Founder of Goodspeed
Migrating a website can often be a slow, costly, and developer-heavy process. Traditional platforms like Webflow and WordPress require complex setups, ongoing maintenance, and heavy reliance on developers for even minor updates. For marketers, startup founders, and agencies looking for a faster, more cost-effective, and user-friendly solution, Framer offers a modern alternative.
Unlike traditional platforms, Framer offers a simplified workflow that cuts development time by 85% while saving businesses like Glorify up to $180,000 per year in freelancer and agency fees. The platform’s built-in CMS empowers marketers to make content updates in real time—without needing a developer.
This guide to migrating websites to Framer covers every step—from planning and SEO preservation to launch and post-migration optimisation. Whether you’re looking to improve site performance or streamline content management, this guide walks you through each phase of the migration process.
Why Framer? Key Benefits to Consider
Migrating your website isn’t just about switching platforms—it’s about enhancing speed, usability, and flexibility. Businesses that switch to Framer benefit from a faster workflow and a more intuitive CMS.
Speed & Cost-Efficiency
Traditional site migrations are often time-consuming and expensive, requiring months of developer work. With Framer, businesses have reduced development time by 85%, allowing them to launch weeks or even months faster than with other platforms.
Beyond time savings, Framer is more cost-efficient than Webflow or WordPress. The Framer Pro Plan costs $30/month, whereas Webflow’s Business Plan is $39/month for comparable features. This makes Framer a budget-friendly option for startups, agencies, and businesses that need a scalable solution.
For a deep dive into optimising Framer for performance, check out our Optimising Your Framer Template for Speed and Performance guide.
Built-In CMS for Non-Technical Teams
For marketing teams and business owners, content updates should be quick and easy—without needing a developer every time. Framer’s built-in CMS allows non-technical users to edit pages, update blogs, and launch new campaigns instantly, streamlining website management.
This ease of use has made Framer a top choice for startups looking to manage their own websites, rather than relying on external agencies. Companies like Formula Bot that made the switch to Framer with Goodspeed report increased agility and faster content rollout compared to their older platforms.
Check out how Framer’s built-in CMS simplifies content management post-migration for more insights into leveraging Framer’s CMS.
Advanced Design & Prototyping
Beyond speed and CMS flexibility, Framer is a powerhouse for web design. Unlike traditional platforms that rely on rigid templates, Framer offers full creative freedom with real-time design collaboration, interactive animations, and flexible layouts.
Key Features That Set Framer Apart:
Built-in animations & motion effects – Create visually dynamic experiences without third-party plugins.
Flexible grid & layout controls – Achieve precise responsiveness across all devices.
Interactive elements & hover states – Design user-friendly microinteractions that improve engagement.
Compared to Webflow, which requires separate design and development workflows, Framer allows teams to prototype and launch from the same platform—eliminating bottlenecks.
If you want to explore the full potential of Framer’s design capabilities, read our guide on the Advanced Features in Framer Templates.
Pre-Migration Prep
A successful migration begins before you even touch Framer. Proper planning ensures that you retain SEO rankings, maintain site structure, and avoid traffic drops post-migration.
Platform Audit & Content Inventory
Before you migrate to Framer, ensure all website content is backed up to prevent data loss.
How to Conduct a Website Audit:
Extract all indexed pages using Screaming Frog or Google Search Console.
Export blog posts, images, and media from your CMS.
Identify redundant pages that don’t need migration, simplifying the process.
For a step-by-step breakdown, check out Best Practices for Content Migration: Ensuring No Data or Traffic Loss When Moving to Framer.
Backup & Security Checks
Website migrations come with risks—losing critical data or breaking functionality can impact your user experience and SEO rankings. Before starting, ensure you have a complete backup of your site:
Database & Media Files: Save all text, images, and assets to prevent data loss.
SEO Metadata & Structured Data: Retain meta descriptions, alt tags, and schema markup.
Form Submissions & User Data: Export lead capture forms, comments, and contact forms.
