritize speed, scalability and conversion optimization in their marketing efforts, many are discovering the advantages of migrating to Webflow. 

Here are some of the success stories of companies opting for Webflow:

1. Fivetran, a US-based automated data movement company, switched to Contentful from their custom-coded website, but it didn’t solve their bottlenecks. It took them less than a year to understand that Contentful was too expensive and still made them rely on developer resources way too much. The solution? A low-code platform that could support their ambitious growth plans with a scalable CMS, enterprise-grade security and freedom to manage the website by marketers and creative teams — Webflow.
2. Smugmug, a platform for professional photographers, ran into a similar blocker. With a Contentful-based backend, they couldn’t make changes to the website as swiftly as needed, with some minor updates taking days to reach the prod. Migrating to Webflow became the solution for them, too.

Now let’s break down the benefits and many payoffs of the migration. 

Website Redesign for Lead Generation 

Companies looking to transform their website into a high-performing lead generation tool often outgrow Contentful’s modular content management system. Webflow allows for full creative flexibility, enabling marketing teams to build and test high-converting landing pages without developer bottlenecks.

What it gives you: 

• Faster campaign launches: Quickly create and iterate on landing pages for marketing campaigns without waiting for developer resources.
• Improved conversion rates: Design and test conversion-optimized pages tailored to your target audience.
• Cost efficiency: Save on developer costs by giving your marketing team the tools to build and manage pages autonomously.

Centralized Design & Content Management

Unlike Contentful, which often requires third-party tools for responsive design and web development, Webflow combines CMS functionality with a visual editor. This makes it easier for marketing teams to manage dynamic website content updates, design tweaks and even complex animations all in one platform.

What it gives you: 

• Streamlined workflows: Consolidate design, development and content management into one intuitive platform.
• Faster updates: Make real-time changes to content and design without delays.
• Enhanced collaboration: Marketing and design teams can work seamlessly without handoffs or miscommunication.

Streamlining Marketing Workflows 

Marketing teams tired of navigating Contentful’s developer-heavy workflows appreciate Webflow’s low-code user-friendly interface. The platform empowers teams to make content updates, publish changes and iterate on campaigns in real time without the need for engineering support.

What it gives you: 

• Increased agility: React to market changes and launch campaigns faster.
• Empowered teams: Reduce dependence on developers and give marketers complete control over the website.
• Time savings: Eliminate bottlenecks by enabling teams to update and optimize content directly.

Improving Website Performance and SEO 

If performance issues like slow page loads or SEO limitations are holding your site back, Webflow offers a clean, lightweight codebase and advanced SEO controls. Migrating to Webflow is an excellent solution for companies aiming to rank higher on search engines and offer visitors a seamless browsing experience.

What it gives you: 

• Faster load times: Boost user experience and reduce bounce rates with Webflow’s optimized code.
• Higher search engine rankings: Leverage built-in SEO features for better on-page optimization.
• Improved user experience: Provide a faster, more engaging browsing experience to your audience.

Reducing Dependency on External Tools 

For companies frustrated with managing multiple third-party hosting providers, CMS and site design tools, Webflow serves as an all-in-one solution. It eliminates the complexity of integrating and maintaining third-party services, reducing operational overhead.

What it gives you: 

• Simplified tech stack: Consolidate your website hosting services, CMS, and design tools into one platform.
• Lower operational costs: Cut expenses by reducing reliance on multiple third-party tools.
• Reduced maintenance burden: Spend less time managing tools and more time focusing on strategic marketing initiatives.

Related: The Pros and Cons of Webflow

Common Challenges of Contentful to Webflow Migration

Migrating from Contentful to Webflow can be a transformative step for your website, but like any significant platform change, it comes with its own set of challenges. Understanding these hurdles upfront will help you navigate them effectively and ensure a smooth transition.

Managing Complex Content Structures

Contentful often involves deeply nested and relational content structures, which can be challenging to replicate in Webflow’s CMS. Businesses with extensive content libraries may find it time-consuming to map these relationships effectively during the migration process.

Solution:

• Conduct a detailed content audit before migration to identify critical relationships and prioritize which content needs to be imported.
• Use Webflow’s CMS collections and reference fields to mimic Contentful’s relational content structures.

Content Migration at Scale

Migrating a large volume of content from Contentful to Webflow can be a technical and logistical challenge, especially when ensuring that data remains consistent and intact throughout the process.

Solution:

• Use automation tools like CSV import/export or APIs to streamline the migration process and reduce manual effort.
• Partner with a Webflow agency to manage bulk content migration efficiently while minimizing errors.

Adapting to Webflow’s Design-Centric Approach

Webflow emphasizes a design-first philosophy, while Contentful is heavily content-centric. For teams used to separating content from design, adapting to Webflow’s integrated approach can require a mindset shift.

Solution:

• Provide training for your team on Webflow’s interface and workflows to help them understand how design and content management are integrated.
• Use Webflow’s Edit mode to keep content management simple for non-designers, ensuring they can focus solely on updating text, images and links.

SEO Retention During Migration

Migrating platforms always poses a risk to SEO performance if not handled carefully. URL structures, meta data and content hierarchies may change during the move, potentially affecting your website's search engine rankings.

Solution:

• Conduct a comprehensive SEO audit before migration to document existing URL structures, meta tags, and keywords.
• Use Webflow’s advanced SEO tools to replicate meta data and set up 301 redirects to preserve your existing search rankings.

Rebuilding Custom Integrations

Contentful’s API-first architecture often supports complex custom integrations, which may need to be rebuilt or adapted to Webflow’s ecosystem. This can pose a challenge for businesses reliant on multiple integrations.

