If you’re like most business owners, you put a lot of time and effort into your website. It’s the face of your business, and it’s important to make sure it looks good and functions properly. That’s why it’s so frustrating when your website is down for maintenance or construction.
You probably know that using an “under construction” page is not the best solution, but you may not know why. In this blog post, we will discuss the reasons why you should never use an “under construction” page on your website.
Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why you should never use an “under construction” page on your website:
Reasons To Not Use an Under Construction Page
1.) It makes your business look unfinished
One of the main problems with using an “under construction” page is that it makes your business look unfinished. Potential customers and clients will see this page and think that you don’t care about your website or your business. They may even assume that your business is not legitimate.
What do you think when you come across a website that’s “under construction”? Chances are, you don’t think very highly of that company. You may even be reluctant to do business with them.
2.) It’s bad for SEO
Another reason you should never use an “under construction” page is that it’s bad for your SEO. Google takes into account how often your website is down for maintenance or construction. If you have an “under construction” page up, it will lower your ranking in Google search results.
Imagine you have spent time and money optimizing your website for Google search results. Then, you suddenly put the page under construction… All of that work will go to waste.
Google will also take note of how many people leave your website after seeing the “under construction” page. If a lot of people immediately leave your website, it will lower your ranking even further.
Can we really blame Google for this? No one wants to do land on a page that isn’t working properly. It’s Google’s job to provide the best search results possible, and an “under construction” page does not help them in that regard.
3.) It’s unprofessional
Finally, using an “under construction” page is unprofessional. It makes you look like you don’t know what you’re doing and that you’re not serious about your business. This is not the image you want to portray to potential customers and clients. In fact, it may even scare them away.
This can hurt your brand for years to come. If you’re not taken seriously as a business, it will be difficult for you to make sales and grow your company.
4.) People don’t need to be told
There isn’t usually a need for people to be told that a website is under construction. Simply make changes slowly and update your visitors when you’re done. Putting an “under construction” page up will only frustrate people and make them think that you don’t care about your website or business.
5.) You help your competition
If your website is down for maintenance or construction, you’re essentially giving your competition a free pass. They can swoop in and take all of your potential customers while you’re offline. This could mean the difference between winning and losing business.
The longer your website is down, the more business your competition will take from you. With each day you’re offline, you’re losing potential customers and revenue. That’s why we recommend that you never use an “under construction” page on your website.
Alternatives to Using an Under Construction Page
There are several alternatives to using an “under construction” page on your website. Let’s take a look at some of them…
1.) Don’t make your website live until it’s ready
The best way to avoid using an “under construction” page is to not make your website live until it’s ready. Don’t put up any content or launch your website until it’s finished and looks the way you want it to look. This will prevent you from having to use an “under construction” page.
2.) Give a small amount of information on the page
If you have to put up a page while your website is under construction, you can give a small amount of information on the page. This will let potential customers and clients know that your website is down for maintenance or construction, without making it look like you don’t care about your business.
You could also leave your contact information on the page so potential customers can get in touch with you with any questions or concerns.
3.) Direct visitors to other areas of your website
Another alternative to using an “under construction” page is to direct visitors to other areas of your website. You can do this by creating a banner or text link that will take people to another part of your website. This will keep them from seeing the “under construction” page and it will also help you with your SEO.
4.) Notification bar
Another option is to use a notification bar. This will let people know that your website is down for maintenance or construction, without taking up too much space on the page. It can be a great way to keep people updated on the status of your website in a discreet way that won’t impact SEO.
Final Thoughts on Not Using Under Construction Pages
In conclusion, there are several reasons why you should never use an “under construction” page on your website. It makes your business look unfinished, it’s bad for SEO, and it’s unprofessional.
There are several alternatives to using an “under construction” page, so there’s no need to put up a page that will only frustrate potential customers and clients. Our favorite alternative is to simply not make your website live until it’s ready. This will prevent you from having to use an “under construction” page and it will also help you with your SEO.
You could also direct visitors to other areas of your website or use a notification bar. Whichever option you choose, make sure that it’s something that will keep people informed on the status of your website. Thanks for reading!