How to build a Webflow member directory with 5k+ records that allows profile editing without impacting site performance or requiring a photo upload? Answered

Post author
Abbey Burtis

I’m looking to build a member directory with 5k+ records (and growing). I love Memberstack’s template, but given Webflow CMS limitations, it appears that won’t be the right solution for us as it will significantly impact site performance.

We’re currently using Airtable, which at the 5k mark and limited editing abilities for members, is no longer serving us.

Has anyone used a “plug and play” app or tool (other than Airtable) for something like this? Below are our high level requirements:

  • Members can edit their profile
  • Include 5-10 fields, plus a photo
  • Ability to filter and keyword search
  • They can access their profile with their Memberstack login and don’t have to create a separate account

Comments

11 comments

  • Comment author
    Oliver

    Hey Abbey, we got something similar. We Build a Onlineplattform for Creators and Brands where

    • Members can edit their profile(Webflow, Memberstack and or Zapier/Airtable)
    • Include 5-10 fields, plus a photo(Webflow, Memberstack and or Zapier/Airtable)
    • Ability to filter and keyword search(jetboost)
    • They can access their profile with their Memberstack login and don’t have to create a separate account(Webflow, Memberstack and or Zapier/Airtable)

    Maybe this can help you a little, if you have any questions, don't hesitate 🙂 good evening(germany^^)

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  • Comment author
    Raquel Lopez

    Hi Abbey

    If I understand correctly, the issue is that you're using Airtable as a database but it has a 5k row limit that you reached... so you are looking to expand (or migrate), to something that allows you to storage more than 5k rows I would presume 🤔

    I'm not sure there's an easy answer for you. I'm not familiar with which template you're referring to, maybe it would help for you to share it to understand a little bit more about the structure of the data that you wanna store... but at the top of my mind it I can think up two "kinda plug and play" solutions.

    1. Use a database directly. You can build MongoDB instance and use Make as a backend to connect to it. Member profile data can be store directly on Memberstack using json or customFields.
    2. Using Firebase (or any headless CMS), it's another database with a more graphical interface. I believe you can also connect directly using Make or using their custom API. Pricing is a little tricky tho you can use their calculator to estimate how much you should be paying monthly (they have a free tier as well).

    Both solutions can be integrated with Memberstack so the users don't have to create separate accounts. Remember every time you run a scenario it's counts toward your allowed operation limits in Make in case you decide to use it.

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  • Comment author
    Abbey Burtis

    Thank you Raquel! Re: the 5k limit, the limit is related to Webflow, not Airtable. Airtable just isn’t the best solution for this as it’s difficult for members to edit their profile (we currently have to do it for them--we tried extensions in the past but it was meh). It seems like going the database route is our best option.

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  • Comment author
    Raquel Lopez

    I wonder how are you using Airtable then? Do you keep a mirror of you Webflow CMS DB in Airtable?
    And you only need the users to be able to edit their profile data? Or is there any other collection involved? 🤔

    0
  • Comment author
    Abbey Burtis

    It’s just an airtable view, not connected to Webflow or anything currently

    0
  • Comment author
    Raymond
    @Abbey Maybe these might help..
     
    Scalability and flexibility seems to be top priority here.
     
    You could explore Xano for the database and to write custom APIs and javascript for when users edit profile, it  update user data on memberstack
     
    If you are using webflow form for the profile page, it might be possible enable edit using custom code and to use zapier or Make to update member profile data after an edit on airtable and memberstack using the members ID.
     
    I was researching Contentful and Hygraph headless CMS recently, they both have robust Rest APIs, so it might be possible to connect them with Memberstack; that’s if you are looking for standalone database / CMS and have the budget.
     
    The filter and keyword search, it could be possible to use finsweet Attribute APIs to query the database where the contents are stored and display the result on webflow
    1
  • Comment author
    Abbey Burtis

    Thank you all for sharing! I will dig into these options a bit more.

    0
  • Comment author
    Nick lamela

    having to plan out the exact same thing. I am planning on either firebase or xano

    0
  • Comment author
    Boggan null

    Hi guys, how are you doing?

    I have a question, it allows me to change the First and Last Name ONLY when I update the profile picture.

    If I enter the form and I only want to change the name or something else it does not send me the request.

    Do you know why?

    When a user upload a photo a litle long the formar of the image broke a lit
    How can I limit it so that it is always round 360 and does not get bigger?
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  • Comment author
    A J

    Hey Boggan null, it is generally advisable to keep the profile picture update component outside of the Profile update form. So you can do that particular change just in case.

    If it doesn't solve it, can you share your site so that I can test this form from my end?

    Broken images - This has to do with how you have styled the image in webflow. You can explore the styling options of this image component to ensure it has a fixed width, height as per your requirement.

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  • Comment author
    Duncan from Memberstack

    Hey mate! You ar rigth, the change works!

    Aweslme, thanks x all mate!

    0

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