How can you automate SEO and Open Graph settings for Collections in Webflow CMS to save time managing them for every page of your content-heavy website or blog?
TL;DR
- Use dynamic CMS fields (e.g., {{ Name }}, {{ Summary }}) in SEO and Open Graph settings to auto-populate metadata for each Collection item.
- Set default values and fallback options like static images or summaries in Page Settings to handle missing content.
- Build SEO-friendly content models with optional override fields, and guide content editors with tooltips for consistency.
You can automate SEO and Open Graph settings in Webflow for CMS Collections using dynamic fields to minimize manual edits and ensure consistency across your site.
1. Use Collection Fields Dynamically
- In the CMS Collection Template settings, you can automatically populate SEO and Open Graph content using Collection fields.
- For example, use meta title as:
{{ Name }} | Your Brand - For the meta description, pull from a custom field like Summary or Excerpt:
{{ Summary }} - These dynamic tags will auto-fill for each CMS item based on its content.
2. Set Defaults in CMS Template SEO Settings
- In your CMS Collection page, go to Page Settings (cog icon ⚙️).
- Under SEO Settings, use the Add Field dropdown to insert CMS fields into:
- Title Tag
- Meta Description
- Under Open Graph Settings, do the same:
- Set the OG Title to
{{ Name }} - Set the OG Image to a CMS image field like
{{ Cover Image }}
3. Use Conditional Fields for Fallbacks
- If not every CMS item includes an image or summary, use the Webflow CMS to:
- Create a default image by setting a static OG image in Page Settings
- Add a character-limited summary field so even if authors forget to write one, it uses the first part of the post
4. Create a Standard Content Model
- Design your Collections with SEO in mind:
- Create dedicated fields like Meta Title, Meta Description, and OG Image
- These can be optional fields but allow for overrides when needed
- If not filled, rely on the dynamic settings described above
5. Encourage Automation with CMS Editors
- Educate collaborators/content editors on how fields auto-populate SEO tags
- Add editor tooltips to fields like "Summary" to explain that this also appears in search engines
Summary
By using dynamic CMS fields in Webflow’s SEO and Open Graph settings, you can automate metadata for each CMS page. This reduces repetitive work and ensures that all pages are consistently optimized without manual input per item.