Skipping this step could result in broken pages, missing content, or lost customer data. See How Our Agency Ensures a Smooth Migration Experience to Framer to know more about post-migration security.
SEO Baseline & Benchmarking
SEO is one of the biggest concerns when migrating to a new platform. 80% of unmanaged migrations fail within 30 days due to SEO missteps, making benchmarking critical.
How to Track Your SEO Performance Before Migration:
Log your current keyword rankings for top-performing pages.
Document organic traffic levels and engagement metrics.
Monitor backlink authority to ensure no high-value links are lost.
By tracking these elements before the migration, you can measure post-migration performance and ensure no unexpected ranking drops. For SEO-focused migration tips, read How to Ensure SEO Best Practices When Using Framer Templates.
Step-by-Step Guide to Migrating Website to Framer
A structured Framer site migration ensures a smooth transition to Framer without losing valuable content or SEO rankings. This section provides a step-by-step breakdown to help you rebuild your site efficiently.
Setting Up a Staging Environment
Before migrating your live site, create a staging environment to test everything beforehand. A staging site is a private version of your website where you can experiment without affecting visitors or search rankings.
How to Set Up a Staging Site in Framer:
Create a private Framer project – Set up a draft version of your site within Framer’s workspace.
Import assets and design elements – If your current site follows a design system, recreate it within Framer.
Test core functionality – Ensure animations, interactive elements, and embedded tools (e.g., CRM, analytics) work as expected.
Review performance – Run Framer’s built-in speed tests and use Google Lighthouse to ensure fast loading times.
For businesses handling complex migrations, it may be worth working with an agency for staging and pre-launch checks.
Rebuilding Layouts & Content
With your staging site ready, it’s time to migrate content and replicate layouts. Unlike traditional platforms, Framer allows you to rebuild your site visually using its intuitive drag-and-drop system.
How to Rebuild Your Site in Framer:
Use Framer’s CMS collections to structure blog posts, case studies, and landing pages.
Design interactive elements using Framer’s built-in animations and transitions.
Recreate key functionalities such as forms, lead capture tools, and third-party embeds.
When switching from another platform, ensure your site maintains a similar visual hierarchy to retain brand consistency. Learn more in Customising Your Framer Template: A Guide for Beginners.
Testing & QA
Before making your site live, thorough testing is essential to prevent broken links, missing content, or display issues across devices.
Final Pre-Launch Checklist:
Cross-browser compatibility – Test in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
Mobile responsiveness – Ensure layouts adjust properly on mobile and tablet devices.
Internal link verification – Double-check that all internal links point to the correct pages.
Speed & performance optimisation – Use Google PageSpeed Insights to check loading times and resolve delays.
Maintaining SEO & Redirect Strategy
Migrating your site without a solid SEO and redirect strategy can lead to traffic loss, ranking drops, and broken backlinks. This section outlines how to preserve SEO equity post-migration.
Mapping Old URLs to New
One of the biggest risks of site migration is URL structure changes. A poorly executed Framer migration can result in broken links. If old URLs are not properly redirected, users and search engines may encounter 404 errors, causing ranking losses.
How to Handle Redirects in Framer:
Implement 301 redirects for all important pages to guide search engines to the new URLs.
Maintain canonical tags to prevent duplicate content issues.
Retain high-performing pages with minimal structural changes for better SEO continuity.
Need more help creating an efficient redirect strategy? Check out our Checklist for a Successful Website Migration from Any Platform to Framer.
Minimising Traffic & Ranking Fluctuations
Even with proper redirects, some traffic fluctuations may occur. To minimise disruptions, follow these key strategies:
Monitor Google Search Console for indexing errors and missing pages.
Maintain metadata and structured data for better search visibility.
Keep site structure familiar – Avoid drastic changes to URL paths, internal links, or page layouts.
As per Glorify’s case study, they migrated to Framer retained 50,000+ monthly visitors with no ranking drops, proving that a well-planned migration does not harm SEO.
Post-Launch Maintenance & Optimisation
Your website is live, but the work doesn’t stop there. Ongoing monitoring and optimisation will ensure your Framer site performs well long after the migration is complete.
