About
A field manual for website owners.
Free, plain-language guides for the website emergencies that actually happen, and the habits that stop them happening again.
Why it exists
Most site owners do not have an IT department.
When a website goes down, shows a strange error or starts sending visitors somewhere else, the people who have to deal with it are usually business owners, office managers and freelancers, not system administrators.
Searching the error tends to turn up forum threads, jargon and advice that skips the step you are stuck on. Web Design Survivalist puts the fixes in the order that finds the cause fastest, explains what each step does, and says plainly when it is time to call your host.
How we write
Three rules for every guide
First moves first
Every guide starts with the three things to try right now, before the full explanation.
Plain language
Technical terms are explained the first time they appear. Steps say exactly where to click and what to look for.
Honest about limits
Some problems can only be fixed by your host or a developer. When that is the case, we say so and tell you what to ask for.
Who publishes it
Lone Star Data Ranch
Web Design Survivalist is published by Lone Star Data Ranch, a managed WordPress host in Dripping Springs, Texas.
The guides are free and work no matter who hosts your site. When we recommend our own hosting, we say so. Some links to third-party tools may be affiliate links, and they never change what we recommend.
Spot a mistake, or want a fix we have not covered yet? Send us a note.