Under construction pages

December 01, 2003 | View Comments (10) | Category: Our Thoughts

Summary: How we should be using under construction pages.

Back in the day I worked for someone who always insisted that I put an "under construction page" on pages that were not completed. These could be found all over the web. I haven't really come across any in a while, but I was wondering if they are even valid to have on a site anymore? If the page does not exist should it even be linked to in the first place?

Imagine how frustrating it would be to a user if they were to become enticed by a link to "Everything you need to know about design", only to find when they clicked the link it brought them to an under construction page. The user more than likely will go somewhere else (like whitespace :)) to learn the secrets of design. Is it possible to even get that user back or will they remember your site as being the one that was always under construction?

I can see a use for these pages being used as indexes for domains who do not have finished sites yet. However, I don't think enough information is being given on these pages. Sure it is nice to let me know that you are currently working on the site, but why don't you also let me signup for a notification list or provide an RSS feed?. That not only would keep me aware of your site, but if you provided a couple of updates in regards to the progress you were making that would get me even more excited about your upcoming site.

When I see "Coming Soon" I leave. Sure I may come back a couple of weeks or months later...accidentally, but wouldn't you rather have me come back right when the site goes live?

If you do have a site up, but some pages are missing, then by all means do not provide a link to them. It makes the user's job much easier along with your's because you won't be getting any emails telling you how the sports page is missing. Almost like having a door to a bathroom that leads to nothing but a 50 foot hole.

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Comments

#1

Under Construction pages are so 1995. OMG.

Derek (http://www.twotallsocks.com/)

#2

http://www.donotenter.com/cool/ucgraphics/

Derek (http://www.twotallsocks.com/)

#3

I think ALA handled it nicely while working on their 3.0 version. The "coming soon" page had a link to their archives and give you a general idea of when the new site would be launched.

I don't mind "under construction" pages, but I can't stand when webmasters make use of the dreaded animated GIF of a bulldozer or a construction worker digging a trench in a feeble attempt to drive the point home. See below for some truly horrific examples:

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Bluffs/7745/dsl/ag3.htm

Louis (http://www.clotman.com)

#4

I think in most cases you shouldn't use them. ALA had a special case as there were articles that were once there and needed to be accounted for.

Keith (http://www.7nights.com/asterisk/)

#5

IMNSHO, people with pages that are "Under Construction" should be flayed with a rusty kitchen knife and then beaten with salt-water soaked knotted rope. At least, if they use any of those stupid graphics that seemed moderately clever back in 1995.

Coming soon is fine if you *have* to have something out there and can't manage anything else, but at least give us a paragraph or something and a scheduled launch date and a notification form or something, for the launch of a website.

Linking to an "under construction" page on your site is just ridiculous. If a page is not usable, it should not be linked to. If it's usable but not finished, link to it but don't say it's under construction. If you *have* to let people know it's not done yet, a box with "coming December 23, 2003" (or whatever) and a list of new features to be launched on that date is preferable.

Obviously, things are different for little Mary User's geocities site with cute pictures of her kitten and ten thousand animated gifs than for a business or a site designed by a professional. And one must allow for the business owner's wife factor. eg "My wife said we need to put one of those cute little "under construction" sites on here so people will know we're, you know, under construction."

As one cannot throttle the customer or the customer's spouse and expect to stay in business long, of course, you must choose between convincing them otherwise and just doing it so they'll shut up. Doesn't hurt to leave a disclaimer comment in the source code above and below the image... "the boss's wife has no taste, she made me do this"

:-)

JC (http://www.thelionsweb.com/weblog)

#6

ALA did a good job with their "under construction" pages but I've always found them to be one of the worst things you can have on your site. Personally, I don't want to put up a page unless it has something tangible on it.

Todd (http://www.monkeyhouselounge.com)

#7

No matter where they are found broken links and pages with "under construction" on them are both irritating and a waste of the viewer's time.

Though on the matter of site redesigns, different standards apply for personal and professional websites; my own site has a sentence explaining that the whole site is self-rolled beta software which may break at any time, but when I am designing a site for a company that is totally out of the question - a new site must be made elsewhere and put live at a flick of a switch.

Alex (http://blackcarr.org)

#8

I think one of us should make the distinction between an "under construction" page and a "teaser". I however, am far too lazy to contemplate such details so will instead comment that ALA's temporary homepage was clearly a teaser.

I checked that page religiously, however, and cursed Mr. Zeldman with each daily disappointment. :)

Stephen (http://preschoolprodigy.com)

#9

But the major problem with the ALA teaser was that it hyped people up so much that when the design did come out, which was different than the teaser, a lot of people were disappointed. Teasers can build hype which for any company is a good thing, if they live up to that hype. Under construction pages should no longer exist. Either should coming soon pages without a date or a way to get notified when the page/site is actually coming.

Scrivs (http://www.9rules.com/whitespace/)

#10

The key thing to remember about an "under construction" or "coming soon" page is that by announcing your intent for a future webpage being availabe, you have dually destroyed your chance at a culminating public release. When the site is finally released or ready, the attitude of the visiters will be "its about time" rather than "oh cool, a new section of my favorite website!" You are tying your own rope/marking your own death on the calendar by making empty promises.

Now, that being said, it is okay to "release early, release often." If you have something that you think will be useful, you can entice your audience with a regular upgrade schedule, which will keep them coming back for more, but I think the aforementioned RSS feed suggestion did cover that to some degree.

Dan Allen (http://www.mojavelinux.com)

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