How to check if your website is down

Have you ever typed your web address into a browser only to find it doesn’t load, yet other websites are fine? You frantically call your friendly neighbourhood web designer who checks it out and discovers that the website is displaying just fine everywhere else in the world–except in your locale.

Without getting into too many boring technical details about how this happens, is there a way you can see if your website is really down?

Here are a couple options:

1. IsUp.Me
   Our hosting provider Site5 set up this sweet little site where you can type in your web address and check to see if it loads properly. You don’t even need to be a Site5 customer to use the service. http://www.isup.me
2. Net Rendering Engine
   Despite its complicated name, this site does something very simple. It takes a screenshot of your website then shows you what it looks like in a variety of different browsers. This site is based in Germany so, as long as you aren’t in Germany, it’s pretty safe to say that your website is down if it can’t grab a screenshot.
3. Host Provider Check
   Some web host providers will check your site as part of their customer service. Our provider Site5 provides public uptime reports on all servers in real time. You can check to see if your server is having trouble without even having to call tech support!

Mystery solved.

SmokySweet

SmokySweet

Client: SmokySweet

Need: Custom design for a popular food blog of gastronome in Vancouver.

Proposal: A minimalist website design that doesn’t compete with the content it is featuring.

Concept: A photo-centric design where images take center stage.

Solution: A WordPress-based website featuring fixed navigation allowing for long scrolling pages of photos but never loses site of the navigation providing better usability without large menu bars.

Result: Improved use of photo heavy content, Latest featured post for popular categories and improved functionality to display advertising across the site.