Solution:

• Assess the necessity of each integration and prioritize rebuilding or replacing the most critical ones first.
• Take advantage of Webflow’s integrations marketplace and tools like Zapier to connect with third-party applications quickly.

Steep Learning Curve for Teams

For teams accustomed to Contentful’s workflows, the transition to Webflow’s visual editor and CMS can be daunting at first. This learning curve may slow down productivity temporarily.

Solution:

• Invest in team training sessions or partner with a Webflow specialist to onboard your marketing and content teams.
• Leverage Webflow’s extensive library of tutorials and resources to help your team quickly get up to speed.

Handling Downtime and Launch Risks

Migrating platforms always involves some level of risk related to downtime or errors during launch. Poor planning can lead to broken links, missing content or functionality issues.

Solution:

• Develop a detailed migration plan that includes testing, staging, and quality assurance phases.
• Schedule the migration during low-traffic periods to minimize the impact of potential downtime.

Guide to Migrating from Contentful to Webflow (+Tips!)

Here’s a high-level non-technical guide to help you understand and plan the transition step by step. 

1. Audit Your Existing Website

Start by taking inventory of everything on your current website. Make a list of pages, content, media and any important features or integrations. This will help you identify what needs to be moved and ensure nothing gets left behind.

Tip: Focus on the content and pages that are driving the most value, such as lead capture forms or high-traffic blog posts.

2. Define Your Goals

Clarify what you want to achieve with your new Webflow site. Are you aiming for faster performance? Better design flexibility? Higher conversions? Having clear goals will help guide your decisions throughout the entire process.

Tip: Share these goals with your team to ensure alignment.

3. Plan Your New Website Structure

Map out how your new website will be organized. Use Webflow’s CMS collections for dynamic content like blogs or product pages. Decide how your pages will link together and ensure a logical flow for users.

Tip: Sketch a simple sitemap or outline to visualize the structure.

4. Transfer Your Content

Export your content from Contentful and start moving it into Webflow. This includes text, images, videos and any other media. Webflow makes it easy to organize your content into its CMS collections.

Tip: Double-check your content for accuracy and relevance before adding it to the new site.

5. Design Your Website

With Webflow’s drag-and-drop editor, you can create a custom design that matches your brand. Use reusable design components like headers and footers to maintain consistency across pages.

Tip: Refer to your existing website for inspiration, but don’t be afraid to introduce improvements.

6. Optimize for SEO

Set up meta titles, descriptions and alt text for your images. Use Webflow’s tools to create 301 redirects for old URLs to preserve your search rankings.

Tip: Test your new site’s performance using Webflow’s built-in SEO tools.

7. Test, Launch and Monitor

Before going live, test your website thoroughly to ensure everything works as expected. Check for broken links, forms and functionality. Once everything is perfect, publish your Webflow site.

Tip: Monitor traffic and user behavior post-launch to identify any areas for improvement.

Read more: WordPress to Webflow migration

How Foursets Helps You Migrate to Webflow with Less Pain and More Gain

As a Webflow Premium Partner, Foursets takes the stress out of migrating to Webflow. We've helped companies boost organic traffic by 300% and increase annual revenue by 35%. Trust us to deliver a seamless migration that empowers your marketing team and drives measurable growth. Let’s get started!

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FAQ

1. Why should I migrate from Contentful to Webflow?

Both Webflow and Contentful are powerful CMS platforms, but Webflow offers more design flexibility, faster workflows and an all-in-one platform for hosting, CMS and visual editing. It empowers marketing teams to manage websites autonomously, eliminating developer bottlenecks and reducing costs while improving site performance and SEO.

2. How long does it take to migrate from Contentful to Webflow?

The timeline depends on the complexity of your site, the volume of content and custom features. For most B2B websites, the migration process can take anywhere from 4–8 weeks, including planning, content transfer and design implementation.

3. Will migrating to Webflow affect my website’s SEO?

With proper planning, your SEO rankings will remain intact. Key steps include setting up 301 redirects, transferring metadata and ensuring that the new site structure is optimized for search engines. At Foursets, we specialize in SEO-safe migrations to protect and improve your rankings.

4. Can my marketing team manage the site after migration to Webflow?

Absolutely! Webflow’s intuitive Edit mode allows marketing teams to update content, create landing pages and make changes without technical expertise. We also provide training to ensure your team is confident and capable post-migration.

5. What happens to my integrations when moving to Webflow?

Many integrations can be recreated using Webflow’s native tools or various platforms like Zapier. During migration, we’ll assess your existing integrations and either rebuild or replace them with efficient, Webflow-compatible solutions.

6. Is Webflow and Contentful integration possible?

Yes, Webflow and Contentful can be integrated using tools like Zapier, Make (formerly Integromat), or custom API connections. This allows you to manage content in Contentful while leveraging Webflow’s design and publishing capabilities. However, most businesses migrating to Webflow find that its CMS eliminates the need for Contentful altogether.

7. Is Webflow scalable for my growing business?

Yes, Webflow’s enterprise-grade hosting and robust CMS make it highly scalable. Whether you’re a startup or an enterprise, Webflow can handle increased traffic, complex content needs and growing business demands.

8. How does Foursets ensure a smooth migration?

As a Webflow Premium Partner, we manage every aspect of the migration from content data mapping and design to SEO preservation and post-launch support. With our expertise, you’ll get a high-performing site that aligns with your goals and drives measurable results.

9. How much does it cost to migrate to Webflow?

Costs vary depending on the size and complexity of your site. At Foursets, we provide a tailored quote after evaluating your specific needs. Our focus is on delivering value and ensuring your new website is a growth engine for your business.

10. Can I redesign my website during the migration?

Yes! Migrating to Webflow is a great opportunity to refresh your site’s design. With Webflow’s visual editor, we can create a custom conversion-focused design that aligns with your brand and business goals.