Website not working? Have you already got a web presence that does not make your phone ring?
A web presence that generates no calls, no sales, no orders or business. Having a web presence is not the same as having a good website. Singing in the shower will not get you on X-factor, you have to be seen & heard, maybe audition a few times.
There are lots of simple reasons for this poor performance. The most common include:
- The website has been created by someone who has the talent or skillset to make text & images appear at a location on the web where you can find them, but nobody else can.
- The website has not been registered with search engines.
- Poor SEO Search Engine Optimisation, so it is not getting found by potential clients.
- The Content of the site does not encourage visitors to buy or do anything.
- Poor content writing or imagery, overuse of AI tools.
- The Developer does not understand your business and cannot therefore make the website work well.
- The Developer does not have a relationship with the Client, so the site is not updated with useful content.
- The site is a Static low cost web presence that delivers equally low quality returns.
- The site is not optimised for Mobile search using Thin Clients such as Smart Phones & tablets.
- Content is poorly laid out making the site difficult to navigate.
- Poor CTAs calls to action
- Poor flow from item to item, page to page
- The site is slow to deliver, images are too big
- The site has dead links or 404s
- Pop Ups appear that irritate visitors & reduce rankings.
- Digital Marketing is required
- You have no current or ongoing support plan
Bottom line – a good website has to be easily found, look good, deliver fast, be easy to understand & navigate, have loads of clear Calls to Action and be interesting – it is not a book, a manual or an autobiography. Think about how visitors get there, what they want and how can you give it to them. Make their shopping experience work for them smoothly, with adequate signposting and answers to questions.
Website Not Working? If you have a site that does not work well, get a new Web Partner, tweak the site or get a new one. Make mistakes and learn, but do not sit and moan. Work at the presentation in the same way as you would with a Bricks & Mortar business. A poor site will not get better as it gets older – age is terminal.
If the website does not even appear what is wrong?
10 reasons your website is not loading. There are technical issues that may explain why your website is not appearing and they include:
Computer
before you go looking for a complicated reason, try restarting your browser and ensure that you have internet connection and then restart your computer.
Browser issue
try looking for the site on another tab in Chrome and try Internet Explorer or Firefox as well.
Domain
Check that you have paid for your domain and that it is in your name, in your control and maybe set it up to auto renew on your credit card.
DNS settings
Domain Name Server settings include an IP address to which you point your domain name as in www.meanit.ie points to our hosting so we enter the IP number for the hosting service, like a telephone number in the DNS settings – get the number from your hosting provider.
Hosting
Have you paid for hosting in your own name or is there any issue with your account?
Hacking
Has your site been hacked ? When did you last do security updates? Who does that for you?
Server issue
The server or computer where your website is hosted may be down temporarily – they do get rebooted occasionally.
Server blacklisted
If you are on shared hosting, the server may be blacklisted because of one of the other websites. There could be a security or content issue or maybe that website has not been updated.
Content overload
You may have added some very large media files, images or video, which could be affecting the delivery of the website.
www – TLD settings
Try searching without the www and also with it, just in case the settings need to be changed.
Website Support Plan
You have no ongoing website support plan in place with your web partner.
Warning: Most companies fall out with their web developer, because having bought a website they expect support to be included, when it was never billed or agreed. Most web developers go bust trying to appease dissatisfied clients, doing work for which they never billed. Neither party benefits from the web developer closing down, both suffer and the client has to start all over again with a new web partner. It does not have to be that way – get a dependable web partner and work together to grow your business. Just like a power failure in your area, it is not a problem, when you are prepared for it.
FAQS about Website not woking
Is my website down for everyone or just our office?
Start with a neutral status check using a third-party tool such as an uptime monitor or a public outage tracker. If it shows “up” then it is likely local to your device, browser, router, office VPN, or ISP. If it shows “down” ask your host to confirm server health, DNS, SSL, and firewall status. Note any client-facing deadlines or hearings so the host can prioritise restoration.
The site works on mobile data but not on our office machines. What now?
That pattern usually points to local caching or DNS.
• Clear browser cache and cookies.
• Reboot the device and router.
• Flush DNS on the device.
• Temporarily disable VPN or security software to test.
If the site then loads, whitelist the domain on your office firewall. This comes up in city offices more often due to stricter network rules.
How do we handle location signals without stuffing place names?
Keep headings neutral. Use modest signals: structured data with service areas, footer address, a few internal links to relevant local pages, and occasional references in case studies. Keep it natural across Dublin, Donegal, Letterkenny and nearby counties without lists of towns.
Do CDNs help small and mid-sized construction, finance and legal firms?
Yes. A CDN reduces time to first byte and smooths traffic spikes from campaigns or press. It also adds edge caching and basic DDoS protection. The trade-off is another layer to manage. Keep origin access locked down and document purge procedures for urgent content changes.
What does a “500 Internal Server Error” mean for a firm site?
It is a server-side fault, often triggered by a recent change. Common causes: a corrupted .htaccess file, PHP memory limits, or a plugin/theme conflict. Ask your host to check error logs, raise PHP memory if needed, and roll back the last change. For regulated pages and fee notes, hold edits until the cause is fixed.
What is the quickest way to check loading speed without a full audit?
Run Google PageSpeed Insights. Note Core Web Vitals on mobile first. Prioritise the top three fixes it lists, typically image compression, script deferral, and server response time. For project galleries and judgment PDFs, serve images in modern formats and lazy-load media.
How do we spot signs of a hack or malware early?
Watch for odd search snippets, surprise redirects, unfamiliar admin users, changed file timestamps, or host warnings. If suspected, change all credentials, run a server-side scanner, restore from a clean backup, and rotate API keys. Notify stakeholders if client data or filings could be affected. Submit a clean-up request to search engines once fixed.
Our site is up but contact forms and file uploads fail. Where do we look?
Test SMTP delivery, spam filters, and attachment limits. For tender portals or secure document intake, confirm SSL, DKIM, SPF, and DMARC. Ask the host for delivery logs. Add a visible fallback email and a phone CTA on key pages until forms are stable.
How often should we back up and test restores?
Daily off-site backups for the database, weekly full snapshots for code and media, and a quarterly restore test. For case updates and portfolio news, consider twice-daily database backups during busy periods. Keep at least one backup outside your primary host.
What uptime and response targets make sense for a professional firm such as Solicitors & Financial Advisors firms??
Aim for 99.9% monthly uptime, response to critical incidents within 30 minutes during office hours, and defined out-of-hours cover for urgent matters. Agree a short change-freeze before major filings or tender deadlines, then schedule updates for quieter windows.
