How to Take Advantage of Website Downtime

(Above is my custom "parked page")

You just bought your domain name and your ready to start building your first web page or you have an existing site that desperately needs an update. Your web hosting company will gladly provide you with a parking page full of links that describes your site as being “currently under construction” but don’t use it.

Why? You ask. Well because this is the perfect opportunity to start building a list; a list of potential customers that are interested in your product or service. For existing websites that are being redesigned it serves as a way to keep those still wanting to access your site aware of what is going on and when you will be back. A parked page doesn’t have to be complicated all you need is your company name, who you are, what you do and the fact that you site will be launching soon. Lastly, ask visitors to sign up for an update about the new site (launch date, any other news, etc.).

Don’t ask them to sign up by sending you an email by clicking a link with your email address prominently displayed. This is an opportunity to step into the world of email marketing using tools specifically designed to send your emails and to track them. If you’re totally new to this you may be asking yourself, “Why should I do this?” In part 2 of "How to Take Advantage of Website Downtime", I’ll tell you why.