Search
Enter at least two characters without personal information.

    LibraryArticles & FAQ Your projectRequest a quote
    LanguageEN
    Practical resources

    Practical guides to create, improve and maintain a website

    Start with a specific problem: an enquiry that never arrives, a less visible page, a redesign or a language version to prepare. Each guide helps you define what to observe, check and hand over before deciding.

    Documents and page layouts arranged on a desk
    6 starting points

    Which problem are you trying to understand?

    Choose a situation close to yours. These routes suggest a reading order and checks rather than diagnosing your website remotely. You can then explore the full library.

    Form enquiries have stopped arriving

    What to observe first

    Record the page, test time and difference between the displayed message and actual receipt. Use a test reference with no customer data.

    Reading order

    1. Design a contact form that genuinely helps

      Check what the form asks for and its error states.

    2. Verify that website emails actually arrive

      Follow delivery through to the intended inbox.

    3. Manage website enquiries after submission

      Clarify who assigns and handles received enquiries.

    A page appears to have lost search visibility

    What to observe first

    Identify a page and comparable periods, then separate indexing, impressions, clicks and enquiries. Record known website changes.

    Reading order

    1. Diagnose a page missing from Google

      Understand the page’s access and indexing state.

    2. Review website visibility in Search Console

      Review pages and queries using comparable filters.

    3. Prioritise website repairs using evidence

      Prioritise corrections based on the observations.

    A redesign is being considered

    What to observe first

    Identify what needs changing and what still works: useful pages, old addresses, approved content and enquiry journeys.

    Reading order

    1. How to write a website brief that helps decisions

      Define the need and intended first release.

    2. Migrate a website without losing useful content

      Prepare destinations for content and old addresses.

    3. A practical website prelaunch checklist

      Check journeys before and after the switch.

    Information is becoming inconsistent or outdated

    What to observe first

    Choose a specific fact, its occurrences and the person who can confirm it. Distinguish outdated information from a claim of unknown origin.

    Reading order

    1. Organize website content for long-term use

      Assign publishing and update responsibilities.

    2. Verify sources and evidence in web content

      Find supporting evidence and understand its scope.

    3. Retire or archive outdated website content

      Decide what to correct, merge or remove.

    Another language version needs publishing

    What to observe first

    List the affected pages, form messages, menus and conditions. Identify a competent reviewer and the information actually adapted to the intended audience.

    Reading order

    1. Plan a multilingual website that keeps its meaning

      Plan languages, addresses and content ownership.

    2. Quality-check website translations beyond words

      Check pages and a complete journey in each published language.

    Website recovery and upkeep need preparation

    What to observe first

    Identify accounts, providers and essential functions. Record what is known about available copies and their last verification.

    Reading order

    1. Maintain a website after launch

      Define follow-up work and responsibilities.

    2. Test website restoration before an incident

      Verify restoration in an isolated environment.

    3. Take over or hand over a website with confidence

      Organise access, instructions and account information.

    Explore the full library →

    102 practical guides

    Plan, test and improve a useful website

    102 guides

    Illustration of website project planning: How to write a website brief that helps decisions Plan

    How to write a website brief that helps decisions

    A useful website brief makes proposals comparable and gives everyone a shared way to decide whether the work is complete. It explains the expected result, real constraints and the checks that will prove delivery.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: How to choose and prepare website images Visuals

    How to choose and prepare website images

    A useful image shows an activity, person, place, product or step that the text alone cannot convey as clearly. Select it for the page and the visitor’s question before editing or compressing the file.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: A practical website prelaunch checklist Verify

    A practical website prelaunch checklist

    Prelaunch testing follows the tasks visitors will actually try to complete. It finds blockers before publication, supports a clear release decision and keeps a record of what was checked.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Maintain a website after launch Maintain

    Maintain a website after launch

    Services, contact details, software and visitor expectations change. A short regular review finds problems before customers do.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Improve website performance page by page Performance

    Improve website performance page by page

    A fast website helps when information and actions remain available without waiting or unexpected movement. Measure the pages that matter before shrinking files at random.

