Why is my website broken? - Sarah Abell Works, LLC

It’s easy to start panicking in this situation. Take a deep breath because there are many reasons your website might not be working or broken, and there are just as many strategies for testing and fixing it! Discover what error you have, how to do further testing, and who to contact to get your website back to normal. At the end of this post, I’ve created a glossary of words you might not be familiar with that can give you better insight. Be on the lookout for words highlighted like this, which you can click on to take you to the definition. Post Outline: You might be seeing some of these errors. Is it just a glitch? Here’s how to test and find out. What could cause your website to go down and what to do next. Other questions you might have Glossary

You might be seeing some of these errors

Is a DIY website a good ROI in the long run?

404 Page

SSL (connection is not secure)

Site can’t be reached

Internet issue

Error 521 – Server is down

Under Construction

Is it just a glitch? Here’s how to test and find out.

Check other browsers like Firefox, Safari, Google, etc.
Check a browser in incognito mode – learn how to do this here
Clear your cache and history – learn how to do this here
Ask a friend to check

Avoid breaking your website with this DIY website alternative.

What could cause your website to go down and what to do next

Reasons to contact your hosting or domain provider

Server or Network Issues: The server hosting the website might be experiencing problems or downtime. Hosting or Domain Problems: If there’s an issue with the hosting or Domain Name System (DNS) settings, users might not be able to reach the website. This could be due to expired domain registration or misconfigured records. Overloaded Server: High traffic or a sudden visitor surge can overwhelm the server, causing it to crash or become unresponsive. Configuration Issues: Incorrect server or website configurations can make the site inaccessible. This might involve server settings, firewall rules, or incorrect file permissions. Maintenance or Updates: Scheduled maintenance or updates being performed on the website can temporarily take it offline. Expired Connections: If the hosting, domain, or SSL has expired or hasn’t been paid for, your website can go offline.

Reasons to regenerate a backup of your site

Hacking or Security Breaches: If hackers have compromised a website, it may be taken offline to prevent further damage or to conduct repairs.

Software or Code Errors: Bugs or errors in a website’s code can cause functionality problems or crashes.

Other questions you might have

I spoke with my hosting/domain provider, but I didn’t understand what the issue was.

Sometimes you might speak to someone in support who is very techy. It can be frustrating when you don’t understand or vise versa. Patience is key when interacting with anyone in support so try talking with someone on a different day, allowing ample time to discuss the issue in depth, and be up front with them when you don’t understand.

I didn’t have a backup of my site. I’ve tried getting it back, but sadly it’s gone. What should I do next?

If you haven’t asked your hosting/domain provider yet if they have a backup then do that first. If that doesn’t work, then unfortunately, you are in a moment of learning. Investing in a backup of your website is the first thing I recommend my clients do and is part of the Website Maintenance Plans I offer when their site launches. Websites are not invisible and can break. If you’ve invested a lot of time or money on your website then keeping it alive and well is just as important.

I regenerated a backup of my site, but it’s still broken. Why?

This could be because your site’s backup was created after the problem arrived. Look to see if you have any additional backups you can recall. Ask your hosting/domain provider if they have an older backup than the one you used. If neither of these options provides a solution, please refer to the answer to the question above.

I’ve had my website for some time and never needed an SSL before. What changed?

Search engines like Google are cracking down on websites that don’t have an SSL like never before. A while back, your site would still load without one, and then it transitioned to a white warning page where the user would have to click the Advance button to get to your website. Now, it’s the same white warning page, but there is no Advance button to click. Going forward, an SSL will be required if you want anyone to visit your site. They are easy to get; you may even have one included with your hosting or domain, and it hasn’t been installed. Ask your support team with your hosting or domain provider to install it for you, or sign up for one of my Website Maintenance Plans, and I’ll take care of it for you.

I continue to have problems with my website where I have to contact my hosting/domain provider. Should I switch and how would I do that?

It’s true that some hosting and domain providers can be more frustrating than others, but after dealing with many of them I can say they all have their pros and cons. Before switching, determine if it’s the plan you are on and if you can upgrade so your website runs better or if a different hosting/domain provider has a better option that would solve the problem. Switching your website to a different provider can be done, but in my experience, it is time-consuming and can be frustrating because you’ll most likely need to work with both support teams to ensure everything gets migrated and switched correctly.

What's the downside if my domain, hosting, or SSL expire?

When your audience tries to visit your site and lands on a broken or messed up site, they will see you as unprofessional and careless. A broken website can lead to a ruined reputation with your audience. They will lose trust in your business and be less likely to return or refer you. Domains can be purchased by someone else and can never be recovered. The new owner could potentially create a different kind of business, which could give your business a different reputation if your audience is still trying to visit your old URL.

How concerned should I be that my website might break or break again?

30,000 websites are hacked every day. If you are not working to maintain your website on a regular basis then I would be concerned. If your website has already broken once and you have yet to implement a strategy to prevent it again, then I would be even more concerned.

What steps can I take to prevent my website from breaking in the future?

1. Ensure you have a backup of your site done regularly. 2. If you have integrations on your site, like plugins, keep them up to date. New versions are always being released to keep everything secure. 3. Monitor what activity is taking place on your website so if you need to take extra measures to keep people from hacking, you know when to do that. These are just a few of the benefits I provide in my Website Maintenance Plans. If you don’t feel tech-savvy enough to monitor your site or don’t want to add that to your plate, then discover which plan is right for you.

These are all great questions! If you want more clarity on one of these or have a different question, schedule a call with me. I’d love to chat with you!

I want to chat about my questions

Glossary

Cache A “cache” is a feature that enhances your computer’s browsing speed. When you visit a website regularly, your computer stores images and other data on your hard drive, allowing the pages to load more quickly. However, if the website updates, this stored data can lead to issues.

Clearing the cache instructs your computer to reset all previous data, settings, and activities. It’s similar to the classic troubleshooting method of turning a device off and then back on.

Domain ProviderA domain provider is a service that handles the registration of your domain name, like example.com. These registrars utilize Domain Name System (DNS) records to link your domain with various online services, including websites and email. Some well-known domain registrars are GoDaddy, Squarespace, and IONOS.

If you don’t remember who yours is, a simple way to look this up would be by looking at your billing statements.

Hosting Provider A web hosting provider is a company that helps make websites available on the internet. Websites are made up of different files, like text, images, and videos. These files need to be kept on a server, which is a strong computer that’s always online. A hosting provider gives you the space and resources to store your website files so that people can access them from anywhere in the world.

SSL SSL is a technology that keeps your internet connection safe by encrypting the data exchanged between a website and your browser (or between two servers). This helps stop hackers from accessing or stealing any information, like personal or financial details, during the transfer.

Website Backup A website backup is like making a copy of all the important files and information on your website, just in case something goes wrong. For example, if your website gets hacked or accidentally deleted, a backup allows you to restore everything to how it was before. This usually includes your text, images, and any other content you’ve added. Having regular backups ensures that you don’t lose your hard work and can quickly recover your site if needed.

Why is my website broken or down?