Monitoring Analytics & Site Performance
Once your site is live, track real-time analytics to spot any performance issues.
Key Metrics to Monitor:
Bounce rate – A sudden increase may indicate usability issues.
Page load speed – Slow pages hurt SEO and user experience.
User engagement – Monitor click-through rates (CTRs) and conversions.
Use tools like Google Analytics, Framer’s built-in analytics, and Search Console to track visitor behaviour and make data-driven improvements.
Ongoing Edits in Framer’s CMS
One of Framer’s biggest advantages is that marketers and business owners can update content easily without developer assistance.
Ways to Use Framer’s CMS for Continuous Improvements:
Publish new blog content effortlessly.
Update landing pages for promotions or seasonal campaigns.
Refine page layouts based on performance insights.
Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
Even with careful planning, migrating to Framer can present challenges. Being aware of common mistakes can help prevent costly errors and ensure a smooth transition.
Pitfall #1: Underestimating the Time for URL Mapping
One common mistake during a Framer site migration is not setting up proper redirects, leading to lost traffic. Many businesses assume that Framer will automatically map old URLs to new ones.
However, failing to implement proper 301 redirects can result in broken links, lost backlinks, and SEO ranking drops.
Solution:
Create a URL redirect spreadsheet before migration.
Use Google Search Console to track 404 errors post-migration.
Keep similar URL structures to maintain ranking signals.
Pitfall #2: Skipping Backups & Losing Data Mid-Migration
Without a proper backup, content, images, and metadata can be lost during migration. This often leads to missing pages, broken media, and a decline in search rankings.
Solution:
Back up all site files and databases before migration.
Use CMS exports for blog posts and media files.
Save SEO metadata separately (meta descriptions, alt tags, structured data).
Pitfall #3: Not Testing Thoroughly on Mobile Devices
With mobile-first indexing, poor mobile optimisation can hurt both SEO and user experience. A site that looks perfect on a desktop may have layout issues or slow load times on mobile.
Solution:
Test your Framer site on multiple devices (smartphones, tablets).
Use Google Mobile-Friendly Test to check mobile compatibility.
Optimise images and scripts for faster mobile performance.
FAQs
Website migrations come with many questions. Here are some of the most common concerns businesses have when transitioning to Framer.
Will I lose my SEO rankings if I migrate to Framer?
Not if you follow the right SEO migration strategies. By implementing 301 redirects, maintaining metadata, and keeping URL structures similar, businesses have migrated to Framer and in fact seen improved rankings with Goodspeed.
How long does a typical Framer site migration take?
The timeline depends on the complexity of your site. A small business website can be migrated in 1–2 weeks, while larger, content-heavy sites may take 4–6 weeks.
For an in-depth breakdown, see Understanding the Technical Aspects of Migrating Your Site to Framer.
Do I need a developer’s help to make content changes post-migration?
No, Framer’s built-in CMS allows marketers and business owners to edit content without coding. You can update blogs, landing pages, and product pages effortlessly.
Can I integrate third-party tools like CRM, analytics, or automation platforms with Framer?
Yes, Framer supports custom embeds, API integrations, and third-party tools such as:
Google Analytics for performance tracking.
CRM integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce).
Automation tools like Zapier.
For integration guides, see Integrating Third-Party Tools with Your Framer Template for Enhanced Functionality.
Conclusion
Migrating to Framer offers a faster, more flexible, and cost-effective way to manage your website. By following this guide to migrating your website to Framer, you can launch faster, preserve SEO rankings, and take full control of your website’s design and content.
Unlike traditional platforms, Framer’s intuitive CMS and built-in design capabilities make it easy for non-technical teams to manage content, while its performance-focused infrastructure ensures faster load times.
If you’re ready to migrate to Framer our team of Framer specialists can help you execute a flawless transition, ensuring your site remains optimised for performance and search visibility.
Written By
Harish Malhi
Founder of Goodspeed
Share this article
