Sharing your Wix website without publishing is a common challenge faced by many web designers. It’s crucial when you want feedback without going live.
Whether you’re seeking insights from a client or collaborating with your team, keeping your site private yet accessible is key.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to showcase your unpublished Wix site through effective sharing tools and draft features.
I’ll cover everything from using preview modes to managing user permissions and sharing direct URLs.
By the end, you’ll be equipped to gather feedback seamlessly without compromising the developmental stage of your Wix website.
Expect to dive into practical steps, explore sharing options, and understand how to leverage Wix’s design tools to optimize your workflow.
This ensures your work remains professional and confidential until you’re ready to launch.
The ability to share a draft site is essential for iterative design, allowing for revisions and enhancements before a global debut.
How To Share A Wix Website Without Publishing: Quick Workflow
Sharing a Wix website without publishing it is possible through several methods that allow you to control who sees your site before it goes live. Here are some of the ways to do this:
Methods for Sharing Unpublished Wix Sites
1. In-Editor Preview
- Description: This feature allows you to preview your site directly within the editor, but sharing is limited as others need to be in the same physical location.
- How It Works: Click the ‘Preview’ button in the Wix Editor.
2. Collaborator Access
- Description: Invite team members or clients by giving them specific roles and permissions.
- How It Works:
- Log into your Wix account.
- Hover over your website and click on ‘Select Site’.
- Click on ‘Invite People’ under settings or roles and permissions3.
3. Get Feedback Tool
- Description: Share a unique link with others for feedback without publishing.
- How It Works:
Every site has an individual link for feedback purposes.
4. Generate Unpublished Site Link
- Description: Create a shareable link with customizable permissions (e.g., read-only, expiration date).
- How It Works:
- Open the Wix Editor.
- Click on ‘Share’ > ‘Manage site links’.
- Generate a new link with desired permissions.
5. Preview as Guest
- This allows viewing your unpublished site anonymously by copying its URL from a guest preview session.
Understanding Wix’s Built-in Sharing Features
Link Sharing Permissions
Navigating to Site Settings in the Wix Editor
Jumping straight into it—when you’re in the Wix Editor, find the Site Settings. It’s the place where magic happens for setting permissions on who can see your site without the risk of going live. This is where digital workspace meets practicality.
Types of Permissions
Let’s look at what’s on offer:
- Anyone with the link: A breeze if you want openness. Send the link to Uncle Joe, and he won’t need a login.
- Users with specific permissions: You’re the gatekeeper. Only those handpicked see it.
- Only logged-in Wix users: Keeping it exclusive, like an invitation-only art exhibition at the Louvre Museum.
Benefits of Controlled Access
Controlled access keeps your in-progress sites under wraps, safeguarding those design gems until they’re polished and ready to meet the world. It’s about maintaining the privacy controls while refining your digital craft.
Generating an Unpublished Site Link
Steps to Create a Shareable Link in the Wix Editor
Click through the Wix dashboard, almost like turning the pages of a well-read book. You draft, you review, you adjust. Find the unpublished site link option—your digital key to temporary access.
Customizing Link Permissions
Read-only access is the standard fare for sharing, like inviting a friend to read your favorite book but not letting them write poetry in the margins. Adding expiration dates? It’s like setting a self-destruct timer for the link. Fine-tune this in the editor to match your mood and development stages.
Sharing the Link Securely
Always be cautious—share the link with whispered tones, not on loudspeakers. Keep it to emails or private messages. This keeps your secure sharing but lessens the chance of accidental exposure. Think of it as avoiding unintended spotlights on your draft stage.
Preview as Guest Option
How to Activate Preview as Guest
This is like blending into the digital crowd. Find the Preview as Guest button and activate it. You’re essentially letting someone in for a sneak peek without pulling back all the curtains.
Copying and Sharing the Preview URL
Share, send, pass along—the preview URL takes a ride through email invitations and messages, going directly to the person who needs to see it. It’s straightforward but still cloaked in a web of necessary precautions.
Pros and Cons of This Method
Does the job, but not without its quirks. Pros? Real-time access without the fuss of myriad roles & permissions. Cons? Sometimes too straightforward and might miss the specific feedback anchoring of other systems. Balance between simplicity and functionality—always a tightrope walk.
Collaborator Access: Sharing for Teamwork and Client Feedback
Inviting Collaborators via Email
Accessing Roles & Permissions in Site Settings
The first step is diving into Site Settings. This is where you control who gets to join your Wix project as a collaborator. It’s like opening the doors to your digital workspace and deciding who gets the keys.
Adding Collaborators with Email Invitations
Simply hit the option to invite through email. This sends a direct link, offering access permissions to the selected recipients. They’ll receive a digital invitation that draws them into the collaborative fold, ready to engage with content without affecting the live site.
Customizing Roles Based on Collaboration Needs
Adjust roles to match the task at hand. Whether you need a person focusing on web content strategy or someone handling design nuances, you shape their access accordingly. Control is crucial, and customizing roles ensures everyone can contribute without stepping on each other’s toes.
