How can I export and integrate the blog collections from my Webflow website to create a fully functional static website?
TL;DR
- Export static HTML from Webflow and blog CMS data as a CSV file.
- Convert CSV data into markdown or JSON, adapt to a static site generator like Hugo or Eleventy.
- Rebuild templates using exported Webflow HTML, integrate dynamic fields with templating syntax.
- Handle rich text and media, then deploy to a static host like Netlify or Vercel.
To export and integrate Webflow blog collections into a fully functional static website, you need to extract the CMS content and replicate dynamic rendering using static site technologies.
1. Export Static Pages and CMS Content
- Go to Webflow Designer, click the Export Code (arrow icon in top-right).
- This exports static HTML, CSS, JS, and media files — but not the CMS content (like blog posts).
- To export blog CMS entries, you'll need to:
- Go to the Webflow CMS.
- Open the Blog Posts Collection.
- Click Download CSV to export all blog content.
2. Process the CMS Exported Data
- You’ll receive a .CSV file that includes fields like title, slug, publish date, rich text content, etc.
- Convert the CSV data into markdown files or JSON objects depending on your static site generator (e.g., Hugo, Jekyll, Eleventy).
3. Choose a Static Site Generator
- Use a static site tool that supports data-based generation:
- Hugo and Jekyll for markdown-based sites.
- Eleventy or Next.js (Static Generation) for custom setups.
- Structure your exported blog content to match the generator’s content model.
- For example, in Eleventy, place markdown blog files under a
/postsdirectory.
4. Rebuild Templates Based on Webflow HTML
- Open the exported Webflow HTML files and extract layout code and styles.
- Break HTML into template partials (e.g., header, footer, blog layout).
- Replace static parts (e.g.,
<h1>Title</h1>) with template tags (e.g.,{{ title }}or{% title %}depending on the generator).
5. Handle Rich Text and Media
- If your blog contains rich text fields, convert them from Webflow's embedded HTML into markdown or preserve in raw HTML inside markdown files.
- Download any linked images included in blog posts and store them in your new site’s assets folder.
6. Deploy the Static Site
- Use hosting options like:
- Netlify, Vercel, GitHub Pages for fast, free static hosting.
- Push your static site code to GitHub and connect with the host to automate deployments.
Summary
To create a fully functional static site from a Webflow blog, export blog content as a CSV, convert it for your static site generator, recreate blog templates using exported HTML, and deploy the rebuilt static site with a hosting provider like Netlify or Vercel.