On this page
- 01Key takeaways
- 02Do coming soon pages hurt credibility?
- 03What should a coming soon page include?
- 04Why launch something smaller instead?
- 05What about maintenance during a redesign?
- 06What does this look like in practice?
- 07Coming soon checklist
- 08Next step
- 09Sources and further reading
- 10Frequently asked questions
Key takeaways
A coming soon page is fine for a few weeks before a planned launch. Left up for months, it signals a business that never quite started. If you are trading, launch a small, real site instead: one page with what you do, where, proof if you have it and how to contact you. Small and real beats big and pending.
- A coming soon page should be temporary: weeks, not months.
- If you are trading, a one-page site beats a placeholder.
- Include what you do, where, contact details and a date if known.
- For short outages, use a maintenance status code, not a new page.
Want a credible one-page site while the full one is built? Message us on WhatsApp.
Chat on WhatsApp →Do coming soon pages hurt credibility?
They can. A buyer who searches for you and finds 'Under construction' wonders whether the business is real or ready. The longer it stays, the worse it looks, especially if the page shows an old date. For a business already taking customers, a placeholder sends them to competitors who look ready.
What should a coming soon page include?
If you use one, make it useful.
- Your business name, logo and a one-line description of what you do.
- Where you work and who you serve.
- A phone number, email or WhatsApp link.
- A launch month if you know it, and a sign-up option.
- Company details if you are already incorporated.
Why launch something smaller instead?
A small, finished site earns credibility from day one, starts building search history and gives you something to send customers. You can add pages as you go. A one-page site with real photos, a clear offer and contact details is more credible than a beautiful site that does not exist yet.
- How much does a business website cost in the UK?
- Website credibility quick wins you can make this week
Want a small launch site with room to grow? Message us on WhatsApp and we will discuss your requirements.
Chat on WhatsApp →What about maintenance during a redesign?
Do not replace a working site with a coming soon page during a redesign. Build the new site on a staging copy and switch over when ready. For short planned outages, Google advises returning a 503 status so search engines know it is temporary. Taking a site offline for long can affect its search visibility.
What does this look like in practice?
A pattern we see: a new firm puts up a 'launching soon' page while waiting for a full site. Six months later it is still there, and early customers find nothing to send their friends. A one-page site with services, area and phone number, launched in a week, would have served from the start.
Coming soon checklist
- Keep it up for weeks, not months.
- Include what you do, where and how to contact you.
- Launch a small real site if you are already trading.
- Never replace a live site during a redesign.
- Use a 503 status for short outages.
Next step
If your coming soon page has been up for more than a month, replace it with a one-page site this week.
Message us on WhatsApp for a launch plan, or book a 30-minute consultation.
Chat on WhatsApp →Sources and further reading
- Temporarily pause or disable a website · Google Search Central
- Stanford guidelines for web credibility · Stanford Web Credibility Project
- Google Search Essentials · Google Search Central
Frequently asked questions
Is an under construction page bad?
Briefly, before launch, it is fine. Left up for months, it makes a business look unready or inactive. If you are already trading, a simple one-page site with what you do and how to contact you is more credible.
What should I put on a coming soon page?
Your name and logo, a one-line description of what you do, where you work, a contact route, a launch month if known and a way to register interest. Avoid a page with only a logo and a countdown.
Does a coming soon page affect SEO?
A thin placeholder will not rank for much. For temporary outages of an existing site, Google advises returning a 503 status. Long periods offline or with placeholder content can reduce search visibility.
Written by
Global Bridge Labs (GBL) is a UK–Sri Lanka partner for social media, websites and BPO. Everything here comes from client delivery, not theory.
