How to become a Webflow Certified Partner
Why become a Webflow Certified Partner
If you’re a Webflow pro looking to grow your business, the Webflow Partner network is a solid way to get more eyes on your work and connect with new clients. As a Certified Webflow Partner, you’ll show up in the Partner Directory, get access to client matchmaking, and have a profile in the Marketplace to showcase what you do best. Plus, you’ll get exclusive training materials, priority support, and a Partner Hub to track your growth. And the best part? You’ll be part of a tight-knit community of other Webflow experts, with access to a private Slack group, partner-only events, and early looks at new Webflow features.
What does Webflow look for in a future partner
The Certified Partners program is designed for active freelancers and agencies who service clients and build on Webflow. Passing the certification exams is only one part of the process. To become a Certified Partner, applicants must demonstrate both proven expertise in the Webflow product, a solid sense of design, as well as a successful history of building sites for clients.
The most recent version of the program was designed to identify power devs and agencies, and promote them, while lowering the visibility of inactive experts. The platform really looks at your level of involvement.
The sites you submit should all be original work, not built using a Webflow Template. Webflow recommends submitting sites that show off a range of skills/styles, rather than 3 sites which are very similar to one another. Personally, I used different frameworks on all 3 submissions to showcase my development skills and knowledge of the webflow ecosystem. I added in a splash of GSAP and native animations. I chose projects that were done in collaboration with designers and looked visually appealing.
How do I Apply
To become a partner, you must…
- Have an active Freelancer or Agency plan
- Completed Certifications
- Submit an Application
- Get approved by Marketplace Review team
To become officially certified, there’s a few more steps:
- Have at least three sites showcased on partner profile.
- Earn at least 400 point
What are some common reasons for rejection?
When preparing your application, keep in mind the following common reasons why an application may be rejected:
- Applicant has not passed all the required certifications
- Applicant does not have an active Freelancer or Agency Workspace plan
- Issues with applicant’s portfolio sites:
- Site(s) are built using a template
- Sites aren’t real client sites built on Webflow
- Site layouts are too simplistic or basic
- Images or iconography are low quality (e.g. pixelated or non-optimized file type/size)
- Inconsistent use of color, typography, or style guidelines
- Design is cluttered or overwhelming, with poor visual hierarchy
- Animations or movement are overused or distracting
- Site does not follow best practices for accessibility
Before you submit your sites, make sure they have some interesting development challenges, maybe some animation, or a striking layout. Go over the accessibility panel a few times. It should be perfectly clear! Clean up your unused classes and animations.
Your submissions should be squeaky clean.
How long does the process take?
It seems to differ per person, and based on how busy the review committee is that month, but officially, the review process takes 2 weeks. Webflow will verify that you have the necessary certifications and Workspace plan, and review your 3 work examples to ensure they pass their site grading rubric.
Add to that the time it will take you to prep your site submissions beforehand of course. Depending how clean your work is, that can take another week or two!
How to get the Premium Certified Partner status.
Once you’re officially a certified partner, you might want to take it to the next level and become a premium certified partner. There are a few ways to achieve the extra status, but essentially, you’ll need to sell lots of websites! For every hosting plan you sell, Webflow rewards you with a certain amount of points. Once you get to 4000 points, you’re a premium partner! (*amounts of points subject to occasional changes). There are a few other things you can do to get extra brownie points and get closer to the coveted premium status. Each add-on has its own point reward. You can also earn points by participating in Webflow events as a speaker, co-creating content with the Webflow team, or gaining recognition in the design world when you win on Awwwards.com.
Is the Premium status worth it?
It sure is! Webflow puts premium partners at the top of the partner directory, increasing your chances to get the best contracts! You also get a chance to chat with the product team directly and give feedback on upcoming features being built.
For a full list of all the perks of certified and premium partners, see the application page.
Good luck with your application! 🙂