Understanding Collaborator Roles and Permissions
Website Designer
These collaborators tweak the site’s visuals and layouts. Their permissions allow playing around with the Wix Editor without interfering with sensitive areas like SEO settings.
Blog Writer
Limited to content creation and management, roles here are narrowed to blogging sections. Perfect for those who make the website vibrant with engaging content while leaving the code untouched.
Admin Access (When to Avoid Granting This Level)
Admin powers allow full access. Grant this only if you trust the person with your digital baby. It’s like handing them the steering wheel on the freeway.
Creating Custom Roles for Specialized Permissions
Tailor every role, ensuring contributors have tools appropriate to their expertise. This customization leads to seamless workflows and reduces potential errors that come with mismanaged access.
Managing and Modifying Collaborator Access
Changing Roles After Invitation
Situations change. Maybe a blog writer becomes a website designer as skills grow or projects evolve. Adjust roles with a few clicks to reflect real-time project needs.
Revoking or Resending Invites
Sometimes you need to pull back an invite or send it again. It’s normal. Head to the roles section and make the adjustments. Revoking is necessary to ensure the project remains with only the right hands involved.
Monitoring Collaborator Activities
Keep an eye on changes and activities. Monitoring helps maintain a smooth process, and it’s essential to ensure the site progresses towards its goals. Track who does what, fixing issues before they become roadblocks.
Advanced Sharing Tools for Detailed Feedback and Control
The “Get Feedback” Tool
Accessing the tool from the Wix dashboard
Head over to the Wix dashboard. You’ll find this interesting button. It’s the “Get Feedback” option. Click it, and you’re in business. This tool is your go-to for collecting input without all the emails and confusion.
Anchoring feedback to specific website elements
You don’t just get generic comments here. Users can pin their thoughts directly on specific parts of the site. It’s like having sticky notes that stay exactly where they belong. Very handy for precise feedback.
Pros of real-time, targeted feedback
Immediate insights. That’s the win. Right there. Discussions happen in context, allowing for quick adjustments. Action it instantly. This approach simply works better when you need feedback without lag.
Limitations of the tool
But yes, it does have its quirks. It could overwhelm if feedback isn’t coordinated well. Plus, there’s the task of summarizing all these points later. Keep it structured to avoid clutter.
Test Sites for Real-Time Previews
Activating Dev Mode in the Wix Editor
Switch to Dev Mode if you’re looking into trying new ideas. Open up the Wix Editor. Activate this mode. It’s like getting an expanded toolkit to add staging site functionalities.
Creating a Test Site with unique URL suffixes
Set your site apart with unique URL suffixes. It’s the simplest way to maintain collective access without confusion. Here, every preview is distinctive but fully controlled.
Features of a Test Site
Fully functional previews allow for total site exploration while avoiding the stress of having changes seen by everyone.
Additional Methods for Sharing Without Publishing
Utilizing Wix Access Passes
Setting up Access Passes in Site Settings
Get into Site Settings with a purpose—here’s where you set up those Wix Access Passes. Ideal for defining who sees what, and when. No fuss, just designated access.
Customizing Permissions and Expiration Settings
Control the scene by tailoring who gets in. Expiration settings are the secret. They handle timing. Customize them so access doesn’t linger too long, becoming a security oversight in your digital workspace.
Revoking Access as Needed
Revoking is all about flexibility. Someone done with their task? Take back the pass. In your site’s control panel, change access easily. Helps manage security and keeps unwanted eyes out when deadlines shift or projects wrap up.
Using Third-Party Preview Apps
Installing Preview Apps from the Wix App Market
Head over to the Wix App Market. Load up on preview apps designed to make life simpler. They plug straight into your system, acting like a bridge between impending design and feedback collection, making sharing feel almost seamless.
Features of Free Preview Apps
Secure links. These apps are a game-changer in generating preview URLs. An anchor for security.
Catch viewer emails for future follow-ups. Easy trail of who saw what, and when. Use this feature to tailor your outreach and keep communication tight.
Managing Access Through the App Dashboard
The app dashboard is your new control room. Adjust access without touching the core Wix Editor. It’s like a parallel universe where previews thrive independently, but always at your disposal.
Private Domains and Password-Protected Pages
Setting up Private Registration to Protect Site Ownership Details
Private registration protects ownership details. Shield your identity while you manage a domain. More privacy means less exposure.
Creating Password-Protected Pages for Selective Sharing
Some pages are for selective eyes only. Passwords ensure this. Set it up in seconds and your unpublished content remains in the domain of trusted users only. Keeps the prying eyes of search engine indexing at bay.
Preventing Search Engine Indexing of Unpublished Content
Stop search engines from crawling. It’s not about going invisible, but keeping drafts drafty. Control settings to prevent indexing, keeping your preliminary ideas tucked safely out of the public sphere until ready.
