Founder of Goodspeed
Migrating your website from Contentful to Framer can be a game-changer for your content management and design flexibility. Framer offers an intuitive, no-code interface that empowers businesses to create visually stunning, high-performance sites without relying on a traditional CMS.
However, a poorly planned Framer migration can lead to content loss, broken links, and a drop in search rankings—issues that could take months to recover from. This step-by-step guide will help you switch to Framer seamlessly by covering everything from content audits to SEO preservation.
By following these best practices, you can ensure a smooth migration that maintains your website’s integrity, preserves search visibility and enhances user experience. Whether you’re a startup founder, marketing lead, or business owner, this roadmap will help you make an informed, structured move to Framer.
What to Expect in Your Migration Journey
Migrating from Contentful to Framer is a multi-step process that requires careful planning to ensure a smooth transition without affecting content integrity, SEO, or site performance.
This process involves:
✔ Auditing and exporting your existing Contentful data, including text, media, and metadata.
✔ Setting up Framer with a structured content layout that mirrors your current site.
✔ Importing and rebuilding content while optimising design for performance.
✔ Migrating SEO elements such as meta descriptions, structured data, and redirects.
✔ Testing, tweaking, and monitoring performance post-launch.
How Long Will Migration Take?
The time required for Framer site migration depends on the size and complexity of your website:
Small content-driven sites (blogs, landing pages) → A few days
Medium-scale sites (business websites, portfolios) → One to two weeks
Complex platforms (large content databases, eCommerce) → Several weeks
Step-by-Step Guide to Migrating from Drupal to Framer
Step 1 – Audit & Export Your Contentful Data
A successful Framer migration begins with a comprehensive audit of your existing content. Without a clear understanding of what needs to be transferred, you risk losing key assets, breaking internal links, and disrupting your SEO strategy.
Inventory Your Content
Start by identifying all content types, media files, and metadata stored in Contentful. This includes text-based content, images, videos, embedded forms, and custom scripts. Documenting these elements ensures that nothing is overlooked when restructuring your website in Framer.
Backup Your Content
Use Contentful’s export tools—whether via its CLI, API, or manual download—to create a structured backup of your data. Having a full export safeguards your content in case of unexpected data loss during migration.
Preserve SEO Metadata
SEO elements such as meta titles, descriptions, alt texts, and structured data play a crucial role in maintaining search visibility. Before migration, record these details to ensure they are re-implemented correctly in Framer. Failing to do so can lead to a decline in rankings, as search engines may struggle to understand your site's new structure.
When Formula Bot completed its Framer site migration, it faced the challenge of maintaining SEO equity while enhancing site performance. By conducting a structured content audit and optimising their metadata, Goodspeed’s team improved their site speed by 75% and boosted their search rankings from 6th to 2nd.
Ensuring that every content element is accounted for before migrating is critical to avoiding post-launch headaches. Formula Bot, after completing a detailed content audit and backup, found the transition seamless, resulting in a jump from 6th to 2nd rank on Google. Their CEO, David Bressler, emphasised the importance of Goodspeed’s structured approach: "They exceeded my expectations and showcased their creativity."
Step 2 – Set Up a Framer Workspace & Staging Environment
Once your content is backed up, the next step in your Framer site migration is to set up a structured workspace and staging environment. This ensures that your transition happens in a controlled setting without affecting your live site’s performance or user experience.
Create a New Framer Project
Framer offers the flexibility to start from scratch or use a pre-designed template. If you’re replicating an existing design, selecting a Framer template that aligns with your brand’s structure can reduce setup time and streamline the migration.
If you're unsure about the best template to use, check out our Guide to Choosing the Right Framer Template for Your Startup.
Set Up a Staging Site
Launching your migrated site directly without testing can cause SEO issues, design inconsistencies, or broken elements. To avoid this, set up a staging environment where you can preview and refine your site before going live.
A staging site allows you to:
✔ Validate your content structure before full import.
✔ Test performance without disrupting user traffic.
