Temporarily Close a Site for Maintenance
Hello everyone,
I have a quick question about something I have never encountered before, that I need help with. I thank anyone in advance for any assistance they can offer.
I think this is simple but...
I have a customer with a restaurant that asked if I could shut down their site temporarily while they finalize their menu changes. I guess they don't want a mismatch between hard copy and the website. They said they need about a week. I said to them "No problem" and then said to myself, "Oh crap, this is a problem" as I had never done this before. I'm assuming just from my bit of knowledge floating in my head, I could make a new home page that states the Temporary shut down for maintenance dialogue, but then is it a redirect? or what? That's where I'm lost. If you have a solution and it's not a bother, can you write step by step instructions as to what I need to do. I don't want someone to just state that "yes, add a redirect" and leave it at that, because I'm not sure I know how to do that properly, and don't want to bugger something up! I want to do this if possible, without changing or affecting the actual current homepage that I already have for the site. I created their site for them, so doing changes, adding a page etc, is not a problem. I'd like to be able to make a landing page, so when someone enters the url for the restaurant like usual, they come to a page that states the temporary maintenance shutdown but there's the restaurant phone and address, etc. So a custom page if you will.
I'm using Xara Designer Pro X
Thank you,
Tazz
Re: Temporarily Close a Site for Maintenance
Hi Tazz, this sort of interference with a site can cause problems besides those you mention yourself.
One of the biggest problems may be that of search engine ranking. Search engines can take some time parsing your site and ranking it. So removing content, even temporarily for a week, can drop your ranking and take time to re-rank after content is re-added.
As for a method of actually doing so in Xara, it would be to move the page content horizontally off the page and into the pasteboard area. Provided you have Web Options / Website / Clip to Pages Edges selected, nothing on the paste board is published with the site. You can then add temporary content to the page area saying "Under revision" plus contact details etc. Also remember you'll need to do this for all other pages on the site. So again perhaps a single page "menu" would better suit?
Then when the client gives you new content you can delete the temp content, move the old content back on page & amend as required. However bear in mind the SEO issues mentioned above. If your site ranks number one for "Shrimps in Peanut Butter" and you temporarily remove such content (i.e. to change the price) then reintroduce it after a week with an amended price, will the SE still rank it number one? It'd disappeared, how long will it take the SE to re-parse it?
Far better to explain this to your client, arrange a new menu launch date (online & in house) and do it on the same date.
Just my thoughts.
Re: Temporarily Close a Site for Maintenance
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Egg Bramhill
Hi Tazz, this sort of interference with a site can cause problems besides those you mention yourself.
One of the biggest problems may be that of search engine ranking. Search engines can take some time parsing your site and ranking it. So removing content, even temporarily for a week, can drop your ranking and take time to re-rank after content is re-added.
As for a method of actually doing so in Xara, it would be to move the page content horizontally off the page and into the pasteboard area. Provided you have Web Options / Website / Clip to Pages Edges selected, nothing on the paste board is published with the site. You can then add temporary content to the page area saying "Under revision" plus contact details etc.
Then when the client gives you new content you can delete the temp content, move the old content back on page & amend as required. However bear in mind the SEO mentioned above. If your site ranks number one for "Shrimps in Peanut Butter" and you temporarily remove such content (i.e. to change the price) then reintroduce it after a week with an amended price, will the SE still rank it number one?
Far better to explain this to your client, arrange a new menu launch date (online & in house) and do it on te same date.
Just my thoughts.
Egg,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and expertise...all very great points you mention that I will definitely follow. I didn't even consider the SE implications that could occur. I will definitely speak to the client and come up with a plan B.
Tazz
Re: Temporarily Close a Site for Maintenance
I would publish a single page, index with the closed info. Then when you are back up republish the site.
Re: Temporarily Close a Site for Maintenance
Yes, but remember that SE's might also list your other pages Gary and if the client information is not up to date serve up outdated info...
Re: Temporarily Close a Site for Maintenance
Well I am not sure if there is any way to delete archived pages. But to people who go to the web address, they will see a sign down for maintenance.
Re: Temporarily Close a Site for Maintenance
Is'nt the simple solution to just simply change the menu page to read something like contact the restaurant for updated menu, or words to that effect. This way the site stays live without issues.
Re: Temporarily Close a Site for Maintenance
Yes but remember regular visitors will not be automatically be downloading the latest site, but one from their computers cache. So unless these visitors press Ctrl+F5 they still get the old version. At least that's my understanding ...
Re: Temporarily Close a Site for Maintenance
When I visit a regular site I don't press Ctrl+F5 each time. What would be the point in updating your site if all that everyone got was an old version? When I visit a regular site I get an updated version.
Re: Temporarily Close a Site for Maintenance
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Miko
When I visit a regular site I don't press Ctrl+F5 each time. What would be the point in updating your site if all that everyone got was an old version? When I visit a regular site I get an updated version.
The changed page can include an HTML META to force a refresh for everyone.
Acorn