Maintenance mode

Maintenance mode replaces your whole site with a single, simple page carrying a title and a message of your choosing.

It is the shutter on your shop: nothing is visible any more, except your notice.

When to use it

• During a complete rebuild of your site, so nobody sees a building site.
• During a long absence, if you do not want to receive appointment requests.
• If you stop practising temporarily.

For an ordinary holiday where you want to stay reachable, do not use it. Block the dates in your calendar instead: see Holidays and time off.

Turning maintenance mode on

1. Go to Websites → Site settings.

2. Scroll right down to the « Maintenance mode » section.

3. Read the orange box headed Important — read before enabling.

4. First fill in the two fields of the page that will be shown:

   - Page title — for instance We'll be back soon.

   - Description — for instance The practice is closed until 15 September. For emergencies, call 079 123 45 67.

5. Flip the switch to the right of « Maintenance mode »: it changes from Disabled to Enabled.

6. Click « Save settings », at the top right.

What exactly happens

On the other hand:

• your dashboard works normally, you can keep working;
• the editor preview is not affected, you still see your pages as they will be;
• nothing is deleted: your pages, text and photos are untouched.

Writing your message well

Your visitor wants to know two things: when you are back and how to reach you meanwhile. Give them both.

Good example:

Bad example:

The second message says nothing: the visitor leaves and looks for another professional.

Checking that it really is on

When maintenance mode is on, an orange « Maintenance » badge appears:

• in the left menu, next to Websites;
• at the top of your dashboard.

It is the reminder that your site is closed to the public. It is deliberately visible: you do not forget a shutter that is down.

Turning maintenance mode off

1. Go to Websites → Site settings.

2. Scroll to « Maintenance mode ».

3. Flip the switch to Disabled.

4. Click « Save settings ».

Your site becomes visible again immediately, exactly as before. The orange badge disappears.