✔ Identify and fix layout inconsistencies before launch.
Plan Your Content Structure
Since Framer operates differently from Contentful, mapping out your content structure is essential. Define how your content categories, blog pages, and dynamic sections will fit into Framer’s layout. This prevents formatting inconsistencies and content misalignment after import.
Step 3 – Import & Rebuild Your Content
With your Framer workspace ready, the next step is to migrate to Framer by importing your exported Contentful data and rebuilding your content structure. This ensures your site retains its original hierarchy while taking advantage of Framer’s flexible design system.
Transfer Content & Media
Unlike Contentful’s API-first approach, Framer offers a visual-first content structure, making the Framer migration process more intuitive.
You can:
✔ Manually upload content via Framer’s CMS.
✔ Use APIs or integrations for bulk data transfer.
✔ Embed media directly into the Framer interface.
Optimise Design for Performance
Framer’s pre-rendering technology cuts load times, but to fully benefit from its speed, your content must be structured efficiently.
When migrating, ensure that:
✔ Images are optimised for web performance.
✔ Text blocks and layout elements are properly formatted.
✔ Interactive components are rebuilt using Framer’s dynamic features.
Did you know? Many sites experience a 10–30% traffic drop in the first month after migration due to URL changes, metadata updates, and broken backlinks. Proper content structure and redirect planning can prevent this.
Recreate Layouts with Framer’s Drag-and-Drop Interface
Since Framer follows a design-first approach, rebuilding pages in a way that maintains brand consistency is crucial. Use Framer’s flexible grid system and custom styling tools to replicate your original look and feel.
Zen Educate streamlined its Framer site migration by leveraging Framer’s intuitive interface to rebuild layouts with precision while ensuring content integrity. "Goodspeed's reactivity, collaboration, and good energy were impressive." — Olivier Mermet, Group Product Manager, Zen Educate.
Step 4 – Migrate or Re-Implement SEO Elements
A poorly executed migration can severely impact your search rankings and traffic. That’s why it’s critical to reintegrate SEO elements when moving from Contentful to Framer.
Transfer Meta Titles & Descriptions
Ensure that all meta titles, descriptions, and alt texts from Contentful are re-added in Framer. If possible, optimise them further based on updated SEO best practices.
Learn how to Ensure SEO Best Practices When Using Framer.
Plan URL Redirects to Retain SEO Equity
One of the most overlooked parts of a Framer migration is redirect management. Changing URLs without setting up proper 301 redirects can result in orphaned pages and search ranking drops.
✔ Map out old URLs and new Framer paths in a spreadsheet.
✔ Set up 301 redirects to guide search engines and users.
✔ Test all redirects before launching to prevent 404 errors.
Re-Implement Structured Data & Schema
Framer supports custom SEO settings, but you’ll need to manually re-add structured data for:
✔ Articles & blogs
✔ Product pages
✔ Event listings
Reimplementing schema markup ensures search engines continue indexing your content correctly, maintaining your SEO strength post-migration.
Step 5 – Test, Tweak & Optimise
Once your Framer site migration is complete, it’s essential to test every element before launch. Even a well-structured migration can result in broken links, layout inconsistencies, or performance slowdowns if not carefully reviewed.
Cross-Device & Browser Testing
Your site must function smoothly across all major browsers and devices to ensure a consistent user experience.
Test the site on:
✔ Desktops, tablets, and smartphones to verify responsiveness.
✔ Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge to catch browser-specific issues.
✔ Different screen resolutions to avoid UI misalignment.
83% of mobile users expect a seamless experience across all devices. Ensuring full responsiveness is key to retaining visitors.
Performance Audits & Page Speed Optimisation
Even though Framer’s pre-rendering technology reduces latency by 30%, additional tweaks may be needed to further enhance load times.
Run Google PageSpeed Insights and Framer’s built-in performance tools to check for:
✔ Unoptimised images slowing down page load.
✔ Excessive animations causing lag.