    Read the guide
    A person points at markers on a tablet map inside a flower-filled shop. Local presence

    Plan an honest and useful local web presence

    Someone searching nearby wants to know whether you can really help, under what conditions and how to contact you. Local information should answer those questions without pretending there is an office.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Organize website content for long-term use Content

    Organize website content for long-term use

    A complete website depends less on publishing frequency than on content that remains reliable, easy to find and maintain. A simple process prevents abandoned pages and conflicting versions.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Choose a CMS around your team’s real work CMS

    Choose a CMS around your team’s real work

    The right content management system is one your team can use, maintain and leave on known terms. Start with publishing tasks, then examine costs and responsibilities.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Design a contact form that genuinely helps Forms

    Design a contact form that genuinely helps

    A useful form lets someone explain a request without unnecessary effort and understand what follows. Judge it by the complete journey, not the button click.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Test website restoration before an incident Recovery

    Test website restoration before an incident

    A backup matters when it can return the expected content and functions to service. A controlled rehearsal reveals missing files, overlooked dependencies and the actual time needed.

    Read the guide
    Two people comparing a website on a laptop with a printed inventory beside an external drive. Handover

    Take over or hand over a website with confidence

    A handover succeeds when the receiving team can publish, maintain, back up and develop the website. A list of passwords alone cannot explain dependencies or operating tasks.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Validate structured data on a website Structured data

    Validate structured data on a website

    Valid markup cannot repair an inaccurate page. Start with what visitors see, then inspect the code, identifiers and any eligibility for a search presentation.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Publish accessible website content every day Publishing

    Publish accessible website content every day

    Accessibility is affected by the people who write, translate and maintain pages as well as by code. A small publishing routine can prevent many barriers.

    Read the guide
    Printed photographs and a project folder beside a laptop Case studies

    Present project work and evidence without exaggeration

    A case study should help a reader understand a method and a concrete outcome. It is more credible when its context, each contributor’s role and the limits of the evidence are easy to see.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Choose hosting and retain control of your domain Hosting

    Choose hosting and retain control of your domain

    The domain, DNS, email, hosting and website may be supplied by different companies. A durable choice starts with a map of those dependencies and the people authorised to act.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Test an ecommerce checkout from start to finish Commerce

    Test an ecommerce checkout from start to finish

    A good product page cannot compensate for an order that disappears later. Store acceptance testing follows a whole purchase and checks what both the customer and fulfilment team receive.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Verify sources and evidence in web content Sources

    Verify sources and evidence in web content

    Fluent writing can still mislead when figures, dates, capabilities or examples have not been checked. Editorial work includes showing where important claims come from.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Prepare a response to a website incident Incidents

    Prepare a response to a website incident

    An outage, a silent contact form and an incorrect page do not have the same impact. A short plan helps a team establish facts, reduce disruption and verify recovery under pressure.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Test an online booking journey Booking

    Test an online booking journey

    A successful booking must match a genuinely available slot and make sense to both the customer and the team that will honour it. Testing goes beyond the “Book” button.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Build an honest comparison of web solutions Compare

    Build an honest comparison of web solutions

    A useful comparison supports a decision in a specific setting. It explains what was tried, what remains unknown and why a solution may suit one team but not another.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Manage website enquiries after submission Enquiries

    Manage website enquiries after submission

    A working form is of little use when messages stay in a shared inbox, reach the wrong person or never receive an answer. Test the journey through to its conclusion.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Publish clear prices and terms on a website Pricing

    Publish clear prices and terms on a website

    A price helps someone decide only when its scope, possible variations and point of confirmation are understandable. Clear terms prevent unsuitable requests and promises the team cannot keep.

    Read the guide
    Two people compare photo contact sheets on a table beside a camera. Photography

    Plan original photography for a website

    Original photographs show a place, people and work as they are. A productive session begins with the needs of the pages, before the choice of camera or backdrop.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Present a team and its skills on a website Team

    Present a team and its skills on a website

    A team page builds confidence when it shows who does what and how work is organised. Outdated roles, portraits and references quickly erode that value.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Publish useful, accessible downloadable documents Documents

    Publish useful, accessible downloadable documents

    A download can help when layout must be preserved or a file kept for later. It should not hide essential information behind a heavy, outdated or hard-to-read attachment.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Test website navigation and menus Navigation

    Test website navigation and menus

    A good menu lets people predict where each choice leads. Test it against visitor tasks, not only the structure imagined by the team.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Write and maintain a useful website FAQ FAQ

