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Creating an Under Construction page, or a Coming Soon website page is a straightforward process that involves creating a temporary page to inform visitors that your website is currently being worked on. The landing page Under Construction, then becomes the placeholder for your future website.
It acts as a placeholder used to block the public from viewing of your website while it is still being built or tested on the hosting server. These placeholders are usually put in place when a domain is parked with a provider until the owner is ready to use it, this is called “Domain Parking“.
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to create an Under Construction page for your website, along with other useful information.
Table of Contents
Default Pages
Default pages are standard web pages that are automatically displayed by a web server under certain circumstances and are commonly used to manage specific situations or errors.
Default pages that all servers will initially look for to display on screen when accessing your website, in order of priority, are as follows:
- index.htm
- index.html
- index.php
- default.htm
Steps to create an Under Construction page
- Log in to your Hosted.com account
- Go to your cPanel.
- Go to the File Manager and find the root folder (if it’s the main domain, use the “public HTML” folder).
- Click on “New File” and give it a name like “underconstruction.html”.
- Hit that “Create New File” button.
Editing your Under Construction page
- Select the filename you just created and click on “HTML Editor.”
- Design the page and make certain to include all your contact info and a short paragraph about your company and products.
Don’t forget to save it!
Change the default index page via the .htaccess file
The .htaccess file can modify how your website behaves.
- In the File Manager, click on “Web Root” (if you have addon domains, use the dropdown and select the right domain name).
- Tick the box to “Show Hidden Files.”
- Click “Go”.
- Now, right-click on the .htaccess file and select “Edit.”
- Paste the following code at the beginning of the file (use your filename, like “underconstruction.html”):
#Alternate default index page
DirectoryIndex underconstruction.html - Save your changes.
To be sure everything is working, give it a test online.
An additional tip about the .htaccess file
You can add more filenames to the code we just used. The server will check them in order from left to right. Here is an example:
#Alternate default index page
DirectoryIndex underconstruction.html index.htm index.html index.php default.htm
That’s it! Your Coming Soon or Under Construction page is ready.
Additional Information:
Features for Your Under Construction Page
Use Clear Messaging
Ensure that your Under Construction page coherently communicates that the website is undergoing maintenance or being built. Include an apology for the inconvenience and estimated completion time, if necessary.
Add Contact Information
Provide contact information or a support email address for visitors who may need urgent assistance or have inquiries during the maintenance.
Make It Visually Appealing
Use an attractive design that aligns with your website or company’s branding. A simple color scheme and graphics to make the page more engaging will go a long way.
Include Subscription Option
Invite visitors to subscribe to updates or newsletters from your business or website. You can use this to update visitors when your site is back online or update your database.
Social Media Links
If your business has a presence on social platforms, provide links to your profiles. Social media can be an alternative platform for updates and engagement during maintenance.
Use A Countdown Timer
If you have an estimated time for when the website will be online, consider adding a countdown timer.
Prioritize Getting Back Online
Remember that an under construction page is a temporary solution, so prioritize getting your main website back online as soon as possible. Keep users informed and engaged throughout the maintenance process.
