When you start building a WordPress site, there’s usually a gap between installing WordPress and actually being ready to publish the full website. During that time, your domain might already be live, but the site itself is unfinished, incomplete, or still being tested.
If you leave it like that, visitors (and search engines) can see half-built pages, broken layouts, or placeholder content. That’s not ideal, especially if you’re working on a business site or trying to build trust from the start.
In most sites I build, I don’t leave a new site fully open during setup. Instead, I put a simple coming soon page in place so the site looks intentional while I finish everything behind the scenes.
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Quick Answer / Summary
To create a coming soon page in WordPress, you install a coming soon or maintenance plugin, enable it, and configure a simple page that visitors see while your site is being built. At the same time, you keep the actual site visible only to logged-in users so you can continue working without interruption.
Why This Matters
A coming soon page solves a few practical problems:
- Prevents visitors from seeing unfinished content
- Keeps your site looking professional from the start
- Allows you to collect emails before launch (optional)
- Gives you time to build and test without pressure
It also helps avoid confusion. Instead of landing on a broken homepage, visitors see a clear message that the site is being prepared.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Install a Coming Soon Plugin
The easiest way to create a coming soon page is by using a plugin.
In your WordPress dashboard:
- Go to Plugins → Add New
- Search for “Coming Soon” or “Maintenance Mode”
- Install a plugin such as:
- SeedProd
- WP Maintenance Mode
- CMP – Coming Soon & Maintenance Plugin
- Click Install and then Activate
In my experience, using a plugin is more reliable than trying to build this manually with pages or redirects.
2. Enable Coming Soon Mode
Once the plugin is activated:
- Open the plugin settings (usually in the dashboard menu)
- Enable Coming Soon Mode or Maintenance Mode
When enabled:
- Visitors will see the coming soon page
- Logged-in users (you) can still access the full site
This is important because you don’t want to lock yourself out while building.
3. Create the Coming Soon Page Content
Most plugins let you design the page directly inside their settings.
At a minimum, include:
- A clear headline (e.g. “Website Coming Soon”)
- A short description of what the site will offer
- Optional: email signup form
- Optional: expected launch timeframe
Keep it simple. This page is not meant to replace your homepage.
When I set this up on WordPress sites, I usually avoid adding too much detail. A clean, minimal page works better than something overdesigned.
4. Set Visibility Rules
Check how the plugin handles visibility:
- Visitors → see coming soon page
- Logged-in admins → see full website
Some plugins also allow:
- Whitelisting IP addresses
- Allowing specific user roles
Make sure you can still preview your site normally while working.
5. Prevent Search Engine Indexing (Optional but Recommended)
While your site is not finished, you usually don’t want search engines indexing it.
Go to:
- Settings → Reading
- Enable: Discourage search engines from indexing this site
This avoids indexing incomplete pages.
You can turn this off again before launch.
6. Continue Building Your Website Normally
With the coming soon page active, you can:
- Create pages
- Install plugins
- Design your layout
- Write content
Everything works as normal in the background.
This setup removes the pressure of “people might see this right now.”
7. Disable the Coming Soon Page Before Launch
Once your site is ready:
- Go back to the plugin settings
- Disable Coming Soon Mode
Then:
- Check your homepage
- Test navigation
- Confirm everything is working
After that, your full website becomes visible to everyone.
Practical Tips or Observations
- In most projects, I enable a coming soon page immediately after installing WordPress
- I keep the design minimal — logo, short text, maybe an email form
- If the site is for a business, I sometimes add basic contact info
One thing I’ve noticed is that simple pages convert better for early signups than complex ones. People don’t need full details at this stage.
Also, if you’re working on SEO, don’t rely on the coming soon page to rank. It’s just a temporary placeholder.
Common Mistakes
1. Leaving the site fully public while unfinished
This is the most common issue. Visitors (and search engines) see incomplete content.
2. Forgetting to disable indexing
Search engines may index empty or low-quality pages if you don’t block them.
3. Overdesigning the coming soon page
This page should be simple. It’s not your main homepage.
4. Forgetting to turn it off at launch
It sounds obvious, but it happens. Always double-check before announcing your site.
5. Blocking yourself from access
If settings are wrong, you might accidentally restrict your own access. Always test while logged in.
When to Use This vs Alternatives
Use a coming soon page when:
- You are building a brand new website
- The site is not ready for public viewing
- You want a clean temporary placeholder
Use maintenance mode when:
- Your site is already live
- You’re making updates or redesigning
Use a staging site instead when:
- You want to test changes privately
- You are working on a live site and don’t want downtime
In some workflows, I use both staging and a coming soon page depending on the situation.
Conclusion
A coming soon page is a simple way to keep your website controlled and professional while you build it. It gives you time to work properly without exposing unfinished content.
Set it up early, keep it simple, and remove it once your site is ready to go live.
Etienne Basson works with website systems, SEO-driven site architecture, and technical implementation. He writes practical guides on building, structuring, and optimizing websites for long-term growth.