    Write and maintain a useful website FAQ

    A FAQ is not a collection of sales claims disguised as questions. It helps when it resolves common uncertainty without sending readers through the whole site.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Publish accessible, useful video on a website Video

    Publish accessible, useful video on a website

    Video can show a process or explain a journey better than prose. It still needs to make sense when sound is off, media cannot play or someone seeks a particular point.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Fix 404 pages and broken links usefully Links

    Fix 404 pages and broken links usefully

    A missing page is not always a fault: content may have been removed deliberately. Trouble starts when a promised link ends abruptly or a redirect misleads the visitor.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Publish clear job openings on a website Careers

    Publish clear job openings on a website

    A useful job page helps applicants judge the work, conditions and application route. It must remain accurate as a role changes, fills or closes.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Make content useful in AI-assisted search AI search

    Make content useful in AI-assisted search

    A generated answer may link to a page, but no format guarantees a citation. The useful work is making facts easy to find, verify and maintain.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Prepare useful images for web search Images

    Prepare useful images for web search

    A relevant image is more than its filename. Its page, nearby text and accessibility explain why it deserves to be shown.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Prepare sharing previews for web pages Sharing

    Prepare sharing previews for web pages

    A shared link may be someone’s first contact with a page. A vague or cropped preview gives little reason to open it and may show an old offer.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Review website visibility in Search Console Search

    Review website visibility in Search Console

    Search Console helps observe how Google discovers and presents pages. Its reports are useful when connected to important pages and visitors’ questions.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Explain how to reach a business location Location

    Explain how to reach a business location

    A map alone does not always answer “which door should I use?” The page should help someone plan a journey and recognise the correct entrance.

    Read the guide
    Illustration of website project planning: Organize a website resource library Resources

    Organize a website resource library

    A useful library helps people select a resource before downloading. A grid of covers and vague titles makes visitors open every file.

    Read the guide
    Two people compare three lamps using a feature table displayed on a tablet. Compare

    Design a genuinely useful product comparison

    A comparison helps when products are similar but not interchangeable. It should clarify differences that matter in use rather than multiply ticks.

    Read the guide
    A person comparing printed product cards with a catalogue on a laptop. Data quality

    Audit and enrich directory or catalogue data

    Dataset quality is checked across all entries. A sample helps explain errors; it does not prove that the remaining records are complete or accurate.

    Read the guide
    Person working on a laptop Ecodesign

    Ecodesign a website around useful tasks

    Ecodesign starts with the service’s purpose. Smaller images help, but features, media and the equipment required to use the service matter too.

    Read the guide
    Network equipment and laptop on a technical desk HTTP cache

    Configure HTTP caching without exposing private data

    Caching helps only when the reused response is appropriate for the visitor and the time of access. A single policy for every resource can hide an update or expose a personalised response.

    Read the guide
    Security key, notebook and laptop Accounts

    Manage accounts, permissions and access recovery

    Account security covers creation, permitted actions, recovery and closure. A successful sign-in screen does not show that a former collaborator has lost access or that recovery is properly controlled.

    Read the guide
    Laptop and technical books on a desk Dependencies

    Manage a website’s software dependencies

    A plugin or library helps build a site but creates a relationship to maintain: version, origin, support, compatibility and deployment. Useful work starts with an inventory connected to actual features.

    Read the guide
    Review of a diagnostic screen and notebook Logs

    Log errors without exposing sensitive data

    Logs should help explain and resolve a situation. Recording every request detail creates volume and can copy information that should not leave its original workflow.

    Read the guide
    Two laptops, external drive and data sheets Exchange

    Prepare reliable data imports and exports

    A file that opens is not necessarily usable. Reliable exchange preserves field meanings, distinguishes unknown values from zero and matches records without treating a display label as a fragile identifier.

    Read the guide
    Network cables and tablet displaying a workflow Integrations

    Make website webhooks and integrations reliable

    An integration needs more than receipt of a notification. It must distinguish valid events, duplicates, delays and interrupted processing to avoid repeating business operations.

    Read the guide
    Printed diagrams and laptop displaying code API contract

    Document and test an API from its use cases

    A useful API lets another team understand what it can request and what it will receive. Its contract should be testable, versioned and consistent with the operating service.

