How to build a testimonial slider in Webflow using CMS data and a Slider element?

Building a Testimonial Slider in Webflow Using CMS Data and a Slider Element

 

Creating a testimonial slider in Webflow using CMS data allows you to dynamically showcase client feedback while maintaining a stylish and interactive design. This comprehensive guide will walk you through setting up CMS collections, sliders, and linking CMS data to showcase testimonials effectively.

 

Prerequisites

 

• Access to a Webflow account with a project where you intend to build the testimonial slider.
• Basic understanding of Webflow’s interface, including its Designer, CMS, and Elements.
• Design assets or text content ready for the testimonials you wish to showcase.

 

Setting Up Your CMS Collection

 

• Navigate to the CMS Collections section of your Webflow project.
• Create a new Collection titled "Testimonials."
• Add necessary fields to your Collection:
  • Name (Plain Text): The name of the person giving the testimonial.
  • Company (Plain Text): The company or position of the person, if applicable.
  • Photo (Image): An optional field for a photo of the person.
  • Testimonial (Rich Text): The text containing the testimonial.
• Populate your collection with sample testimonial entries (add at least three to have slider functionality).

 

Designing the Slider in Webflow

 

• Hover over the left panel in Webflow Designer and find the "Add" panel.
• Drag the "Slider" element from the Basic category into the Canvas where you want the testimonial slider to appear.
• Customize the default slides visually as needed, ensuring each slide component (such as headings, text, and images) aligns with your design aesthetic.

 

Connecting CMS Data to the Slider

 

• Select the slider component, then click the gear icon to access its settings.
• Under the Element Settings panel, find and select "Get content from Testimonials" to bind the slider to your CMS Collection.
• The slider repeats itself for each entry within the CMS collection.
• Click inside a slide and add a new element for each field you previously created in the CMS:
  • Drag a "Text Block" for both the name and company.
  • Add an "Image" if you included a photo in your collection.
  • Insert a "Rich Text Block" for the testimonial content.
• Link each slide entry field to the corresponding CMS field in the settings panel for dynamic content display.

 

Styling and Customization

 

• Select and style each component with Webflow’s visual styling tools to enhance appearance and readability.
• Customize slide navigation buttons and dot indicators (arrows, dots) in the Slider Settings if desired for better interaction.
• Ensure responsive design integrity by checking how the slider adapts to various screen sizes, and utilize Webflow’s responsive design controls to make necessary adjustments.

 

Previewing and Testing

 

• Utilize the Webflow preview mode to ensure that the slider is displaying testimonials correctly and cycling through CMS entries as expected.
• Interact with the slider to ensure functionality, checking transitions and responsiveness.
• Make adjustments as necessary to improve design, readability, and user interaction.

 

Publishing Your Testimonial Slider

 

• Once satisfied with how your testimonial slider looks and functions in preview, publish your site to test it live.
• Make sure all elements appear correctly once the site is live, as there could be discrepancies between preview and publish states.
• Gather user feedback to refine and iterate the design and functionality if necessary.

 

By following these steps, you’ve successfully created a testimonial slider in Webflow utilizing CMS data. This dynamic integration not only maximizes design flexibility but also ensures content remains current and easy to manage, enhancing your site's overall value and engagement without having to manually update content.