Follow These 5 Steps To Build New Features

Building no-code projects can be incredibly exciting, but if you don’t follow a clear process, things can get messy very quickly. Whether you’re building an MVP (minimum viable product) from scratch or adding a new feature to an existing project, skipping steps often leads to frustration. Your workflows break, your platform becomes harder to maintain, and progress slows to a crawl.

I’ve been there. Early on, I’d jump straight into building—only to realize halfway through that I’d missed a critical piece of the puzzle. Over time, I developed a 5-step process that’s made building no-code projects simpler, faster, and far less chaotic.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the exact steps I use to:

1. Set a clear goal for your project or feature.
2. Mock up your design before diving into tools.
3. Build a static version to plan for dynamic content.
4. Set up the Webflow CMS and Airtable as your data hub.
5. Automate workflows to tie everything together seamlessly.

By the end, you’ll have a reliable, repeatable roadmap for building no-code projects that look great, work smoothly, and are easy to maintain—no matter how complex they become.

Let’s get started!

1. Define the Goal of Your MVP or Feature

Before you jump into any tools, start by asking:
What is the outcome you’re trying to achieve?

For example, when I built the Unicorn Factory MVP, my main goal was to help clients contact freelancers. This meant the conversion I focused on was getting clients to fill out the contact form on a freelancer’s profile page.

Key tip: Keep it simple. Focus on the minimum content you need to hit your goal.

• For the freelancer page, I realized I only needed:
  • A bio section to introduce the freelancer.
  • A contact section to make reaching out easy.

It’s okay to add more later—like portfolios or testimonials—once you gather feedback.

Related article: What to Do Before Building an Online Marketplace – Learn how to prepare for challenges before starting your no-code platform.

2. Mock Up Your Site or Feature

A mock-up helps you visualize the layout and content before you start building.

Tools to use:

• Figma (if you’re comfortable with design tools).
• Pen and paper (if you prefer to keep it simple).

Ask yourself:

• What content do I need to achieve my goal?
• How will the layout guide users to take action?

Example: For the freelancer page, I drew out a simple layout with:

• A bio section at the top.
• A contact form below.

Pro tip: Look at existing websites for layout inspiration, but don’t overcomplicate it. Start with the essentials—you can refine the design later.

Related article: How to Build a Portfolio Gallery in Webflow – A step-by-step guide to designing and showcasing portfolios in Webflow.

3. Build a Static Version in Webflow

Now that you have your mock-up, it’s time to build—but start with a static version first.

Why static?

• It’s easier to identify which fields need to be dynamic.
• You’ll get a better sense of how everything fits together.

Steps to follow:

1. Open Webflow and recreate your design manually.
2. Use placeholder content like real text and images.
3. Focus on getting the layout right first—skip the CMS for now.

Example: On the freelancer page, I used:

• Static text for names and job titles.
• Static images for profile pictures.

Once I was happy with the layout, I could easily see which parts needed to be dynamic.

Related article: 6 Tips for Building Webflow Sites More Efficiently – Save time and boost productivity while designing in Webflow.

4. Set Up Webflow CMS and Airtable

Now it’s time to make your static version dynamic by setting up the Webflow CMS.

Step 1: Create CMS fields in Webflow.

• Use the appropriate field types:
  • Text fields for names and titles.
  • Image fields for profile pictures.
  • Rich text for bios.

Step 2: Add real data.
Skip “Lorem Ipsum” text—it doesn’t help you spot design issues. Instead, use real data from your project.

Example: For Unicorn Factory, I set up my own profile as the first example. Using real data helped me see where I needed to tweak the layout.

Step 3: Sync with Airtable.
Airtable acts as the central data hub for your project. Here’s what to do:

• Mirror the fields you created in Webflow.
• Use the correct Airtable field types (e.g., attachments for images).

Once everything matches, you’ll be ready to connect and automate workflows.
Try Airtable here.

Related article: The Complete Guide to Mapping Airtable Fields in Webflow – Learn how to sync and manage data seamlessly between Airtable and Webflow.

5. Automate Workflows with Make.com or Zapier

Automation ties your project together, ensuring data flows seamlessly between tools.

Tools to use:

• Make.com (formerly Integromat)
• Zapier

How it works:

• Connect Airtable to Webflow.
• Map the fields correctly so data updates automatically.

Example: When a new freelancer profile was added to Airtable, my automation sent the data to Webflow and updated the CMS.

Automation saves you time and prevents errors—especially as your project grows.

Related article: How to Automate Your Marketplace with Make – A detailed guide to streamlining your marketplace workflows with Make.com.

Conclusion

Following a clear process is the key to building no-code projects that are simple to maintain and easy to scale. Here’s a quick recap of the 5-step process:

1. Define your goal and focus on the essentials.
2. Mock up your site to plan the layout and content.
3. Build a static version in Webflow to keep things simple.
4. Set up the Webflow CMS and Airtable to manage your data.
5. Automate workflows with Make.com or Zapier.

Whether you’re building your first MVP or adding features to an existing project, this step-by-step approach will keep you organized, focused, and productive.

Ready to give it a try? Start with step one and see how smooth your no-code workflow becomes.