    Read the guide
    External drive, folder and upload interface on a tablet Files

    Prepare useful, controlled website file uploads

    An attachment introduces an entire journey: selection, transfer, checking, viewing and deletion. It needs a precise purpose and an identified person able to operate the workflow.

    Read the guide
    Notebooks, printed table and laptop on a table Open data

    Publish understandable, documented open data

    Downloadable data is not yet understandable data. A reuser needs to know who produced it, what it covers, what it excludes and how to interpret its fields.

    Read the guide
    Review folders and laptop on a desk Contributions

    Organize website contributions and moderation

    Comments, reviews, corrections and proposed records require organisation after submission. The visible form is only the first step in a workflow that should support understandable decisions.

    Read the guide
    Printed type specimens and tablet Fonts

    Choose and test web fonts across languages

    Typography needs to remain readable when a font arrives late, translations grow longer and characters are missing. A visual selection alone does not validate its integration.

    Read the guide
    Phone displaying preferences and notebook Consent

    Test tracking consent in real website journeys

    A visible banner does not establish that the website applies people’s choices. Acceptance testing examines actual loading and the tasks available in each state. This operational method accompanies an assessment of rules applicable to the site; it does not provide certification.

    Read the guide
    Two people discussing a page on a laptop Reliability

    Define and monitor website journey reliability

    A website can return HTTP 200 while its form fails or orders are never recorded. Reliability should describe the service visitors actually receive, using understandable measurements and an agreed response when quality declines.

    Read the guide
    Laptop and padlock beside technical equipment TLS certificates

    Automate and verify TLS certificate renewal

    Issuance is only one step: the correct certificate must reach browsers on every relevant hostname and entry point. Organise that cycle without placing private keys or access details in the operational record.

    Read the guide
    Tablet and laptop showing two interface states Third-party cookies

    Test journeys with third-party cookies blocked

    A visitor can express a choice in the website while their browser still blocks third-party storage. Separate the website choice from the browser’s technical capability: both need testing.

    Read the guide
    Two people reviewing a laptop Files

    Clean up a web project without breaking the website

    A large folder cannot be cleaned safely from filenames alone. Separate what serves visitors, what builds the site and what records interventions; check dependencies before deleting anything.

    Read the guide
    Status light and information panel on a laptop Incidents

    Inform visitors during a service outage

    Explaining an interruption helps visitors understand what remains possible. Prepare the message and fallback channel before an incident, then distinguish confirmed facts from recovery estimates.

    Read the guide
    Calendar and tablet on a counter Local presence

    Publish reliable special opening hours

    Conflicting opening hours can cause a wasted journey. Establish a reference that separates public reception, other services and exceptions; publish only times confirmed by the location concerned.

    Read the guide
    Laptop displaying an inbox and envelope Email delivery

    Verify that website emails actually arrive

    A form may record an enquiry even when its notification never arrives. An on-screen confirmation, acceptance by a sending server and receipt in a mailbox are separate states. Test each one independently.

    Read the guide
    Cables and connection diagram beside a laptop DNS

    Change DNS without breaking your website or email

    Moving a website does not always require changing registrar or DNS servers. Start by defining the operation: moving hosting, transferring registration or replacing the service publishing the zone. Dependencies and tests differ.

    Read the guide
    Review of search results on a laptop Indexing

    Diagnose a page missing from Google

    Publication does not guarantee indexing, and indexing does not guarantee visibility for a particular query. Start with the exact URL and observed state before rewriting the page.

    Read the guide
    People reviewing notes and layouts Arabic and RTL

    Test an Arabic interface and bidirectional text

    Translating sentences is not enough for an Arabic version. Pages may mix Arabic, French names, numbers, email addresses and URLs. Their meaning, order and actions must remain correct on phones, with a keyboard and when copied.

    Read the guide
    Page layouts and journey arrows on paper Redirects

    Prepare and test a URL redirect plan

    An old address may still have visitors, backlinks and documents referring to it. A redirect plan records what each address becomes during a rebuild, domain change or content consolidation, preserving useful journeys.

    Read the guide
    Two people comparing a laptop and notes Staging

    Protect and test a website staging environment

    Staging allows a team to review a website before release. It should also prevent unintended access, real transactions and confusion with the public site. Begin acceptance testing by checking the environment itself.

