Enhancing Webflow Websites: My Go-To Apps for Superior Functionality

As a Webflow developer and designer, I've had my fair share of trial and error when it comes to finding the perfect tools to enhance the functionality of my websites. Don't get me wrong, Webflow is outstanding and has changed the game for developers. But there is only so much you can expect a single platform to do on their own, and every now and then I find myself wanting to augment or boost some functionality that isn't native to Webflow. Enter Webflow Apps. Through my experimenting, I've discovered a handful of apps that have not only made my life easier but have significantly improved my web development workflow, SEO, and user engagement. So let me share my go-to apps and how they've transformed my Webflow projects.

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1. Datagoat: The Analytics Powerhouse (Free)

Datagoat has been a game-changer for me, especially when clients are interested in their websites analytics. What sets Datagoat apart is its ability to provide comprehensive insights without overwhelming you with data. With Datagoat I can pull completely custom reports about metrics that I care about without messing around with the absolutely mind boggling interface of some of the other analytics tools out there (*ahem Google Analytics). Aside from that the tool is incredibly easy to instal and works from within the webflow interface. ...Oh, and did I mention it's free? Yeah

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HubSpot: CRM Integration Made Easy (Free Plan available)

Hubspot has been my go to Customer Relationship Management tool (CRM) for every business I've started (and with a long background in sales, I've experienced them all). However, calling Hubspot just a CRM is like calling a Swiss army knife just a knife. In addition to a fantastic CRM, Hubspot boasts a whole suite of marketing, support, sales and operations tools. Integrating HubSpot with Webflow was one of the best decisions I made for enhancing customer relationship management on my sites. The seamless integration allows me to manage leads, automate marketing efforts, and provide a personalized experience for my audience. With Hubspot I can keep track of all my leads, offer a custom chatbot to convert leads faster and embed a meeting booking page into my sites. The abolutely best part? For the scale of my business, the free tier of Hubspot comes with more than enough functionality.

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VidzFlow: No more headaches with embedding video content.=

Increasingly clients ask me to build sites that feature at leasts some video content. Whether it's a background video, or embedded explainer videos, hwe all know the implications this can have on site performance. That's where VidzFlow comes into play. This app has revolutionized how I manage and display video content on Webflow sites. The ease of embedding custom videos whilst limiting their impact on site speed is what puts Vidzflow on this list for me. Additionally, unlike the native video players you can plug into a webflow site, the Vidzflow player is completely customizable, allowing me to have keep the design consistent.

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SEMflow: SEO Optimization at Its simplest

SEMflow has been one of those apps that seem to be a little polarising. Some say it's the best thing since sliced bread, others argue it's a glorified SEO checklist embedded into Webflow. Now, if you;re someone who knows technical and on-page SEO best practices like the back of their hand, then maybe this tool isn't for you. However if you could use some guidance on what things to change page by page to make sure each page ranks for a chose set of keywords, then look no further. The thing that made SEMflow a no-brainer for me what the recently released reporting feature. Being able to deliver a full report of what onpage SEO efforts we've made is why I use it on my SEO projects.

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Make (formerly Integromat): Automating Workflows (kinda like Zapier)

When it comes to automation and integration, you've probably heard of Zapier. If not, Zapier is what we refer to as middleware. It gets completely disparate systems and softwares to talk to each other and work together. Now Zapier used to be my go to automation and middleware tool of choice. Until, that is, I discovered Make.com. Make is kinda like the new kid on the block. It functions in pretty much the same way as Zapier, but does so at a much more attractive price point.

The big differentiator is the difference in workflow refresh rates (how often each workflow runs in a given timeframe) on the base plan. Zapier's free and entry level tiers have a 15 minute interval between each time a workflow runs. That means a potential 15 minute delay between a "trigger" and whatever it is you want the trigger to...trigger. Make on the other hand brings that down to 1 minute on their entry level plan which is also about half the price of Zapier's entry level plan. Now, being comparatively newer to the scene, Make does have a slightly smaller catalogue of apps it integrates with, but it is catching up quickly.

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Finsweet Table: Tables don't have to be scary (free)

Last but certainly not least, Finsweet Table has stopped my recoiling in horror when a design calls for a table with any more than 2 rows or columns. Ok, jokes aside, Finsweet Table makes inserting fully customisable HTML tables as easy as picking your desired number of rows and columns and then copying and pasting data to fill the cells as if it was a spreadsheet. Each element in the table can have classes applied, allowing you to make whatever style changed your heart desires. I know it seems like a small feature, but anyone who has every tried to build a somewhat larger table in webflow can attest to how pivotal this app is.

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I'm always on the lookout for new tools and strategies to improve my web development and design work. If you've had great experiences with other apps or have tips to share, drop me a message here. Alternatively, if you're looking for a partner to help build out the functionality of your website, don't hesitate to book a call with us here.

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