Tired of Botched Website Builds? Framer Lets Me Design & Launch Alone

The "I Hate WordPress" Backstory

Let me set the scene. Two years ago, my workflow was a disaster.

I would design a gorgeous homepage in Figma. I’d spend hours obsessing over the shadows, the font weights, the perfect shade of blue.

Then, I’d try to build it in WordPress or Webflow.

And I would ruin it.

I’d spend three days fighting with padding-left: 20px; and screaming at my computer because the image wouldn't center. By the time I launched, the site looked like a cheap knock-off of my original design. I felt like a fraud.

I heard about Framer. The pitch was simple: “Design it, hit publish.” I didn't believe them. But I was desperate. I had a new product launching and zero budget for a developer. So I tried it.

This is what happened.

It’s Just a Canvas (And That’s Scary at First)

The first time I opened Framer, I was confused.

“Where are the rows? Where are the columns?”

In every other builder, you have to stack boxes on top of boxes. In Framer, it’s just... white space.

I grabbed the text tool, clicked anywhere, and started typing. Then I dragged that text to the bottom right corner. It stayed there.

I realized: This is a free-form canvas.

It felt illegal. I’ve been trained for 10 years that the web is a grid. Framer says, “Screw the grid. Put the button where you want the button.”

For a creative solopreneur, this is freedom. But I won't lie—it’s also dangerous. You can make a really ugly mess if you aren't careful. But if you have a “design eye,” it’s the most liberating feeling in the world. I wasn't “coding” a site anymore; I was building a website without code—just painting one.

The "Figma Import" Feature: Does It Actually Work?

This is the big question everyone asks me. “Can I really just copy from Figma?”

Here is the honest truth: Yes, but with an asterisk.

I had a full landing page in Figma. I installed the Framer plugin for Figma. I selected my hero section, hit “Copy,” went to Framer, and hit “Paste.”

It came through. The fonts were right. The colors were right. The layout was... 95% right.

I had to fix a few grouped layers that got weird. I had to re-link a few icons. But compared to rebuilding it from scratch? It saved me probably 8 hours of work.

If you are a designer, this workflow is the holy grail. It means your design file is your production file. I stopped maintaining a separate “Design System” in Figma because I can just design straight in Framer now. It cut my workload in half.

Making Things Move (Without Being a Math Whiz)

You know those fancy SaaS websites where the cards glide in as you scroll, and the text reveals itself letter by letter?

I used to think you needed a $150/hour developer to do that.

In Framer, I clicked my headline. I went to the right sidebar. I clicked “Effects” → “Scroll Transform.”

I dragged a slider. Now, when I scroll down, my headline fades out.

I felt like a wizard.

I spent an entire Sunday just adding scroll-triggered animations to everything. I made buttons bounce. I made images parallax.

Warning: I went too far. My site looked like a circus. I had to dial it back.

But the point is: Framer gives you interactive web design superpowers. It makes your tiny one-person business look like a venture-backed startup with a serious budget. That perception matters when you are trying to close clients.

The Mobile Nightmare (The Real Work)

Okay, let’s stop the honeymoon talk. Here is the part that sucks.

Because Framer is free-form, it doesn't know how to handle your site on a phone automatically.

When I finished my desktop site, I clicked the “Phone” view. It looked like a bomb had gone off. My text was huge. My images were off the screen.

You have to manually fix it.

You have to go through every single section and say, “Okay, on the phone, stack these vertically. Make this font 16px instead of 64px.”

It’s not hard, but it is tedious. It takes time.

However, once I got over the annoyance, I realized something: My mobile site is actually good now. In other builders, I just accepted the default “squish.” In Framer, I am actually designing the mobile user experience. I can hide complex animations on mobile to keep it fast. I can change the button placement for thumbs. It’s more work, but the result is better.

Is the CMS a Joke?

I run a blog. I need a CMS (Content Management System).

Framer’s CMS is... fine. It’s decent.

I set up a collection for “Blog Posts.” I added fields for Title, Date, Content, and Image. I designed a template page.

It works great for a blog, a portfolio, or a simple changelog.

But do not—I repeat, do not—try to build a complex directory or a massive e‑commerce store here.

I tried to build a job board with advanced filtering (Location + Salary + Role). I hit a wall fast. You can't do complex logic. You can't do user accounts where people log in and post their own jobs (not natively, anyway).

If you need a database, go use Bubble or Webflow. If you need a visual CMS to post articles and case studies, Framer is perfect.

The SEO Myth: “Google Hates React”

I was terrified to switch. I read on Reddit that “Framer sites are slow” and “Google can't read client‑side rendered sites.”

I switched anyway.

Here is what happened: My traffic went up.

Why? Because Framer sites are stupidly fast. They offer some of the fastest hosting for portfolio and marketing sites—your site runs on a global CDN. They optimize your images automatically (I don't even have to compress them anymore).

I ran my site through Google PageSpeed Insights and got a 98/100 on mobile. I have never achieved that with WordPress, no matter how many plugins I installed.

Google loves speed. My Framer SEO performance has been solid. I rank #1 for several of my niche keywords. Don't listen to the haters from 2019. The tech has changed.

Is It Worth the $30/Month?

As a bootstrapper, I hate recurring subscriptions. $30/month adds up.

But here is how I justify it:

1. I don't pay for hosting.
2. I don't pay for a maintenance plugin.
3. I don't pay a developer every time I need a tweak.

The biggest value for me is the speed of execution. Last Tuesday, I had an idea for a new lead magnet. I opened Framer. I duplicated an old page. I changed the text. I hit publish. The whole thing took 45 minutes.

Who Should Stay Away?

Framer is not for everyone.

• If you want to export your code and host it yourself, you’ll be frustrated. You live on their servers.
• If you’re building a complex web app with user accounts, dashboards, and heavy backend logic, this isn’t the platform.
• If you hate visual tools and prefer raw code, stick with a traditional framework.

Final Thoughts: It Brought the Fun Back

Running a business is stressful. Dealing with taxes, sales, and support is draining.

Building my website used to be just another source of stress. Now? It’s actually my “fun time.”

I pour a glass of wine on a Friday evening, open Framer, and tweak my portfolio. I play with the animations. I try new layouts. It feels like play.

It gave me total control over my digital storefront. I don't have to ask anyone for permission. I don't have to wait for anyone. I just build.

If you are a control freak with good taste (and I know you are), give it a shot. Just don't blame me when you stay up until 3 AM making your buttons glow.