This Framer SEO checklist is the sequence we run before any Framer site goes live. It covers the Framer SEO settings that matter for rankings, the on-page details that are easy to forget, and the publishing steps that make sure Google actually finds your pages.
We design and sell Framer templates, so we see the same pattern repeatedly: a beautiful site ships, but the meta titles are still "Home," the images have no alt text, and the sitemap was never submitted. Those mistakes are fixable in minutes, but only if you have a list. This is that list.
If you are new to Framer, pair this with our Framer CMS tutorial so you understand how collection pages and dynamic SEO fields work.
Does this Framer SEO checklist cover everything?
It covers the 15 items that move rankings for a typical Framer site. It does not cover advanced technical SEO like log file analysis or programmatic content pipelines, but those are not what most Framer builders need. Run these 15 steps and you will be ahead of most sites in your niche.
1. Set your default site title and description
Open Site Settings, then the SEO tab. Set a default meta title and meta description that describe your whole site. These act as fallbacks for any page where you forget to add custom metadata.
Keep the default title under 60 characters and the description under 160 characters. Use your primary keyword naturally, but write for humans. This default will often be overwritten per page, but a strong fallback prevents blank snippets in search results.
2. Write unique meta titles for every page
Every page needs its own meta title. In Framer, open the page, go to Page Settings, then the SEO tab. The title should lead with the page's target keyword and stay under 60 characters.
Bad: "Services | My Site" Good: "Framer Website Design Services | DiverseKit"
For CMS collection pages, bind the title to a collection field like {{Title}} so each blog post or project page gets a unique title automatically.
3. Add meta descriptions that earn clicks
Meta descriptions do not directly affect rankings, but they affect click-through rate. Write a 150-160 character summary of the page that includes your keyword and a reason to click. In Framer, add these in the same Page Settings SEO tab.
For CMS pages, bind the description to an Excerpt or Summary field. Do not let Framer reuse the same fallback description across every page.
4. Keep URLs short, descriptive, and hyphenated
Framer uses hyphens in paths by default, which is correct. Avoid underscores, long slugs, and generic paths. A URL like /framer-seo-checklist is better than /blog/post?id=123 or /blog/framer_seo_checklist_2026_final.
You edit URLs in Page Settings under the General tab. If you change a slug after publishing, set up a redirect from the old URL to the new one.
5. Set one clear H1 per page
Every page should have exactly one H1, and it should describe the page's main topic. In Framer, select your hero heading, open the properties panel, and set the tag to H1. Do not make your logo an H1, and do not split the H1 across multiple text layers.
For collection pages, bind the H1 to the post title or page name field. This keeps your heading structure consistent across hundreds of pages.
6. Use semantic heading tags
After the H1, use H2s for main sections and H3s for subsections. Do not skip levels. In Framer, you can manually set the tag for any text layer in the right panel.
A clear heading hierarchy helps Google understand your content structure and improves accessibility for screen readers. It also makes long posts easier to scan.
7. Add alt text to every image
Alt text is editable in the image properties panel in Framer. Describe what the image shows, and include a keyword only if it fits naturally. Avoid alt text like "image1" or "SEO graphic."
For decorative images that do not add meaning, you can leave alt text empty in Framer so screen readers skip them. For product photos, team headshots, and screenshots, write specific descriptions.
8. Connect a custom domain
Framer requires a paid plan to connect a custom domain. A custom domain is essential for SEO credibility and for building domain authority over time. Subdomains like yourname.framer.website are fine for testing, but they should not be your long-term home.
Go to Site Settings, then Domains, and follow Framer's connection steps. If you bought your domain elsewhere, update the DNS records to point to Framer's servers.
9. Submit your sitemap to Google
Framer generates your sitemap automatically at yoursite.com/sitemap.xml. Submit this URL in Google Search Console under Sitemaps. You only need to do this once; Framer updates the sitemap every time you publish.
If you have hidden pages from search, Framer will exclude them from the sitemap automatically.
10. Configure Open Graph and social images
In Page Settings, set an Open Graph title, description, and image for every important page. These control how your page looks when shared on LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, and Slack.
Use a consistent OG image size, 1200 x 630 pixels works well. For CMS pages, bind the OG image to a featured image field.
11. Add canonical tags when needed
Framer adds self-referencing canonical tags automatically. You only need to override them if you have duplicate content that should point to a preferred version. In Page Settings, you can set a custom canonical URL.
Common cases include syndicated blog posts, landing page variations for ads, and pages that are also published on another domain.
12. Set up redirects for changed URLs
If you rename a page or replace an old page with a new one, set up a redirect in Site Settings. Redirects pass traffic and authority from the old URL to the new one.
Framer's redirect tool is straightforward for simple one-to-one redirects. For complex redirect patterns, you may need the Advanced Hosting add-on or external DNS-level rules.
13. Add JSON-LD schema markup
Framer does not have a native schema builder, but you can add schema through Custom Code. Add JSON-LD in the page head for:
- Organization schema on your homepage
- FAQ schema on your FAQ page
- BlogPosting schema on blog posts
- LocalBusiness schema on contact or location pages
Our schema markup tutorial has copy-paste examples and explains how to use CMS variables like {{Title | json}} for dynamic schema.
14. Check Core Web Vitals and mobile speed
Framer sites are typically fast by default, but heavy images, autoplay video, and complex animations can slow things down. Before launch, test your homepage and a few key pages in Google PageSpeed Insights.
Pay attention to Largest Contentful Paint and Cumulative Layout Shift. Compress large images, avoid above-the-fold autoplay video, and make sure fonts load without causing layout shifts.
15. Hide low-value pages from search
Not every page should rank. Use the indexing toggle in Page Settings to hide pages like:
- Thank-you pages after form submissions
- Draft or test pages
- Internal admin or client-only pages
- Duplicate filter pages from ecommerce collections
Hiding these keeps your crawl budget focused on pages that deserve traffic.
What to check after running this Framer SEO checklist
After you hit Publish, do a final pass:
- View the live site and check that titles and descriptions appear correctly.
- Run a few pages through Google's Rich Results Test if you added schema.
- Submit the sitemap in Search Console if this is the first publish.
- Check that the custom domain is the primary URL, not the Framer subdomain.
One missed setting is not a crisis, but a pattern of missed settings compounds. Run this checklist on every project.
Frequently asked questions
How do I access Framer SEO settings?
Framer SEO settings live in two places. Site-wide defaults are under Site Settings, then the SEO tab. Per-page settings are under Page Settings, then the SEO tab for that specific page. CMS pages can pull metadata from collection fields.
Does Framer automatically optimize images for SEO?
Framer serves responsive images and compresses them automatically, but you still need to add alt text manually. You should also upload images at the size they will actually display. A 4000-pixel-wide hero image will slow your page even if Framer resizes it.
What is the most common Framer SEO mistake?
Forgetting to write unique meta titles and descriptions. Framer provides the fields, but many builders leave them blank or reuse the same text across every page. Unique metadata is the fastest SEO win on any Framer site.
Publishing without this checklist is leaving traffic on the table
Framer gives you everything you need for solid on-page SEO. The platform handles sitemaps, canonicals, server-side rendering, and speed by default. What remains is the human work: writing specific titles, describing images, linking pages together, and validating schema.
Run this Framer SEO checklist before every launch. If you are building from a template, most of the structural work is already done, and our customization guide shows how to keep it intact while making the site yours. Ready to start ranking? Build your content in Framer CMS with our Framer CMS tutorial, then add a blog using our Framer blog setup guide.
