Updating Your Live Site

Overview

After publishing a website, you’ll likely continue making updates over time. These updates may include content changes, design improvements, SEO optimizations, bug fixes, or entirely new pages.

In Framer, changes made inside the editor are not immediately visible to visitors. Updates remain in draft mode until you publish them, giving you full control over when changes go live.

This guide explains how live updates work, how to publish changes safely, and the best practices for maintaining a live website.

What Counts as a Live Update?

A live update is any change that affects the published version of your website.

Common examples include:

• Content edits

• CMS updates

• Design improvements

• SEO optimizations

• New pages

• Navigation updates

• Form changes

• Bug fixes

• Image replacements

• Performance improvements

Once published, these changes become visible to visitors.

How Live Updates Work

Framer uses a draft-to-publish workflow.

The process typically follows this structure:

Edit Website
↓
Save Changes
↓
Preview
↓
Publish
↓
Live Website Updates

Edit Website
↓
Save Changes
↓
Preview
↓
Publish
↓
Live Website Updates

Edit Website
↓
Save Changes
↓
Preview
↓
Publish
↓
Live Website Updates

Changes made inside the editor remain private until a new publish occurs.

This allows you to review updates before making them public.

Understanding Draft Mode

While editing your website, all changes remain in the project workspace.

Visitors continue seeing the previously published version until you publish again.

This separation helps prevent accidental changes from appearing on the live website.

Common Website Updates

Updating Text Content

Content updates are among the most common website changes.

Examples include:

• Correcting information

• Improving messaging

• Updating pricing

• Revising product descriptions

• Refreshing marketing copy

Even small content improvements can have a meaningful impact on user experience.

Updating Images

Visual assets often require updates over time.

Examples include:

• New branding assets

• Updated team photos

• Portfolio additions

• Better quality images

• Seasonal campaign graphics

Before publishing new images:

• Compress files

• Check dimensions

• Verify mobile responsiveness

Optimized images help maintain website performance.

Updating SEO Settings

SEO updates can improve visibility in search engines.

Common changes include:

• Page titles

• Meta descriptions

• URLs and slugs

• Open Graph images

• Heading structure

• Internal links

Review SEO settings whenever significant content changes are made.

Updating Navigation

Navigation updates help visitors find content more easily.

Examples include:

• Adding new pages

• Reorganizing menus

• Updating footer links

• Improving site structure

Always verify navigation after publishing changes.

Updating CMS Content

CMS-powered websites can be updated directly through collections.

Common CMS updates include:

• Blog articles

• Case studies

• Team profiles

• Resources

• Testimonials

Once published, connected pages automatically reflect the updated content.

Updating Dynamic Pages

Dynamic pages rely on CMS content and templates.

Common updates include:

• New CMS entries

• Content revisions

• SEO improvements

• Image replacements

• Category changes

Always review dynamic pages after publishing to ensure content displays correctly.

Safe Update Workflow

Following a consistent workflow reduces the risk of publishing errors.

Step 1: Create a Backup

Before making major changes, create a duplicate version of the project.

Backups are especially useful for:

• Redesigns

• Large content migrations

• Navigation changes

• CMS restructuring

Having a backup makes it easier to recover if something goes wrong.

Step 2: Review All Changes

Before publishing:

• Check layouts

• Review content

• Verify responsiveness

• Confirm image quality

A final review often catches issues that were missed during editing.

Step 3: Test Responsive Layouts

Always preview your website on:

• Desktop

• Tablet

• Mobile

Responsive issues frequently appear after content changes, especially when working with dynamic content.

Step 4: Check Links

Verify that:

• Navigation links work

• Buttons point to the correct destinations

• Internal links are valid

• External links open properly

Broken links negatively affect both user experience and SEO.

Step 5: Publish Changes

Once everything has been reviewed:

Publish

Publish

Publish

Your updated version will replace the previously published website.

Post-Publish Checklist

Publishing should not be the final step.

After updates go live, review the live website directly.

Check:

• Layouts

• Navigation

• CMS content

• Images

• Forms

• Mobile responsiveness

This helps identify issues that may not appear in preview mode.

Monitoring Website Performance

After major updates, review overall website performance.

Important areas include:

• Page loading speed

• Image rendering

• Mobile usability

• Form functionality

• Dynamic content loading

Regular monitoring helps maintain a high-quality user experience.

Testing Forms

Forms are frequently overlooked after updates.

Always verify:

• Form submissions work

• Confirmation messages appear

• Notifications are received

• Required fields behave correctly

A broken contact form can result in missed opportunities.

Testing Dynamic Content

For CMS-powered websites, review:

• Dynamic pages

• CMS lists

• Filters

• Sorting rules

• Category pages

Confirm that new content appears correctly after publishing.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Publishing Without Testing

Many issues can be avoided with a simple preview review.

Always test before publishing.

Ignoring Mobile Layouts

Desktop layouts may look perfect while mobile layouts contain spacing or overflow issues.

Review every major update on smaller screens.

Replacing Optimized Images

Uploading large image files can negatively impact:

• Page speed

• Mobile performance

• User experience

Optimize media before publishing.

Updating URLs Without Planning

Changing slugs can affect:

• Existing links

• Search rankings

• Shared URLs

Review URL changes carefully before publishing.

Making Multiple Major Changes at Once

Publishing many large updates simultaneously can make troubleshooting difficult.

Whenever possible:

• Test changes in stages

• Publish incrementally

• Verify results after each update

Best Practices

• Publish updates regularly

• Create backups before major changes

• Test desktop, tablet, and mobile layouts

• Verify navigation and links

• Optimize images before uploading

• Review dynamic content after publishing

• Monitor website performance

• Check forms and interactive elements

• Maintain a consistent publishing workflow

Frequently Asked Questions

Do changes go live immediately while editing?

No. Changes remain in draft mode until you publish the website.

Do CMS updates require publishing?

In most cases, yes. Review and publish changes to ensure updates appear on the live website.

Should I test mobile layouts after every update?

Yes. Responsive issues are among the most common website problems.

Can I update content without redesigning pages?

Yes. CMS content can be updated independently from the page design.

Should I create backups before making major changes?

Absolutely. Backups provide a safety net and make recovery much easier if problems occur.

Related Articles

• How to Publish Your Site

• Connecting a Custom Domain

• What Is Framer CMS?

• Updating CMS Content

• Dynamic Pages Explained

• Page Speed Optimization