Are you tired of the limitations of Webflow's native slider?

Looking for a way to create a dynamic, responsive testimonial slider that truly showcases your client's feedback?

If so, read on.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of building a custom CMS slider in Webflow that will take your website to the next level.

Sliders are a popular element in web design, and for good reason. They allow you to display multiple pieces of content in a compact, engaging format.

However, Webflow's native slider can be limiting, especially when it comes to creating dynamic content using CMS collections. That's where our custom CMS slider comes in.

Why Create a Custom CMS Slider in Webflow?

Before we dive into the technical details, let's consider why you might want to create a custom CMS slider:

• Greater flexibility in design and functionality
• Ability to use dynamic content from CMS collections
• Enhanced mobile responsiveness
• Improved performance and loading times
• Better control over slider behavior and transitions

Setting Up the Custom Testimonial Slider in Webflow

Step 1: Create a New CMS Collection

First, we need to set up a CMS collection to store our testimonials:

1. Go to the CMS tab in Webflow
2. Click "Create new collection"
3. Name your collection "Testimonials"
4. Add the following fields:    
   • Name (Text)
   • Title (Text)
   • Quote (Multi-line text)
   • Image (Image)
5. Click "Create collection"

Step 2: Import Testimonial Data

To save time, you can import your testimonial data using a CSV file:

1. Prepare a CSV file with columns for Name, Title, Quote, and Image URL
2. In the CMS tab, click "Import"
3. Choose your CSV file and map the fields
4. Review and confirm the import

Step 3: Structure the Slider HTML

Now, let's set up the basic HTML structure for our slider:

1. Add a new section to your page
2. Inside the section, add a div with the class "swiper testimonials"
3. Inside that div, add another div with the class "swiper-wrapper"
4. Add a Collection List inside the wrapper, and connect it to your Testimonials collection
5. Give the Collection List Item the class "swiper-slide"

Styling the Webflow Testimonial Slider

Step 1: Apply Basic Styles

Let's start by applying some basic styles to our slider:

1. Set the swiper-wrapper to display: flex
2. Give the swiper-slide a width of 25% and flex-shrink: 0
3. Set a minimum height for the slides (e.g., 30rem)
4. Apply a background color to the slides
5. Set overflow: hidden on the outer swiper container

Step 2: Structure the Testimonial Content

Inside each swiper-slide, structure your testimonial content:

1. Add an image element for the logo, connected to the CMS image field
2. Add a paragraph for the quote, connected to the CMS quote field
3. Create a div for the name and title
4. Add text elements for the name and title, connected to their respective CMS fields

Step 3: Responsive Design

Make sure your slider looks good on all devices:

1. Use Flexbox to create a vertical layout within each slide
2. Adjust typography and spacing for different screen sizes
3. Use relative units (rem, em, %) for sizing to ensure scalability

Integrating Swiper JS for Enhanced Functionality

Step 1: Add Swiper JS Scripts

To use Swiper JS, we need to add its scripts to our project:

1. Go to your project settings
2. Navigate to the "Custom Code" section
3. In the "Head Code" area, add the Swiper CSS link
4. In the "Body (end) Code" area, add the Swiper JS script

Step 2: Initialize the Slider

Now, let's initialize our slider with some basic settings:

1. Add a new script tag in the "Body (end) Code" section
2. Inside the script, initialize a new Swiper instance
3. Set options like slidesPerView, loop, and centeredSlides
4. Add navigation and pagination if desired

Step 3: Customize Slider Parameters

Fine-tune your slider's behavior:

1. Adjust slidesPerView for different breakpoints
2. Set up autoplay if desired
3. Configure keyboard navigation
4. Customize the space between slides

Fine-tuning the Custom CMS Slider

Step 1: Style Active and Inactive Slides

To create a more dynamic look, let's style the active and inactive slides differently:

1. In Webflow, add a class for "swiper-slide-active"
2. Set the opacity of inactive slides to 70%
3. Adjust the scale or other properties of the active slide if desired

Step 2: Customize Pagination Appearance

Make the pagination match your design:

1. Add custom CSS to change the color and size of pagination bullets
2. Adjust the position of the pagination container
3. Consider using custom SVGs for pagination if it fits your design

Step 3: Mobile Optimization

Ensure your slider works well on mobile devices:

1. Adjust slidesPerView for smaller screens
2. Consider changing the layout or content display for mobile
3. Test touch interactions to ensure smooth swiping

Advanced Customization Techniques

Step 1: Use Custom CSS Properties

Leverage CSS variables for easy styling:

1. Define custom properties for colors, sizes, and other frequently used values
2. Use these properties throughout your slider styles
3. This makes it easier to make global changes to your slider's appearance

Step 2: Override Default Swiper JS Styles

For complete control over your slider's appearance:

1. Inspect the Swiper JS default styles
2. Create custom CSS rules to override these styles
3. Be specific with your selectors to ensure your styles take precedence

Step 3: Implement Keyboard Navigation

Enhance accessibility with keyboard navigation:

1. Enable the keyboard option in your Swiper initialization
2. Test navigation using arrow keys
3. Consider adding custom key bindings for additional functionality

By following these steps, you'll be able to create a custom CMS slider in Webflow that's dynamic, responsive, and tailored to your specific needs. This approach gives you much more flexibility than the native Webflow slider, allowing you to create a truly unique and engaging experience for your website visitors.

Ready to take your no-code skills to the next level? Sign up for No Code MBA at https://nocode.mba/sign-up and learn how to build powerful web applications without writing a single line of code!

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Why should I use a custom CMS slider instead of Webflow's native slider?

A custom CMS slider offers greater flexibility, allows for dynamic content from CMS collections, and provides better control over design and functionality. It's especially useful for creating responsive, mobile-friendly sliders that can be easily updated through the CMS.

Do I need to know how to code to create a custom CMS slider in Webflow?

While some basic understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is helpful, you don't need to be an expert coder. This guide walks you through the process step-by-step, and many of the customizations can be done using Webflow's visual interface.

Can I use this custom CMS slider for other types of content besides testimonials?

Absolutely! The principles and techniques described in this guide can be applied to create sliders for various types of content, such as product showcases, image galleries, or news articles. Simply adjust the CMS collection fields and design to suit your specific needs.

How can I ensure my custom CMS slider performs well on mobile devices?

To optimize for mobile, adjust the slidesPerView setting for smaller screens, ensure touch interactions work smoothly, and consider simplifying the layout or content display for mobile users. Always test your slider on various devices and screen sizes to ensure a consistent experience.

Is it possible to add more advanced features to my custom CMS slider?

Yes, Swiper JS offers many advanced features that you can implement, such as lazy loading, parallax effects, and custom transitions. You can explore the Swiper JS documentation for more options and integrate them into your Webflow project using custom code.