85: Tech Crisis Part 2: Overcoming Website Issues and Launch Setbacks

Technology, while great in many ways, can quickly turn into a nightmare when things go south.
As someone who’s recently weathered a tech storm (listen to Episode 84 for all the details!), Heather understands the frustrations and helplessness that accompany such challenges.
In this follow-up episode, she gives an update on the recent website crash that occurred during an important launch. She recounts the steps taken to fix the issue, including utilizing Google Search Console and seeking help from tech expert, iMark Interactive.
Despite the frustration and repeated setbacks, Heather emphasizes her commitment to her business and shares plans for future improvements.
Listen to Part 1: Managing an Unexpected Tech Crisis as a Small Business Owner
Need tech assistance? Connect with Grayson at iMark Interactive: imarkinteractive.com
Key Takeaways:
- (2:30) The unexpected tech crisis
- (05:00) The second breakdown and resolution
- (08:30) Future plans; switching to a new domain
- (10:15) Helpful tools for tech issues; YouTube
Listen on:
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
If you love what you’re learning from the Teacher Biz Podcast, please take a minute to rate and review the show. This will help more teachers – just like you – bring their dream business to life. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
And be sure to follow the show so you don’t miss out on all the great episodes that will be coming your way soon!
Lessons Learned: Getting Back Online After a Crash
In the fast-paced world of online business, tech issues can feel like a disaster, especially when they strike at the most inopportune moments. For Heather, facing a website crash right at the beginning of a crucial launch period was frustrating.
But now that she is on the other side of the experience, Heather is reflecting on lessons learned and offering takeaways for anyone else who might face a similar issue in the future.
The Unfolding Crisis
Heather starts her recount by revisiting a harrowing moment—her website going down on the first day of her product launch. This unforeseen crisis halted everything; from customer checkouts to sales page visits, nothing was functional.
The initial panic was evident: “People could not go to my checkout to pay me. My LeadPage went down because both of those were subdomains of my main website. So it was really a big problem,” she shares.
Her first step was to seek help from her tech support—Grayson at iMark Interactive. Immediate action was taken by sending a review request through Google Search Console, a tool many small business owners might not even know exists until they face such issues.
Learning and Adapting
Despite the initial challenge, Heather’s website was back up within 24 hours, following a review approval from Google. Yet, the saga didn’t end there.
Her site experienced another downtime just as she was getting back on track. This recurrence could have been devastating, but by this point, Heather had learned valuable lessons.
“I knew what to do at that point because I knew what Grayson had done to fix it,” she mentions. Empowered by this knowledge, she submitted her own review, emphasizing the false positive and requesting further clarity on preventing future issues.
Impact on Business Operations
Interestingly, Heather’s transparent communication with her audience about these tech troubles played a significant role in managing the crisis’ impact on her business.
She extended her launch period, rescheduled emails, and maintained open lines of communication with her subscribers.
“I just kinda spread my emails out a little bit. I added a few extras in there. I send an email to my people, and I explained what happened.” Heather explains.
This transparency helped her maintain trust and engagement with her audience despite the technical hiccups.
Strategies for Resolution
After navigating this challenging period, Heather consulted further with Grayson on potential long-term solutions. His reassurance that there was no malware on the site and emphasizing the need to monitor for automated scanning issues offered some peace of mind.
Heather’s meticulous approach to problem-solving and her willingness to ask technical experts for advice underscored a critical lesson: don’t hesitate to seek help.
Additionally, Heather recently acquired the original domain name that she wanted for her business, Kindergarten Ready, and is planning to move her business over to that address.
While this future move signifies a significant project with many complications, it also represents an opportunity to resolve lingering issues and potentially prevent similar problems.
Heather’s Advice to Fellow Entrepreneurs
Heather’s experience has armed her with practical tips for other small business owners facing tech troubles.
Her primary advice is to leverage online resources: “Pull up a YouTube or Google it, see what other people have already shared in solving that problem,” she recommends.
Screen share videos, in particular, can be lifesavers, offering step-by-step visual guidance that can simplify complex technical issues.
Heather’s story reminds us that technical challenges, while disruptive, do not have to spell disaster for your business. With the right resources, support, and a proactive approach, you can navigate these hurdles and continue to thrive.