    Read the guide
    Person reviewing two technical monitoring screens Browser storage

    Test browser local storage and data export

    A remembered preference or browser-held review log can help someone return to a task. Explain where the data stays, when it may disappear and how to recover it. Local storage should not be the only copy of important work.

    Read the guide
    People organising notes on a wall Components

    Choose and test web interface components

    An interface component is a reusable control, field, navigation element or presentation of data. Appearance alone does not determine its purpose. A useful choice helps people anticipate what will happen, complete the action and find their place afterwards.

    Read the guide
    Tablet displaying a window above a page Dialogs

    Design and test a modal dialog

    A modal dialog suspends interaction with the rest of the page. It suits a short decision that requires an answer before continuing. Long reading, a service description or a complex form may work better on a dedicated page.

    Read the guide
    Laptop displaying sections and folded notes Accordions

    Organise content with accordions and disclosures

    An accordion groups sections people can open and close. It saves initial space but adds discovery effort. Decide which information should be immediately available and which is supporting detail before choosing the interaction.

    Read the guide
    Screen presenting several views and coloured dividers Tabs

    Choose and test tabbed web views

    Tabs switch between panels within one set. They can suit alternative views of the same object. If each part needs its own address or people must compare content simultaneously, navigation links or visible sections may work better.

    Read the guide
    Phone presenting suggestions beside a map Autocomplete

    Design autocomplete for selecting a value

    Autocomplete suggests values while someone types. It can help select a town or product from a long catalogue. Its usefulness also depends on data quality and what happens when no suggestion meets the need.

    Read the guide
    Person sorting images in front of a screen Galleries

    Choose and test an image carousel or gallery

    A carousel presents part of a collection in sequence; a gallery shows several items together. Choose by task: browse a series, compare details or find one photograph. Animation alone does not establish better understanding.

    Read the guide
    Phone and tablet presenting navigation Mobile navigation

    Design mobile navigation and submenus

    Navigation helps people reach a page. On mobile, some links may sit inside a panel. Visitors must still understand how to open it, choose a destination and return to the page without becoming trapped in navigation.

    Read the guide
    Screen presenting confirmation on a desk Status messages

    Write and announce interface status messages

    A status message explains what happened without necessarily changing pages: a search completed, submission is pending or saving failed. It should describe a real state and help someone decide whether to wait, correct, retry or continue.

    Read the guide
    Tablet and printed tables on a table Tables

    Publish readable and accessible data tables

    A table connects values to rows and columns to compare offers, measures or characteristics. Data quality matters as much as markup: readers need to understand each value and the limits of comparison.

    Read the guide
    Printed control layouts and tablet Links and buttons

    Choose interface links, buttons and actions

    A link reaches a destination; a button triggers an action. This distinction helps people anticipate outcomes, use the keyboard and retain browser functions. Shape or colour does not replace the control’s role.

    Read the guide
    Paper calendar and date selection on a phone Dates

    Design date input and a booking calendar

    Choosing a date can mean entering a birth date, requesting an appointment or booking a stay. These tasks do not require identical controls. Define the expected data and consequence before drawing a calendar.

    Read the guide
    Hand moving a paper card beside a tablet Reordering

    Reorder items without relying on drag and drop

    Drag and drop moves a file, card or list item. The gesture may be difficult or impossible depending on the device and person. A usable journey also offers an understandable way to achieve the same result.

    Read the guide
    Laptop and tablet on a desk with grouped cards for planning website fixes. Prioritise website repairs using evidence

    Prioritise website repairs using evidence

    A form that never completes, a menu that cannot be used with a keyboard and contradictory information require different interventions. This guide helps prioritise website fixes, gather evidence and define a verifiable result before starting the next batch of work.

    Read the guide
    Question cards linked by blue threads to page layouts and action cards. Map search intents to useful pages and answers

    Map search intents to useful pages and answers

    Visitors may be looking for a price, a method, a definition or a next action. This guide shows how to connect search intent to suitable pages, complete missing answers and organise useful links for SEO, AI-assisted search and the visitor experience.

    Read the guide

    Need an answer to a specific question?

    The article library covers search visibility, content, user experience and long-term maintenance.

    Browse the articles