✔ Unused scripts or third-party integrations affecting performance.
A 1-second delay in page load time can reduce conversions by 7%, making speed a critical post-migration factor.
User Flow Verification & Conversion Optimisation
Ensure all CTAs, navigation menus, and interactive elements work as expected.
Run usability tests to check:
✔ Button placements and call-to-actions (CTAs) for engagement.
✔ Internal link structure to guide visitors through the site.
✔ Form submissions and checkout flows to avoid conversion drop-offs.
Before you switch to Framer, running thorough performance audits ensures that your new site is fully optimised for speed and user engagement.
Goodspeed ensured a flawless user experience for this FinTech company while maintaining high-performance standards by meticulously testing their Framer site. They even praised the team saying- "Everything was delivered on time, and all of our questions were answered almost instantly!".
Step 6 – Final Launch & Post-Migration Monitoring
The final step in your Framer migration is to go live—but a successful launch doesn’t stop there. Monitoring your site’s performance and making real-time adjustments will ensure a smooth transition for users and search engines.
Domain Switchover & DNS Updates
To make your Framer site publicly accessible, you’ll need to:
✔ Update DNS settings to point to the new Framer site.
✔ Monitor for downtime during the switchover.
✔ Ensure SSL certificates are correctly configured for security.
Pro Tip: Schedule your launch during low-traffic hours to minimise disruption.
Post-Launch Checklist: Key Areas to Monitor
After launching, keep an eye on:
✔ Redirects & 404 Errors – Use Google Search Console to catch broken links.
✔ Traffic Drops – Sudden ranking changes may indicate missed SEO elements.
✔ User Behaviour – Heatmaps and analytics can reveal navigation issues.
Most unmanaged migrations roll back within 30 days due to technical and SEO failures. Continuous monitoring is key to preventing this.
Continuous Monitoring & Site Performance Analysis
For the first few weeks, track:
✔ Real-time analytics to monitor user activity.
✔ Bounce rates to detect engagement issues.
✔ Conversion rates to measure performance improvements.
Common Challenges & How to Overcome Them
Despite careful planning, every Framer site migration presents unique challenges. Here’s how to tackle the most common issues and keep your migration on track.
Content Misalignment or Loss
Some content may not transfer correctly, resulting in missing images, broken layouts, or unstructured text blocks.
The Solution:
✔ Perform a side-by-side review of Contentful vs. Framer.
✔ Reupload missing assets manually if necessary.
✔ Use Framer’s layout tools to correct misalignment.
Learn more about Best Practices for Content Migration.
SEO Fluctuations
Migrations often cause temporary traffic drops due to URL restructuring and metadata updates.
The Solution:
✔ Preserve old URL structures where possible.
✔ Use 301 redirects for changed URLs.
✔ Monitor Google Search Console for crawl errors.
Design Inconsistencies
Framer’s design-first approach differs from Contentful’s structured CMS, leading to unexpected styling issues post-migration.
The Solution:
✔ Utilise Framer’s design system for consistency.
✔ Check font styles, padding, and layout across devices.
✔ Leverage global styles to maintain brand uniformity.
Learn how to Customise Your Framer Template for a seamless design transition.
Integration Gaps
Certain third-party tools or custom APIs used in Contentful may not have a direct equivalent in Framer.
The Solution:
✔ Identify essential integrations before migration.
✔ Use Framer-compatible alternatives where needed.
✔ Manually implement missing functionality using Framer’s custom code options.
Learn more about Integrating Third-Party Tools with Framer.
Conclusion
Migrating from Contentful to Framer is more than just a platform change—it’s a strategic move toward a faster, more intuitive content experience.
By following the right steps, preserving SEO equity, and optimising performance, you can successfully migrate to Framer without setbacks. If your business relies on an agile, visually-driven approach, switching to Framer offers the flexibility and scalability you need.
Ready to migrate? Book a free consultation with Goodspeed for an audit.
Written By
Harish Malhi
Founder of Goodspeed
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