Contentful development
Stage: Be chosenContentful development and headless CMS
Headless websites on Contentful with Next.js front ends: fast, flexible and ready for many markets and channels.
Free AI SEO audit. See in seconds whether AI search can read, understand and quote your site.
New site · yourbrand.com
PerformanceAccessibilityBest practicesSEO
Organic clicks, 8 weeks either side of launch
BeforeLaunchAfterOrganic traffic after launch+18%Mobile load time1.4sRedirects mapped100%
Illustration. Lab scores out of 100.Trusted by partner brands
Why it matters now
One source of content, every channel
Headless CMSs separate content from design, so the same content can power websites, apps and markets. Built well, they are also very fast.
Then
DesignBuildLaunchFix SEO later
Search was an afterthought, fixed after traffic dropped.Now
URL mapBuild to rankChecked launchTraffic kept
SEO, speed and tracking are part of the build from the first sprint.What’s included
Everything a build needs to perform
Six parts of every Contentful project.
How we do it
Five steps, one owner
A typical build runs about 12 weeks. Every step has a date, an owner and something you can see.
Week 1 to 2DiscoveryGoals, users, content and the rankings the current site must keep.You get a scope and URL map
Week 2 to 4Architecture and designSitemap, templates, design system and technical plan.You get approved designs
Week 4 to 10Build on ContentfulBuild in sprints with a staging site you can review every week.You get a working staging site
Week 9 to 12SEO and launch checksRedirects, metadata, schema, speed and tracking checked before launch.You get a launch checklist signed off
After launchMonitor and improveWatch rankings, speed and conversions, and fix anything that moved.You get a post-launch report
Where rebuilds go wrong
Most traffic losses happen at launch
Changed URLs without redirects, missing metadata and slower templates are the usual reasons a new site loses search traffic. We check every one before launch day.
- Step 1: MapEvery old URL mapped to a new one
- Step 2: CheckMetadata, schema and speed on staging
- Step 3: LaunchRedirects live, sitemaps submitted
- Step 4: WatchRankings and errors monitored daily
How we measure it
Measured from day one
Speed, search visibility and conversions tracked from launch, so you can see what the new build changed. Ongoing support runs in 90-day blocks.
3Core Web Vitals trackedEveryrelease checked1report with traffic and leads
- Core Web Vitals by template
- Organic traffic kept through launch
- Conversion rate and leads
- Uptime and error rates
Your options
Four ways to build on Contentful
Use a template, hire a freelancer, hire a development shop, or build with your search partner.
One team, no handoffs
Contentful Development works best with the rest of search
The same team runs every service that feeds AI answers, so nothing waits on another vendor.
Questions
What people ask about Contentful Development
What is a headless CMS?
A CMS that only manages content and sends it to any front end, like a website or app, through an API.
Why Contentful?
Strong content modeling, localization and enterprise features. We also build on Strapi when open source suits better.
Is headless good for SEO?
Yes, if the front end renders pages on the server. We build with Next.js so crawlers see full content.
Can editors preview pages?
Yes. We set up live preview so editors see pages before publishing.
Is headless more expensive?
The first build usually costs more, but it pays off for sites with many markets, channels or editors.
What happens after launch?
We monitor speed, rankings and conversions, and offer ongoing support and improvements in 90-day blocks.
The full guide · 6 min readHeadless CMS with Contentful: when it pays off
When it is the right choice, what a good build includes and how to keep your rankings through a migration.
- 01When Contentful fits
- 02What a good build includes
- 03Speed and SEO
- 04Migrating safely
Plan your Contentful build
Talk to a partner about scope, timeline and how we keep your rankings through launch.