Best Practices for Managing Shared Access
Periodically Reviewing Shared Access Links
Ensuring outdated links are revoked
Keep the digital doors closed on old keys by regularly pulling back expired links. They might still float around where they shouldn’t. Hit revoke on anything past its useful life. A simple task that guards your online space and ensures only relevant development stages are accessible.
Adjusting permissions after site updates
With website updates, let’s be clear—permissions should evolve. New features? Changed settings? Update those permissions to align with current security needs. Avoid letting past access leak into future designs.
Maintaining Security When Sharing Unpublished Sites
Using password protection and secure links
Secure links are non-negotiable. Establish passwords like you’re guarding a digital collaboration vault. It’s just smart to use extra layers of security for sharing in-progress sites. Not only keeps things private but offers peace of mind.
Avoiding sharing links on public platforms
Never throw access links into public arenas. It’s risky. Be selective. Share in private threads or direct emails, ensuring that only the eyes that need to see actually do.
Educating collaborators on data privacy
Education first. It’s part of the process to remind collaborators about what happens if links get too far afield. By teaching the basics of data privacy, you can align your team on secure practices, ensuring viewer permissions are respected and maintained.
What Happens After Publishing?
Impact of publishing on existing share links
The big button gets clicked, and your site is live. But mind those old share links; they could change or become invalid overnight. Check what stays functional and what needs replacing immediately.
Revoking or modifying permissions post-launch
Post-launch, the scene shifts. You have to revisit those permissions. Some must be scaled back or entirely revoked. Manage access like steering a ship, keeping viewer access points sealed to external onlookers beyond necessity.
Avoiding unintentional exposure of sensitive content
Errors happen, but not this time. Double-check to dodge missteps. Sensitive content remains hidden with proper foresight and follow-up after launch. Don’t let anything slip through unchecked. You control the curtain.
FAQ on How To Share A Wix Website Without Publishing
How can I share a Wix website without making it live?
To share your Wix site without publishing, use the Preview Mode feature. This mode simulates your site’s appearance without actually making it live.
You can copy the URL and share it with anyone you want to view. Convenient for feedback while keeping your site under wraps.
Is it possible to limit access to my Wix draft?
Yes, set up password protection for your preview link to limit access. Only those with the password can see your draft site.
Modify the privacy settings in the site’s dashboard to make sure only selected individuals can peek at your progress.
What if I want feedback but not public access?
Use the Invite Collaborators feature in Wix. It allows others to see your work and provide insights without making it public.
Simply add their email, and they’ll gain temporary access. Perfect for team feedback or client approval during development.
Can I edit my Wix site after sharing the preview?
Absolutely. Editing is seamless. Any changes you make in the editor won’t affect the shared preview link automatically.
Keep refining your design and content in the Wix Editor while collaborators give their thoughts, ensuring every tweak gets the attention it needs.
Is sharing a preview URL safe?
It’s generally safe, but be cautious. Don’t share your URL widely to avoid unauthorized access or distribution. Adding password protection increases security.
Share only with trusted individuals and remind them to respect the confidentiality of your study.
How do I stop sharing the preview?
Remove access by updating the Site Permissions in your dashboard.
Revoke the shared URL or change the password to prevent further viewing by previous recipients. This ensures your site returns to a private state once feedback sessions conclude.
Can I use this feature for client presentations?
Certainly. The preview URL is a smart way to display your design during client meetings or presentations.
It’s handy for showcasing work in its design phase, enabling clients to visualize the final product before it’s fully launched.
Are there any setup costs involved?
No extra costs for sharing a preview. It’s part of Wix’s built-in features, allowing you to share drafts or collaborate without additional charges.
Your regular subscription covers this, so utilize it to its fullest during the development process.
Do I lose SEO benefits by not publishing?
You won’t gain SEO benefits since the site isn’t indexed until it goes live. Sharing a preview doesn’t affect your SEO plans.
View it as a development tool rather than a public or promotional tool. Final SEO tweaks start post-launch.
What’s the purpose of sharing without publishing?
The main purpose is to gather feedback or test site design without committing to a full launch. It’s perfect for development, refinement, and feedback processes.
Ensures you’re prepared for launch while maintaining control over your site’s initial appearances.
Conclusion
Knowing how to share a Wix website without publishing is crucial for seamless website development. By using features like preview links, you keep control while seeking feedback. This approach ensures that your work integrates feedback from collaborators without making your website go public prematurely.
Collaboration becomes effortless with tools that grant temporary access—whether through password protection or sharing a secure URL. Connect with your team, share ideas, and test features without risking your design integrity.
Key benefits include allowing everyone involved, from clients to team members, to visualize changes as they occur. You’re leveraging Wix’s built-in capabilities to manage these dynamics smoothly.
Use the steps shared to maintain development flow and control access. This enables iteration, enhancing client satisfaction and project quality. Ultimately, managing stage visibility lets you refine your project. Keep your site secure and unseen by the wider web until you’re ready for its debut.
